Posted in CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST the PHYSICIAN, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, JESUIT SJ, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HEART, The WORD

Our Morning Offering – 30 April – O Christ Jesus, When All is Darkness – “Let not your heart be troubled. ” John 14:1

Our Morning Offering – 30 April – Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter +2021, Readings: Acts 13:26-33, Psalm 2:6-11, John 14:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Let not your heart be troubled.
You believe in God, believe also in me. ”
– John 14:1

O Christ Jesus,
When All is Darkness
By St Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness
and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing
may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose,
Your will
through all things.
Amen

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, St Louis-Marie Grignion de MONTFORT

Our Morning Offering – 28 April – St Louis de Montfort’s Morning Offering

Our Morning Offering – 28 April – Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easte and the Memorial of St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716)

Morning Offering
By St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort (1673-1716)

My God,
just as I wish to love
nothing more than You,
so I wish to live,
only for You.
I offer You
all my thoughts,
all my words,
all my actions
and all my sufferings of this day;
please bestow
Your holy blessing,
upon them all.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, The WORD

Our Morning Offering – 27 April – O the Word of My Lord

Our Morning Offering – 27 April – Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter

O the Word of My Lord
Song of a Young Prophet
By Brother Damian Lundy FSC (1944-1997)

O the word of my Lord
Deep within my being,
Oh the word of my Lord,
You have filled my mind.

Before I formed you in the womb
I knew you through and through,
I chose you to be Mine.
Before you left your mother’s side
I called to you, My child, to be My sign.
Refrain

I know that you are very young,
But I will make you strong.
I’ll fill you with My word
And you will travel through the land,
Fulfilling My command
Which you have heard.
Refrain

And everywhere you are to go
My hand will follow you;
You will not be alone.
In all the danger that you fear
You’ll find Me very near,
Your words, My own.
Refrain,

This hymn, based on Jeremiah 1, was composed by English Brother and teacher Brother Damian Lundy of the De La Salle Order. It is sometimes referred to as “Song of a Young Prophet.” It is set to an unnamed tune, also by Bro Damian.
He died in 1997 at the age of 53. He is widely respected as a leading innovator in many forms of Catholic
apostolate and education in the UK. He is credited with devising the currently standard form of Catholic Residential Youth Work and for writing many popular hymns and prayers and leading seminars and conferences.
In 1975, Damian founded St Cassian’s Centre, Kintbury, which is still operating today as a widely visited and respected Catholic Youth Retreat Centre.

Posted in CHRIST the KING, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 26 April– Alone With None but Thee, My God

Our Morning Offering – 26 April– Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter

Alone With None but Thee, My God
Attri. St Columban (543-615)

Alone with none but Thee, my God
I journey on my way,
what need I fear when Thou art near,
O King of night and day?
More safe am I within Thy hand
than if a host should round me stand.

My destined time is known to Thee,
and death will keep his hour;
did warriors strong around me throng,
they could not stay his power.
No walls of stone can man defend
when Thou Thy messenger dost send.

My life I yield to Thy decree
and bow to Thy control
in peaceful calm, for from Thine arm
no power can wrest my soul,
could earthly omens e’er appal
a man that heeds the heavenly call?

The child of God can fear no ill,
His chosen, dread no foe;
we leave our fate with Thee and wait
Thy bidding when to go,
’tis not from chance our comfort springs,
Thou art our Trust, O King of kings.

