Praying the Psalms for the Unborn Child: Psalms 1-21

Praying the Psalms for the Unborn Child

by John P. Gross

Travel writer and co-author with wife, Donna, of
Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation

Author of

Divine Intimacy Rosary

The Divine Word + Sacred Art Rosary:
Praying the Rosary with Sacred Scripture and Art

Beads of Salvation: Praying the Rosary to Reach Heaven

Rosary Poetry: Poems on the Life of Jesus Christ

Achieving Weight Loss through the Prayers
of the Divine Office of the Virgin Mary

100 Prayers of Purity for the Mission of Our Lady of America

Rosary Meditations: A Bouquet of Roses for Our Lady

Remember me in your prayers!

So what's a prayer book doing on a Disney travel site?

God has blessed us with a successful online business for over 10 years and we would like to show our gratitude to Him and to our Blessed Mother by using our publishing expertise to help spread the good news: that God loves us very much!

Praying the Psalms for the Unborn Child

The Church interprets the Psalms from a Christocentric point of view ¹. Let us pray with Jesus to the Father for the unborn.

Scripture quotations (Psalms 37-41) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Psalm 1
Proclamation of the Kingdom
(The Righteous and the Wicked Contrasted.)

1How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.

4The wicked are not so,
But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous
6For the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish.

In this psalm Jesus, the incarnate Lord, born of the Virgin Mary, is instructing us how to live². Jesus (the man)³ encourages us to avoid sin (1:1) and follow God's precepts (1:2). Those who follow God's ways will prosper (1:3). Those who reject God's ways will be driven away (1:4), separated from the faithful (1:5) and condemned (1:6).

Prayer for life: Dear Lord, You became man to show us how to be holy as the Father is holy. Help me to follow your precepts and to pay no heed to the corrupt voice of a decadent society. May I (the tree) receive the grace (streams of water) to bring my child (fruit) into the world despite the obstacles I face. May my child and I grow strong (not wither) and prosper as we seek to do the Father's will. Amen.

Psalm 2
Holy Week

(The Reign of the LORD'S Anointed.)
"This is my only begotten Son. Listen to Him." The man in Psalm 1 has now become God's only begotten Son⁴.

1Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
2The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3"Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!"

4He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6"But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain."

7"I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, 'You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9'You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.'"

10Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Psalm 2 describes conditions surrounding our Lord during Holy Week. The Jewish authorities, the secular world, cannot tolerate Him ⁵. They protest (1:1) and plot against Jesus, the anointed (the Christ) (2:2), and reject God and His Son (2:3). Yet God in heaven laughs at their plans (2:4) and scolds them (2:5). For God has established Jesus as King of His Church (Sion) (2:6) and declared Him to be His begotten Son (2:7), the King over all the earth (2:8), who will judge the nations (2:9). He warns His people to listen to Jesus (2:10) and serve Him (2:11). Jesus will bless those who trust in Him (on Judgment Day) (2:12).

Prayer for life: Dear Jesus, King of all creation, I am also suffering as I struggle to make the right choices. Teach me to serve You as you deserve. Stay with me, Lord, and support me through this trying time. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.

Psalm 3
Holy Week

(Morning Prayer of Trust in God.)
Jesus, the blessed man of Psalm 1 in conflict with society in Psalm 2, prays for protection ⁶. His prayer is our prayer.

1O LORD, how my adversaries have increased!
Many are rising up against me.
2Many are saying of my soul,
"There is no deliverance for him in God."

3But You, O LORD, are a shield about me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
4I was crying to the LORD with my voice,
And He answered me from His holy mountain.

5I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the LORD sustains me.
6I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me round about.

7Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God!
For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;
You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
8Salvation belongs to the LORD;
Your blessing be upon Your people!

Evil surrounds Jesus (and us) (3:1), His enemies say that God will not help Him or those who believe in Him (3:2). God is our shield (3:3) and is always listening to our prayers (3:4). Whether asleep or awake, He will protect us. (3:5) No matter the strength of the enemy (fallen angels ⁷) (3:6), He will defeat them (3:7). God is our salvation and He bestows blessings on His people (3:8).

Prayer for life: Jesus, the unborn are being attacked by the wicked just as you were attacked. I know you hear my prayers. Give me the strength to have this baby. Support me through my pregnancy and bless me for saving my child. Amen.

Psalm 4
Agony in the Garden
Evening Prayer of Trust in God.

1Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

2O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach?
How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?

3But know that the LORD has set apart the godly man for Himself;
The LORD hears when I call to Him.

4Tremble, and do not sin;
Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.

5Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And trust in the LORD.

6Many are saying, "Who will show us any good?"
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O LORD!
7You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.
8In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety.

Jesus is asking His Father to help Him in His distress (4:1). How long will we ignore Jesus because we are so distracted by the glamor of worldly things (4:2)? But God will answer the prayers of Jesus, His Holy One ⁸ (4:3). Jesus admonishes us to think about what we are doing before God, to not sin, and to examine our conscience in silence as we lie on our beds (4:4). Be willing to sacrifice to do what is right and trust in God (4:5). We ask for good things and beg Him to look kindly on us (4:6), for we are happier than those who take delight in material success (wine and corn) (4:7). For we feel safe and at peace in the hope of dying and rising again (lying down and sleeping) as Jesus did ⁹ (4:8).

Prayer for life: Lord, I am willing to abandon the ways of the world and make the sacrifices necessary to give birth to my baby. I trust in You and know that by doing the Father's will, I will experience a joy greater than any pleasure the world can offer. Amen.

Psalm 5
A morning prayer
Prayer for Protection from the Wicked.

1Give ear to my words, O LORD,
Consider my groaning.
2Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God,
For to You I pray.
3In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.

4For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
7But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house,
At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.

8O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes;
Make Your way straight before me.
9There is nothing reliable in what they say;
Their inward part is destruction itself
Their throat is an open grave;
They flatter with their tongue.
10Hold them guilty, O God;
By their own devices let them fall!
In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out,
For they are rebellious against You.

11But let all who take refuge in You be glad,
Let them ever sing for joy;
And may You shelter them,
That those who love Your name may exult in You.
12For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.

Jesus prays for protection to the Father who is Lord (5:1,3,6,8,12), King (5:2) and God (5:2,4,10) ¹⁰. God destroys those who lie (5:6), but shows His fullness of mercy to those who revere Him (5:7). He is a saving God (righteous) who will protect them against their enemies and lead them to safety (5:8). Those who lie and flatter so as to deceive have no life in them (grave) (5:9) and must be cast out (5:10), but those who trust in God will rejoice (5:11) for He will shield them from all harm (5:12).

Prayer for life: Sweet Jesus, I will not allow myself to be deceived by those who promise easy fixes that are really deadly solutions to unwanted pregnancy. In Your infinite mercy, make my way straight and wrap me and my baby in Your loving and protective arms. Amen.

Psalm 6
A humble prayer for forgiveness
Prayer for Mercy in Time of Trouble.

1O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your wrath.
2Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am pining away;
Heal me, O LORD, for my bones are dismayed.
3And my soul is greatly dismayed;
But You, O LORD--how long?

4Return, O LORD, rescue my soul;
Save me because of Your lovingkindness.
5For there is no mention of You in death;
In Sheol who will give You thanks?

6I am weary with my sighing;
Every night I make my bed swim,
I dissolve my couch with my tears.
7My eye has wasted away with grief;
It has become old because of all my adversaries.

8Depart from me, all you who do iniquity,
For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
9The LORD has heard my supplication,
The LORD receives my prayer.
10All my enemies will be ashamed and greatly dismayed;
They shall turn back, they will suddenly be ashamed.

Jesus teaches us to be humble when we pray ¹¹. We are weak (6:2) and in danger of losing our soul (6:3,4). Let us ask God to deliver us from spiritual death (6:5) for we are filled with sorrow for our sins (6:6) and saddened with grief (6:7) because of the evil that surrounds us (6:8). The Lord will answer our prayer (6:9). He will drive away the fallen angels and shame our enemies (6:10).

Prayer for life: Jesus, I am in trouble and feel vulnerable. Evil preys on the weak and I am afraid of losing my soul. Forgive me, Lord, for in my weakness I have even considered abortion as a solution to my predicament. Defend me against the ungodly who would destroy life. Let those who reject the Word of God be put to shame. Amen.

Psalm 7
Holy Week: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane ¹²

1O LORD my God, in You I have taken refuge;
Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
2Or he will tear my soul like a lion,
Dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.

3O LORD my God, if I have done this,
If there is injustice in my hands,
4If I have rewarded evil to my friend,
Or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary,
5Let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it;
And let him trample my life down to the ground
And lay my glory in the dust.

6Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries,
And arouse Yourself for me; You have appointed judgment.
7Let the assembly of the peoples encompass You,
And over them return on high.
8The LORD judges the peoples;
Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.
9O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;
For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
10My shield is with God,
Who saves the upright in heart.
11God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.

12If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword;
He has bent His bow and made it ready.
13He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons;
He makes His arrows fiery shafts.
14Behold, he travails with wickedness,
And he conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood.
15He has dug a pit and hollowed it out,
And has fallen into the hole which he made.
16His mischief will return upon his own head,
And his violence will descend upon his own pate.

17I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness
And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Jesus, the Man of Psalm 1, teaches us how to pray to God for protection against the devil (lion) ¹³(7:1). For without God, there is no one to save us (7:2). If we have done evil, then we deserve to be punished (7:4-5).

So we ask God to come to our aid and judge with justice our offence (7:6), to gather His people and rule over them from above (7:7), to judge us according to our faithfulness to His will (righteousness) and our morals (integrity) (7:8), to destroy the wicked and raise up the just, for He knows our hearts and desires (7:9).

God will save the innocent (7:10), but He abhors the wicked (7:11) and He will destroy them (7:12-13). God sees how they work evil and lie (7:14), how they set traps to catch the innocent, but fall into them themselves (7:15-16). We will praise God for making us victorious over the enemy (7:17).

Prayer for life: Lord, the ungodly have no regard for the sanctity of life. They ask: "Why deal with the physical stress of child birth? Who wants to go through the hassle of having a child and then giving it up for adoption? You know you can't afford to raise a baby." But I know that all life is sacred to You from conception to natural death. I also know that You will condemn the wicked and bless the innocent. I must be either for You or against You. The choice is mine. And I choose life. May the birth of my child be a testament to the love I bear for You, Lord. Amen.

Psalm 8
The Incarnation
The LORD'S Glory and Man's Dignity.

1O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
2From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.

3When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
4What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
5Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
6You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
8The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9O LORD, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

How wonderful is the name of Our Incarnate Lord ¹⁴, Jesus Christ, praised throughout the world (in all the earth) and glorified beyond the heavens (8:1). The praises sung to You by Your humble children silences the enemy (8:2). When I contemplate the universe that You created (8:3), I see in what esteem You hold us poor mortals (8:4). You saved us from death and crowned us with glory in heaven (8:5). You placed us in charge of the earth and all its creatures (8:6-8). For all these reasons, Lord, Your name is wonderful in all the earth (8:9).

Prayer for Life: Lord, You became man to save my soul and bring me to heaven. I am not worthy of the such a sacrifice, but I will praise You for it all the days of my life. I humbly beg You to help the government, lawyers, judges, politicians, doctors, nurses, educators, media and all those who promote abortion to abandon their wicked practices. Let my prayers strike fear in the evil one and all who do his bidding. As for me, Lord, give me the courage and strength to bring my baby into the world to raise it myself or to entrust it into the hands of a loving adoptive family. Amen.

Psalm 9
A Psalm of Thanksgiving for God's Justice.
The Last Judgment

1I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.
2I will be glad and exult in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

3When my enemies turn back,
They stumble and perish before You.
4For You have maintained my just cause;
You have sat on the throne judging righteously.
5You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked;
You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins,
And You have uprooted the cities;
The very memory of them has perished.

7But the LORD abides forever;
He has established His throne for judgment,
8And He will judge the world in righteousness;
He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.
9The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed,
A stronghold in times of trouble;
10And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.

11Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion;
Declare among the peoples His deeds.
12For He who requires blood remembers them;
He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
13Be gracious to me, O LORD;
See my affliction from those who hate me,
You who lift me up from the gates of death,
14That I may tell of all Your praises,
That in the gates of the daughter of Zion
I may rejoice in Your salvation.
15The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made;
In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught.
16The LORD has made Himself known;
He has executed judgment.
In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared.

17The wicked will return to Sheol,
Even all the nations who forget God.
18For the needy will not always be forgotten,
Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.
19Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail;
Let the nations be judged before You.
20Put them in fear, O LORD;
Let the nations know that they are but men.

Psalm 9 and 10 concern the return of Jesus at the end of the world when He will come to judge the living and the dead. ¹⁵ It is also our prayer of praise to the Lord for all His marvelous works (9:1): His incarnation, suffering and death, resurrection and ascension, descent of the Holy Spirit, and the establishment of the Church. Moreover, it gives reverence to our Lord's name, at whose utterance every knee must bend. ¹⁶

I will praise You, O Lord, for Your marvelous works (9:1). I will rejoice in You and praise Your name because You have defeated my enemies (9:2-3) and judged in favor of my cause (9:4).

You have scolded the godless and destroyed those who do evil (9:5) and erased their memory (9:6). But You, O Lord, reign eternally in heaven on Your throne of judgment (9:7) from where You will judge the world with justice and fairness (9:8).

Your kingdom will be a place of peace and comfort for those who have suffered (9:9). You will not abandon those who trusted in You (9:10). May all those in heaven and in your Church on earth (Zion) praise Your mighty deeds (9:11). You demand justice and remember the cries of the suffering (9:12).

Have mercy on me, O Lord. Rescue me from the devil and raise me up on the last day (9:13). I will praise You in the heavenly Jerusalem (daughter of Zion) and rejoice in Your saving grace (9:14). The wicked are caught in their own traps (9:15) and bring about their own destruction. The Lord judges fairly and those who do evil are ensnared by their own wicked actions (9:16).

On Judgment Day the wicked and all those who reject God will be cast into hell (9:17). But the needy and those who suffer will see God (9:18). O Lord, from Your judgment seat judge the godless. Fill the wicked with fear and cast them away in their powerlessness (9:20).

Prayer for life: Dear Lord, at the hour of my death, when I appear before Your awesome judgment seat, forgive my sins, defend me against the accusations of the evil one, and welcome me into Your kingdom. Look favorably upon Your faithful servant who, against the counsel of a wicked and depraved society, will give birth to the child in my womb. Help me, Lord, through difficult times ahead, for You are my rock, the source of all my strength. Amen.

Psalm 10
Last Judgment
Agony in the Garden

1Why do You stand afar off, O LORD?
Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?
2In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted;
Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.

3For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire,
And the greedy man curses and spurns the LORD.
4The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him.
All his thoughts are, "There is no God."

5His ways prosper at all times;
Your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.
6He says to himself, "I will not be moved;
Throughout all generations I will not be in adversity."
7His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression;
Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness.
8He sits in the lurking places of the villages;
In the hiding places he kills the innocent;
His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate.
9He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair;
He lurks to catch the afflicted;
He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.
10He crouches, he bows down,
And the unfortunate fall by his mighty ones.
11He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
He has hidden His face; He will never see it."
12Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand
Do not forget the afflicted.
13Why has the wicked spurned God?
He has said to himself, "You will not require it."
14You have seen it, for You have beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Your hand.
The unfortunate commits himself to You;
You have been the helper of the orphan.
15Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer,
Seek out his wickedness until You find none.
16The LORD is King forever and ever;
Nations have perished from His land.
17O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear
18To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed,
So that man who is of the earth will no longer cause terror.

This psalm, like the previous psalm, is about the last judgment ¹⁷. This is also the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as He prays for justice.

O Lord, why are You so hard to find when we are in trouble? (10:1) The arrogant and wicked person persecutes the poor; let the wicked one be caught in his own trap (10:2). The wicked one takes pride in his evil intentions, extols greed and rejects God (10:3). The wicked one arrogantly ignores God (10:4). He is successful and does not fear the Lord's judgment; he mocks his enemies (10:5). His sinful behavior does not concern him since he believes he will always be successful no matter what he does (10:6).

He curses, lies and bullies; he causes trouble and spreads evil (10:7). He hides in the shadows where he can kill the innocent undetected; he secretly plots against the defenseless (10:8). Like a lion in his den, he waits to pounce on his poor unsuspecting victim and subdue him (10:9). Feigning weakness, he defeats the defenseless with his strength (10:10). He says to himself that God pays him no attention; God will never see his evil deeds (10:11).

Rise, O Lord, and strike the wicked; do not forget those who suffer (10:12). The wicked despise God. He tells himself that God will not hold him accountable for his actions (10:13). But You have seen his evil deeds and those who have been wronged look to You for justice, for You are the helper of the defenseless (10:14). Strike down the evil and sinful man and destroy his wickedness (10:15). The Lord is King forever; no nation can stand against Him 10:16).

Lord, You have heard the desires of the afflicted; You will lift their spirits; You will hear their supplications (10:17). You will favorably judge the defenseless and the oppressed, but those who do evil will be condemned and will never harm anyone again (10:18).

Prayer for life: Dear Jesus, You hear the cries of the poor defenseless aborted children who plead for justice. You see the wicked's disregard for Your laws and how they murder the innocent. You will destroy them and banish them from Your kingdom. But I, Lord, reject evil and count myself among those who love You and seek to do the Father's will. Help me, Lord, to welcome my child into the world with open arms as You will one day hopefully welcome me into Your kingdom. Amen.

Psalm 11
Holy Week
The LORD a Refuge and Defense.

1In the LORD I take refuge;
How can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain;
2For, behold, the wicked bend the bow,
They make ready their arrow upon the string
To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.
3If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?"

4The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD'S throne is in heaven;
His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
5The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked,
And the one who loves violence His soul hates.
6Upon the wicked He will rain snares;
Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.
7For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness;
The upright will behold His face.

This psalm details why we should trust in the Lord Jesus Christ ¹⁸, our rock and our Savior. It is also the prayer of Jesus who was treated unjustly, yet had the courage to endure suffering until the bitter end.

Trusting in the Lord gives us courage to deal with situations from which we can not escape (11:1). It helps us to defeat the devil and his minions (11:2) when they threaten society with collapse. So what is a good person to do (11:3)? He trusts in the Lord who sees all, who dwells in His immovable Church on earth and rules from His unshakable throne in the kingdom of heaven (11:4). We embrace virtue because the Lord can read the hearts of men, both good and bad, and He rejects those who do evil (11:5). He will cast into hell the wicked (11:6), but since He is a just judge, His face will shine upon those who do what is good (11:7).

