Pope Francis' Five Finger Prayer

Using the fingers on your hand, start with the thumb and pray these intentions in this order:

1. The thumb is closest finger to you. So start praying for those who are closest to you. They are the persons easiest to remember. To pray for our dear ones is a "Sweet Obligation."

2. The next finger is the index. Pray for those who teach you, instruct you and heal you. They need the support and wisdom to show direction to others. Always keep them in your prayers.

3. The following finger is the tallest. It reminds us of our leaders, the governors and those who have authority. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is the ring finger. Even though it may surprise you, it is our weakest finger. It should remind us to pray for the weakest, the sick or those plagued by problems. They need your prayers.

5. And finally we have our smallest finger, the smallest of all. Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. When you are done praying for the other four groups, you will be able to see your own needs but in the proper perspective, and also you will be able to pray for your own needs in a better way.

Pope Francis' prayer to Our Lady on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (1)

Immaculate Mother,

For the fifth time I come to your feet as Bishop of Rome, to pay you homage on behalf of all the inhabitants of this city.

We want to thank you for the constant care with which you accompany us on our journey, the journey of families, parishes, religious communities; the journey of those who daily, and sometimes with difficulty, pass through Rome on their way to work; the journey of the sick, the elderly, the poor, the journey of so many people who immigrated here from places where there is war and hunger.

Thank you, because as soon as we turn our thoughts, or a fleeting glance, towards you, or recite a quick Hail Mary, we feel your maternal presence, tender and strong.

O Mother, help this city develop the "antibodies" it needs to combat some of the viruses of our times: the indifference that says: "It’s not my business"; the unsociable behavior that despises the common good; the fear of the foreigner and those who are different from us; the conformism that disguises itself as transgression; the hypocrisy that accuses others while doing the same things; the resignation to environmental and ethical degradation; the exploitation of so many men and women. Help us to reject these and other viruses with the antibodies that come from the Gospel.

Let us make it a good habit to read a passage from the Gospel every day and, following your example, to keep the Word of God in our hearts, so that, like a good seed, it may fruit in our lives.

Immaculate Virgin, 175 years ago, not far from here, in the church of Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, you touched the heart of Alphonse Ratisbonne, who at that moment, from being an atheist and enemy of the Church, became a Christian.

You revealed yourself to him as a Mother of grace and mercy.

Grant that we too, especially in times of trial and temptation, may fix our gaze on your open hands, hands that allow the Lord's graces to fall upon the earth.

Help us to rid ourselves of all pride and arrogance, and to recognize ourselves for what we really are: small and poor sinners, but always your children.

So, let us place our hand in yours and allow ourselves to be led back to Jesus, our Brother and Savior, and to our Heavenly Father, who never tires of waiting for us and forgiving us when we return to Him.

Thank you, Mother, for always listening to us!

Bless the Church that is in Rome.

Bless this City and the whole world.. Amen.

Pope Francis' prayer to Our Lady on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (2)

O Mary, our Immaculate Mother, On your feast day I come to you, And I come not alone: I bring with me all those with whom your Son entrusted to me, In this city of Rome and in the entire world, That you may bless them and preserve them from harm.

I bring to you, Mother, children, Especially those who are alone, abandoned, And for this reason are tricked and exploited. I bring to you, Mother, families, Who carry forward life and society

With their daily and hidden efforts; In a special way the families who struggle the most For their many internal and external problems.

I bring to you, Mother, all workers, both men and women, And I entrust to you especially those who, out of need, Are forced to work in an unworthy profession And those who have lost work or are unable to find it.

We are in need of your immaculate gaze, To rediscover the ability to look upon persons and things With respect and awareness, Without egotistical or hypocritical interests. We are in need of your immaculate heart, To love freely,

Without secondary aims but seeking the good of the other, With simplicity and sincerity, renouncing masks and tricks. We are in need of your immaculate hands, To caress with tenderness,

To touch the flesh of Jesus

In our poor, sick, or despised brethren, To raise up those who have fallen and support those who waver.

We are in need of your immaculate feet, To go toward those who know not how to make the first step, To walk on the paths of those who are lost, To find those who feel alone.

We thank you, O Mother, because in showing yourself to us You free us of all stain of sin; You remind us that what comes first is the grace of God, The love of Jesus Christ who gave his life for us, The strength of the Holy Spirit which renews all things. Let us not give in to discouragement, But, trusting in your constant help, Let us engage ourselves fully in renewal of self, Of this city and of the entire world.

Pray for us, Holy Mother of God!

Prayer of His Holiness Pope Francis for the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy

Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.

Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman:

“If you knew the gift of God!”

You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified.

You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.

We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy; you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

Pope Francis’ Prayer to the Holy Family

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in you we contemplate the splendour of true love, to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic Churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth, may families never again experience violence, rejection and division: may all who have been hurt or scandalized find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth, may the approaching Synod of Bishops make us once more mindful of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, graciously hear our prayer. Amen.