Patron Saint Prayers

To Our Blessed Mother
We fly to your protection, most holy Mother of God; please listen to our petitions and needs, and deliver us from all dangers, ever glorious and blessed Virgin Mary.
Mary, our model and mother, by your obedience and patience you have taught us how to be true children of God. Please help us by your powerful assistance to overcome all our weaknesses, and to fulfill perfectly our tasks in life.

By your compassionate aid may we ever stand in spirit with you beneath the cross of Christ so that we may also rejoice with you in your divine Son's triumphant victory over sin and death.

In your maternal kindness help us to be faithful to prayers in the company of God's Church as you were one with the Apostles in the upper room as you waited for the promised Spirit of Pentecost.

With your gracious assistance may we be near you in the glory of Christ's kingdom come to sing with you and all the faithful the eternal praise of God. Amen.

Michelle

St. Michael The Archangel - Pray for Us!



Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

Be our safeguard against the wiles and wickedness of the devil.

Rebuke him, O God, we humbly pray,

and do thou,

O Prince of the Heavenly Host,

by the power of God,

cast into Hell Satan and all the evil spirits,

who prowl about the world seeking the ruin and destruction of souls.

Amen.

Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us.

Saint Michael the Archangel

Michael is an Archangel and the leader of the angels who remained faithful to God. His name means "Who is like God?", which was the motto of the Angels who fought Satan, who thought of himself as a god. At their head he overcame Lucifer and the fallen angels and cast them out of heaven. "And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon." St. John speaks of the great conflict at the end of time, which reflects also the battle in heaven at the beginning of time. Many times he has aided those who were faithful to God; he will again come to the aid of the faithful.

Tradition gives to St. Michael four offices:

To fight Satan.
To rescue the souls of the faithful from the power of the enemy, especially at the hour of death.
To be the champion of God's people, the Jews in the Old Law, the Christians in the New Testament; (therefore he was the patron of the Church).
To call away from earth and bring men's souls to judgment

St. Michael is Patron Saint of those in Law Enforcement.

Prayer to Saint Thomas Aquinas


O Saint Thomas Aquinas, fill me with a desire like yours for holiness and study of sacred doctrine. Help me to understand the things you taught of God and to imitate how you lived. Guide my every thought, word and deed so as to be worthy of your company, with God in heaven. Amen.

Triumphant Leader, a hymn to the Most Pure Mother of God

Triumphant Leader,
To you belongs our prize of victory!
And since you saved us from adversity,
We offer you our thanks:
We are your people. O Mother of God!
So, as you have that invincible power,
Continue to deliver us from danger
That we may cry out to you:
Hail O Virgin and Bride ever-pure!

Taken from the Acathist Hymn,
Melkite Eastern Catholic Church

Office of Supplication to the Most Pure Mother of God

Third Ode

O Lord, Creator of the dwellers of the highest heavens
and Builder of the Church, strengthen my love for You.
O Supreme Goal of all desire, Uplifter of the faithful,
You alone are the Lover of Mankind.

O Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

O Virgin, Mother of God, I choose you to be my protection and
the shelter of my life. Direct me towards your haven,
For you are the channel of all good things
and the support of the faithful,
O you who alone are worthy of all praise!

O Most Holy Mother of God, save us.

I beseech you, O Virgin: dispel the troubles of my soul,
quiet the surge of my despair;
for you, O bride of God, have carried Christ,
The Prince of Peace, and you alone are perfectly pure.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

O you who gave birth to the Doer of Good,
to the Cause of all Delights,
Let the wealth of His generosity abound within all souls,
for since you have borne the almighty Christ,
you have power to act according to your will,
O you who are blessed of God!

Now and always and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O Virgin, help me who am pressed by incurable ills and
distressing passions, for I know that you, all-blameless one,
are a perfect and abundant treasury of healings.

Deliver your servants from all dangers, O Mother of God,
for next to God, you are our stronghold, our indestructible fortress.

O you who are worthy of all praise, O Mother of God,
look down upon the ills of my afflicted body,
and heal the infirmities of my soul.

[Note: This is only an excerpt from the Paracleisis to the Theotokos]

Byzantine Daily Worship, Alleluia Press, 1969, p. 942
Melkite Eastern Catholic Church service book

The Acathist Hymn to the Mother of God

Blessed is our God at all times, now and ever
and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Canon - First Ode

I shall open my mouth,
and it shall be filled with the Spirit,
and I shall sing a hymn of praise
to the Mother and Queen;
with great joy I shall celebrate and sing her praise.

Troparia

O Most Holy Mother of God, save us!

As the Archangel beheld you, immaculate one,
a living scroll of Christ which the Spirit had sealed,
he cried out to you:
"Hail, vessel of joy, in whom the curse of Eve is lifted!"

O Most Holy Mother of God, save us!

Hail, O Virgin, bride of God,
restoration of Adam and destruction of Hades!
Hail, all-blameless one,
unique palace of our King!
Hail, fiery throne of the Almighty!

Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Hail, O you who alone gave rise to the unfading Rose!
Hail, O you who bore the fragrant Apple in such perfume
as to be pleasing to the King of All!
Hail, salvation of the word, O you, the ever-Virgin!

Now and always and for ever and ever. Amen.

Hail, treasury of purity who raised us from our fall!
Hail, O Lady, fragrant lily perfuming all the faithful,
sweet scented incense and ointment of great price!


Byzantine Daily Worship, p. 960 (continued below)
Melkite Eastern Catholic Church service book

ACATHIST HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF GOD (continued)

THIRD ODE (note: There is no second ode)

O Mother of God, living and overflowing fountain,
strengthen those who sing your praise and
who gather now to honor you,
and on this occasion of your diving commemoration,
deem them worthy of the glorious crown of heaven.

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

Hail, mystical earth,
who without plowing have given forth a Wheat divine!
Hail, living table who support the Bread of life!
Hail, O Lady, unfailing fountain of the Lliving Water!

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

Hail, O Maiden who have borne a Child unto the faithful
and yet remained immaculate!
Hail, O you who have borne unto the world the Lamb of God
Who takes away the sins of the whole world!
Hial, O fervent intercessor for the remission of sins!

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Hail, O radiant dawn who alone have borne Christ the Sun,
Source of Light!
Hail, O dwelling-place of Light!
Hail, dispeller of darkness and terror of the demons of gloom!

Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Hail, O Lady, unique gateway
through whom the Lord along has passed!
Hail, O you who, through your maternity,
have shattered the locks of Hades!
Hail, divine access towards salvation for the saved,
O you so perfectly worthy of our praise!

FOURTH ODE

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

With faith, we raise our voices in melodious hymns
to you who are worthy of all praise:
Hail, fertile mountain raised aloft by the Spirit!
Hail, lighthouse!
Hail, vessel containing the Manna,
O you so sweet to the taste of pious men!

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

Hail, Immaculate Lady who have brought pardon to the world!
Hail, O ladder who through grace have lifted us from the earth!
Hail, O bridge who in truth do lead from death to life
those who sing your praise.

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

Hail, O pure one, more lofty than the heavens!
Hail, for without pain you have borne within your womb
the Foundation of the earth!
Hail, O murex shell,
who with your blood have dyed a robe of purple
for the King of Hosts!

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Hail, O Lady, true Mother of the Lawgiver
Who granted pardon to those who broke His Law!
Hail, O Lady, unfathomable depth, inaccessible summit,
O ever-Virgin through whom we have been made divine!

Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

We sing a hymn of thanksgiving to you
who have plaited for the world
a crown no other hand can fashion,
and we cry out to you:
O Virgin Hail!
O fortress and protection,
shelter and blessed haven unto all!


Byzantine Daily Worship, Alleluia Press, 1969, p. 961-2
Melkite Catholic Church service book

Heavenly Father, the Blessed Virgin Mary was dedicated to You by her parents when she was three. In the temple, she joined the girls who spent their days praying, reading Scripture, and serving the temple priests. Her holiness was very evident, and the high priest thought that You probably had great plans for her. I ask Mary to pray for the plans You have for my life. Where I have strayed onto a road of my own choosing, give me her hand to guide me back to where You want me. Where I need to wait for a new plan to begin, give me the grace remain patient and say, "Your will be done." Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for me. Amen.