Prayer for life: Dear Lord, I feel trapped and insecure. The life I knew has changed dramatically because of my pregnancy. Still, I will trust in You for You are my rock. I will have this baby for You will always be at my side to support me. May Your face shine upon me and my child all the days of our lives. Amen.

Psalm 12
Prayer for deliverance from evil answered by Jesus who saves us through His Resurrection ¹⁹.

1Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be,
For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men.
2They speak falsehood to one another;
With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.
3May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,
The tongue that speaks great things;
4Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail;
Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?"
5"Because of the devastation of the afflicted,
because of the groaning of the needy,
Now I will arise," says the LORD;
"I will set him in the safety for which he longs."

6The words of the LORD are pure words;
As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.
7You, O LORD, will keep them;
You will preserve him from this generation forever.
8The wicked strut about on every side
When vileness is exalted among the sons of men.

Deliver me, Lord, from the ungodly and unfaithful (12:1). They lie and flatter each other (12:2). Lord, silence the flatterers and the boastful (12:3) who defy anyone to set limits on their speech (12:4). "I will rise up (resurrection)," says the Lord, "on behalf of the persecuted and the needy and provide the refuge they seek (12:5)." The Lord's Word is good as gold (12:6). He will do what He says and He will preserve His own from the wicked generation who are found everywhere that vile men are held in estime (12:6).

Prayer for Life: Save me, O Lord, from this wicked generation who have no fear of You. They spread their lies. They boast of their great wisdom: "The baby you carry is not a real person. Do with it what you want. Nobody can tell you what to do with your body." Help me, Lord, to stand up to these lying unbelievers. You are truth itself and can not deceive or be deceived. Therefore, when You say that all life is sacred from conception to birth, I believe it. Amen.

Psalm 13
Prayer for Help in Trouble.
Christ on the cross.

1How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

3Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
4And my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.

5But I have trusted in Your loving kindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
6I will sing to the LORD,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me.

Lord (God), why have You forsaken Me (Jesus) (13:1-2)? Answer Me, O Lord (God) lest evil overcome Me. Make Your presence known to Me at this hour of My death (13:3). Otherwise the wicked will rejoice in their victory (13:4). Yet, the devil will not prevail because I have trusted in the Lord's (God's) mercy (loving kindness). I will praise Him for the kindness (bounty) He has shown Me by restoring my life (salvation, i.e., resurrection) in His great mercy (13:5-6).

Prayer for Life: Dear Lord, I feel so alone. I need to feel Your strength if I am to get through this pregnancy. Yet, I know that things will work out because I trust in You. In the end, I will praise You for saving my soul and my baby's life. Amen.

Psalm 14
Folly and Wickedness of Men.
(wicked vs the righteous)
God lives in the world in His Church which is an extension of the body of Christ ²⁰.

1The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God"
They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds;
There is no one who does good.
2The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men
To see if there are any who understand,
Who seek after God.
3They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt;
There is no one who does good, not even one.

4Do all the workers of wickedness not know,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread,
And do not call upon the Lord?
5There they are in great dread,
For God is with the righteous generation.
6You would put to shame the counsel of the afflicted,
But the LORD is his refuge.

7Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion!
When the LORD restores His captive people,
Jacob will rejoice, Israel will be glad.

The wicked deny the existence of God and in their immorality they commit all kinds of sins (14:1). God searches the hearts of the ungodly (14:2) and finds that they are all wicked (14:3). They prey on the righteous and show Him no reverence (14:4). Yet, they will eventually come to greatly fear the Lord because He sides with the righteous (14:5). Evildoers will try to thwart the plans of the persecuted, but the Lord protects them (14:6). May the salvation of God's children (Israel) come from His Church (Zion) that is supported by the cornerstone of His Son who restored our relationship to the Father as children of God (14:7).

Prayer for Life: Dear Lord, I am surrounded by evil people who deny Your very existence. They have no fear of You as they counsel the destruction of my baby. Yet I know that You protect those in distress who call on You. You are my rock, the cornerstone rejected by the builders, who will sustain me through this difficult time in my life. I sow tears now, but I will reap rejoicing when my child is born. Amen.

Psalm 15
Description of a Citizen of Zion.
Transfiguration: teaches us how to live once we have been transfigured like Christ on Mt Tabor²¹.

1O LORD, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
2He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
3He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear the LORD;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent
He who does these things will never be shaken.

Lord, how is the person supposed to live who has given his life to Jesus (15:1)? He does what is right and just and is holy (15:2). He strives to always do good and speak only good things (15:3). He avoids bad company, surrounds himself with those who revere the Lord, and keeps his word no matter how painful (15:4). He treats others fairly and loves his neighbor. Thus he will find peace in this world and in the next²².

