For many of us the morning is the hardest part of the day. The alarm clock always seems to be pestering us and when we think about the day ahead, we don’t like the prospects.
One important habit that brings hope to each day is the custom of praying a morning prayer or morning offering. It begins the day with a look to God for guidance and to place everything — your thoughts, words, and deeds — in the hands of God.
Countless saints had this custom and the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (formerly known as the Apostleship of Prayer) has been a strong proponent of this habit for the past century, connecting it to the Sacred Heart and offering everything for the pope’s monthly intentions.
So, if you are struggling to start the day on the right foot, check out these prayers and print them out, putting them on your bathroom mirror so that you don’t forget to give your day to God. For with God, all things are possible.
Serviam
I will serve you, Lord!
Suscipe of St. Ignatius Loyola
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.
Morning Offering of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.
Short Morning Offering
My loving Jesus, out of the grateful love I bear Thee, and to make reparation for my unfaithfulness to grace, I give Thee my heart, and I consecrate myself wholly to Thee; and with Thy help I purpose never to sin again. Dear Lord, I could never vie with Thee in generosity, but I love Thee; deign to accept my poor heart, and though it is worth nothing, yet it may become something by Thy grace. Since it loves Thee, do Thou make it good and take it into Thy custody.
Morning Offering
O my God, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer Thee the Precious
Blood of Jesus from all the altars throughout the world, joining
with It the offering of my every thought, word and action of this day.
O my Jesus, I desire today to gain every indulgence and merit
I can and I offer them, together with myself, to Mary Immaculate,
that she may best apply them in the interests of Thy Most
Sacred Heart. Precious Blood of Jesus, save us!
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
Read more:
Prayers to be prayed by sinners
And today we celebrate...