Mary Sullivan

“It is not hard to obey when we love the One Whom we obey.” (Saint Ignatius)

Help us love You, Father, to love You in every way.
For if we can love You well, how easy it is to obey.
It’s love of You, dear Father, that helps us love Your laws.
It’s by loving You and Your will, that we can love others without pause.

Help those we love, dear Father, to love You in every way.
May they know Your love for them, may it be You whom they obey.
In Your will is joy, dear Father. In Your will is strength from above.
In Your will is peace and patience. In Your will is truth and love.

May it be You we love, dear Father, Your will we do each day.
May it be You we honor. May it be You Whom we obey.
As we seek You, dear Father, may love be wat we learn.
As we receive Your divine love, may we love others in return.

How could I bear a crown of gold when the Lord bears a crown of thorns?
And bears it for me! (St. Elizabeth of Hungary)

How could we bear a crown of gold,
When our Lord bore a crown of thorns?
How could we wish for regal clothes,
When our Lord’s clothes were ripped and torn?

How can we reject the scourges of life,
When He brings us such grace and strength?
How can we not carry our cross,
And carry it for its full length?

How could we reject being crucified,
How could we embrace selfish living?
How could we not want to give all we have,
To the Lord Who is loving and giving?

How could we want only pleasant words,
Where the Lord heard mocking and scorn?
How could we wish for a crown of gold,
Where our Lord’s crown was made of thorns?

Give us the crown of thorns, dear Lord,
Fix it upon our heads.
Let us be scourged with You, our Lord,
For all the blood that You shed.

Let us no longer fear the cross,
To lift it, let’s have no delay.
We offer it as a sacrifice,
For loved ones lost and astray.

We offer our cross in atonement.
Lord, use it for good today.

“Jesus, source of my life, sanctify me.
O my strength, fortify me.
My commander, fight for me.”
(Saint Faustina)

Jesus, source of our life,
Be our sanctification.
Jesus, source of our strength,
Be our fortification.

Dear Lord, our Commander,
Go to war for us, now fight!
Jesus, our just defender,
Defend us through day and night.

Shots are firing.  War is waging.
We so need Your defense.
May all find peace in Your truth.
Grant each soul a truthful sense.

Defend loved ones, Jesus,
While there is still light of day.
Defend them now, dear Jesus.
Show them the righteous way.

Bring them truth, merciful Jesus.
Bring them truth all day long.
May their hearts know, by Your grace,
Your love for them is strong.

Fly now to loved ones, Jesus,
Be now their bold Commander.
May they lay down their worldly arms.
To Your will, may they surrender.

Amen +

“We know that all things work together for good,
for those who love God,
Who are called according to His purpose.”

(Romans 8:28)

Dear Lord, may we trust You, and love You as we should.
For if we love You, dear Lord, all things will work for good.
If we love You through the trials, and all the blessings which You send,
All will one day work for good—work together for good in the end.

Bless us with grace to love You, Lord.  Lead us to Your love.
Call us to Your purpose.  Grant us grace from above.
Grant this grace to loved ones, Lord.  They have wandered far way.
Grant all the grace to love You Lord.  Grant all this grace today.

As we trust in You, Lord, lead us to Your light.
Help us, Lord, to know You, and to do what is right.
Help us through this dark night, until light breaks through at dawn.
From faith in You, we pray, Lord, that good fruit will be borne.

Dear Lord, give us true peace, give us wisdom to see
That walking with steps full of faith, will at last set us free.
In this dark and painful valley, on which You ask us trod,
May strength come through faith in You, our ever-faithful God.

Go now, Lord, to those we love.  Help our loved ones too.
May they love the true faith and love the truth in You.
Guide them along this rough road, this often painful way.
Lead them home to You, Lord, and to Your truth today.

(Based on Sir. 11:20-22)