Mary Sullivan

“What sign can You do?” was what was asked out loud.
It’s the question put to Jesus by the disbelieving crowd.
To ancestors in the dessert, manna had been sent.
God sent them food from heaven.  Their hunger He’d prevent.

Jesus had an answer.  And He gave it to them.
Christ could only speak the truth.  He said: Amen, Amen.
The bread came not from Moses.  That is what He said.
The Father, up in Heaven, had given them this bread.

Dear Lord, help us to believe, believe always in You.
May we turn to You for each need, for each deep yearning too.
May we receive You often. You are the bread of life.
You are the path to our peace, the way out of our strife.

May those we love be freed from sin.  And turn to You instead.
May they all find You Jesus in the breaking of the bread.
Give them life abundant.  Let them know just why You came.
Help them all to seek the truth, call upon Your Holy Name.

Give them life now Jesus; thou their souls through sin seem dead.
May they find new life in You, in the breaking of the Bread.

(John 6:30 to 35)

Mary set out in those days,
She traveled in such haste,
Set off to greet Elizabeth,
There was no time to waste.

Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
As Mary entered the room,
The infant leaped with joy,
Within Mary’s cousin’s womb.

She cried out in a loud voice,
The scriptures do attest:
Blessed are you among women.
The fruit of your womb is blessed.

Then she asked the question,
Just how could this be,
That the mother of my Lord,
Should come unto me?

May we bring the Lord to the sick,
to those who are in need.
May Mary show us how to plant,
in souls, true Christian seeds.

As Mary visited her cousin,
May Mary go to those we love,
May she bring Christ into their lives,
With grace from up above.

May loved ones sense the Lord,
Know He is truly there.
May they bow down before Him.
May they give to Him their cares.

Dear Father in heaven,
Loved ones’ souls, take care, and tend.
Please send to all our loved ones
Good and holy friends.

“Patience, prayer and silence, these are what give strength to the soul.”
(St. Faustina)

Lord, we so need Your strength,
With Your strength fill our souls.
May patience, prayer and silence,
Be our primary goals.

We need patience to fight this battle,
To see this trial to its end.
Dear Lord, grant us patience.
Patience to us, do send.

Grant us in prayer new fervor.
Help us pray with endurance.
Help us pray in Your will.
Grant us perseverance.

The world has lost its way, Lord.
With its noisy, banging blare.
May we seek You in sacred silence.
In silence find You there.

Bless our loved ones too Lord,
with a love of silence too.
Through patience, prayer and silence,
May their souls be renewed.

“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, if we trust You, and love You as we should.
We know that one day, loving Lord, all things will work for good.
If we love You through this darkness, through the blessings which You send,
All will one day work for good, together for good in the end.

Grant us the grace to love You, Lord.  Show us the way to pure love.
Grant us the grace to be called to Your purpose.  Grant us grace from above.
Grant this grace to loved ones, Lord, who’ve wandered so far way.
Grant us the grace to love You, Lord.  Grant us this grace today.

Jesus made His disciples get in a boat to ride,
To go to Bethsaida, sail to the other side.
He went up a mountain in the light of day.
He climbed up that mountain.  There He went to pray.

By night, the boat had traveled quite far out to sea.
Jesus alone, back on shore, was calm as He could be.
The disciples’ boat tossed about.   Against strong wind they rowed,
They’d probably much rather been, in some safe, secure abode.

It was the fourth watch of the night, which means three in the morning.
When a miracle would happen.  It happened without warning.
Someone walking on the water; they thought it was a ghost,
They knew not they were looking at the blessed Lord of Hosts.

Then spoke the Lord: “Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid.”
The disciples were astounded; most likely quite amazed.
He got into the boat with them.  The wind then died down too.
There’s nothing that our good Lord Jesus cannot for us do.

We can feel like inept boaters, rowing on a stormy sea.
The boat is wildly rocking.  So tossed about are we.
We struggle to persevere, against strong winds, to row.
How we will get through all of this—at times we do not know.

Lord Jesus, walk now to us on our stormy seas.
Calm the fears within.  Help us, in You believe.
Climb into our boats.  Help us be not afraid.
Never leave us, Jesus.  Bring us comfort.  With us stay.

Our loved ones too are on rough seas.  It’s quite a wild ride.
Deceiving waves crash over them.  Lies strike from every side.
Go to them, dear Lord Jesus.  May it be Your love they know.
Calm the stormy seas.  The truth on them bestow.

Help each loved one love the truth.  Help each one flee from sin.
Help them begin to row with faith.  Give to them strength within.
Be with us sweet Lord Jesus, wherever we may go.
Keep us united in the truth.  Towards heaven, help us row.

(Based on Mark 6:45-52)