Wednesday, 27 November 2024

The Ave Treasury of Catholic Prayers - Ave Maria Press

The Ave Treasury of Catholic Prayers
ISBN 9781646802265    
eISBN 9781646802272
ASIN B0CD9MYKW6  
 
The Ave Treasury of Catholic Prayers   Ave Maria Press

I was intrigued by this volume from the first moment I saw it. I picked up the eBook as soon as it was available, and after a few days of reading ordered the hardback to have on my bedside table. I worked my way through it over a month praying my way from beginning to end. 

The description of this volume states:

“The Ave Treasury of Catholic Prayers is an indispensable keepsake of classic and contemporary prayers that every Catholic should know. 

This timeless resource includes a variety of devotions, psalms, and litanies that showcase the diversity of voices and traditions that have been part of the Catholic Church for more than two thousand years. 

The hardcover, full-color volume contains all of your favorite prayers and some that will become familiar over time, including:   

• essential prayers, such as the Our Father, Hail Mary, creeds, and Confiteor;
• prayers for talking with God throughout the day;
• prayers for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion;
• devotions and consecrations to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph; and
• prayers from saints for each of the five main forms of prayer listed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church--prayers of blessing, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise.

Elegant, vintage lithographs and engravings taken from traditional prayer books, psalters, and Bibles and presented in a contemporary design add to the beauty of the book. 

An index makes it easy to find prayers based on the saint or topic of devotion.”

The chapters and sections in the book are:

Introduction
General Prayers
     The Sign of the Cross
     The Our Father (The Lord’s Prayer)
     Hail Mary
     Glory Be
     O My Jesus Prayer
     The Jesus Prayer
     Te Deum
     Veni Sancte Spiritus (Come, Holy Spirit)
     The Apostles’ Creed
     The Nicene Creed
     Confiteor
     Act of Spiritual Communion—St. Alphonsus Liguori
     Act of Faith
     Act of Hope
     Act of Charity
     Prayer for the Faithful Departed
     Angel of God
     Litany of Saints
     Prayer to the Holy Family—Pope Francis

Daily Prayers for Speaking with God throughout the Day
     Morning Prayers
     Prayers before Work
     Midday Prayers
     Afternoon Prayer
     Evening Prayer
     Bedtime Prayers

Prayers for the Sacrament of Reconciliation
     Have Mercy on Me, O God—Psalm 51:1–2, 10
     Prayer before the Examination of Conscience
     Examination of Conscience Based on the Ten Commandments
     Examination of Conscience Based on the Beatitudes
     Act of Contrition I
     Act of Contrition II—St. Julie Billiart
     Prayer of Heartfelt Penitence and Thanksgiving—Psalm 33:18–22
     O Lord, You Have Searched—Psalm 139:1

Prayers for the Holy Eucharist
     Prayer before Mass—St. Thomas Aquinas
     Thanks Be to God—2 Corinthians 9:15
     This Morning My Soul Is Greater Than the World—St. Margaret of Cortona
     Bread of Heaven—St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
     Anima Christi—St. Ignatius of Loyola
     Prayer of Thanksgiving—Attributed to St. Thomas Aquinas

Prayers for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
     A Day in Your Courts Is Better Than a Thousand Elsewhere—Psalm 84:10
     Here Am I—Exodus 3:4
     Speak, Lord, for Your Servant Hears— 1 Samuel 3:9
     Your Face Is the Only Fatherland for Me— St. Thérèse of Lisieux
     O Salutaris Hostia (O Saving Victim)—St. Thomas Aquinas
     Tantum Ergo—St. Thomas Aquinas
     The Divine Praises

Prayers and Devotions to Jesus Christ
     St. Patrick’s Breastplate
     Take My Heart, Dear Lord—St. Lutgarde of Aywieres
     Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus—St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
     O Heart of Love—St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
     Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
     Divine Mercy Chaplet
     Prayer before a Crucifix
     Prayer before the Crucifix at San Damiano—St. Francis of Assisi
     Behold the Cross of the Lord—St. Anthony of Padua
     Prayer to Christ the King

Prayers and Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary
     Mary, I Love You—St. Philip Neri
     Stabat Mater
     Ave Maris Stella
     The Litany of Loreto
     Memorare—St. Bernard of Clairvaux
     Act of Entrustment to Mary—St. John Paul II
     Totus Tuus Prayer—St. John Paul II
     Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas
     The Holy Rosary

Prayers and Devotions to St. Joseph
     Litany of St. Joseph
     St. Joseph Memorare
     Prayer to St. Joseph, Man of Silence—Pope Francis
     Prayer to Sleeping St. Joseph
     St. Joseph, Just Man and Husband of Mary—Pope Francis
     St. Joseph, Father in Tenderness—Pope Francis
     Prayer to St. Joseph for the Protection of Workers—Pope Francis
     St. Joseph, Guardian of the Pure in Heart

