Prayers to St John Berchmans, Patron of Altar Boys

Dear St. John, you died at a very young age, but in that short time
you learned to live an exemplary life as a member of the Society of Jesus.
Directed by your Guardian Angel, whom you confidently invoked,
you learned to be a most humble server at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Help altar boys imitate you in their service at Eucharistic celebrations
as well as in their conduct with others. Amen.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us,
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint John Berchmans, whom the Lord preserved from evil, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, who did all things well, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, faithful in little things, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, devoted server at Holy Mass, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, obedient to thy parents, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, submissive to thy teachers, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, model for thy companions, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, who from earliest childhood chose the Blessed Virgin as guardian of thy chastity, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, who so tenderly called Mary thy Mother, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, zealous promoter of devotion to Mary, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, mirror of the religious life, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, lover of the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, lover of the missions, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, lover of mortification, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, faithful to thy holy Rule, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, faithful imitator of St. Aloysius, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, ornament of the Society of Jesus, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, model of students, pray for us.
St. John Berchmans, patron of youth, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

V. Pray for us, Saint John Berchmans,
R. That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray: Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy servants may follow, in Thy service, the example of innocence and fidelity by which the angelic St. John Berchmans consecrated to Thee the flower of his youth, through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

To an Altar Boy

To be Christ's page at the altar, to serve Him freely there,
Where even the angels falter, bowed low in reverent prayer.
To touch the throne most holy, to hand the gifts for the feast,
To see Him meekly, lowly, descend at the word of a priest.
To hear man's poor petition, to sound the silver bell,
When He in sweet submission, comes down with us to dwell.
No grander mission surely could saints or men enjoy;
No heart should love more purely than yours, my altar boy.
God bless you, lad, forever, and keep you in His care,
And guard you that you never belie the robes you wear.
For white bespeaks untainted a heart both tried and true;
And red tells love the sainted and holy martyrs knew.
Throughout life, then, endeavor God's graces to employ;
And be in heart forever a holy altar boy.