PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

O God, our Creator, we thank you for the gift of life and all the gifts of nature;

our senses, our faculties, our talents and our abilities.

We thank you for creating us in your image and likeness and for giving us this earth to use and develop, to respect and cherish.

Despite our failures, you continue to show your love for us today by increasing the life of your Spirit within us at the Eucharistic table.

Finally Father, we thank you for giving us Mary, the Mother of your Son, to be our Mother of Perpetual Help, and for all the wonderful things you have done for us, especially for giving us your Son, Jesus, to be our Redeemer.

We are grateful for all the favours we have received through Mary's intercession. We pray that those past favours may inspire us to greater confidence in your loving mercy and in seeking the aid of our Mother of Perpetual Help.

AMEN

A prayer for the gift of children.

Good St Gerard, powerful intercessor and wonder-worker, we call on you and seek your aid. You know that we have not been blessed with a child and how much we desire this gift. Please present our pleas to God, from whom all parenthood proceeds, and beseech the Creator of Life to bless us with a child whom we may raise as an heir of heaven.

Amen

Novena Prayer

Almighty God, from his boyhood years you blessed St Gerard with generosity of soul

and let him to do your will in heroic ways.

St Gerard, dear friend of God, pray that our sense of God will grow strong. 

Pray that Jesus Our Lord, will be a living presence in our lives.

Pray that the fullness and beauty of the faith will take possession of us and bring us fully alive.
Amen.

St Gerard Family League Prayer

Great protector of the family, St Gerard, we ask your prayers for all parents, that they may receive the grace to live in the love of God and bring up their children to know and love him with all their hearts.

We ask you to pray that those who take the lives of unborn innocents and attack the dignity of parenthood may come to see the error of thier ways, and that all may value the holiness of Christian family life.

God, our loving father, your life gives life to the world. Bless and make holy all human love, especially the life-giving love of fathers and mothers. May your love fill the hearts and homes of all families, so that the world may enjoy the peace and happiness promised by your son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you would like to join the St Gerard League please contact the director

Litany in Honor of St. Gerard Majella

Brother Gerard, you spent your life in union with Jesus Christ,

help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Brother Gerard, you desired to give yourself to Christ in the religious life,

obtain for us the grace to follow our vocation in life.

Brother Gerard, you were filled with empathy for the poor and suffering,

obtain for us the gift of compassion for those in need.

Brother Gerard, your prayers to the Lord brought healing to the sick,

obtain for us the power to bring the healing presence of Jesus to those in need.

Brother Gerard, the Passion of Jesus moved you to imitate His Redemptive Love,

obtain for us the grace to accept our sufferings for the salvation of the world.

Brother Gerard, you brought back to the Church those who were abandoned,

obtain for us the zeal to welcome people back to the community of the faith.

Brother Gerard, you were devoted to the Blessed Sacrament,

obtain for us a vibrant love for the Holy Eucharist.

Saint Gerard, your intercession is felt in the lives of many who call upon you in their need.

Hear us as we lift our voice in prayer.

Obtain for us a greater love for Jesus Christ.

Help us to imitate your generous love for the poor and suffering.

Assist us with your prayers and obtain for us the help we need.

Amen.