Prayer for life: Sweet Jesus, I accept You as my Lord and Savior and out of love for You I only want to do what is right and just. How can I reverence God yet reject this wonderful gift of life He has given me? No, I will have this child despite the difficulties, knowing that this decision will give me peace in this life and bring me to eternal glory in heaven. Amen.

Psalm 16
The LORD the Psalmist's Portion in Life and Deliverer in Death.
Holy Saturday
Jesus intercedes for us to the Father ²³ and speaks of His coming Resurrection ²⁴.

1Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
2I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
I have no good besides You."
3As for the saints who are in the earth,
They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight.
4The sorrows of those who have bartered for another god will be multiplied;
I shall not pour out their drink offerings of blood,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

5The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup;
You support my lot.
6The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places;
Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.

7I will bless the LORD who has counseled me;
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.
8I have set the LORD continually before me;
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices;
My flesh also will dwell securely.
10For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol;
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
11You will make known to me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Watch over me, O God, for I look to You for safety (16:1). I said to the Lord (the Father), "You are my Lord; there is no other good I desire (16:2)." As for the faithful who live among us, these holy ones are my delight (16:3). Those who worship false idols will suffer many sorrows; I will refuse their sacrifices and think of them no more (16:4). My inheritance is heaven; You are my salvation; My future is in Your safekeeping (16:5). I enjoy the blessings You have bestowed on me; my future is beautiful (16:6). I will praise the Lord (Father) who guided me; who instructs me even as I sleep (16:7). I will always focus on the Lord (Father); He is my strength, I will not fail (16:8). I am glad and rejoice in my glorious future (Resurrection); my body will not decay in the grave ²⁵ (16:9). You will not abandon me to Hades; You will not allow the body of Your Holy One to know corruption (16:10). You will raise me from the dead and bring me into Your presence where I will bask in glory at Your right hand (16:11).

Prayer for Life: Watch over me, Lord, through this difficult time in my life. I know You bless those who worship You and I love You, Lord. I thank You for all the blessings You have bestowed upon me, especially my precious baby. I place myself and my baby in Your safekeeping, trusting in the wonderful future that You have planned for us. You strength fills me with hope. Stay with me, Lord, during this ordeal and for the rest of our lives until You see me and my little one safely in heaven. Amen.

Psalm 17
Prayer for Protection against Oppressors.
Jesus prays to the Father during His Passion ²⁶.

1Hear a just cause, O LORD, give heed to my cry;
Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips.
2Let my judgment come forth from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look with equity.
3You have tried my heart;
You have visited me by night;
You have tested me and You find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4As for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips
I have kept from the paths of the violent.
5My steps have held fast to Your paths
My feet have not slipped.

6I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
7Wondrously show Your lovingkindness,
O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand
From those who rise up against them.
8Keep me as the apple of the eye;
Hide me in the shadow of Your wings
9From the wicked who despoil me,
My deadly enemies who surround me.
10They have closed their unfeeling heart,
With their mouth they speak proudly.
11They have now surrounded us in our steps;
They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground.
12He is like a lion that is eager to tear,
And as a young lion lurking in hiding places.

13Arise, O LORD, confront him, bring him low;
Deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword,
14From men with Your hand, O LORD,
From men of the world, whose portion is in this life,
And whose belly You fill with Your treasure;
They are satisfied with children,
And leave their abundance to their babes.
15As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;
I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.

Hear my prayer for justice, O Lord (the Father), for I speak the truth (17:1). Decide my case, for You judge fairly (17:2). You have freely searched my heart and found me innocent; I will not utter anything sinful (17:3). I have followed Your laws and avoided violence (17:4). I heed Your commands unerringly (17:5). I call upon You, O God, because You will not ignore me. Therefore hear my petition (17:6). Show me Your wondrous mercy, for You save those who seek Your protection from the wicked (17:7). Keep me as Your favorite and place me under Your protection (17:8) against deadly enemies who surround me and seek to deprive me of my life (17:9). They are hard-hearted and boastful (17:10). They surround us and plot our destruction (17:11). Evil is like a lion that is hiding and waiting to attack its prey (17:12). Come to my aid, Lord (Father); deliver me from evil and destroy it with your mighty power (17:13). Save me, Lord (Father), from those who only seek earthly pleasures and material success (17:14). But I, who have always done what is right and just, will behold Your face in heaven when I awake from death (17:15).

Prayer for Life: Hear my prayer, O Lord, for You answer the prayers of the innocent. You have searched my heart and found that I only want to do Your will. Protect me against those who counsel destruction of my baby. They seek my child's life, not out of their feigned concern for me, but out of a need for more power and financial gain. But I, under the wings of Your protection, will do the right thing and have my baby. And one day I will see the beauty of Your face as it shines upon me and my child in heaven. Amen.

