Prayer before Communion - "Divine Master, Spouse of My Heart"
Divine Master, Spouse of my heart, I will follow Thee everywhere with Mary, my Mother. Having Thee, do I not possess all riches? To love Thee and please Thee -- is not that the greatest happiness of life? To share Thy sacrifices, Thy sufferings, Thy death -- is not that the most glorious victory of love? O my God, my mind is made up! I make no more conditions or reservations in my love for Thee. I will follow Thee in all things, yes, even to Calvary! Speak, pierce, cut, burn! My heart is altar and victim!
Husband's Prayer
O gracious Father, Maker and Preserver of heaven and earth, who in the beginning didst institute matrimony, thereby foreshadowing the mystical union of the Church with our Savior Christ, who, during His ministry upon earth, did honor marriage with His first miracle: help me, I pray Thee, by Thy grace to live in holiness and purity with the wife whom Thou hast given me. Mortify in me all violence of earthly passion, all selfishness and inconsiderateness (here name any besetting sin which may be a hindrance to you), that I may love her as Christ loved His Church, cherish and comfort her as my own body, and have as great care for her happiness as for my own. Grant that we may live in peace, without contention; in unity, without discord. [Give us, O Lord, discreet heart and understanding minds, to bring up our children in Thy faith and fear, that they may be obedient to Thee and to Thy commandments, and to all that Thou requirest of them in their duties towards their parents.] And give us, O Lord, a sufficiency of those things necessary to maintain ourselves and our family according to that rank and calling wherein Thou hast placed us, without excess or vainglory, in singleness and pureness of heart. Grant this for Jesus Christ's sake, to Whom, with Thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.
Prayer for Husbands and Wives.
Lord, inspire those men and women who bear the titles "Husband" and "Wife". Help them to look to You to themselves to one another to rediscover the fullness and mystery they once felt in their union. Let them be honest enough to ask: "Where have we been together and where are we going? Let them be brave enough to question: "How have we failed?" Let each be foolhardy enough to say: "For me, we come first". Help them, together to reexamine their commitment in the light of Your love, willingly, openly, compassionately. One Hail Mary...
Hail, O Virgin of Guadalupe. We place under your powerful patronage the purity and integrity of the Holy Faith in Mexico and in all the American Continent, for we are certain that while you are recognized as Queen and Mother, America and Mexico and our Matrimony will be saved...
Amen.
