O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts, dwell in our hearts and be our King: grant us by Your grace to love each other truly and chastely, even as You have loved Your immaculate Bride, the Church, and did deliver Yourself up for her.

Bestow upon us the mutual love and Christian forbearance that are so acceptable in Your sight, and a mutual patience in bearing each other's defects; for we are certain that no living creature is free from them. Permit not the slightest misunderstanding to mar that harmony of spirit which is the foundation of that mutual assistance in the many and varied hardships of life, to provide which woman was created and united inseparably to her husband.

Grant, O Lord God, that between us there may be a constant and holy rivalry in striving to lead a perfect Christian life, by virtue of which the divine image of Your mystic union with Holy Church, imprinted upon us the happy day of our marriage, may shine forth more and more clearly. Grant, we bessech You, that our good example of Christian living may be a source of inspritation to our children to spur them on to conform their lives also to Your holy Law; and finally, after this exile, may we be found worthy, by the help of Your grace, for which we earnestly pray, to ascend into heaven, there to be joined with our children for ever, and to praise and bless You through everlasting ages.

Amen.

From the Raccolta: Prayers and Devotions Enriched with Indulgences (1957).

John Everett

October 8, 2005

Feast of Saint Reparata - Martyr