Dear Visitor to our Prayer Garden,
We invite you to meditate on the lives of the saints whose statues are present in the Garden and to offer a prayer for the intercession of the saints who are remembered here. Through their intercession, may Almighty God keep you safe and well.
You are invited to walk through the Garden visiting each of the statues. The order presented here goes from east to west, that is, from the rectory side to the convent side of the Garden.
“In prayer you become one with the source of our true light – Jesus himself.”
-St. John Paul II
St. Peter, Pope and Martyr
St. Peter was the leader of the Apostles. Jesus changed his name from Simon to Peter, a name meaning the Rock, and designated Peter the rock on which He would build His church. Jesus entrusted to Peter and to his successors the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. St. Peter is acknowledged as the first Bishop of Rome and the first Pope. St. Peter suffered martyrdom by crucifixion in Rome under the Emperor Nero in the year 64 near what is now St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.
Meditation:
After the Resurrection, Peter told Jesus that he loved Him three times, to counter his threefold denial of Jesus on the evening of Holy Thursday. Jesus forgave Peter, but He also warned Peter that someday he would be taken where he did not want to go. It is the same message Jesus gives to each of us. Someday, in one way or another, we will each be called upon to let ourselves be guided where we do not want to go; on a journey that runs contrary to our own ideas and plans. For it is God’s will, not our own that we must follow. And it is God’s will that it is to be done, not ours. And His ways, are not our ways.
Prayer:
O Holy Apostle, thou art the Rock upon which Almighty God has built His Church. Obtain for me I pray, lively faith, firm hope, and burning love, complete detachment form myself, contempt of the world, patience in adversity, humility in prosperity, recollection in prayer, purity of heart, a right intention in all my works, diligence in fulfilling the duties of my state of life, constancy in my resolutions, resignation to the will of God, and perseverance in the grace of God even unto death; so that, by means of thy intercession and thy glorious merits, I may be made worthy to appear before the Chief and Eternal Shepherd of Souls, Jesus Christ, Who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns forever. Amen.
St. Michael, Archangel
St. Michael is one of the archangels mentioned in Scripture. His name is Hebrew for “Who is like God?” He is referred to three times in the Old Testament Book of Daniel, and in the New Testament Book of Revelation and the Epistle of Jude. St. Michael is recognized as the leader of the Angelic Hosts of God in the battle against the powers of hell, and as a model for the virtues of the spiritual warrior in its conflict against the forces of evil. In the tradition, St. Michael visits the departing soul at the hour of death giving each soul the chance to redeem itself before dying, thus confounding the principal object of Satan, which is the damnation of souls. St. Michael is also recognized in a special way as being the guardian of the Church.
Meditation:
C.S. Lewis wrote that if we ever actually saw evil, in all its ugliness and brutality, we would reject it. Satan, however, is the master of deceit. He plays upon our weaknesses and vulnerabilities and entices us with evil disguised as good. He baits us with the temptation to decide for ourselves what is good and what is evil, giving to ourselves the knowledge of good and evil that belongs only to God. St. Michael is our great defender against the enticements of Satan. He is our ally in the battle against Evil. St. Michael reminds us that only God is God, and we are not Him.
Prayer:
Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray. And do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell, Satan and all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
St. Francis of Assisi, Confessor (1181/2 – 1226)
Francis of Assisi, was born Giovanni de Pietro di Bernardone. His father, an admirer of the French, gave him the nickname Francesco, meaning Frenchman. He was a friar, deacon and preacher, and was the founder of the Franciscan Order (the Order of Friars Minor, OFM). He is the patron saint of Italy. Francis is known for his love of the Eucharist and his love of animals. According to tradition, Francis received the stigmata, or wounds of Christ, in 1224, during an apparition of angels.
Meditation:
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 do 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. Amen.
Prayer:
O beloved St. Francis, gentle and poor: Your obedience to God and your simple, deep love for all Gods’ creatures led you to the heights of heavenly perfection and turned many hearts to follow God’s will. Now, in our day, pray also for us. Intercede for us as we come before the Lord with our special requests. O blessed saint of God, from your throne among the hosts of heaven present our petitions before our faithful Lord. May your prayers on our behalf be heard and may God grant us the grace to lead good and faithful lives. Amen.
St. Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary
According to tradition, St. Anne was the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We hear nothing of St. Anne in Scripture, but she is mentioned in some of the apocryphal, or non-canonical, writings that circulated in the early church. Her husband was St. Joachim. She is typically depicted in art as teaching the Blessed Virgin. She is the patron of childless couples, child care providers, grandparents, and housewives.
Meditation:
Let us give thanks for the parents of the Mother of God. They begin for us the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ, Our Savior. Let us at the same time thank God for our parents and grandparents, whose love cooperated with God in bringing us to life in time and space, and to the opportunity for eternal happiness with God in eternity.
Prayer:
O glorious St. Anne: You are compassionate toward those in need who invoke your heavenly intercession. Burdened with life’s difficulties, I place myself before you, and ask that you assist me with the petitions and intentions I now recommend to your special protection. Place my concerns before Our Lord Jesus Christ, and seek the loving aid of your daughter, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Please continue interceding for me until my request is granted. Above all, obtain for me the grace of one day seeing Almighty God face to face, with you and Mary and all the saints, honoring and praising God through all eternity. Pray for us, good S.t Anne, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Gracious God, who chose St. Anne to bring into the world the mother of Your only Son, mercifully grant to us who devoutly honor her memory, the grace of happiness in this life, and the joy of life with You for all eternity. Amen.
St. Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
St. Joseph was entrusted by God with the responsibility of being the husband of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. In all of Scripture there is not one word spoken by St. Joseph. But just as Mary gave her assent, her fiat, to becoming the Mother of Jesus, so too did Joseph, by his actions rather than by his words, give assent to taking Mary as his lawful wife, thereby becoming the legal father of Jesus. Early references to Joseph refer to him as Nutritor Domini, the educator and guardian of the Lord. Joseph is referred to in Scripture as being a tekton, or someone adept at working with materials such as woo, iron and stone. Most often he is viewed as a carpenter. He is recognized as the patron saint of workers. The tradition has long maintained that Joseph died in the presence of Mary and Jesus sometime before the ministry of Jesus began. For this reason, Joseph has long been recognized as the patron saint for a happy death. St. Joseph has been declared to be the Patron of the Universal Church.
Meditation:
Fatherhood is a vocation; a calling. It is an awesome responsibility. While in one sense a man chooses to become a father, fatherhood is a great gift from God. Fathers cannot ordinarily choose their children, adoption aside; nor can children choose their fathers. Fathers cannot abandon their responsibilities to their children to suit their own preferences. St. Joseph did not have an easy time of it. Taking on the risk of marrying a woman already with child. Fleeing into Egypt to protect his family. Living with the awesome responsibility of being the teacher and guardian of the Savior. Fatherhood is both a blessing and a challenge.
Prayer:
O St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God. I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.
O St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, patron of departing souls – Pray for me. Amen.
St. Peregrine, Confessor (1260 – 1345)
Peregrine Laziosi was the only son of an affluent family. When St. Philip Benizi preached in Peregrine’s home town, the 18 year old Peregrine heckled and struck him. Later, he experienced a softening of his heart. Filled with remorse, Peregrine entered the Servite Order and was ordained a priest. Returning to his hometown, Peregrine became well known for his preaching and holiness, as well as his devotion to the sick and poor. At the age of 60 he developed cancer in his right leg. The physician decided to amputate. The night before surgery, Peregrine prayed before the crucified Jesus, asking God to heal him if it was God’s will. As he dozed, Peregrine had a vision of the crucified Jesus leaving the Cross and touching his cancerous leg. When he awoke, the leg was healed, and he lived another 20 years. St. Peregrine is the patron saint of those with cancer, AIDS, and other serious illnesses.
Meditation:
St. Peregrine got his miracle. His cancer was cured, even as the doctor prepared to amputate his foot. But Peregrine had already experienced a more important healing. A softening of his heart, and a rechanneling of all his energy into the service of God and the Gospel. Most of us pray at one time or another if not for a miracle, at least for some need that lies close to our hearts. And so we should. For God cares about our concerns. But no prayer pleases God more than to ask that we might experience an ongoing softening of our hearts. The lesson of Peregrine’s life is not that God worked a miracle, but that the faithfully placed himself, unconditionally, in the hands of God. His unconditional trust in God serves as a model for those dealing with serious illness.
Prayer:
O great St. Peregrine, you have been called “The Mighty,” “The Wonder Worker,” because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you. For so many years you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more. You were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction. Ask of God and Our Lady, the cure of the sick we entrust to you. (Pause here and silently recall the names of the sick for whom you are praying.) Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall sing to God, now and for all eternity, a song of gratitude for His great goodness and mercy. Amen.
