A Collection of Catholic Prayers

About this book

This book brings together 183 Catholic prayers transcribed from a French leather-bound manuscript dating from the early 19th century. The author is unknown but was a woman, as many of these prayers are written from a female perspective. Although none of these prayers directly concern her, the book is dedicated to Madame Élisabeth de France, famous for her piety and the martyred sister of Louis XVI. In the manuscript, the prayers are numbered but almost entirely lack thematic organization. However, each prayer generally falls into one of the following religious categories: 1. Prayers for specific occasions; 2. To the Blessed Virgin and others; 3. For Faith; 4. Of Praise; 5. To follow the Right Path; 6. For God's Gifts; 7. For God's Grace; 8. For God's Mercy; 9. For God's Law and Will; 10. The Blood and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ; 11. Sin and Temptation; 12. On Suffering; 13. To Return to God; 14. The World versus Heaven; 15. Preparing for Feath. In many of these prayers, the author reveals a deep awareness of the tension between the human heart's desire to draw near to God and the fallen nature of humanity.