Psalm 18
The LORD Praised for Giving Deliverance.

"I love You, O LORD, my strength."
2The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies.

4The cords of death encompassed me,
And the torrents of ungodliness terrified me.
5The cords of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6In my distress I called upon the LORD,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.

7Then the earth shook and quaked;
And the foundations of the mountains were trembling
And were shaken, because He was angry.
8Smoke went up out of His nostrils,
And fire from His mouth devoured;
Coals were kindled by it.
9He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With thick darkness under His feet.
10He rode upon a cherub and flew;
And He sped upon the wings of the wind.
11He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him,
Darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
12From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
13The LORD also thundered in the heavens,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14He sent out His arrows, and scattered them,
And lightning flashes in abundance, and routed them.|
15Then the channels of water appeared,
And the foundations of the world were laid bare
At Your rebuke, O LORD,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16He sent from on high, He took me;He drew me out of many waters.
17He delivered me from my strong enemy,
And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
18They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the LORD was my stay.
19He brought me forth also into a broad place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

20The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
21For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22For all His ordinances were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
23I was also blameless with Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
24Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.

25With the kind You show Yourself kind;
With the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
26With the pure You show Yourself pure,
And with the crooked You show Yourself astute.
27For You save an afflicted people,
But haughty eyes You abase.
28For You light my lamp;
The LORD my God illumines my darkness.
29For by You I can run upon a troop;
And by my God I can leap over a wall.

30As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God,
32The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?
33He makes my feet like hinds' feet,
And sets me upon my high places.
34He trains my hands for battle,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35You have also given me the shield of Your salvation,
And Your right hand upholds me;
And Your gentleness makes me great.
36You enlarge my steps under me,
And my feet have not slipped.

37I pursued my enemies and overtook them,
And I did not turn back until they were consumed.
38I shattered them, so that they were not able to rise;
They fell under my feet.
39For You have girded me with strength for battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40You have also made my enemies turn their backs to me,
And I destroyed those who hated me.
41They cried for help, but there was none to save,
Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.
42Then I beat them fine as the dust before the wind;
I emptied them out as the mire of the streets.

43You have delivered me from the contentions of the people;
You have placed me as head of the nations;
A people whom I have not known serve me.
44As soon as they hear, they obey me;
Foreigners submit to me.
45Foreigners fade away,
And come trembling out of their fortresses.

46The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock;
And exalted be the God of my salvation,
47The God who executes vengeance for me,
And subdues peoples under me.
48He delivers me from my enemies;
Surely You lift me above those who rise up against me;
You rescue me from the violent man.
49Therefore I will give thanks to You among the nations, O LORD,
And I will sing praises to Your name.
50He gives great deliverance to His king,
And shows lovingkindness to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forever.

Jesus, the Messiah-King and descendant of David, thanks His Father, a tower of strength (horn of salvation), for helping Him defeat the devil (18:2-5). Surrounded by evil, He cries for assistance to the Father (18:6). God explodes with anger, summoning the very forces of nature to procure the deliverance of His Son from danger (18:7-18). Jesus was saved because of His holiness, innocence, faithfulness, kindness and purity (18:19-30). God prepared Him for battle (18:31-35) and, under His Father's protection, Jesus destroyed His enemy with sure-footedness and strength (18:36-42). His foes fled in fear and God made Him King of all nations (18:43-45). Jesus will praise His Father who, in His great mercy, freed Him from the evil one (18:46-50). ²⁷

Prayer for Life: Dear Lord, I feel overwhelmed by the culture of death that puts convenience and license above the sacredness of life. Come to my aid and help me to deal with the rejection by those who are offended by my decision to have my baby. They feel that I am naive and misguided. They do not understand my need to do the right thing, my need to accept this baby as a gift from God to be nurtured and protected. But You are my rock, Lord, the source of all my strength. You will always be by my side to support me during the difficult times ahead. And I will I praise You for it all the remaining days of my life. Amen.

Psalm 19
The Works and the Word of God.
The Nativity

1The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
3There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6Its rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.
10They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.
12Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.
13Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

Creation praises the glory of God as He reveals Himself in the Word (Jesus) ²⁸, in the beauty of nature and in the wisdom of the law (19:1,7) ²⁹. God's glory is revealed day and night, without fanfare, for it permeates the very structure of the universe (19:2-4). Jesus (bridegroom) is like the sun that crosses the heavens and warms everything it touches ("to bring salvation to the whole world") (19:5-6)³⁰. The Word of God (Jesus, the Truth and the Life) is also revealed in moral law and scripture ³¹ (19:7-10). Let us always keep His commandments. They are more valuable than gold for they lead to eternal life (19:11-14).

Prayer for Life: Dear Lord, Your glory permeates all creation. Your beauty is mirrored in the beauty of a baby's face; Your wisdom is reflected in the truth of Your eternal law. Yet there are those who seek to destroy Your beauty through abortion and corrupt Your precepts by enacting immoral laws. Yet I will follow Your precepts and cause no harm to my baby. For I know that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit make their home in me and in my baby. Amen.

Psalm 20
Prayer for Victory over Enemies.
Good Friday

1May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble!
May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!
2May He send you help from the sanctuary
And support you from Zion!
3May He remember all your meal offerings
And find your burnt offering acceptable!
4May He grant you your heart's desire
And fulfill all your counsel!
5We will sing for joy over your victory,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners
May the LORD fulfill all your petitions.
6Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.
7Some boast in chariots and some in horses,
But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.
8They have bowed down and fallen,
But we have risen and stood upright.
9Save, O LORD;
May the King answer us in the day we call.

The Church prays to Christ who offers Himself in expiation for our sins on Good Friday (in the day of trouble) (20:1). May the Father accept His offering and grant all His requests (forgive sinners and bring His own into glory) (20:2-4) ³². We (the Church) will praise His saving work (20:5) ³³. God will raise Him from the dead (saves His anointed) (20:6). Some put their trust in their own strength for victory (chariots and horses), but we trust in Jesus for our salvation. (20:7). Until final victory is achieved, we will continue to call on the King (Jesus) to save us (20:8) ³⁴.

Prayer for life: Dear Lord, from the cross You begged for forgiveness for those who nailed You to that tree, for they did not know what they were doing. Forgive those, Lord, who, in their ignorance, are aborting millions of innocent babies each year. May they give up their arrogant belief that they know what's best for themselves and embrace what is right before God. Amen.

Psalm 21
Praise for Deliverance.
The Resurrection and Ascension

1O LORD, in Your strength the king will be glad,
And in Your salvation how greatly he will rejoice!
2You have given him his heart's desire,
And You have not withheld the request of his lips.
3For You meet him with the blessings of good things;
You set a crown of fine gold on his head.
4He asked life of You,
You gave it to him,
Length of days forever and ever.
5His glory is great through Your salvation,
Splendor and majesty You place upon him.
6For You make him most blessed forever;
You make him joyful with gladness in Your presence.
7For the king trusts in the LORD,
And through the lovingkindness of the Most High he will not be shaken.
8Your hand will find out all your enemies;
Your right hand will find out those who hate you.
9You will make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger;
The LORD will swallow them up in His wrath,
And fire will devour them.
10Their offspring You will destroy from the earth,
And their descendants from among the sons of men.
11Though they intended evil against You
And devised a plot,
They will not succeed.
12For You will make them turn their back;
You will aim with Your bowstrings at their faces.
13Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength;
We will sing and praise Your power.

The Church praises the Father (Lord) for the victory of Jesus (king) in procuring our redemption (salvation) (21:1) The Father heard His intense prayers in the Garden of Olives and answered them (20:2) Jesus obtained that we be granted eternal life in heaven (20:4) ³⁵ and the Father gloriously crowned Him as King of all creation (20:3,5). He will reign forever (20:6) and, supported by the Father (lovingkindness), will relentlessly root out evil wherever it hides and destroy it (20:7-12). And we will praise Jesus for His wondrous deeds (20:13).

Prayer for life: Heavenly King, we celebrate Your great victory over the devil and his angels. May we be instruments of Your will in exposing the evil of abortion and utterly destroy it wherever we find it. May our efforts to bring about a universal awe and respect for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death bring You praise forever and ever. Amen.

FREE DOWNLOAD

If you're ready to learn how to pray the rosary meditatively and never be bored again, then read it for FREE online or download it to your computer! The book is absolutely FREE to download and reproduce. All I require is that you reproduce it in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. I created it as one file that you can print yourself or save to a CD and take to your local office supply store for printing.

To read or download the mysteries for each day, click on the appropriate link:
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

For those who are particularly appreciative...

Donna and I are fortunate to live near Emmitsburg, Maryland which is the home of the Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint Mary's Seminary, and the National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes. The Grotto, known affectionately as "Mary's Mountain," is a replica of the shrine in Lourdes, France and draws thousands of visitors from around the world who come to pay homage annually to our Blessed Mother. They are in much need of funds to build a Visitors Welcome Center. If you feel that our prayer book has been of value to you and would like to show your appreciation, we invite you to make a donation to their wonderful cause securely online at:
https://www.msmary.edu/support-mount/givingform/giving_form.
Choose "Grotto Fund" as your gift purpose. Thanks and may God bless you!

Copyright © 2012 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.