Blessed Virgin Mary
Mary willingly accepted the responsibility of becoming the Mother of Jesus. Her great fiat, Latin “for let it be done,” initiated our salvation. By a special gift, God preserved Mary from original sin from the moment of her conception, Hence her conception is referred to as the Immaculate Conception. The angel Gabriel hailed Mary as kecharitomene, a Greek word translated as “full of grace, but really meaning much more. It describes one who is fully filled with grace, now and always. It is a word only used this once in all of Scripture and never used in secular Greek writing. It is truly a unique word, describing a unique lady, in a unique situation. It is a singular honor. It is not merely a description of Mary; it is who Mary is. It is in a very real sense her title.
Mary lived her whole life without committing a sin. Her life was devoted to doing the will of the Father. Her final words recorded in Scripture, were spoken to the waiters at Cana, but they equally provide instruction to us. Speaking of her Son, Mary instructs us: Do whatever He tells you.
Meditation:
Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward his disciples, He said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Mt 12:48-50) Jesus was not distancing Himself from His family. He is teaching us that it is those who do the will of God that become true members of His family. Sinless from the moment of her conception, Mary is the premiere and perfect example of one who lives her life doing the will of God. Mary always acted in perfect obedience to the will of God. Her physical motherhood is not the primary reason that we venerate Mary. The primary reason is her spiritual motherhood. From the Cross Jesus entrusted S.t John to Mary and Mary to St. John. In that same act Jesus entrusted each of us to Mary’s protection and love. Jesus calls on each of us to receive Mary as our spiritual mother; to honor her; and most importantly, to imitate her. If we follow Mary’s example, and strive to be obedient to the will of the father in our lives, then we too are called to be members of the family of Jesus, His brothers and His sisters. Do we desire to be obedient? Do we embrace the will of our Heavenly Father? Do we acknowledge our failing to do so, and repent, confess and seek to amend our lives?
Prayer:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to Thy protection, implored Thy help, or sought Thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto Thee, O Virgin of virgins, our Mother. Before Thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in Thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
St. Teresa of Calcutta, Virgin (1910 – 1997)
Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu was born of Albanian-Indian extraction in the city of Skopje, now the capital of North Macedonia. She lived in India most of her life. At the age of 18 she moved to Ireland and joined the Sisters of Loreto. There she received the name of Sr. Mary Teresa, after St. Therese of Lisieux. After making her First Profession of Vows, Sr. Teresa was assign to a community in Calcutta. She made her Final Profession of Vows on May 24, 1937, becoming, in her words, the “spouse of Jesus” for “all eternity. From that time on she was called Mother Teresa. In 1946, Mother Teresa Jesus revealed to her his desire for her to join Him in caring for the neglected poor. “Come be My light,” He begged her. “I cannot go alone.” He asked her to establish a religious community, the Missionaries of Charity, dedicated to the service of the poorest of the poor. The new congregation was started in 1950. In spite of increasingly severe health problems towards the end of her life, Mother Teresa continued to respond to the needs of the poor. At the time of her death in 1997, there were nearly 4,000 Sister of Charity working in 123 countries around the world. Mother Teresa left “a testament of unshakable faith, invincible hope and extraordinary charity.”
Meditation:
The life of Mother Teresa reminds us that true Christian charity goes beyond dropping a dollar in the poor box or leaving a box of pasta at the food pantry. Not that those actions are not good, but we need avoid becoming complacent or self-congratulatory. Each of us is called to ask himself or herself each day whether he or she has done all that they should for those who are less fortunate, those who are truly poor, those who are ill, those who suffer emotional or spiritually. We don’t need to jump off the cliff, but sometimes we do need to go out on a limb. The life of Mother Teresa also reminds us that just when we think we have it bad, there are many who have it far worse. God calls us to work with Him, not only by our prayers, but by concrete action. Scripture reminds us, “If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:16).
Prayer:
St. Teresa of Calcutta, longing to love Jesus as He had never been loved before, you gave yourself entirely to Him, refusing Him nothing. In union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, you accepted His call to satiate His infinite thirst for love and souls and become a carrier of His love to the poorest of the poor. With loving trust and total surrender you fulfilled His will, witnessing to the joy of belonging totally to Him. You became so intimately united to Jesus your crucified Spouse that He deigned to share with you the agony of His Heart as He hung upon the Cross. St. Teresa, you promised to continuously bring the light of love to those on earth; pray for us, that we also may long to satiate the burning thirst of Jesus by loving Him ardently, sharing in His sufferings joyfully, and serving Him wholeheartedly in our brothers and sisters, especially those most unloved and unwanted. Amen.
