God Answers Prayers Prayer Book

Day per Day Version

Day 1

"God, Creator of the Universe"

A. Opening Song

How Great Thou Art

-- Carl G. Boberg and R.J. Hughes

O Lord my God
when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the world
Thy hands have made
I see the stars
I hear the rolling thunder
Thy pow'r throughout
the universe displayed.

Refrain:

Then sings my soul
my Savior God to Thee
How great Thou art,
how great Thou art!

(Repeat Refrain)

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Gen 2, 1-4)

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work hat he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

C. MEDITATION

The Old Testament suggests and the New Covenant reveals the creative action of the Son and the Spirit, inseparably one with that of the Father. this creative co-operation is clearly affirmed in the Church's rule of faith: "There exists but one God... He is the Father, God, the Creator, the author, the giver of order. He made all things by Himself, that is, by His Word and by His Wisdom," "by the Son and the Spirit" who, so to speak, are "His hands." Creation is the common work of the Holy Trinity (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC 292]).

D. PRAYER

(Psalm 8, 1-9)

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all he earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, and also he beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whtaever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

F. CLOSING SONG

From Heaven The Lord Looks Down

From Heaven The Lord Looks Down
upon the children of men
To see if there be but one
who does good
and keeps the law in his heart.

Refrain:

My heart overflows
I sing my ode to the King
My tougue flows
life the pen of a scribe
I sing the praise of the Lord
hmmm, hmmm.
How lovely is this place
The dwelling place of the Lord
My heart and soul
have yearned and pined
for God the living God.

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 2

Father of all Humankind

A. Opening Song

Let Heaven Rejoice

--Bob Dufford, S.J.

Refrain:

Let Heaven rejoice and earth be glad;
Let all creation sing.
Let children proclaim to every land,
Thy hands have made
"Hosanna to our King."

1. Sound the trumpet into the night;
the day of the Lord is near.
Wake His people, lift your voice
proclaim it t the world.

(Repeat Refrain)

2. Rise in splendor; shake off your sleep;
put on your robes of joy
And in the morning you shall see
the glory of the Lord.

(Repeat Refrain)

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Is 44, 1-2; Jn 14, 1-4)

"But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen."(Is 44,1-2)

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in god; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going."
(Jn 14, 1-4)

C. MEDITATION

God who created man out of love also calls him to love the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being. For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is himself love. Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love which God blesses is intended to be fruithful and to be realized in the common work of watching over creation: "And God blessed them, and God said to them: 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.' (Gen 2, 28)(CCC 1604)

D. PRAYER

(Ps 14, 1-7)

The Fool says in his heart, "There is no God. "They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD?

There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge.

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad.

F. CLOSING SONG

You are Near

Dan Schutte S.J.

Refrain:

Yahweh I know You are near
Standing always at my side
Your guard me from foe
And You lead me in ways everlasting

1. Lord you have searched my heart
And You know when I sit And when I stand
Your hand is upon me Protecting me from death
Keeping me from harm.

(Repeat Refrain)

2. Where can I run from Your love
If I climb to the heavens You are there
If I fly to the sunrise Or sail beyond the sea
Still I'd find you there.

(Repeat Refrain)

3. You know my heart and its ways
You who formed me before I was born
In secret of darkness Before I saw the sun
In my mother's womb.

(Repeat Refrain)

4. Marvelous to me are Your works
How profound are Your thoughts my Lord
Even if I could count them They number as the stars
you would still be there.

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 3

Giver of the Commandments

A. Opening Song

Prodigal Son

Eugene O'Reilly

1. Father I have sinned
let me find my way.
Remember not my sins
just let me hear you say

Refrain:

I forgive you, I love you,
You are mine
Take my hand, go in peace
sin no more, beloved one.

(Repeat Refrain)

2. Father I have turned my back
and walked away
Depending on my strength
and lived life my own way.

(Repeat Refrain)

3. Father I've returned.
I'm home with you to stay
Standing by your door,
knowing that you'll say.

(Repeat Refrain)

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Dt 5,6-21)

'I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

'You shall have no other gods before me.

'Your shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that it's in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

'Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God Commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your female servant may rest as well as you. You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

'You shall not murder.

'And you shall not commit adultery.

'And you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

'And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.'

C. MEDITATION

The word "Decalogue" means literally "ten words" (Ex 34,28;Dt 4,13). God revealed these "ten words" to his people on the holy mountain. They were written "with the finger of God" (Ex 31,18;Dt 5,22)., unlike the other commandments written by Moses (Dt 31,9.24). They are pre-eminently the words of god. They are handed on to us in the books of Exodus(Ex 20,1-7) and Deuteronomy (Dt 5,6-22). Beginning with the Old Testament, the sacred books refer to the "ten words," but it is in the New Covenant in Jesus Christ that their full meaning will be revealed. (CCC 2056)

D. PRAYER

(Ps 19, 7-14)

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is you servant warned; in keeping them there is great rewards.

Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then i shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

F. CLOSING SONG

Create in Me

Psalm 51

Refrain:

Create in me a clean heart,
put a new and right Spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

1. Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness.
In Your compassion, blot out all my sin.
Thoroughly cleanse me from all of my guilt.
Wash me 'till I'm whiter than snow.

(Repeat Refrain)

2. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.
Uphold me with a willing spirit. So I will teach
transgressors your ways. And sinners will
return to You.

(Repeat Refrain)

3. You are pleased with sincerity of heart,
not with sacrifices or with holocausts.
My sacrifice is a broken spirit, for You will not refuse
a humble heart.

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 4

Obedience

-- the Price of Salvation

A. Opening Song

Glory and Praise

Antiphon:

Glory and praise to our God,
who alone gives light to our days.
Many are the blessings He bears
to those who trust in His ways.

1. We, the daughters and sons of Him
who built the valleys and plains,
praise the wonders our God has done
in ev'ry heart that sings.

2. In His wisdom He strengthen is,
like gold that's tested in fire.
Though the power of sin prevails,
our God is thre to save.

3. Ev'ry moment of ev'ryday
our God is waiting to save,
always ready to seek the lost,
to answer those who pray.

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Lev 26, 3-6)

If you walk in my statues and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely. I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land.

C. MEDITATION

Following Jesus Christ involves keeping the Commandments. The Law has not been abolished, but rather man is invited to rediscover it in the person of his Master who is its perfect fulfillment. In the three synoptic Gospels, Jesus' call to the rich young man to follow him, in the obedience of a disciple and in the observance of the Commandments, is joined to the call to peverty and chastity. The evangelical counsels are inseperable from the Commandments.(CCC 2056)

D. PRAYER

(Ps 15, 1-5)

O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tougue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reprouch against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the LORD; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innovent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

F. CLOSING SONG

I Surrender All

J.W. Van Deventer

All to the Father, I surrender
all to Him I give freely.
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live.

Refrain:

I surrender all, I surrender all
All to the Blessed Trinity, I surrender all.

All to Jesus, I surrender
all to Him I give freely.
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live.

(Repeat Refrain)

All to the Holy Spirit, I surrender
all to Him I give freely.
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live.

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 5

Sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit

A. Opening Song

Sing a Joyful Song

Refrain:

Sing a joyful song to the Lord!
Alleluia!
Let the heavens and earth rejoice
Alleluia! Alleluia!

1. The Heavens proclaim His name,
And earth in reply
Echoes back
with joyful songs of praise.

2. Our God is a mighty God,
Unequalled in pow'r.
Yet His gentle mercy covers the earth.

3. Sing praise, O Jerusalem!
Sing praise to your King!
He shall rule with justice
age after age.

4. Sing praise to the God of Gods.
The ancient of Days!
Holy, holy, holy Lord of all.

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Acts ,1-5)

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

C. MEDITATION

The One whom the Father has sent into our hearts, the Spirit of his Son, is truly God. (Gal 4,6) Consubstantial with the Father and the Son, the Spirit is inseparable from them, in both the inner life of the Trinity and his gift of love for the world. In adoring the Holy Trinity, lifegiving, consubstantial, and indivisible, the Church's faith also professes the distinction of Persons. When the Father sends his Word, he always sends his Breath. In their joint mission, the Son and the Holy Spirit are distinct but inseparable. To be sure, it is Christ who is seen, the visible image of the invisible God, but it is the Spirit who revels him.(CCC 689)

D. PRAYER

(Jn 14,23-26)

Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make out home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me."

"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."

F. CLOSING SONG

Holy God We Praise Thy Name

Ignaz Franz

Holy God, we praise Thy Name;
Lord of all, we bow before Thee!
All on earth Thy scepter claim,
All in Heaven above adore Thee;
infinite Thy vast domain,
Everlasting is Thy reign.

Hark! the loud celestial hymn
Angel choirs above are raising,
Cherubim and seraphim,
In unceasing choirs praising;
Fill the heavens with sweet accord:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord.

Day 6

One in the Trinity

A. Opening Song

Trinity Song

1. Father in my life I see
You are God who walks with me!
You hold my life in your hands!
Close beside you I will stand
I give all my life to you!
Help me Father to be true.

2. Jesus in my life I see
You are God who walks with me!
You hold my life in your hands!
Close beside you I will stand
I give all my life to you!
Help me Father to be true.

3. Spirit in my life I see
You are God who walks with me!
You hold my life in your hands!
Close beside you I will stand
I give all my life to you!
Help me Father to be true.

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Mt 28,19)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C. MEDITATION

Christians are baptized "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" Before receiving the sacrament, they respond to a three-part question when asked to confess the Father, the Son, and the Spirit: "I do." The Faith of all Christians rests on the Trinity."(CCC 232).

"The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life."(CCC 234).

D. PRAYER

(Jn 14,23-26)

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again, He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

F. CLOSING SONG

God Father Praise and Glory

1. God Father praise and glory
Thy children bring to Thee
Goodwill and peace to Thee
Shall now forever be.

Refrain:

O Most Holy Trinity
undivided Unity
Cherubim and seraphim,
O Holy God, Mighty God
God immortal be adored.

2. And thou, Lord co-eternal
God's sole begotten Son.
O Jesus, King anointed
Who hast redemption won.

(Repeat Refrain)

3. O Holy Ghost Creator
The gift of God Most High
Life, love and sacred unction
Our weakness Thou supply.

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 7

Beloved of Jesus

A. Opening Song

Only This I want

Refrain:

Only this I want:
but to know the Lord,
and to bear His cross,
so to wear the crown He wore.

1. All but this is loss,
Worthless refuse to me,
For to gain the Lord
Is to gain all i need.

2. I will run the race;
I will fight the good fight,
So to win the prize
Of the Kingdom of my Lord.

3. Let your hearts be glad,
Always glad in the Lord
So to shine like stars
In the darkness of the night.

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Jn 17,1-5)

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

C. MEDITATION

The Son of God, who came down "from heaven, not to do [his] own will, but the will of that who sent [him]"(Jn 6, 38), said on coming into the world, "Lord, I have come to do your will, O God." "And by that will we have been sanctified Through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Heb 10, 5-10). From the first moment of his Incarnation the Son embraces the Father's plan of divine salvation in his redemptive mission: "My food i to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplished his work"(Jn 4, 34). The sacrifice of Jesus "for the sins of the whole world" (1 Jn 2,2) expresses his loving communion with he Father. "The Father loves me, because I lay down my life,"(Jn 10, 17)said the Lord, "[for] I do as the Father has commended me, so that the world may know that I love the Father."(Jn 14, 31)(CCC 606)

By his loving obedience to the Father, "unto death, even death on a cross"(Phil 2,8),Jesus fulfills the atoning mission(cf. Is 53, 10) of the suffering Servant, who will make many righteous; and he shall bear their iniquities." (Is 53, 11; cf Rom 5, 19)(CCC623)

D. PRAYER

(Jn 17, 20-26)

I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may al be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world, O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them our name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

F. CLOSING SONG

Dwelling Place

by John Foley, SJ

I fall on my knees to the Father of Jesus
The Lord who has shown us the glory of God.
May He is His love give us Strength for our living
The Strength of His Spirit, the glory of God.

Refrain:

May Christ find a dwelling place
of faith in our hearts
May our lives be rooted in love,
rooted in love (Interlude)

May grace and peace be yours in
God our Father and in His Son.

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 8

Source of Divine Providence

A. Opening Song

A Thanksgiving Song

Lord, in a special way,
we'd like to give thanks to Thee
Lord, in a special way,
we'd like to give thanks to Thee
For all the wonderful things you've done
Lord, we give thanks to you
For a chance to be with you
For the world and the people all around
So with love in our hearts,
we offer everything we have
Oh our Lord, we thank you for Your love
Yes, our Lord,
we thank You
for the morning, noon and night time,
Oh our Lord, we thank You
for giving us the chance to be with You.
Once every morning,
a prayer for a greeting
And me in Your keeping safe and sound.

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Wis 11, 24)

But You have mercy upon all, because You can do all things, and overlook the sins of men for the sake of repentance.

C. MEDITATION

With creation, God does not abandon his creatures to themselves. He not only gives them being and existence, but also, and at every moment, upholds and sustains them in being, enables them to act and brings them to their final end. (CCC 301)

Jesus asks for childlike abandonment to the providence of our heavenly Father who takes care of his children's smallest needs: " Therefore do not be anxious, saying, "What shall we eat?" or What shall we drinks?" ... Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well." (Mt 6, 31-33)(CCC 305)

D. PRAYER

(Ps 127)

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

F. CLOSING SONG

The Living God

1. Sing praises to the living God, glory hallelujah!
Come adore the living God, glory Hallelujah!
Though sun and moon may pass away His words
will ever stay. His power is forever more,
glory hallelujah!

Refrain:

Glory to the Trinity,
the Undivided Unity.
The Father, Son and Spirit one
From whom all life and goodness come.

2. To the living God we sing, Glory Halleluiah!
Let our love an praises sing, glory halleluiah!
To His son He always gives mercy and His love.
Praise Him now and forevermore, glory halleluiah!

(Repeat Refrain)

Day 9

Source of All Blessings

A. Opening Song

Tantum Ergo

St. Thomas Quinas

Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail,
Lo! oe'r ancient forms departing
Newer rites of grave prevail;
Faith for all defects supplying,
Where the feeble senses fail.

To the everlasting Father,
And the Son Who reigns on high
With the Holy Spirit proceeding
Forth from each eternally,
Be salvation, honor blessing,
Might and endless majesty. Amen.

B. SCRIPTURE READING

(Dt 6,5-9)

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

C. MEDITATION

Blessing is a divine and life-giving action, the source of which is the Father; his blessing is both word and gift. When applied to man, the word "blessing" means adoration and surrender to his Creator in thanksgiving. (CCC 1078)

From the beginning until the end of time the whole of God's work is a blessing. From the liturgical poem of the first creation to the canticles of the heavenly Jerusalem, the inspired authors proclaim the plan of salvation as one vast divine blessing. (CCC 1079)

D. PRAYER

(The Lord's Prayer)

Our Father in heaven, holy be Your name,
Your kingdom come, Your will be done
on the earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
and forgive us our sins as we forgive
those who sin against us. Do not bring us
to the test but deliver us from evil. Amen.

F. CLOSING SONG

I Will Serve You

Bill Gather

I will serve You
Because I love You
You have given life to me.
I was nothing until You found me.
You have given life to me.
Heartaches, broken people,
You have given life to me.
Ruined lives are why you died on Calvary.
Your touch was what I longed for,
You have given life to me.

Day per Day Version