Prayers and Common Questions

Prayers

Source: “Prayers By Young Teens: Looking Past the Sky”
Edited by Marilyn Kielbasa.

Dear God,
Help me through this day,
Through the good times and the bad times that come my way.
I need help on that gigantic test,
The spelling, the science, and all the rest.
I need help with the problems that lie ahead.
God, help me through the times when I just want to go to bed.
And when I go to bed tonight, I’ll be sure and pray.
But please, dear God, help me get through today.
Amen.
Written by Megan Borer
Saint Thomas More School Omaha, NE, p. 12

O Lord God on high,
We are thankful for this day; help us to use it wisely.
Help us to teach those who cannot learn,
Help us to feed those who cannot support themselves,
Help us to pray for those who do not believe in you,
Help us to be kind to those who are unhappy,
Help us to always look for you and keep seeking you.
This we ask through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
Written by Christopher Navarro Mahoney
Saint Ambrose School, Houston, TX, p. 14

Dear God,
Please protect my family and relatives. Keep me safe from evil and danger in my sleep and while I’m awake. Forgive me for all I have done wrong. Help the people I have hurt or treated unfairly to forgive me. Thank you for the many gifts you have given me. Guide me to do the right things. Help me to become more like you. Goodnight, God. I love you.
Written by Bernardine Coughlin
Saint John Vianney School, Saint Pete Beach, FL, p. 19

God, I thought of you today when I slept and when I played.
God, I thought of you today when I saw the birds and tress, when I saw the flowers bloom, when I saw the bee get honey, when my dog chewed his bone, when my cat stubbed her toe. God, I think of you every day, but most of all today.
Written by Laura Hausladen
Saint Paul School, Saint Paul, MO, p. 21

God,
We thank you for our life, even if we sometimes struggle in it.
We thank you for our family, even if we are sometimes angry with them.
We thank you for all that you give us, even when we don’t say it.
Written by Patrick R. Stevenson
American Martyrs School, Manhattan Beach, CA, p. 31

Most loving God,
Guide me through all the roads that I take in life.
Be my light through the darkness, my direction when I am lost, my courage when I am afraid, my comfort when I am feeling down, and my strength when I struggle.
For you are the one, God, each and every day,
Watching over me as I work and play.
Written by Brendan Lill
Saint Pius X School, Loudonville, NY, p. 43

God:
Please help all the teenagers to know that they are someone.
Someone who is cared about by others.
Someone who has the power to resist negativity.
Someone who can make a difference.
Help them to be strong when their world seems to come crashing down around them.
Help them stand up for what is right when everyone else believes in what is wrong.
Help them appreciate themselves when they do something good.
Help them know that it is okay to make mistakes, because they will always be loved by you. Amen.
Written by Chelsea Garland
Saint John the Baptist School, Howard, WI, p. 57

God,
You have blessed me with wonderful friends.
You have given me shoulders to cry on in sadness, faces to laugh with in joy, and arms to hug in loneliness.
Thank you, God, for one of the greatest blessings you have bestowed upon me.
God, help me to be a friend who can listen, laugh, and comfort.
Help me to reciprocate the kindness my friends give to me.
Most important, God, please bless my friends.
The love we share cannot be equaled.
Written by Sarah Lauren Carmody
Saint Rose of Lima School, Haddon Heights, NJ, p. 75

Dear Jesus,
Please help me get through my hard times. I know I don’t always do what you want, but I try to be good. I know sometimes I don’t turn to you, but I always believe. You are my Savior. So now when I pray to you, please answer, because I need you now more than ever.
Written by J. N. G.
All Saints Parish, Mesa, AZ, p. 96

Dear Jesus,
When times are bad, please give me hope.
When times are good, please give me wisdom.
When times are sad, please give me faith.
And God, please give me love.
Amen.
Written by Matt Lisowski
Saint Teresa of Ávila Parish, Norristown, PA, p. 105

Please, God, watch over me, whatever I do, wherever I go, and whatever I say. Please guide me through it, and stick with me.
Written by Alyssa Behrle
Holy Rosary Parish, Ansonia, CT, p. 124

Life is like a roller coaster.
God is my track.
As I go on, God is always with me, through ups and downs, good times and bad.
God is my future and my past.
I am thankful for the guidance of God’s spirit.
Written by Joseph Zoccali
Saint Joseph Parish, Croton Falls, NY, p. 130

Common Questions

What is a Benedictine Sister? A Benedictine Sister is a woman who promises to love God with all her heart. She lives with other Sisters, often 6-10 Sisters, in community. Benedictine Sisters pray together, work together and have fun together; they bring Christ to each other and they bring each other to Christ.

A Benedictine Sister may work in a parish, teach in a school, work for peace and justice, care for the sick in hospitals or homes for the elderly, grow food to share with the poor and do much more.

Benedictine Sisters have fun together! Some like to ride a bike, swim, play cards, watch movies, ski, go camping and hiking, read, bake, quilt, knit and do a variety of crafts. A Sister is able to keep in touch with her mom and dad, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews through visits, phone calls and e-mail.

Benedictine Sisters elect a spiritual leader called a prioress (link to prioress). The prioress helps the Sisters keep Jesus at the center of their lives. Faithfulness in seeking Jesus in prayer and community and developing lifelong friendships are sources of joy for the Sisters.

How do Sisters pray? Benedictine Sisters promise to pray for all the people of God so they gather as a group in a large prayer room called an Oratory. They pray three times a day in the Oratory: morning, noon and evening. In the Oratory they pray aloud the psalms from the bible and listen to God’s Word being read. A Benedictine Sister spends time alone in prayer with Jesus each day. This time gives her the opportunity to praise God and quietly sit in God’s presence.

What is ministry? Ministry is another word for service. For Benedictine Sisters, it is the task and work that each is given. Some examples of Sisters’ ministry are teaching in schools, working in hospitals and parishes, promoting peace and justice.

What is a vow? A vow is a promise. Benedictine Sisters make a vow, or promise, to religious life, a life of seeking God through prayer, work and community living.

What is obedience? For Benedictine Sisters, obedience is part of the vow to religious life in which she accepts the common life of the community in which she lives.

What is a prioress? A prioress is elected by the other Sisters to serve as their spiritual leader. The prioress helps the Sisters keep Jesus at the center of their lives. Click here to meet Sister Nancy Bauer, our prioress.

What is a vocation? A vocation is a call from God. You may be called to the vocation of religious life, single life or married life. Each has a very important individual relationship with God.

People called to religious life make vows and give their lives completely to the service of Christ and the church. They center their lives around prayer, faith and community. Often, these people live Christian lives in community with others who have the same commitment in their lives.

People called to a single life profess their love for God to those around them. While they do not make vows like those do in religious life, they are called to live Christian lives.

People called to married life live out their call by living a Christian life, being faithful to their partner and possibly having children. They are called to pass on Christian values to their children and families as well as show support for their spouse.

Where can I learn more about my Catholic faith? There are several good Web sites that may assist you, including

St. Cloud Diocese: www.stclouddiocese.org

St. Cloud Diocese Office of Catholic Education Ministries and Youth Ministry/Religious Education: www.stcdio.org/cem/ymre

Catholic Room Teens Page: www.catholicroom.com/teens

Catholic Youth Online: www.youmagazine.com

Youth Apostles Online (an e-zine for Catholic teens): www.youthapostles.com

A Christian Music Web site: www.spiritandsong.com

Vocation Guide for Catholic Vocations: www.visionguide.org

Disciples Now: www.disciplesnow.com