We understand that our pupils and members of our Cardinal Heenan community might be seeking prayers to guide them through different aspects of their lives. Whether you're looking for a prayer to provide comfort or for celebration, please find prayers for different occasions below.

Children's Morning Prayer

Lord, in the morning I start each day, By taking a moment to bow and pray. I start with thanks, and then give praise For all your kind and loving ways.
Today if sunshine turns to rain, If a dark cloud brings some pain, I won't doubt or hide in fear For you, my God, are always near.
I will travel where you lead; I will help my friends in need. Where you send me I will go; With your help I'll learn and grow.
Hold my family in your hands, As we follow your commands. And I will keep you close in sight Until I crawl in bed tonight.
Amen.
-- Mary Fairchild

Children's Bedtime Prayers

Father, we thank thee for the night, And for the pleasant morning light; For rest and food and loving care, And all that makes the day so fair.
Help us to do the things we should, To be to others kind and good; In all we do, in work or play, To grow more loving every day.
-- Rebecca Weston - 1890
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep: May God guard me through the night And wake me with the morning light. Amen.
-- Traditional
I hear no voice, I feel no touch, I see no glory bright; But yet I know that God is near, In darkness as in light.
He watches ever by my side, And hears my whispered prayer: The Father for His little child Both night and day doth care.
-- Author Unknown

Children's Prayers for Protection

God in heaven hear my prayer, keep me in thy loving care. Be my guide in all I do, Bless all those who love me too. Amen.
Angel of God, my Guardian dear, To whom God's love commits me here; Ever this day, be at my side To light and guard To rule and guide.
Amen
 

Prayer for Peace

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen. --St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

A Prayer of Repentance

O my God, I am heartily sorry for Having offended Thee, And I detest all my sins, Because I dread the loss of heaven, And the pains of hell; But most of all because They offend Thee, my God, Who are all good and Deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, With the help of Thy grace To confess my sins, To do penance And to amend my life.
Amen.
--Reverend James Gibbons (1884)

Healing Prayer

Dear Lord of Mercy and Father of Comfort,
You are the One I turn to for help in moments of weakness and times of need. I ask you to be with your servant in this illness. Psalm 107:20 says that you send out your Word and heal. So then, please send your healing Word to your servant. In the name of Jesus, drive out all infirmity and sickness from his body.
Dear Lord, I ask you to turn this weakness into strength, suffering into compassion, sorrow into joy, and pain into comfort for others. May your servant trust in your goodness and hope in your faithfulness, even in the middle of this suffering. Let him be filled with patience and joy in your presence as he waits for your healing touch.
Please restore your servant to full health, dear Father. Remove all fear and doubt from his heart by the power of your Holy Spirit, and may you, Lord, be glorified through his life.
As you heal and renew your servant, Lord, may he bless and praise you.
All of this I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Prayer for a Sick Friend

Dear Lord,
You know my friend/family member so much better than I do. You know his/her sickness and the burden he carries. You also know his heart. Lord, I ask you to be with my friend now as you work in his life.
Lord, let your will be done in my friend's life. If there is a sin that needs to be confessed and forgiven, please help him to see his need and confess.
Lord, I pray for my friend just as your Word tells me to pray, for healing. I believe you hear this earnest prayer from my heart and that it is powerful because of your promise. I have faith in you, Lord, to heal my friend, but I also trust in the plan you have for his life.
Lord, I don't always understand your ways. I don't know why my friend has to suffer, but I trust you. I ask that you look with mercy and grace toward my friend. Nourish his spirit and soul in this time of suffering and comfort him with your presence.
Let my friend know you are there with him through this difficulty. Give him strength. And may you, through this difficulty, be glorified in his life and also in mine.

Comfort in Grief/Loss

Dear Lord, Please help me in this time of loss and overwhelming grief. I don't understand why my life is filled with this pain and heartache. But I turn my eyes to you as I seek to find the strength to trust in your faithfulness. I will wait on you and not despair; I will quietly wait for your salvation. My heart is crushed, but I know that you will not abandon me forever. Please show me your compassion, Lord. Help me through the pain so that I will hope in you again. I believe this promise in your Word to send me fresh mercy each day. Though I can't see past today, I trust your great love will never fail me. Amen.

Dealing with Stress and Anxiety

Dear Lord, I need you now because I am full of stress and anxiety. Reading your Word brings comfort, as I ask you to come and take my heavy burdens. I take each burden, one by one, and lay them at your feet. Please carry them for me so that I don't have to. Replace them with your humble and gentle yoke so that I will find rest for my soul today. I receive your gift of peace of mind and heart. Thank you that I can lie down tonight in peace and sleep. I know that you, Lord, will keep me safe. I am not afraid because you are always with me. Please keep me daily, Lord, in your perfect peace. Amen

Prayer for the Work Day

Almighty God, thank Thee for the job of this day. May we find gladness in all its toil and difficulty, its pleasure and success, and even in its failure and sorrow. We would look always away from ourselves, and behold the glory and the need of the world that we may have the will and the strength to bring the gift of gladness to others; that with them we stand to bear the burden and heat of the day and offer Thee the praise of work well done.
Amen.
--Bishop Charles Lewis Slattery (1867-1930)

Mealtime Blessings

Bless us, oh Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord. Amen. --Traditional
For food that stays our hunger, For rest that brings us ease, For homes where memories linger, We give our thanks for these. --Traditional
Lord, make us truly thankful for these and all other blessings. I ask this in Jesus Christ's name, Amen. --Traditional

Wedding Prayer

Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for this beautiful day. You have fulfilled the desire of our hearts to be together in this life.
We pray that your blessing will always rest upon our home; that joy, peace and contentment would dwell within us as we live together in unity, and that all who enter our home may experience the strength of your love.
Father, help us to follow and serve you with an ever growing commitment because of our union. Guide us into greater love and sacrifice as we care for each other's needs, knowing you will care for us. May we always be as keenly aware of your presence as we sense it today on our wedding day. And may our devotion in marriage be a radiant reflection of your love for us.
In the name of Jesus, our Savior, we pray.
Amen.

Mother's Day Prayer

My mom, I love her And that's why I pray Not just today on this Mother's Day
But with each remembrance Of the love she's expressed My thankfulness to the Lord I've professed
For my life began In a warm and safe place Then grew more secure in Mom's tender embrace
When I was little She taught me to crawl Then to walk and run, and get up when I fall
Nurtured and cared for She raised me to stand Lifted, supported, by her loving hand
She believed in me Inspired me to dream Nothing was impossible for me, it seemed
It was her example That pointed the way To the life in Christ I know today
My mom, I love her On this Mother's Day She's the reason I'm taking this moment to pray
My mom, I love her Let her know, dear Lord Please bless her with the most abundant reward
--Mary Fairchild

Father’s Day Prayer

God our Father, in your wisdom and love you made all things. Bless these men, that they may be strengthened as Christian fathers. Let the example of their faith and love shine forth. Grant that we, their sons and daughters, may honor them always with a spirit of profound respect. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen