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.