epilogue
A beautiful and inspiring collection of poetic prayers
Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s magnificent baldacchino in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome
POETIC PRAYERS
Before I conclude this web book, let me share with you some wonderful prayers, many of which are also very beautiful and poetic. The first section (“Holy Prayers”) includes prayers that were written by some of the greatest saints in history, and I have incorporated the majority of them into my own prayer life. The second section (“Divine Mercy Sunday, First Saturdays, & Lent”) includes a handful of popular prayers. The third section (“Little Candles of Love”) includes prayers that I myself have composed, and they are a significant part of my prayer life. The fourth section (“Liturgical Candles of Love”) are prayers that I have composed for either confession or holy mass, and they too are an important part of my prayer life. Finally, the fifth section (“Little Candles of Light”) includes additional prayers that I have felt inspired to compose, and these too are a part of my prayer life.
HOLY PRAYERS
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES’ MORNING PRAYER
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES’ SPIRITUAL-BOUQUET PRAYER
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES’ SPIRITUAL-RETREAT PRAYER
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES' PRAYER BEFORE CHRIST CRUCIFIED
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES’ EVENING PRAYER
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES' PRAYER BEFORE MAKING AN EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
ST. FRANCIS DE SALES' MEDITATION ON VOCATION
ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT'S DAILY CONSECRATION PRAYER
ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT'S PRAYER TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
ST. LOUIS DE MONTFORT'S PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH
CONCLUDING PRAYER OF "THE LITTLE CROWN OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY"
PRAYER OF OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL
NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL
ACT OF CONSECRATION TO OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI'S SPIRITUAL COMMUNION PRAYER
ST. BONAVENTURE’S PRAYER AFTER MASS
ST. CHARLES DE FOUCAULD'S PRAYER OF ABANDONMENT
DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY & LENT
PRAYER FOR DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
lITTLE CANDLES OF LOVE
MEDITATION ON DIVINE MERCY IN THE DARK NIGHT
THE SYMPHONY IN THE DARK NIGHT
LITTLE PRAYER TO OUR GUARDIAN ANGELS
NIGHT PRAYER TO THE HOLY FAMILY
LITURGICAL CANDLES OF LOVE
AN ACT OF THANKSGIVING: TO JESUS THROUGH MARY
LITTLE PRAYERS OF GENUFLECTION
LITTLE SPIRITUAL COMMUNION PRAYER
LITTLE PRAYER BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION
LITTLE PRAYER AFTER HOLY COMMUNION
CHECKLIST PRAYER FOR A PLENARY OR PARTIAL INDULGENCE
LITTLE CANDLES OF LIGHT
O MADONNINA D’AMORE, TEACH ME!
PRAYER OF DIVINE MERCY IN THE DARK NIGHT OF THE CROSS
LITTLE PRAYER FOR THE NEW EVANGELIZATION
NIGHT PRAYER TO THE SAINTS AND ANGELS
LITTLE PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
PRAYER OF SUFFERING IN THE DARK NIGHT
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE: THE GREAT GRACE OF DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY
LONGER SPIRITUAL COMMUNION PRAYER
ABOUT ME
In the chapel of the Kino Catechetical Institute (courtesy of Ambria Hammel of the Catholic Sun)
My name is Joseph Peter Castorino III, and my confirmation name is Anthony, but most people simply know me as Joe. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree and also a Master of Arts degree in English literature, with an emphasis in fiction, from Loyola Marymount University, and for over ten years I taught writing (and also some literature), mostly on the community-college level but also to a limited extent on the university level and high-school level. In addition, for a little under 15 years I worked as an academic training leader for Edward Jones Investments, during which time I held the designation of Accredited Asset Management Specialist.
In terms of my spiritual life, a few very significant things happened to me in 2007. First of all, I consecrated my life to Jesus through Mary back on January 1 of that year, and I have faithfully renewed this pledge every year since that time. Secondly, since that same year I have been a member of the Association of Mary, Queen of All Hearts (this is a part of the Company of Mary that was founded by St. Louis de Montfort). Thirdly, since that very same year, I have been reading St. Francis de Sales’ masterpiece of spiritual direction, entitled “Introduction to the Devout Life.”