St. Therese of Lisieux once said: “You know well enough that our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them.”

We say many prayers in our lives, daily prayers, prayers during Holy Mass, prayers for our families, for our livelihood, for others, for ourselves. Prayers of thanksgiving, of petition, of fears and doubts, of praise and worship. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches: “From the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil.” As Jesus repeatedly emphasized during his earthly ministry, and Christian writers and saints have re-echoed over the years, it is not so much the content of our prayers that matters as the content of our hearts. All that matters to God is that we love enough to pray.

We share with you some prayers that are very powerful when anchored on our love for Jesus and prayed with love in our hearts.

“Just for today, what does it matter, O Lord, if the future is dark? To pray now for tomorrow – I am not able. Keep my heart only for today; give me your protection today. Grant me your light – Just for today.” – St. Therese of Lisieux

“I know I am supposed to forgive others, Lord, but today I find it especially difficult. I feel so much hurt and anger and sadness; and though I am unhappy, it seems easier to stay upset than to let go and forgive. Help me to see those who have hurt me as You see them – with love, understanding, and compassion. Grant me patience, grant me kindness, grant me peace. Pour into me your spirit of charity; help me to forgive like You”. – Catholic Digest

“Lord, bless this house and all who live in it. Hallow it with your presence and your peace. Fill it with joy and laughter. Let it be a place where love abounds, where hurts are healed, where sadness finds solace, where differences are reconciled, and where pardon is freely given.” — David Weston

“May we bless our neighbors with our mouths as well as with our hands.” — Peter Comaish

“Lord, draw near to my husband today. Let his mind turn often to You and his heart be set on your will. Strengthen him to do his work well and prosper in all he undertakes. Help him where he is weak and teach him how to rely on You in everything. Give him wisdom for our family. Teach me to respect and support him. And use me, Lord, to make him the man You want him to be. Increase our love and protect our marriage from evil. Establish my husband in your truth and your ways.” — Anonymous

“Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy;
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy;
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy;
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.” — St. Augustine

“Go carefully little one (my child). May your journey be safe, your arrival secure. May the guarding of the great God, be between your shoulders, the justice of the gentle God be in your footstep, the love of the compassionate God be in your hands. May God protect you in every situation and grace you to give and receive blessing.” — Kate McIhagga

The above prayers are among the many prayers that are included in the pamphlet entitled “Prayers for Every Time in a Woman’s Life” published by Catholic Digest, (C 2006).