ACATHIST HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF GOD (continued)

FIFTH ODE

The whole universe is rapt in amazement
at the sight of your divine glory,
for you are a virgin, and have not known man,
and yet in your womb you have borne God, the Master of all;
you have given birth to a Son Who is not bound by time,
A Son Who grants salvation to those who sing your praise.

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

Hail, all-blameless one who have borne the Way of Life,
and have saved the world from the flood of sin!
Hail, immaculate one!
Hail, betrothed of God to whom was spoken an awesome mystery!
Hail, O dwelling-place of the Master of creation!

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

Hail, immaculate one, strength and fortress of mankind!
Hail, temple of glory and destruction of Hades!
Hail, light of every bride and joy of every angel!
Hail, assistance of those who pray to you with faith!

O most holy mother of God, save us!

Hail, O Lady, fiery chariot of the Word,
living paradise holding in your midst the Tree of Life,
The Lord Himself!
The Lord whose sweetness
revives the sinners who partake of Him with faith!

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Strengthened through your power,
we cry out to you with faith:
Hail, city of the King of the Universe,
of whom songs and praise and glory have been sung
and are worth hearing.
Hail, O mountain unhewn and depth never fathomed!

Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Hail, immaculate Mother of God, spacious tent of the Word!
Hail, O wondrous shell from whom came forth the Pearl divine!
Hail, O you who are all-magnificent,
and who have reconciled with God all those who bless your name,
O Mother of God!

SIXTH ODE (celebrates the feast of the Annunciation)

Come, all you people whose mind is upon God:
Come, let us clap our hands and
celebrate this divine and glorious feast of the Mother of God.
Let us send up glory to God Who was born of her!

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

Hail, O perfect purity,
immaculate bridal-chamber of the Word,
cause of the deification of us all,
sweet-sounding echo of the voice of the prophets!
Hail, O glory of the apostles!

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

From you, O Virgin, came forth the dew
through which the flame of paganism was made to die,
and so we cry out to you:
Hail, O Virgin,
dewy fleece whom Gideon in olden times had seen.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Behold, we cry out Hail to you!
Be unto us a haven and a shelter,
for we are tossed by heavy seas;
Be a refuge in the ocean of our troubles,
save us from the snares of our enemy!

Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O cause of our joy, be gracious to us:
enlighten our minds, so that we may cry out to you:
Hail, O burning and unconsumed bush,
all-brilliant cloud spread out above the faithful!


Byzantine Daily Worship, Alleluia Press, 1969, p. 962-4
Melkite Catholic Church service book

ACATHIST HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF GOD (continued)

SEVENTH ODE

The three young men divinely inspired
refused to offer worship to creatures instead of the Creator:
they had the courage to overcome the threatening fire,
and sang out joyfully:
"You are worthy of all praise, O Lord, God of our Fathers:
Blessed are You!"

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

We praise you and cry out to you:
Hail, mystical chariot of the living Sun!
True vine who have given forth a full-grown cluster,
Dripping with spiritual wine to fill with joy
those who faithfully sing your praise!

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

Hail, O spouse of God who have borne the Healer of mankind!
O mystical rod on whom there came to blossom
a Flower that never fades!
Hail, O our Lady:
In you we find the fullness of Joy;
through you, we inherit eternal Life!

O most holy mother of God, save us!

O Lady, the most brilliant speakers fall short
when they sing your praise,
for you are set above the Seraphim
for having given birth to Christ the King!
Oh, beg Him to deliver from every snare
all those who come with faith to bow before you.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

The extremities of the earth bless you and sing your praise:
in their love, they cry out to you:
Hail, immaculate one, holy book
in whom the Word is written by the hand of the Father.
O Mother of God, pray him to write the names of your servants
in the Book of Life!

Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

We your servants implore you, O immaculate one:
we bow before you and surrender our hearts to you.
Be kind to us, and save us
who are drowning in countless sorrows:
Protect your flock against the snares of the enemy.

EIGHTH ODE

The maternity of the Mother of God,
prefigured by the three young men in he furnace,
preserved them against the power of fire:
But now that this maternity has come to be accomplished,
it brings the whole universe together and makes it sing:
"Praise the Lord, all you His works, and exalt Him forever!"

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

Immaculate one, you have received in your womb
The Word Himself,
and have borne the Sustainer of the universe;
you have fed with your milk the Nourisher of creation!
To Him therefore we sing:
"O works of the Lord, praise Him and exalt Him forever!"

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

O holy and all-immaculate Virgin,
Moses foresaw in the burning bush
the mystery of your tremendous maternity;
and the three young men foretold it
and described it in clear words
as they stood unscathed in the midst of the flames.
Therefore we praise you forevermore.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Through you, the dead are returned to life,
for you have given birth to the Author of Life!
Through you, the dumb are made eloquent,
the lepers whole; sicknesses are driven away,
and the multitude of evil spirits
that roam around the world are vanquished,
O Virgin, salvation of manking!

Now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

O you who have given to the world the Salvation
through whom we have been lifted from the earth:
Hail! blessed and immaculate one,
our protection and our strength,
refuse and shelter of those who cry out:
"O works of the Lord, praise the Lord and bless Him forever."


Byzantine Daily Worship, Alleluia Press, 1969, p. 964-966
Melkite Catholic Church service book

ACATHIST HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF GOD (final installment)

NINTH ODE

Let every human being take up a torch,
and let him dance with joy in his spirit!
Let the whole immaterial creation celebrate this feast
of the Mother of God, and cry out:
Hail, glorious Mother of God, ever-pure and ever-virgin!

TROPARIA

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

O Maiden, deliver us who through you have become
partakers of the Eternal Joy,
so that we may be worthy to hail you:
deliver us from all temptations, from cruel assaults,
and from all the miseries that threaten us
because of our many sins!

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

You are for us an illumination and a safeguard,
and so we cry out to you:
Hail, unwaning star, heralding the great Sun into the world!
Hail, immaculate one who have opened the gates of Eden!
Hail, heavenly pillar guiding mankind towards the life of heaven!

O most holy Mother of God, save us!

Let us reverently stand in the house of God,
and let us sing: Hail, Queen of the universe!
Hail, Mary, the Lady of us all!
Hail, only immaculate one, most beautiful among women!
Hail, vessel who have contained the everlasting perfume
that was poured into you!

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Hail, eternal Virgin, dove in whom Mercy was born!
Hail, pride of every saint, and crown of every martyr!
Hail, divine beauty of the just,
salvation unto all of us the faithful!

Now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Lord, spare your inheritance and dismiss our sins;
O Christ, accept the supplication of the Woman who,
without seed, conceived You in her womb,
when in your great mercy you deigned to assume a human form.

KONTAKION OF THE ANNUNCIATION

I am your own, O Mother of God!
To you, Protectress and Leader,
my songs of victory!
To you who saved me from danger,
my hymn of thanksgiving!
In your invincible might,
deliver me from all danger,
that I may sing to you:
"Hail, O Bride and Virgin ever-pure!"

Resp: Hail, O Bride and Virgin ever-pure!


Byzantine Daily Worship, Alleluia Press, 1969, p. 966-967
Melkite Eastern Catholic Church service book

To continue with the Chants of Praise and the conclusion of this
Acathist Hymn to the Theotokos, please visit:

http://www.byzantines.net/st-therese/Acathist.htm

Powerful Prayer to St. Michael and all the Angels:

O LORD JESUS CHRIST, Son of God, have mercy on me.
Today, I give You my soul, body and will.
Humbly, I ask You to live in me and direct me
in ways pleasing to You.
For help and assistance to please You,
I call upon Your Holy Angels.

O HEAVENLY ANGELS OF GOD,
you serve God at all times,
you are protectors of God's people and
enemies of the devils.
I bow before you, blessed Angels,
and rejoice in your greatness.
You stand, never sleeping;
with faith you watch and
with swiftness serve the will of God.
Tireless, you fight and always triumph,
having no other care but to chase away
the enemies of God and of His creation.
O blessed guardians of God's people,
I respect you and thank you for the help,
guidance and protection you give us every day.
Above all, I bless you for your care of me,
an unworthy sinner.

O HOLY ANGEL, guardian of my soul, and
ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL, be my helpers.
Do not be offended at me, a sinner,
do not leave me alone;
guard me day and night until with true repentance
I give my soul into the hands of God my Maker.
Save me from all enemies, seen and unseen,
that I may not keep repeating my sins.
I pray that upon my death
I may be found worthy of seeing you,
and that you will be standing around me to bring
my soul to heaven,
so I may worship before the face of God. Amen.

--Adapted from a prayer by St. John of Damascus

Scripture guide to St. Michael:
Jude 1:9
Daniel 10:1 - 11:1
Daniel 12:1
Rev. 12:7
Psalm 90 (91)

CONCLUDING PRAYERS OF THE PARACLEISIS

Let us sing the praise of the Virgin
more lofty than the Cherubim,
more pure than the lights of heaven:
let us sing the Queen of creation
who delivered us from the curse.

--My body ailed, and my soul was sick
because of the multitude of my sins.
To you I come for shelter,
O Woman full of grace: be my help,
O you, the hope of those who are beyond all hope!

--O Lady, Mother of the Saviour,
receive the supplications of your unworthy servants:
deign to intercede before your Son;
be our mediator, O Queen of creation!

--O Mother of God, worthy of all praise,
we sing to you this hymn, exulting joyfully:
O Mother of God,
together with the Forerunner
and with all the saints,
pray that your Son may have mercy on us.

--O you all the hosts of angels,
and you the Forerunner,
and you the Twelve Apostles,
and you all the saints,
pray with the Mother of God
for the salvation of our souls.

MAY THE LIPS of the heretics be sealed,
of those who refuse to bow before
your honorable and peace-giving icon,
painted by Luke the Apostle and great saint.

INVOCATION TO THE HOLY TRINITY

Holy is God!
Holy the Mighty One!
Holy the Immortal one!
Have mercy on us! (Three times)

--Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us.
Lord, forgive us our sins.
Master, pardon our transgressions.
Holy One, look upon us and heal our infirmities
for Your Name's sake.

Lord have mercy (three times)

--Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

TROPARIA OF PENITENCE

Have mercy on us, O God,
according to Your great mercy.
We pray You, hear and have mercy!

Lord have mercy!

--Let us pray for the preservation of this chuch (house) and of every village and city against starvation and plagues, earthquakes and floods, fires and wars both foreign and civil, and that our God, who is kindly and the Lover of Mankind, may forgive our sins and hold back his just wrath, and that He may have mercy on us.

Lord have mercy!

--Hear us, O God our Saviour, hope of all those who live at the far ends of the world and of those far out at sea; be kind to us, O Master, forgive us our sins and have mercy on us, for You ar the gracious ONe and the Lover of Mankind, and we send up glory to You, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

Glory to You, O Christ, our God and our hope,
Glory to You!

--Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Lord have mercy!

[When a priest is present]

In the name of the Lord, Father, give the blessing.

May Christ, our true God, who is the gracious Lover of Mankind, save us through the prayers of His all-pure Mother, of all the saints, and of the glorious apostles worthy of all priase, for He is truly gracious and the Lover of Mankind.

FINAL HYMN

GRACIOUS VIRGIN, victory will come to those
who put their trust in the strength of your arm,
for we sinners who stoop with the weight of our sins
have none before God to please for us but you.

--O Mother of God most high,
we bend our knee to you:
deliver your faithful servants
from every kind of trouble.

--You are joy to the distressed,
you are strength to the oppressed,
you are food to those who sink into despair.

--You console all the strangers,
you support all the blind,
and you come and visit all the sick.
Your are shelter to the weary,
you are comfort to the crushed,
you are heavenly assistance to the orphans.

--You are the Mother of God most high,
and so we pray to you:
hasten, O immaculate one,
and safe your faithful servants!

--In you is all my hope, O Mother of God,
place me under the wings of your protection.

Through the prayers of our holy Fathers,
O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and save us.
Amen.

Byzantine Daily Worship, Alleluia Press, 1969, p. 952-3
Melkite Eastern Catholic Church service book

INTERCESSORY PRAYER

O Lord Jesus Christ,
Son and Word of the Living God,
through the prayers of the Most Pure Theotokos,
and of all the angels and saints,
have mercy on us and save us.

[Usually prayed while making a prostration.]