St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Confessor (1887 – 1968)
Padre Pio was born Francesco Forgione. At the age of 15 he joined the Capuchins and took the name Pio. HE was ordained a priest in 1910. On September 20, 1918, as he was making his thanksgiving after Mass, Padre Pio had a vision of Jesus. When the vision ended, he had the stigmata, the marks of Jesus’ wounds, in his hands, feet and side. He rarely left the friary after he received the stigmata, but busloads of people soon began coming to see him. He began hearing confessions for hours a day. Many of the penitents commented that Padre Pio knew details of their lives that they had never mentioned. Padre Pio saw Jesus in all the sick and suffering. At his urging, a fine 350 bed hospital was built to care for the ill. Many people reported cures that they believe were received though Padre Pio’s intercession.
Meditation:
Referring to that day’s Gospel (Mt 11:25-30), at the Canonization Mass for Padre Pio in 2002, Pope St. John Paul II observed: “The Gospel image of ‘yoke’ evokes the many trials that the humble Capuchin of San Giovanni Rotondo endured. Today we contemplate in him how sweet is the ‘yoke’ of Christ and indeed how light the burdens are whenever someone carries these with faithful love. The life and mission of Padre Pio testify that difficulties and sorrows, if accepted with love, transform themselves into a privileged journey of holiness, which opens the person toward a greater good, known only to the Lord.”
Prayer:
Dear God, You generously blessed Your servant, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, with the gifts of the Spirit. You marked his body with the five wounds of Christ Crucified, as a powerful witness to the saving Passion and Death of Your Son. Endowed with the gift of discernment, St. Pio labored endlessly in the confessional for the salvation of souls. With reverence and intense devotion in the celebration of Mass, he invited countless men and women to a greater union with Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Through the intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, I confidently beseech you to grant me the grace of (here state your petition). Amen.
St. Catherine of Siena, Virgin (1347 – 1380)
Catherine of Siena was a laywoman associated with the Dominican Order. She was a mystic, an activist and an influential author. She was born in Siena. At the age of seven, she vowed to give her whole life to God. Against the will of her parents, she joined the Dominican Third Order at the age of 18. An active public apostolate grew out of her contemplative life. Her public influence reached great heights because of her evident holiness, her membership in the Dominican Third Order, and the deep impression she made on Pope Gregory XI. In 1378, the Great Schism began, splitting the allegiance of Christendom between two, and then three, claimants to the papal throne. Catherine spent the last two years of her life in Rome, in prayer and pleading on behalf of the cause of Pope Urban VI and the unity of the Church. Catherine is recognized as an important mystic and spiritual writer of the Church. In 1939, she and St. Francis of Assisi were declared co-patrons of Italy. Pope St. Paul VI named her a Doctor of the Church in 1970.
Meditation:
St. Catherine provides us with the model of spiritual hero, who spent her life seeking holiness and in service to the Church. During one of her visions, she recorded a conversation with Christ, in which He said: “Do you know what you are to Me, and what I am to you, my daughter? I am He who is, you are she who is not.” St. Catherine was a daily communicant and had a great devotion to the Eucharist. She understood that the Lord’s Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Mass are all one and the same, and that the remarkable mystery of Christ being really and truly present in the world every day, in our tabernacles and on our altars – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – is the life-giving reality of our Faith, and is, indeed, its source and summit.
Prayer:
O St. Catherine of Siena, God our Father enkindled the flame of holy love in your heart as you meditated on the Passion of Jesus, His Son. Moved by His grace, you devoted your life to the poor and the sick, as well as to the peace and unity of the Church. Through your intercession, may we also come to know the love of Jesus, bring His compassion to all, and work for the unity of His Church. We ask this in Jesus’ name and for His sake. God, you caused St. Catherine to shine with divine love in the contemplation of the Lord’s Passion and in the service of your Church. By her help, grant that Your people, associated in the mystery of Christ, may ever exult in the revelation of His glory. Amen.
To Conclude:
Pray One “Our Father”
Pray 3 “Hail Mary’s” for the virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity
Pray One “Glory Be”
“Prayer joined to sacrifice constitutes the most powerful force in human history”
-St. John Paul II