The Rural Life Prayerbook

Original Introduction
THIS little manual of prayers and blessings was first suggested by Msgr. Luigi G. Ligutti in December 1943. Since then, a great deal of work has gone into its preparation, and a great number of books have been consulted and sources studied. To list them all would be impossible. I can only say that most of the translations from the Latin are my own, and most of the prayers are my own. There are, of course, a number of prayers given here that are common to every prayerbook, and I make no claim to them. My thanks are due to the very many friends who helped and encouraged me in countless ways in the writing and compilation of this book. They may be sure of a very special place in my Holy Mass each day. May Saint Isidore, the gentle patron of rural people, bless all who have in any way helped in the preparation of this book, and likewise all who use it for their own devotion.

ALBAN J. DACHAUER, S.J.
Feast of the Holy Name of Mary
September 12, 1955

Original Foreword
"There is something almost sacramental about the life of the rural family" said the venerable missionary Bishop Wehrle, O.S.B., of Bismarck, North Dakota, in addressing the little group of priests and laymen and laywomen who assembled in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1923 to establish the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. The call to that Conference was issued appropriately in a publication entitled "St. Isidore's Plow." The occasion was the opening of the first furrow in the American Catholic Rural Life movement.

The intervening years have been a long springtime of planting and cultivating through labor and prayer. Manuals for the development of the material and social aspects of the movement have been wisely provided. It is fitting that a manual expressive of the religious foundation and spiritual aspirations of the movement should be made available in this Rural Life Prayerbook.

It appropriately begins with devotions at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass which is the center of Catholic worship. Here will be found prayers suitable for various times and seasons and feasts dear to the farmer and his family. It also includes significant farm blessings from the Roman Ritual and Novena prayers to St. Isidore, the patron of farmers.

May the devotion to St. Isidore and his spirit of faith unite the Catholic farm families of our country in a spiritual and social movement which will enrich the Church in America with a fruitful rural apostolate.

EDWIN V. O'HARA, Archbishop
Bishop of Kansas City
Honorary President, National Rural Life Conference
Feast of St. Isidore, 1956

Texts of the Scripture were reproduced with permission of
the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC.
Drawings by Tom Chouteau.

Copyright, 1956
National Catholic Rural Life Conference
Des Moines, Iowa
Imprimi Potest Leo J. Burns, S.J., Provincial Wisconsin Province Milwaukee, Wis., 17 October 1955	________	Imprimatur Fr. Eduardus Caelestinus, O.P. Episcopus Desmoinen Des Moines, Iowa, 13 February, 1956
Written and Compiled by Alban J. Dachauer, S.J. In cooperation with the National Catholic Rural Life Conference		Published by National Catholic Rural Life Conference 4625 Beaver Avenue Des Moines, IA 50310-2199

Part II:
Occasional Prayers for Various Times, Feasts, and Seasons of the Year

A Note about the Prayers
New Year's Prayer for Church and State
A Holy Name Prayer
A Prayer for the Whole Family
Dedication of the Rural Family to the Divine Majesty
A Prayer for Church Unity
A Prayer for Candlemas Day
To Jesus my Friend
A Prayer for the Wood-Lot
A Prayer to Simon of Cyrene
A Prayer to St. Thomas Aquinas for Catholic Schools
The Breastplate of St. Patrick
A Prayer to St. Joseph
A Prayer to St. Isidore, Patron of Country People
A Prayer for Lent
A Prayer at Easter
A Prayer in Planting Time
A Prayer to Christ, King of the Universe
Prayer for May First
A Prayer for Choosing a State of Life
A Prayer to Mary for Charity
A Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Consecration of the Family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
A Prayer for the Wheat
A Novena Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
A Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
A Prayer for Gardens and Orchards
Prayers for Rain
Canticle of the Three Young Men in the Fiery Furnace
Prayer of St. Ignatius for Generosity
A Prayer to St. John Vianney, (parish priest of Ars) for the Pastor and Parish
A Prayer on the Feast of Mary's Assumption
A Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
A Prayer for the Corn
A Prayer in Time of Debt
St. Francis of Assisi's Prayer for Peace
A Prayer to the North American Martyrs
A Prayer in Autumn for Country Living
A Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angels
Canticle of the Sun, St. Francis of Assisi
A Prayer to St. Luke for the Family Doctor
A Prayer to Christ the King
A Prayer to all the Saints
A Prayer in a Country Cemetery
A Prayer for Protection against Fires
A Prayer of Thanksgiving for God's Blessings
A Prayer in Advent
A Prayer in Winter
A Prayer at Christmas Time for Country Living
Hymn of Thanksgiving (Te Deum)

