prayers and poems

The following selection of prayers and poems are a sample of the selections that are available for you to choose from

1.  O Gentlest Heart

O Gentlest Heart of Jesus,
ever present in the Blessed Sacrament,
ever consumed with the burning love
for the poor captive souls in Purgatory,
have mercy on the soul of Thy departed servant,
Be not severe in Thy judgement but let some drops of
Thy Precious Blood fall upon the devouring flames,
and do Thou, O merciful Savior, send Thy angels to conduct
Thy departed servant to a place of refreshment, light and peace. Amen.

May the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

2.  23rd Psalm - Protestant

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside still waters, He restoreth my soul;
He leadeth me in the paths of reghteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil; for thou art with me,
thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.

3.  Prayer to St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace,|
where there is hatred, let me sow love,
where there is injury, pardon,|
where there is doubt, faith,
where there is despair, hope,
where there is darkness, light,
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled, as to console, to be understood,
as to understand, to be loved, as to love,
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

ST. FRANCIS of ASSISI

6.  Lord’s Prayer - Catholic

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,
on earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

7.  Lord’s Prayer - Protestant

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,
on earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the Kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.

16.  23rd Psalm - Catholic

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
In verdant pastures He gives me repose.
Before restful waters He leads me; He refreshes my soul.
He guides me in the right paths for His name's sake
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil;
for you are at my side, with your rod and your staff that give me courage.
You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.

39.  Days Without End

God, Your days are without end,
Your mercies beyond counting.
Help us always to remember that life is short
and the day of our death are known to you alone.
May Your Holy Spirit lead us to live in holiness and justice all our days.
Then after serving You in the fellowship of Your Church,
with strong faith, consoling hope and perfect love for all,
may we joyfully come to Your Kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

57.  God Hath Not Promised

God hath not promised skies always blue,
flower strewn pathways, all our lives through:
God hath not promised sun without rain,
 joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
rest for the labor, light for the way,
grace for the trials, help from above,
unfailing sympathy, undying love....

63.  Prayer to St. Anthony

O most amiable Protector,
St. Anthony of Padua, what worthy gift
can I possibly offer you to show my gratitude?

I have nothing that is worthy of you; but I offer you all the esteem,
in which you are continuously held throughout the world,
and all the miracles with which you have filled the Church,
even to the benefit of those outside its fold:
all these, admirable Saint Anthony, please express my humble thanks
for everything to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
and to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary through endless ages. Amen

15.   Afterglow

I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one,
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when day is done.
I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,
of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun,
Of happy memories that I leave behind, when day is done.

17.  The Comfort Poem

Another leaf has fallen, another soul has gone.
But still we have God’s promises, in every robin’s song.
For He is in His Heaven, and though He takes away,
He always leaves to mortals, the bright sun’s kindly ray.
He leaves the fragrant blossoms, and lovely forests, green,
and gives us new found comfort, when we on Him will lean.

33.  I Said a Prayer

I said a prayer for you today, and I know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart, although He spoke no word!
I didn’t ask for wealth or fame (I knew you wouldn’t mind).
I asked Him to send treasures of a far more lasting kind.
I asked that He’d be near you, at the start of each new day.
To grant you health and blessings, and friends to share your way!
I asked for happiness for you, in all things great and small.
But it was for His loving care, I prayed the most of all.

45.  Fill Not Your Hearts

Fill not your hearts with pain and sorrow,
but remember me in every tomorrow.
Remember the joy, the laughter, the smiles,
I've only gone to rest a little while.
Although my leaving causes pain and grief,
my going has eased my hurt and given me relief.
So dry your eyes and remember me,
not as I am now,but as I used to be.
Because, I will remember you all and look on with a smile.
Understand, in your hearts, I've only gone to rest a little while.
As long as I have the love of each of you,
I can live my life in the hearts of all of you.

56.  Your Gentle Face

Your gentle face and patient smile,
with sadness we recall.
You had a kindly word for each and died beloved by all.
The voice is mute and stilled the heart,
that loved us well and true.
Ah, bitter was the trial to part from one so good as you.
You are not forgotten loved one, nor will you ever be.
As long as life and memory last, we will remember thee.
We miss you now, our hearts are sore,
as time goes by we miss you more,
your loving smile, your gentle face,
no one can ever take your vacant place.

65.  Remember Me

Remember me when flowers bloom early in the spring.
Remember me on sunny days in the fun that summer brings.
Remember me in the fall as you walk through leaves of gold,
and remember me in the wintertime in the stories that are told.
But most of all remember each day right from the start,
I will be forever near you for I am within your heart.

85.  God Saw You Getting Tired

God saw you were getting tired,
And a cure was not to be,
So he put his arms around you
and whispered, “Come to me”.

With tearful eyes we watched you,
And saw you pass away,
Although we loved you dearly,
We could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands at rest,
God broke our hearts to prove to us,
He only takes the best.

88.  May You Always Walk In Sunshine

May you always walk in sunshine
and God’s love around you flow,
for the happiness you gave us,
no one will ever know. 

It broke our hearts to lose you,
but you did not go alone.
A part of us went with you,
the day God called you home.

A million times we've needed you.
A million times we cried.
If love could only have saved you,
you never would have died.

119.  Do Not Stand At My Grave

Do not stand at my grave and weep:
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints of snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,|
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft star that shines at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there. I did not die.