Prayers of the Faithful
These prayers, submitted by parish groups, societies and individuals, have been read at Sunday Mass over the past month.
Reader: Friday was the Feast of the English martyrs who laid down their lives so courageously for Almighty God and His Church. May their heroic sacrifice encourage us to maintain our devotion to the Mass and the Sacraments and Fidelity to the Holy Catholic Church and all that it teaches. Lord hear us.
Reader: This week marks the 7th anniversary of the election of Pope Benedict as Supreme Pontiff. May he continue in good health to lead the Church here on earth and may his teaching authority lead others towards the one true fold. Lord hear us.
Prayer: Today (Low Sunday) is also Divine Mercy Sunday. We ask to follow the example of St. Faustina in a life of prayer, devotion, penance for our sins and in proclaiming the gospel message by words and deeds in our everyday life. Lord hear us.
Prayer: We pray for our young people especially those soon receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, and those who will make their First Holy Communion in two weeks time. May they grow in the faith and in the love of Christ and may the Holy Spirit enter their hearts and minds. Lord hear us.
Prayer: We pray for the sick of the parish both at home and in the hospitals.
We pray also for those recently deceased, especially Jeremiah Smith and Gertrude Dale
May they receive comfort and consolation. Lord hear us.
Prayer: May is the month of Mary. Hence we pray for our country - the dowry of Mary and we pray that the Faith founded by Christ Himself will return to its shores and touch the hearts of those who are so far away from Almighty God and do not recognise His saving grace. Lord hear us.
Prayer: As we prepare for our annual May Procession today, we pray to Our Lady, the Queen of Heaven, and ask her to intercede for us, as we say together. Hail Mary.......
Would you like to produce the Bidding Prayers for Mass (on a rota basis)? Contact Gill or Peter Clarke (tel: 01983 566740).
Prayers of the Month
These prayers can be found on the kneelers in front of the three statues in St. Mary's.
St. Anthony of Padua
St. Anthony (1195-1231) the Portuguese Franciscan preacher famous for his comprehensive and detailed knowledge of the bible. For this reason he is often depicted holding a child, upon an open bible. He was canonized within a year of his death and his feast day is on 13th June. St. Anthony is the patron saint of lost souls, but is often more popularly recognised as the patron saint of lost property.
St. Anthony, your love of God and concern for His creatures made you worthy, while on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which you were always ready to lend for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore you to obtain for me...
(State your intention(s) here...)
The answer to my prayer may require a miracle. Even so, you are the saint of miracles.
Gentle and loving St. Anthony, whose heart is ever full of human sympathy, take my petition to the Infant Saviour for Whom you have such great love, and the gratitude of my heart will be yours.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-97) known as the "Little Flower". She was a French Carmelite nun of great spirituality who was canonized in 1925. Her relics were venerated in England 2009.
They were present in St. John's Cathedral, Portsmouth on September 16th / 17th.
Her statue here in St. Mary's also reminds us of the Carmelite Convent that was once in Star Street, Ryde until 1915.
Dear Little Flower of Carmel, bearing so patiently the disappointments and delays allowed by God, and preserving in the depths of your soul an unchanging peace,
because you sought only God's Will, ask for me complete conformity to that adorable Will
in all trials and disappointments of life. If not it is true I shall feel that refusal keenly, but I too wish only God's Will, and I pray in the words you used, "His Will may ever be perfectly fulfilled in me."
St. Joseph
Husband of Mary, foster father of Jesus and patron saint of a happy death. St. Joseph was declared patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius lX in 1870 and the patron saint of workers by Pius XII in 1955.
Blessed Joseph, husband of Mary, be with us this day. You protected and cherished the Virgin; loving the Child Jesus as your Son, you rescued Him from the danger of death.
Defend the Church, the household of God, purchased by the Blood of Christ.
Guardian of the Holy Family, be with us in our trials. May your prayers obtain for us
the strength to flee from error and wrestle with the powers of corruption so that in life we may grow in holiness and in death rejoice in the crown of victory. Amen.
Prayer before a Crucifix
Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself on my knees in your sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul, I pray and beseech you that you would impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, with a true repentance of my sins, and a firm desire for amendment, while with deep affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself and mentally contemplate your five most precious wounds; having before my eyes that which David spoke in prophecy of you, O good Jesus: "They pierced my hands and my feet; they have numbered all my bones".
Deceased Parishioners
Please pray for the deceased parishioners of St. Mary's whose anniversaries occur in April:
| Joan Martin | 1994 | Stephen Wooler | 1994 |
| Maureen Stevens | 1994 | Maurice Donohue | 1994 |
| Colin Hirst | 1995 | Rosanna Jeffries | 1996 |
| Maria Spinelli | 2000 | Victor Nye | 2000 |
| Beatrice Rawlings | 2000 | Hilda Salter | 2001 |
| Olwyn Rudge | 2005 | Peggy Oglander | 2006 |
| Isabel Matyjaszek | 2006 | John Smallwood | 2007 |
| Charles Byrne | 2007 | Denis Smith | 2009 |
| Miles Jervis | 2009 | Jack Howe | 2009 |
| Bridget Baker | 2010 | Norman White | 2010 |
Please pray for deceased parishioners whose anniversaries occur in May:
| Eileen Dunne | 1994 | Stephen Philimore | 1997 |
| Hilda Rann | 1998 | Mary Hewison | 1998 |
| Patrick Triscott | 1999 | John Loughlin | 1999 |
| Maureen Reid | 2000 | Henrietta Rickard | 2000 |
| William Walsh | 2001 | Frank Petty | 2001 |
| Francis Middleton | 2001 | Richard Williams | 2003 |
| Janet Pike | 2004 | Peter Rorke | 2004 |
| Arthur Gibson | 2006 | Jackie Cuddigan | 2007 |
| John Smallwood | 2007 | Kathleen Pettitt | 2007 |
| Roy Reid | 2008 | Bridget Baker | 2009 |
| Sue Moore | 2009 | Tony Griffiths | 2009 |
| Pat Nimmo | 2010 |
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Poem of the Month
The Way of the Cross
by Elizabeth Foley
Having set Barabbas free
A sinner now at liberty
Christ for sinners was to die
By Jews condemned to crucify
Ridiculed, scourged barbarically
A crown of thorns in mockery
A purple cloak, a reed as mace,
The soldiers spat and struck His face
A rude wood cross He had to bear
Upon His last rough journey here
As man, completely drained, He fell.
As God, love inexplicable.
He gave His life that we might be
With Him throughout eternity.
For this end He created men,
Rejected, now yet pleads again.
Christ His mother on the way
Horrendous shock, with her to stay.
Obedience to the Father's will
Both physically and spiritual.
Excruciatingly to die,
Crucified and hung up high,
Hands, feet and side gnashed open wide.
For us Christ lived, for us Christ died.
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