Part III:
Blessings from the Roman Ritual

A Note on the Blessings
Blessings of the Country Home and the People in It
Blessing of the People with Holy Water, to be given on Sundays
Blessing of a Baby
Blessing of a Child to Obtain for It the Mercy of God
Blessing for Sick Children
Blessing of a Woman before the Birth of a Child
Blessing of a Woman after Childbirth
Blessing of a Sick Adult
Blessing of Land or House
Another Blessing of a Home
Blessing of a Bedroom
Blessing of an Image of Our Lord Jesus Christ, or of the Blessed Virgin
Mary, or of a Saint
Blessing of Candles
Blessing of Candles on the Feast of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr
Blessing of Fire
Blessing of Water
Blessings of Food and Drink
Blessing of Bread
Another Blessing of Bread
Blessing for Bread and Cakes
Blessing of a Lamb
Blessing of Lard or Bacon
Blessing of Cheese or Butter
Blessing of Eggs
Blessing of the Barn and the Stored Harvest
Blessing of Grapes
Blessing of Fresh Fruit
Blessing of Any Food
Blessing of Wine on the feast of St. John,
Apostle and Evangelist
Blessing of Wine for the Sick
Blessing for Any Medicine
Blessings of Farm Animals and Their Needs
Blessing for All Domestic Animals
Blessing for Horses or Other Animals
Blessing for Animals Afflicted with a Serious Disease
Second Blessing for Animals with a Serious Disease
Blessing of Poultry
Blessing of Bees
Blessing of Salt or Feed for Animals
Blessings of Fields and Crops
Blessing of Crosses to be Set in Fields, Vineyards, etc., performed on the Feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross, or on the next Sunday
Blessing of Sprouting Seed
Blessing of Seeds, Flowers, and Crops on the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Blessing of All Kinds of Fruit Trees and Vines
Blessing to Ward Off Destructive Insects and Other Small Animals
Blessings of Buildings, Vehicles, Etc.
Blessing of a Mill
Blessing of a Spring or Well
Blessing of a Bridge
Blessing Against Floods
Blessing of a Stable
Blessing of an Automobile, a Wagon, or Tractor
Blessing of the Cornerstone of a New Building
Blessing of a School
Blessing of a Library
Blessing for Any Object

Part IV:
Prayers and Devotions

Prayers Every Catholic Should Know by Heart
The Lord's Prayer
The Hail Mary
The Apostles' Creed
An Act of Faith
An Act of Hope
An Act of Love
An Act of Contrition
Morning Offering
A Prayer to the Holy Family
Evening Prayer of a Rural Family
Examination of Conscience
Holy Communion
Soul of Christ
Prayer before a Crucifix
Offering of Self
Litany of the Sacred Heart
A Short Act of Consecration to the Sacred
Heart
The Promises of Our Lord to St. Margaret
Mary
Litany of the Holy Name
Litany of the Blessed Virgin
The Angelus
Regina Coeli
A Farmer's Prayer to Mary
The Rosary of Our Blessed Lady
Litany of St. Joseph
Novena to St. Joseph
Prayer for the Church Unity Octave
Prayer for Elected Officials
An Act of Resignation
Hymns and Prayers for Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
The Way of the Cross

Part V:
Liturgical Devotions for Country Living

Novena in Honor of St. Isidore
Litany of St. Isidore
Hymn for the Novena to St. Isidore
Devotions for the Feast of St. Isidore
Mass of St. Isidore
Mass of St. Joseph the Worker
Mass of St. Mark
Ceremonies for the Observance of the Rogation Days
Mass of the Rogation Days
Mass of the Sacred Heart
Harvest Prayers and Blessings for the Feast of the Assumption in honor of
Our Lady of the Fields
Mass of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Prayers and Blessings for the Family and Parish Observance of Thanksgiving;
Mass of Thanksgiving; Prayer for Church and State; Canticle of the Three
Youths; Blessing of the Harvest Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Company of St. Isidore

Part VI:
Selected Psalms

Psalm 103
Psalm 117
Psalm 127
Psalm 146
Psalm 148

A Meditation