may 1

Saint joseph the worker

All the works of the Lord are good. God will supply every need in its time.

prayer
Jesus, you learned from Saint Joseph the carpenter’s trade and sanctified the work of human hands. We ask your protection of all who labor for their daily bread. Give them satisfaction in their work and keep them free from harm. May their employers compensate them justly, and may all who benefit from their efforts respond with gratitude. We ask this in your name. Amen.

MAY 3

Saint philip and james

Jesus appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message.

prayer
Jesus, you called Philip and James to be among the first to proclaim your message and establish your church. As we celebrate their feast we pray for your successors – the pope, the bishops and the leaders of faith communities. May all be faithful to your gospel, loving in their leadership and courageous in proclaiming the good news. Amen.

MAY 8

our lady of lujan

Blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her would be fulfilled.

prayer
O God, the people of Argentina claim Our Lady of Lujan as their patron. May she who bore your Son to the world continue to show them your protection and loving kindness. May all who honor her know your blessing in their lives. We ask this through Mary’s intercession. Amen.

MAY 13

our lady of fatima

From now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me.

prayer
Jesus, your mother showed herself to the children at Fatima in order to call us to conversion. Mindful of her message, we pray for wisdom and courage that we may heed the prompting of your Spirit and accept conversion to your will. We ask you to grant this prayer that we may respond to your mother’s call. Amen.

MAY 14

saint matthias

They cast lots, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

prayer
Jesus, you called Matthias to be among the first to proclaim your message and establish your church. As we celebrate his feast we pray for their successors – the pope, the bishops and the leaders of faith communities. May all be faithful to your gospel, loving in their leadership and courageous in proclaiming the good news. Amen.

MAY 26

saint philip neri

Holy men of humble heart, bless our God.

prayer
O God, Philip Neri founded the Oratory to foster Christian life among the young. As we celebrate his feast day we pray for those who follow his way of life in serving the youth of our day. Through their good efforts, may young people come to know and love you and be inspired to live in truth and justice. We ask this through his intercession. Amen.

MAY 31

the visitation

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

prayer
Creator God, Mary and Elizabeth shared with each other the good news of your dramatic intervention in their lives. They found in that exchange the vision for a new world order. Encouraged by their witness, may we reach out to one another with our own stories of God’s life within us. In our sharing, may we find joy and hope, courage and clarity. Through us may your kingdom come. Amen