Saints celebrated on the 4th of July
Prayer to the Angels and the Saints
Heavenly Father, in praising Your Angels and Saints we praise Your glory, for by honouring them we honour You, their Creator. Their splendour shows us Your greatness, which infinitely surpasses that of all creation.
In Your loving providence, You saw fit to send Your Angels to watch over us. Grant that we may always be under their protection and one day enjoy their company in heaven.
Heavenly Father, You are glorified in Your Saints, for their glory is the crowning of Your gifts. You provide an example for us by their lives on earth, You give us their friendship by our communion with them, You grant us strength and protection through their prayer for the Church, and You spur us on to victory over evil and the prize of eternal glory by this great company of witnesses.
Grant that we who aspire to take part in their joy may be filled with the Spirit that blessed their lives, so that, after sharing their faith on earth, we may also experience their peace in heaven. Amen.
ST ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL, WIDOW
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal was born in 1271 into the royal family of Aragon. At the age of twelve she was married to the king of Portugal, and had two children. The marriage was unhappy, and led to many disputes between the families. She lived a life of penance, prayer and fasting. After her husband’s death she renounced the world and lived in poverty as a member of the Third Order of St Francis. War broke out between her son and grandson, and while attempting to reconcile them, she died in 1336.
PRAYER:
Father of peace and love,
you gave Saint Elizabeth the gift of reconciling enemies.
By the help of her prayers
give us the courage to work for peace among men,
that we may be called the sons of God.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
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