The sign of the Cross
The sign of the Cross teaches us the way to salvation and gives us the strength to carry it out and protects us from the enemies of our souls:
You are from the earth, and the sign of the Cross shows you that you come from God and that you belong to God. An honor indeed!
You are ignorant, and the Cross guides and educates you!
You are poor, and the Cross is the treasure that enriches you!
You are a soldier, and the Cross is the weapon that triumphs over your enemy!
You are a traveler, and the Cross is your guide to the kingdom!
Cross of Christ protect us; Cross of Christ fight for us; Cross of Christ save us. Amen.
Prayer in preparation for fasting
Lord, do not turn away from us on this blessed day.
Thou who gave sight to the blind, open our eyes so that we may gaze in wonder at thy great love.
Thou who healed the paralytic by forgiving his sins, have mercy on us.
Thou who cured the leper and saved him from his disease, purify us from the stains of sin.
Thou who raised from the dead the centurion’s daughter and thy friend Lazarus, raise us from our sinful state.
Thou who blessed thy disciples before thy Ascension, bless us, O Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of presentation of the senses
Lord Jesus,
Take my tongue: may it express thy will, and may my silence be communication with thee!
Take my ears: grant that they may listen to the voice of duty. Thy voice only, Jesus!
Take my eyes: allow them to perceive thee in everyone and act accordingly!
Take my hands and feet: may they be graceful in thy service and always carry out thy desires!
Take my spirit: may it be illuminated by thy dazzling light!
Take my heart: make it the throne of thy love! Amen.
Prayer of unity
Lord, thou who gathers together through thy unique and holy will, the hearts of thy sons, allow my soul the gift of loving that which you command and desiring that which you promise. Grant that my soul be drawn instantly to the wealth that is real, even if it should drown in the midst of this tormented world.
O Jesus, may we follow in thy footsteps and those of our blessed Father Francis; may we disregard the riches of this world and win Heaven’s eternal riches. Grant us this grace… thou who lives and reigns in the Glory of God the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer of mothers
Remember O Lord that during Your stay on earth, You were cheered by children whose mothers presented them to You with trust and love so that You bless them with your holy hands. You were treating them with kindness and showing them evidence on love and compassion. One day, You have ordered: let the children and do not prohibit them from coming to me because for those is the kingdom of heaven. Thus, I offer You my children and consecrate them to Your divine glory. Look at them with tenderness and protect them from every evil and danger by spirit and body; bless them and make them grow with wisdom, age and grace before God and men. Make them detest vice and fill their heart with passion for virtue, make them diligent to know You, alighted with Your love and active in Your service. Make them give faithfulness to Your true, one, universal and apostolic church, without which there is no salvation, and that they may obey its orders and let themselves be guided by its counsels, so as to pursue the path of Your divine commandments.
And you, Mary, Mother of Jesus, be a mother of my children to protect them with all the members of my family. Amen.