Prayers of Blessing
     Prayer of Blessing to Be Used in Various Circumstances
     Blessing of a Family
     Blessing of a Married Couple
     Blessing of Children
     Blessing of a New Home
     Blessing of Homes during the Christmas and Easter Seasons
     Blessing on the Anniversary of a Baptism
     Blessing on the Occasion of a Birthday
     Godparent’s Blessing of a Child
     Blessing of an Engaged Couple
     Blessing of the Sick
     Blessing of a Person Suffering from Addiction
     Blessing of the Elderly
     Blessing of Those Who Are Homebound
     Prayer with the Dying
     Prayer for the Dead

Petitionary Prayers: Drawing Close to the Lord in Times of Need
     Abba, Father—Mark 14:36
     Grant Me the Favor I Implore—St. John Eudes
     Prayer of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
     Thank You, Lord Jesus Christ—St. Richard of Chichester
     God of Life—St. Augustine
     Bookmark of St. Teresa of Avila

Prayers for Deliverance
     St. Michael the Archangel
     Lord, I Cannot Do This Unless You Enable Me—Br. Lawrence
     The Dragon Is Here Again—St. Gregory Nanzianzus
     Prayer for Times of Illness—St. John Bosco

Prayers for Special Graces
     Serenity Prayer—Attributed to Reinhold Niebuhr
     Litany of Humility—Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val y Zulueta
     Litany of Trust—Sr. Faustina Maria Pia
     Prayer of Trust and Confidencee— St. Padre Pio
     Although My Frailty Is Great—Servant of God Archbishop Luis Maria Martinez
     Into Your Hands—Servant of God Archbishop Luis Maria Martinez

Prayers of Surrender to God’s Loving Will
     If You Want It, I Want It Too—Bl. Chiara Badano
     O Jesus, I Surrender Myself to You—Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo
     Lord, Give Me the Grace to Welcome the Grace—
          Servant of God Chiara Corbella     Petrillo
     Prayer for Generosity—St. Ignatius of Loyola

Prayers for the Grace of Forgiveness
     Prayer for Understanding—
          Adapted from the Novena for Forgiveness to St. Josemaría Escrivá
     Prayer Asking for Mary’s Help Forgiving Another—
          Adapted from the Novena for Forgiveness to St. Josemaría Escrivá

Intercessory Prayers
     Grant Us Your Help and Protection—St. Clement of Rome
     Prayer for Marriage and Families—St. John Paul II
     Prayer for Christian Unity
     Prayer for the Church through Mary’s Intercession—St. John Paul II
     Prayer for Vocations—St. Paul VI
     Prayer for Seminarians—St. Thérèse of Lisieux
     Prayer for Priests—Pope Benedict XVI
     Prayer for Priests through Mary’s Intercession—
          Attributed to St. Teresa of Calcutta
     Prayer for Souls—St. Gertrude
     Prayer for Our Country—
          Servant of God Theotonius Amal Ganguly
     Prayer for Peace—Pope Francis
     Prayer for Marginalized Persons
     Prayer to Cooperate with the Holy Spirit’s Movement in the World—
          Servant of God Thea Bowman
     Prayer for Breaking Racial and Social Barriers—
          Servant of God Thea Bowman
     Prayer for Healing for Victims of Abuse
     Prayer for Community
     Prayer for the Life and Dignity of the Human Person
     Prayer to End Abortion—Priests for Life
     Prayer for Migrants and Refugees
     Prayer to Care for Our Common Home—Pope Francis

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Praise
     Act of Thanksgiving
     Act of Adoration
     We Give Thanks to God—St. John Chrysostom
     For All the Times You Have Delivered Us—
          Servant of God Thea Bowman

Acknowledgments

In the introduction we are informed:

“This exquisite collection of prayers—150 of them—has been carefully curated to represent the truly “catholic” nature of the Church, with prayers from every corner of the world and from throughout her history. Slip this book into your pocket or handbag to refer to throughout the day. Let it guide you in praying not only the prayers you ought to know (General Prayers) but also the prayers you need, when you need them most. You will find, too, a scattering of quotes from the saints—each a role model of personal prayer—to inspire you to offer up your own intentions. (If you would like a place to write these down, as a record of your own prayer journey, pick up a copy of The Ave Prayer Intentions Journal.)”

When this arrived my youngest two children immediately asked for a copy for their prayer corners. I can easily understand their interest. It is a well-made and very beautiful. The volume is printed in tricolour; black, gold, and blue. It is a great size 5 1/4 by 7 1/4 inches. It is a volume that should last a lifetime. There are many prayers and the index makes it easy to search and find prayers for specific needs or from specific saints. 

This is a great volume that would be a perfect to any home library or prayer corner. I can easily recommend this little volume.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!

The Ave Treasury of Catholic Prayers - Ave Maria Press  Sample 1

The Ave Treasury of Catholic Prayers - Ave Maria Press  Sample 2

Other books from Ave Maria Press:
The Ave Guide to Eucharistic Adoration
The Ave Guide to the Scriptural Rosary
The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers
The Ave Prayer Intentions Journal

No comments: