YEAR IN PRAYER
THE CYCLE OF PRAYER
The Cycle of Prayer seeks to preserve the integrity of the Sunday liturgy, without losing sight of the importance of being united with the universal or local Church in praying and working for important intentions. It seeks to do this be encouraging the faithful to pray for the intentions set out in the Cycle in their personal prayers throughout the period specified, and not only at Mass on a particular day.
The Cycle of Prayer is based on a division of the year into six periods, three of these being the principal liturgical seasons of Advent/Christmas; Lent and Easter and the other three periods being divisions of Ordinary Time, namely Winter, Summer and Autumn.
Each of these six periods is allocated its proper series of intentions for prayer, which may be taken up by both individuals and parishes and other groups throughout the season.
SEASONAL PRAYER CARDS
POPE’S WORLDWIDE PRAYER
NETWORK
Each month the Pope entrusts prayer intentions to his Worldwide Prayer
Network, formerly the Apostleship of Prayer.
These intentions express his great concern for humanity and the mission
of the Church. His monthly prayer intention is a global call to transform
our prayer into “concrete gestures” of service. It is a monthly action plan
mobilising us to work together to build a more human and caring world.
MONTHLY DEVOTIONS
OF THE CHURCH YEAR
Each month of the year is dedicated to a particular devotion within
the Catholic faith;
the dedication of each month is based on historical events or a particular aspect of the liturgical calendar, or a combination of the two.
These monthly Catholic devotions do not line up exactly with the time frame of the liturgical calendar, since they are fixed to standard calendar months rather than the Church seasons.
Some countries and areas have developed monthly dedications to devotions more specific to their area, below we will show the common,
widespread Catholic devotions for each month throughout the year.
JANUARY
The Holy Name and Childhood of Jesus
FEBRUARY
The Holy Family
MARCH
Saint Joseph
APRIL
The Blessed Sacrament
MAY
Mary
JUNE
The Sacred Heart of Jesus
JULY
The Precious Blood
AUGUST
The Immaculate Heart of Mary
SEPTEMBER
The Seven Dolours (Sorrows) of Mary
OCTOBER
The Holy Rosary and The Holy Angels
NOVEMBER
The Poor Souls in Purgatory
DECEMBER
The Immaculate Conception
DAYS OF THE WEEK
Sunday - The Holy Trinity
Monday - The Holy Angels
Tuesday - The Apostles
Wednesday - Saint Joseph
Thursday - The Holy Eucharist
Friday - The Passion of Our Lord
Saturday - Our Lady
Prayer is a close sharing between friends,
to be alone with him
who we know loves us.