Lord,
You often smile on me--unsolicited. I hear your voice even in the messiness of life. You bring comfort and your physical presence in the Eucharist. Sometimes I am bursting with joy, sometimes I am speechless and overwhelmed by your outpouring of grace. Let me radiate your presence in humility and gratitude when I encounter you in a loving surprise.
Janet
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Deliver me, O Jesus,
Deliver me, O Jesus,
From the desire of being loved,
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the desire of being popular,
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated, *slandered
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being suspected
(Mother Teresa, Meditations from A Simple Path)
From Magnificat, June, 2008
Holy Apostle Paul, help me at the beginning of this new day to offer my body and the whole of my life as a living sacrifice to God. Do not permit me to conform myself to this age but rather, by your intercession, may I be transformed by the renewal of my mnd. Through this renewal help me to judge what is God's will, what is good, pleasing, and perfect. For the one whom I seek and serve is Jesus Christ who is the Lord, now and for ever. Amen.
From Mother Teresa, Meditations from a Simple Path comes this prayer by John Henry Cardinal Newman. It is just beautiful . . .
Dear Lord, help me to spread thy fragrance everywhere I go.
Flood my soul with Thy spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Thine.
Shine through me, and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Thy presence in my soul.
Let them look up and see no longer me but only Thee O Lord!
Stay with me, and then I shall begin to shine as Thou shinest; so to shine as to be a light to others.
The light O Lord will be all from Thee; none of it will be mine;
It will be Thou, shining on others through me.
Let me thus praise Thee in the way Thou dost love best, by shining on those around me.
Let me preach Thee without preaching, not by words but by my example, by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what I do, the evident fullness of the love my heart bears to Thee.
If you have trouble with the Thee's and Thou's, use what's most comfortable for you. I suggest you memorize this prayer and carry it in your heart, enabling you to "spread thy fragrance" of Christ, everywhere you go.
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I received this prayer while on retreat. If you have someone in your life that you would like to pray for, this is really very nice. Reflect slowly on each line as you fill their name in the blank:
PERSONAL LORD'S PRAYER
_____________'s Father
Who is in heaven
Holy be your name in _____________
Your kingdom come in ________________
Your will be done in __________________
On earth just as if _________________were with you now in heaven.
Give ______________all that he/she needs to sustain and enrich his/her life . . .
Forgive _____________for he/she is weak like the rest of us,
And help _____________to forgive others.
Have ______________not be led into the evil one's lies of despair, fear and hate.
But deliver ____________into your loving arms.
And may ______________'s joy be found in your kingdom
In your power and in your glory, forever and ever. Amen
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If you are a preacher or a teacher, these lines from Deuteronomy 32:1-3 are wonderful for private prayer while you are preparing:
Give ear, O heavens, while I speak; let the earth hearken to the words of my mouth! May my instruction soak in like the rain, and my discourse permeate like the dew, like a downpour upon the grass, like a shower upon the crops: For I will sing the Lord's renown. Oh, proclaim the greatness of our God!
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Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
The Memorare
Father, creator of unfailing light, may our lips praise you; our lives proclaim your goodness; our works give you honor, and our voices celebrate you for ever.
Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours
You made man in your image and renewed him in Christ, mold us into the likeness of your Son. Pour out your love through the Holy Spirit, heal our hearts, wounded by hatred and jealousy. Today grant work to laborers, bread to the hungry, joy to the sorrowful, grace and redemption to all men.
Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours
