Prayer

St Dominic early morning Holy Hour

Teach me, my Lord, to be sweet and gentle in all the events of life, in disappointments, in the thoughtlessness of those I trusted, in the unfaithfulness of those on whom I relied. Let me put myself aside, to think of the happiness of others, to hide my little pains and heartaches, so that I may be the only one to suffer from them. Teach me to profit by the suffering that comes across my path. Let me so use it that it may mellow me, not harden nor embitter me; that I may make me patient, not irritable. That it may make broad in my forgiveness, not narrow, haughty and overbearing. May no one be less good for having come within my influence. No one less pure, less true, less kind, less noble for having been a fellow-traveler in our journey toward Eternal Life. As I go my rounds from one distraction to another, let me whisper from time to time, a word of love to Thee. May life be lived in the supernatural, full of power for good, and strong in its purpose of sanctity. Amen.

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Some Aspirations

A clean heart create for me, O God.
A contrite and humble heart, O God, you will not despise.
A poor and lowly servant am I.
All the glory for God.
For those who love God, all things work together for good.
For You, O God, are my strength.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Here I am, for You did call me.
Holy Mary, our hope, seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Hail Mary, our hope, handmaid of the Lord, pray for us.
Holy Mary, star of the sea, help your children.
I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.
I do believe; help my unbelief.
I give You thanks for all Your benefits, even the unknown ones.
In You, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.
Lord, increase our faith.
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner!
Jesus, Jesus always be Jesus to me.
Lord, You know all things, You know that I love You.
Lord, that I may see.
Lord, what do You want me to do?
Mother of fair love, help your children.
My Lord and my God.
Not as I will, but as You will.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Sacred heart of Jesus grant us peace.
Queen of Apostles, pray for us.
Show that you are our mother.
Sweet Heart of Mary, prepare a safe way for us.

Taken from the Midwest Theological Forum’s
‘Handbook of Prayers’

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Jesus Prayer

“As often as you can during the day, recall your mind to the presence of God…. Consider what God is doing, what you are doing. You will always find God’s eyes fixed on you in unchangeable love. Our hearts should each day seek a resting-place on Calvary or near our Lord, in order to retire there to rest from worldly cares and to find strength against temptation. Remember frequently to retire into the solitude of your heart, even while you are externally occupied in business or society. This mental solitude need not be hindered even though many people may be around you, for they surround your body not your heart, which should remain alone in the presence of God. As David said, “My eyes are ever looking at the Lord.” We are rarely so taken up in our exchanges with others as to be unable from time to time to move our hearts into solitude with God.” –St Francis de Sales

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Real food

Early Saturday morning prayers and meditation from St Dominic post-Mass Holy Hour.

Stout substance!

O Lord, give me the words to adequately praise your holy presence in the Eucharistic sacrament.
Remove from me the spirit of pride and resistance to your will for me.
Cleanse me of every sin of body and spirit.
Purify my heart of all distractions, worldly concerns, and sinful thoughts.
Give me also the grace to understand and the will to proceed worthily,
So that I may pray to you with attentive devotion before your eternal Majesty.
We pray this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever.
Amen

Today we can ask ourselves as we talk to Our Lord in our prayer whether we often thank him for calling us to follow him closely; we can ask whether we are corresponding to the grace we have received by struggling to acquire all the virtues in a straightforward but rigorous way, whether we are on our guard against all comfort-seeking which kills off any desire for sanctity and leaves the soul submerged in spiritual mediocrity, and in a state of lukewarmness. It is not enough to want to be merely good, we must make a determined effort to be saints. Francis Fernandez ‘In Conversation with God’

Praise to the Divine Master (based on Psalm 23)

The Lord is my Master,
He teaches me the art of living.
Most patient, he understands
The inner movements of my soul.
The Lord lights up my darkness.
Through all creation, he teaches me—
I will sit forever at His feet.
He speaks softly with me,
Leading me by my own heart.
Though I can’t see the path,
His eyes never lose me.
Turning to Him I am safe,
Wrapped in the blanket of His love.
He calls me to follow Him more closely—
Clasping His nail pierced hand.

My Master died and rose for me,
Loving me into life.
He transforms every sadness,
His ever-present kindness and mercy
Make each day shine anew.
I sing out my joy in him
And proclaim His abundant goodness—
He fills up my life.

