Skip to main content

Weekly Prayer Archive

A shimmer of light I saw
Beckoning me to go…. Ah! HOPE
To freedom I go
Out of this dark, cold, filthy tunnel
Where fear, anguish and chaos exist.
You rescued me, O Lord
No more of tunnels of hell
Bring me to thy fold.
Hope to life anew
Hope to start something of value
Hope to freedom with you
Cringing from past old self no more
Standing straight and tall
Walking, not without faltering, but
Walking incessantly towards the shimmering
of light, your love, my hope
Hold me still that I may continue
To walk freely the life you unfold before me.

— Arlenne Villahermosa, Columban lay missionary

When I’m not feeling well,  
and tired, I can get so down,  
down with others,  
down with myself,  
down with everything,  
my spirit withers within me. 

I become like a flower in a dry land,  
desperate for rain,  
just wishing to feel at rights,  
so I can enjoy my life again. 

Lord, make haste to help me, 
send the showers of Your love upon me, 
so that like flowers refreshed in rain,  
I can lift up my drooping head,  
and rejoice in You instead. 

Amen. 

— By Columban Fr. Patrick Sayles

Lord, just as a flower can radiate its precious beauty,  
and cast its fragrance everywhere, so I ask You  
to cast the sweet fragrance of Your presence over me. 

Surround me with Your love,  
fill me with Your healing balm,  
enfold me with Your peace,  
comfort me with Your presence. 

May your fragrance linger in the stillness of my soul,  
May Your healing love renew my very being. 

Amen.

— By Columban Fr. Patrick Sayles

Lord, time is so precious. 
Time to heal and be healed, 
time to sort myself out, to understand, 
to get it all together, to see Your hand.

Where does each day go? 
So fast, like a mountain stream,  
so past, like a distant dream, 
so lost, before we know, so time seems to flow. 
So there’s no time to be lost, 
I start here, this very moment, 
I begin my prayer for healing here and now.

I lay the foundations with renewed heart 
as stone by stone a wall is laid, 
so prayer by prayer my hope is made 
for a fresh start with You, Lord.

Amen.

— By Columban Fr. Patrick Sayles

Lord, I made a vow to my spouse and to You. 
It was never my desire to undo this vow.

Over the years, isolation, tears, and unhappiness  
invaded our marriage. 
Attempts to recover what we once had were futile. 
I constantly prayed for Your help.

Eventually, we realized that we could not fix it. 
"I cannot take this anymore!" was my cry and prayer. 
And sadly, it was over.

As I embark on this new journey, let me not be bitter  
from the pains and errors of the past. 
Let the beautiful fruits of our marriage, our children,  
continue to grow and blossom. 
Bless me with Your peace.

Amen.

— By a Columban Missionary

Lord, bless us in our reflections and ideas:
No matter the doubts they are seeds 
seeking nourishment, sunshine and life-giving water.
May the lord bless us in all our ways, Father, Son and Spirit.

Amen

Lord, as a water lily 
opens itself to the sun, 
so may we open our hearts to you, 
to give you thanks and praise.

For like the sun shining down 
to nurture and give life, 
so you shine down on us 
with the light of countless blessings, 
blessings beyond measure,

generous gifts of your love 
given without conditions, 
a love that does not count the cost.

To all who open their hearts to you 
you never refuse the gift of your love.

May our hearts rejoice in thanking you 
for the abundant goodness 
you share with us, 
for the love you give to all.

Amen.

— By a Columban Missionary

Often, instead of loving You, I seem to fear You.  
I move away from your gaze, not sure, not ready to trust You.   
Like a little duckling, I scurry away to hide in the reeds.  
Teach me, Lord, to turn to You with trust, to allow your holiness 
to come close to me, not to be afraid.  
Teach me, Lord, to love You.  

Amen. 

— By a Columban Missionary

So much in life makes me feel small, even trivial.  
I feel so dwarfed by this world, powerful things, powerful people.   
Yet I know, Lord, that the least are precious in your sight.  
Lord, help me, small though I be, to see You as the power in my life,  
the real force that raises me up, makes me feel worthy.  

Amen. 

— By a Columban Missionary

God, open up our hearts to be filled with love.  
Open them up. Fill them with faith and hope,  
and chase away our anxieties and fears.  
Open up our hearts so we may do what you intend us to do:  
love You with all our hearts, souls and minds, and love all your creation.  
Chase away the strife between us and allow us to look at each other.  
Open up our hearts to mercy for each other and open up our hearts to peace. 

Amen. 

— By a Columban Missionary

It’s easy, to turn my back, to feel offended, hurt.  
Lord, ease my bitterness, my selfish sense  
of hurt ego, dented pride.  
Let me replace them with a smile, a kind word.  
May I turn back to those who need my love.  
Move my heart to care less for myself  
and more for others.  

Amen. 

— By a Columban Missionary

Lord, I thank You.  
You love us all equally,  
with unswerving love,  
a love beyond measure.  
No matter how strong our faults,  
no matter how deep our sins,  
Your love is stronger, deeper.   
Cherish my loved ones in Your holy heart  
with Your deepest of deep love.  
May they know Your peace,  
with Our Lady and all the saints,  
and behold You face to face forever and ever. 

Amen. 

— By a Columban Missionary

Lord, by the power of Your holy cross,  
take away from my heart all hatred,  
all bitterness, all false pride, all manipulation of others.  
Fill my heart with Your love, heal all painful memories,  
free me from all my sins and from every evil.

Amen. 

— By a Columban Missionary

How often, Lord, I wish to stretch across the miles 
and touch loved ones far away or be whisked 
on an angel’s wings to their very side. 

Be with them in all they do. 
When their hearts grow lonely and homesick 
and when they long to see and hold their loved ones, 
touch them, Lord, with the touch of your presence. 

Hold them in your embrace, help them feel better, 
knowing that in your love we are all close together. 

Amen. 

— By a Columban Missionary