These are a selection of Prayers from the “Pilgrims prayer Book” published in 2006. Click on the Links below for the Prayer of your choice.

Bishop’s Message:

Dear Pilgrim,

Welcome to the Diocese of Ferns and to one of the most ancient pilgrimage sites in Ireland, Our Lady’s Island. The pilgrimage tradition at Our Lady’s Island stretches back to earliest Christian times. You are walking in the footsteps of previous generations of men, women and children who have been pilgrims down through the centuries.

A pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place. Our Lady’s Island, a place of martyrs, with its long tradition of devotion to Mary is surely such a place.

I welcome the publication of the Pilgrims Prayer Book and hope it will help you understand the rich tradition you are continuing and help you pray with even greater devotion.

I pray God’s blessings for you and commend your prayerful intentions to Mary, the Mother of God.

With every good wish and blessing, I remain,

Yours sincerely,

Denis Brennan

Bishop of Ferns

A Prayer to Our Lady of the Island.

Lady of the Island, Mary, Mother of God,
We come to you giving thanks and praise.
When you listened to the angel and received the Spirit,
You showed us how to have faith and courage.
Be with us now intercede for us with Jesus, and
He will answer our prayers, perform the miracle if you ask.
Bless and heal our lives and grant us our daily needs.
Amen.

Hail Holy Queen

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
Hail our life our sweetness and our hope,
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve,
To thee do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us,
And after this our exile,
show onto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary,
Pray for us O most Holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

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Everyday Prayers:

The Magnificat

Mary’s Hymn of Praise (Luke 1 : 46 – 56)

My soul glorifies the Lord,
My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her lowliness;
Henceforth, all ages will call me blessed.

The Almighty works marvels for me.
Holy his name!
His mercy is form age to age,
On those who fear him.

He puts forth his arm in strength
And scatters the proud-hearted.
He casts the mighty form their thrones
And raises the lowly.

He fills the starving with good things,
Sends the rich away empty.

He protects Israel, his servant,
Remembering his mercy,
The mercy promised to our fathers,
To Abraham and his sons for ever.

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary! That never was it known that anyone who fled to Thy protection, implored thy help or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto Thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother, to Thee I come; before Thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in Thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.

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The Angelus

To be said morning, noon, and night, to put us in mind that God the Son became man for our salvation.

V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary:
R. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary, etc.

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord:
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail Mary, etc.
V. And the Word was made Flesh:
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary, etc.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may be brought by His passion and cross to the glory of His resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.

May the divine assistance remain always with us and may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
R. Amen.

The Divine Praises

Blessed by God.
Blessed by His Holy Name.
Blessed by Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
Blessed by the name of Jesus.
Blessed by His Most Sacred Heart.
Blessed Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.
Blessed by the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed by her Holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed by her Glorious Assumption.
Blessed by the Name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed by St. Joseph, her Most chaste Spouse.
Blessed be God in his Angels and in his Saints.

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Morning Prayers:

P. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.

Introduction

God our Father in heaven, we praise, bless and thank you for the gift of a new day. We thank you for the nights sleep and rest which has restored and renewed us. Help us to appreciate all your blessings in our lives, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Morning Offering

All: Father in heaven I give you today,
All that I think, I do and I say.
Uniting it, with all that was done,
By Jesus Christ your dearest Son.
Amen.

Responsorial Psalm

R/My soul is thirsting for you my God.
1. O God you are my God, for you I long. R/
2. My body pines for you like a dry weary land without water. R/
3. For your love is better than life, my lips will speak your praise. R/
4. So I will bless you all my life, in your name I will lift up my hands. R/
5. My soul clings to you, your right hand holds me fast. R/
All: Glory be to the Father…

Blessing

P. Lord, be my strength and support this day.
Hold me by the hand and guide me in your way.
And may almighty God bless us all….
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Night Prayers:

P. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Introduction

I lift up my hands in prayer and bless the Lord through the night. We give thanks to God for another day and we remember all his blessings.
A silent moment for personal reflection…..

A Night Prayer

All: Save us Lord while we are awake,
Protect us while we sleep,
That we may keep watch with Christ,
And rest with Him in peace.
All: Glory be to the Father……
All: Hail Holy Queen, mother of mercy.
Hail our life our sweetness and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs
Mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then most gracious Advocate,
Your eyes of mercy towards us
And after this our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary,
Pray for us O holy Mother of God,

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Blessing

P. May the Lord grant us all a quiet night and a perfect end.
All: Amen.
P. Let us bless the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.

Reflection: The Smaller Beatitudes

Blessed are you who can laugh at yourselves: you will have no end of fun.

Blessed are you who can tell a mountain from a molehill: you will be saved a lot of bother.

Blessed are you who know how to relax without looking for excuses: you are on the way to becoming wise.

Blessed are you who know when to be quiet and listen: you will learn a lot of new things.

Blessed are you who are sane enough not to take yourselves too seriously: you will be valued by those around you.

Blessed are you if you can take small things seriously and face serious things calmly: you will go far in life.

Blessed are you if you can appreciate a smile and forget a frown: you will walk on the sunny side of the street.

Blessed are you who think before acting and pray before thinking: you will avoid many blunders.

Above all: Blessed are you who recognise the Lord in all whom you meet: the light of truth shines in your life for you have found true wisdom.

(Author Unknown)

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Native American Prayer

Blessing: May the sun bring you new strength by day;
may the moon softly restore you by night,
may the rain wash away your fears
and the breeze invigorate your being.
May you, all the days of your life,
walk gently through the world
and know its beauty.
And may your days
be good and long upon the earth.