April Collects
2 Saint Francis of Paola, Hermit
O God, exaltation of the lowly,
Who raised Saint Francis of Paola to the glory of your saints,
Grant we pray, that by his merits and example
We may happily attain the rewards
Promised to the humble.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
4 Saint Isidore, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Graciously hear the prayers, O Lord
Which we make in commemoration of Saint Isidore,
That your church may be aided by his intercession,
Just as she has been instructed by his heavenly teaching.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
5 Saint Vincent Ferrer, priest
O God, who raised us the Priest Saint Vincent Ferrer
To minister by the preaching of the Gospel,
Grant we pray,
That when the Judge comes,
Whom Saint Vincent proclaimed on earth,
We may be among those blessed
To behold him reigning in heaven.
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
7 Saint John Baptist de la Salle, priest
O God, who chose Saint John Baptist de la Salle
To educate young Christians,
Raise up, we pray teachers in your Church
Ready to devote themselves wholeheartedly
To the human and Christian formation of the young.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
11 Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr
O God, for whose honor the Bishop Saint Stanislaus
Fell beneath the swords of his persecutors,
Grant, we pray,
That we may persevere strong in faith even until death.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
13 Saint Martin, Pope and Martyr
Grant, Almighty God,
That we may withstand the trials of this world
With invincible firmness of purpose,
Just as you did not allow your Martyr
Pope Saint Martin the First
To be daunted by threats or broken by suffering.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
21 Saint Anselm, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
O God, who led the Bishop Saint Anselm
To seek out and teach the depths of your wisdom,
Grant, we pray,
That our faith in you may so aid our understanding,
That what we believe by your command
May give delight to our hearts.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
23 Saint George, Martyr
Extolling your might, O Lord,
We humbly implore you,
That as SAint George imitated the Passion of the LOrd,
So he may lend us ready help in our weakness.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
23 Saint Adalbert, Bishop and Martyr
O God, who bestowed the crown of martyrdom
On the Bishop Saint Adalbert,
As he burned with zeal for souls,
Grant we pray, by his prayers,
That the obedience of the flock
May never fail the shepherds,
Nor the care of the shepherds be ever lacking to the flock.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest and martyr
O God, who were pleased to award
The palm of martyrdom to Saint Fidelis
As, burning with love for you, he propagated the faith,
Grant we pray, through his intercession,
That grounded in charity,
We may merit to know with him
The power of the Resurrection of Christ.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
25 Saint Mark, evangelist
O God, who raised up Saint Mark, your evangelist,
And endowed him with the grace to preach the Gospel,
Grant, we pray,
That we may so profit from his teaching
As to follow faithfully in the footsteps of Christ.
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
28 Saint Peter Chanel, priest and martyr
O God, who for the spreading of your Church
Crowned Saint Peter Chanel with martyrdom,
Grant that, in these days of paschal joy,
We may so celebrate the mysteries
Of Christ's death and resurrection
As to bear worthy witness to newness of life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
28 Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort, priest
O God, who willed to direct the steps of the priest Saint Louis
Along the way of salvation and of the love of Christ,
In the company of the Blessed Virgin,
Grant us, by his example,
That, meditating on the mysteries of your love
We may strive tirelessly for the building up of your Church.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
29 Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
O God, who set Saint Catherine of Siena on fire with divine love
In her contemplation of the Lord's passion
And her service of the Church,
Grant, through her intercession,
That your people,
Participating in the mystery of Christ,
May ever exult in the revelation of his glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
30 Saint Pius V, Pope
O God, who in your providence
Raise up Pope Pius the Fifth in your Church
That the faith might be safeguarded
And more fitting worship be offered to you,
Grant, through his intercession,
That we may participate in your mysteries
With lively faith and fruitful charity.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you
In the unity of the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.