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Sunday reflection

I celebrated Mass today at St Paul Shrine; coffee and leftovers from the Jubilee celebration of Mother Superior from the day before enjoyed afterwards.  I have been considering pulling away from the Shrine again, not attending yesterday as I did not spiritually need a social experience.  The interior needs tending and St Dominic satisfied.  Today, during coffee, croissant sandwiches, and potato salad fellowship proved subtly meaningful.  Someone has been gossiping at the Shrine. I detected the matter, yet more revealing was the response.  Some I did not expect anything from expressed quiet and dignified gratitude in sharing conversation.  I am pleased with my reputation, grateful for the respect I have garnered.  I stand humbly upon my prayer life and interaction with others.  I perceive a hardness entrenched within my soul at this time.  The Christmas season explosion has altered.  It will take time to settle.  Nonsense will not be tolerated and I will be confident and self-reliant piecing this together.  To pull away from the Shrine will be mandated strictly upon an inability to celebrate Mass with the Rescuer.  The complications and self-consciousness slight everything spiritual and natural, reducing matters to a selfish lower level—delusional and demented.  I demand more.  I have no doubt, hopeful and loving, grace will provide.  In fact, for the purpose of this blog, the Rescuer will be identified as Poison from henceforth.  The time of recusing has been destroyed—the dawning of new days commences.  During post-Adoration Mass thoughts struck relevant: If you cannot meet my strength, I cannot show you my weakness.  If you cannot meet my strength and I offer my weakness, you will feast upon my weakness, maneuvering to embolden yourself.  My weakness cannot be your strength, your means of control, if you cannot meet my strength.  Supernaturally, I relate the matter to the difference between Divine and evil interaction.  Divine interaction compassionately tenders, allowing human weakness to become an attribute, identifying strength, promoting growth, while influencing on the level of overcoming.  Evil interaction seeks its own good, arrogantly using weakness to seize control, to dominate and rule; temptation, whispers, and subtle intuitions exploit human weakness.  Where Divine interaction wisely recognizes the greater good, evil interaction pursues authority.  Poison has been gossiping.  The bizarre totality confounds.  The discernment of whether to continue at the Shrine becomes intricate.  Today is day one of a Novena to Our Lady Undoer of Knots.

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love,
Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need,
Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children
because they are moved by the divine love
and immense mercy that exists in your heart,
cast your compassionate eyes upon me
and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life.
You know very well how desperate I am,
my pain and how I am bound by these knots.
Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of His children,
I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life.
No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care.
In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone.
Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power
with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus,
take into your hands today this knot
I beg you to undo it for the glory of God,
Once and for all, you are my hope.
O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me,
The fortification of my feeble strength,
The enrichment of my destitution and with Christ the freedom from my chains.
Hear my plea.
Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge!
Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me

Mary Undoer of Knots

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Refreshment

Early Saturday morning rising proved fruitful in peace rendering. I attended Mass and Holy Hour at St Dominic—promoter of the Rosary. The quiet and prayerful start of the day proved necessary, allowing a return home to deep sleep. Christo-centric, the devout service devoid of complexities, religious practice rooted in necessity, settled nicely into a homage, a home and foundation to build upon. ‘Day by day, stone by stone, build your secret slowly’.

Borrowed prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, pierce my soul with Your love,
So that I may always long for You alone,
Who are the bread of angels,
And the fulfillment of the soul’s deepest desires.
May my heart always hunger and feed upon You,
So that my soul may be filled with the sweetness of Your presence.
May my soul thirst for You,
Who are the source of life, wisdom, knowledge,
Light and all riches of God our Father.

May I always seek and find You,
Think upon You, speak about You,

And do all things for honor and glory of Your Holy Name.
Be always my only hope, my peace, my refuge and my help,
In Whom my heart is rooted,
So that I may never be separated from You.
Amen.

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Ordinary prayer

Eucharist witnessing,
Whispering softly ten times,
Silence and bead counting.

I am a leper.
I am an outcast.
Heal me Lord.

I am a leper.
I am an outcast.
Heal me Lord.

I am a leper.
I am an outcast.
Heal me Lord.

I am a leper.
I am an outcast.
Heal me Lord.

I am a leper.
I am an outcast.
Heal me Lord.

I am a leper.
I am an outcast.
Heal me Lord.

I am a leper.
I am an outcast.
Heal me Lord.

I am a leper.
I am an outcast.
Heal me Lord.

I am a leper.
I am an outcast.
Heal me Lord.

I am a leper.
I am an outcast.
Heal me Lord.

A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said,
“If you wish, you can make me clean.”
Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand,
touched the leper, and said to him,
“I do will it. Be made clean.”

Gospel of Mark

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