Mary Sullivan

“Amen, I say to you,

If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,

You will say to this mountain,

‘move from here to there,’

and it will move.

Nothing will be impossible for you.”

(Matt. 17:20)

Jesus, our Redeemer, the narrow path we seek.

A path full of believing, where Your words we speak.

A man among the crowd, brought to You His son.

The disciples tried to help him, but he was helped by none.

The spirit would possess the son, by a spirit He was bound.

The spirit robbed him of his speech.  It threw him to the ground.

This grieving father cried to You.  The father found relief.

We are grieving too, Lord.  Heal now our unbelief.

By faith, Noah built his ark, by faith, we all have read,

Abraham’s descendants had come forth, though he seemed as good as dead.

By faith, Lord Jesus, we believe.  And we are asking too,

That those we love, will rise from death, and find new life in You.

We need a greater faith, than that which moves solid rock.

We need faith to touch our loved ones’ hearts.  We ask, we seek, we knock.

We need a faith that’s full of trust, a faith that’s full of love—

A faith to move our loved ones’ hearts from this world, to things above.

We bring You, Lord, our loved ones.  Free them from the devil’s snares.

We beg You for their healing.  Lord Jesus, hear our prayers.

(Based on Mark 9:17, Heb. 11:12)

Saint Augustine, you who lived a wretched sinner’s life.

You turned back to the Lord, away from sin and strife.

Pray we not push God away, or place Him on some shelf.

You said if we are filled with love, we are filled with God Himself.

Let us now fill ourselves with God; thus, fill ourselves with love.

That grace may flow into our souls, from heaven up above.

When we are feeling quite unloved; and start making a fuss.

May we know God loves each of us, as if there were but one of us.

Saint Augustine, in your mercy, pray for loved ones lost.

As Christ Himself, for us all has hung upon a cross.

No matter what lost souls have done, no matter where they’ve been,

Pray we may love the sinner, while we hate the sin.

May we be granted patience, with the good Lord as our guide,

To listen to their story, to hear the other side.

Saint Augustine, pray loved ones, will now truly see,

Our hearts will be so restless, until they rest in Thee.

Saint Augustine, we beg of thee, on this grace-filled day,

Pray for all our dear loved ones. St. Augustine, do pray.

 Let us not trust each Spirit; but put each Spirit to the test.

To see which ones belong to God, which ones by God are blessed.

False prophets come.  And they go into the world with revel.

They have no Spirit of the Lord, but the spirit of the devil.

The Spirit which denies that Christ has come, and for us has died,

Is the spirit of the evil one, the spirit which has lied.

God’s Spirit is the one, which proclaims that Christ is Lord,

That all His commands, should be followed and adored.

If we can keep Christ’s commands, do what pleases Him,

We will receive what we ask.  True love will not grow dim,

God is pleased, when in His son, we truly believe,

when we love each soul in truth, when we love, and not deceive.

If we can but remain in God, God will in us remain.

Through our trials and our troubles, and all of our pain.

Lord, give to us discernment, to know wrong from right.

May we live Your command to love, as for truth we fight.

Loved ones have lost their compass, lost their moral way;

So many lured away from You, by evil led astray,

Help loved ones to see Your truth, love each of Your commands,

Give to them true wisdom, in this confusing land.

Help those we love show others, a love that’s good and pure.

Lord Jesus, may You be the One, they follow and adore.

(Based on 1 John 3:22-24)

As written in Isaiah;

Heralding the Messiah,

A message came from John,

the son of Zachariah:

“Prepare the way of the Lord,”

make a path that’s straight,

That the Lord may enter hearts,

And we enter heaven’s gate.

Dear Jesus, may we make a way,

In our hearts for You.

May we make a straight path.

Enter our hearts anew.

Fill the emptiness within.

Bring low, mountains of pride.

May we prepare, a way for You.

In us, may You abide.

Dear Jesus, smooth the rough ways

Which have left our loved ones shaken.

Make straight the crooked, winding roads,

Loved ones so oft have taken.

Open eyes, may they now see

They too must make a way,

For You to enter in their hearts,

Touch their hearts today.

May we repent of all our sins;

Hope for heavenly rewards.

With John, may we too cry out:

“Prepare the way of the Lord.”