PRAYERS AT MEETING

OPENING PRAYERS

In the name of the Father ....Amen.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and en-kindle in them the fire of Thy love.

V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His consolation.

Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

OUR FATHER......

HAIL MARY ......

LORD JESUS, Help us through our meeting  to strengthen our spirit and deepen our friendship and understanding of one another. Help us to be generous with our possessions and ourselves that we may be better Vincentians. Guide us during this meeting to renew our efforts in bringing joy and hope to thosefor whom you died on the Cross.

V. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus   R. Have mercy on Us

V. Queen conceived without sin  R. Pray for us

V. St Joseph                    R. Pray for us

V. St Vincent de Paul           R. Pray for us

V. Blessed Fredric Ozanam       R. Pray for us

V. St .... (Conference patron)  R. Pray for us  

CLOSING PRAYERS

FOR THOSE WE VISIT

We thank you, Lord for being with us during this meeting. With your help/ we will endeavor to carry out our work for the poor. Help us to love and respect them, to understand their deeper needs and to share their burdens and joys as true friends. We thank you for the many blessings we receive for those we visit.

FOR HIERARCHY AND FELLOW VINCENTIANS

Grant you grace and blessings to our Holy Father, our Bishops and Priest and to all who help us in our work to our vincentian brother and sisters especially our twinned members and to any member of the Society or their families who may now be troubled or in need.

FOR CANONISATION OF BLESSED FREDERIC OZANAM

O God who put the love of the poor into the hearts of Frederic Ozanam and his companions and inspired them to found a Society for the relief of the spiritual and corporal miseries of those in want: bless this work of charity and zeal and should it be glorified by the Church, we beseech You to manifest by heavenly favours the power he enjoys in your sight. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

OR

PETITION PRAYER

O God, Our Father, you alone have the power to bestow those precious gifts of yours which we rightly call miracles. If it be your will be pleased to grant such a gift on behalf of those persons for whom the prayers of the Society have been requested; and for .......(names of the other seriously ill persons for those you seek divine help). We humbly ask that you grant this favor to glorify Blessed Fredric Ozanam that it may serve to have him called Saint by our Holy Mother the Church. We make this prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son.Amen

FOR OUR LEADERS

Than you, Father for having called men and women into leadership in the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Thank you for having given them the courage to accept this call. Thank you, for giving them the vision to prepare others to follow them. Stand by them they may discern you will and carry it out. Amen.

FOR VOCATIONS

O God, we earnestly beseech you to bless our country with many priests, brothers and sisters who will love you with their whole strength and will gladly spend their entire lives to serve you Church and to make you known and loved. Bless our homes, our families. Choose from them all those who are needed for you Holy work. Mary Queen of the clergy pray for us. Pray for our priests and religious. Obtain for us many more. Amen

FOR DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE VINCENTIAN FAMILY

Welcome into the light of you presence those who have died. Grant that one day, our friends and relatives, those we visit and our vincentian brothers and sisters may all come together before you in the perfection of love.

INVOCATION TO BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

We fly to thy patronage O Holly Mother of God, despise not our petitions in our necessities but deliver us from all dangers O Glorious and blessed Virgin. In the name of the Father ......Amen.

DEEPER PRAY

The Steps of Lectio Divina 

• Choose a text of the Scriptures that you wish to pray.  (You can also use the weekly reflections.)

• Place yourself in a quiet environment. Calm your anxieties and thoughts and acknowledge God’s presence. 

• Offer a prayer to the Holy Spirit for inspiration and guidance: ‘Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten my heart and mind to listen to your Word.’ 

1. Lectio: Read the text slowly and prayerfully, constantly listening for that word that God has prepared for you. You may want to re-read the same text multiple times to help quiet yourself interiorly and focus on God’s voice. Listen and receive the Word that God speaks to you. 

2. Meditatio: When a word or phrase strikes you, stop and rest with it. Repeat the word or phrase to yourself. Allow it to speak to you in a personal way by pondering the word in your heart, reflecting on what it means to you. Memorize it and repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your thoughts, hopes, memories, and desires. 

3. Oratio: Prayer is your response to God’s word. It begins your dialogue with God that comes from your heart. Formulate a prayer, as a response to God. What do you want to say to the Lord in response to the Word spoken to you? Enter this loving conversation with God. 

4. Contemplation: Rest in God’s presence and receive His transforming embrace. Sit still with God, realizing that in this deep and profound relationship, words are not necessary. Be content and at peace with a wordless, quietrest in God, which brings joy to the heart. Remember that contemplation is not your action or doing, rather it is allowing God to work in you. 

5. Action: Your action is in response to God’s love permeating from within.