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The GOOD SHEPHERD

Our Morning Offering – 25 April – O Good Shepherd, You Whom My Soul Loves. By St Gregory of Nyssa

Our Morning Offering – 25 April – The Fourth Sunday of Easter / Good Shepherd Sunday

O Good Shepherd,
You Whom My Soul Loves.
By St Gregory of Nyssa (c 335–C 395)
Father of the Church

Where are You pasturing Your flock,
O good Shepherd,
Who carry the whole flock on Your shoulders?
(For the whole of human nature is one sheep
and You have lifted it onto Your shoulders).
Show me the place of peace,
lead me to the good grass that will nourish me,
call me by name so that I,
Your sheep, hear Your voice
and by Your speech,
give me eternal life.
Answer me, You Whom my soul loves.
… Show me then (my soul says),
where You pasture Your flock,
so that I can find that saving pasture too
and fill myself with the food of heaven,
without which, no-one can come to eternal life
and run to the spring
and fill myself with the drink of God.
You give it, as from a spring,
to those who thirst –
water pouring from Your side, cut open by the lance,
water that, to whoever drinks it,
is a spring of water,
welling up to eternal life.
Amen

This is a tiny excerpt from St Gregory of Nyssa’s commentary on the Song of Songs (Cap. 2: PG 44, 802), using the imagery of Psalm 23, appeals to the Lord Jesus Christ for the promised green pastures, restful waters and noonday rest that is the final, eternal destination of those who love God and walk in His ways.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, MARIAN TITLES, MOTHER of GOD, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS to the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 24 April – Mother of my God, Lady Mary, Queen of Mercy

Our Morning Offering – 24 April – Saturday of he Third Week of Easter

Mother of my God,
Lady Mary, Queen of Mercy
By St Alphonsus Ligouri (1696-1787)
Most Zealous Doctor

Mother of my God and my Lady Mary,
as a beggar, all wounded and sore,
presents himself before a great Queen,
so do I present myself before you,
who are Queen of heaven and earth.
From the lofty throne on which you sit,
disdain not, I implore you,
to cast your eyes on me,
a poor sinner.
God has made you so rich
that you might assist the poor
and has made you Queen of Mercy,
that you might relieve the miserable.
Behold me then and pity me.
Behold me and abandon me not,
until you see me changed
from a sinner into a saint.
Amen

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH

Our Morning Offering – 23 April – God Be in My Head

Our Morning Offering – 23 April – Friday of the Third Week of Easter

God Be in My Head
Sarum Book of Hours, 1514

God be in my head
and in my understanding.
God be in my eyes
and in my looking.
God be in my mouth
and in my speaking.
God be in my heart
and in my thinking.
God be at my end
and at my departing.
Amen

The Sarum Rite (or Use of Sarum, also known as the Use of Salisbury) is the Latin liturgical rite developed at Salisbury Cathedral and used from the late eleventh century until the English Reformation.
It is largely identical to the Roman rite but was known for additional responses not in the Roman Rite and for its high ceremony. It also has a wealth of richly worded prayers that have influenced Christian worship ever since.
Saint Osmund (Died 1099) Bishop of Salisbury, is the Bishop who introduced the Sarum Rite – read his life here: https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/04/saint-of-the-day-4-december-saint-osmund-died-1099/
The Cathedral’s liturgy was widely respected during the late Middle Ages and churches throughout the British Isles and parts of northwestern Europe adapted its customs for celebrations of the Eucharist and Liturgy of the Hours.

Posted in FATHERS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 22 April – May the Lord Jesus Touch Our Eyes

Our Morning Offering – 22 April – Thursay of the Third Week of Easter

As today is the Memorial of St Leonides, Martyr for Christ,
Origen’s Father, let us pray his son’s words:

May the Lord Jesus Touch Our Eyes
By Origen (c 185-253)
Father of the Church

May the Lord Jesus touch our eyes,
as He did those of the blind.
Then we shall begin to see in visible things
those which are invisible.
May He open our eyes to gaze,
not on present realities
but on the blessings to come.
May He open the eyes of our heart,
to contemplate God in Spirit,
through Jesus Christ the Lord,
to Whom belong,
all power and glory,
through all eternity.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 21 April – The Joy of My Lord By St Anselm

Our Morning Offering – 21 April – Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter +2021 and the Memorial of St Anselm ‬OSB (1033-1109) Doctor of the Church

The Joy of My Lord
By St Anselm ‬(1033-1109)
Doctor of the Church

I beseech You, O my God,
that I may know You, love You,
and rejoice in You.
If in this life, I cannot do these things fully,
grant that I may, at the least,
progress in them, from day to day.
Advance in me the knowledge of You now,
that in the life to come, it may be complete.
Increase in me the love of You here,
that there, it may be made full.
O God of truth.
I pray, that I may obtain
that which You promise,
that my joy may be complete.
And in the meantime,
let my mind meditate on it,
let my soul hunger after it
and my whole being long for it,
till at last, I enter into the joy of my Lord,
Who is God, blessed forever.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, HYMNS, JANUARY month of THE MOST HOLY NAME of JESUS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HOLY NAME

Our Morning Offering – 20 April – Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee! By St Bernard

Our Morning Offering – 20 April – Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter

Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee!
By St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Mellifluous Doctor

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus’ name,
The Saviour of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart!
O joy of all the meek!
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find?
Ah! this nor tongue, nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.
Jesus! our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shall be;
In Thee be all our glory now
And through eternity.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The WILL of GOD

Our Morning Offering – 19 April – Your Will Alone

Our Morning Offering – 19 April – Monday of the Third Week of Easter

Your Will Alone
By St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)
Angelic Doctor of the Church

Oversee, O my God, my life,
that I may do what You ask of me;
allow me to see and permit me to do
whatever is fitting and profitable to my soul.
Lead me not, O Lord my God,
into excessive wealth or want,
lest I put my trust in riches,
or despair in misery.
Let me take no joy or sorrow,
save in what would lead me
to You or from You.
Let me delight only in pleasing You
and fear only displeasing You.
O Lord, let all passing things
seem worthless to me
and let everything eternal, become my treasure.
May I despise any joy apart from You
and seek nothing that is without You.
Make carrying the burdens
for You my relaxation, O Lord
and rest without You, itself a burden.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, HOLY COMMUNION, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Our Morning Offering – 18 April – My Lord, I am Unworthy!

Our Morning Offering – 18 April – The Third Suday of Easter

My Lord, I am Unworthy!
Prayer before Holy Communion
By St Bonaventure (1217-1274)
Seraphic Doctor of the Church

My Lord,
Who are You
and who am I,
that I should dare to take You
into my body and soul?
A thousand years
of penance and tears
would not be sufficient
to make me worthy
to receive so royal a Sacrament even once!
How much more am I unworthy of it,
who fall into sin daily,
I, the incorrigible,
who approach You so often
without due preparation!
Nevertheless, Your mercy
infinitely surpasses my unworthiness.
Therefore, I make bold
to receive this Sacrament,
trusting in Your love.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 17 April – Mary, I Beg You

Our Morning Offering – 17 April – “Saturday of the Second Week of Easter

Mary, I Beg You
By St Anselm (1033-1109)
Magnificent Doctor
Marian Doctor

Mary, I beg you,
by that grace through which
the Lord is with you
and you will to be with Him,
let your mercy be with me.
Let love for you always be with me,
and the care for me be always with you.
Let the cry of my need,
as long as it persists,
be with you,
and the care of your goodness,
as long as I need it,
be with me.
Let joy in your blessedness
be always with me,
and compassion for my wretchedness,
where I need it,
be with you.
Amen

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DIVINE PROVIDENCE

Our Morning Offering – 16 April – I Will Put Myself In Your Hands

Our Morning Offering – 16 April – Friday of the Second Week of Easter

I Will Put Myself In Your Hands
By St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

O my God, I will put myself
without reserve ,into Your hands.
Wealth or woe,
joy or sorrow,
friends or bereavement,
honour or humiliation,
good report or ill report,
comfort or discomfort.
Your presence or the
hiding of Your Countenance,
all is good,
if it comes from You.
You are Wisdom
and You are Love –
what can I desire more.
Amen

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, HOLY SPIRIT, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HOLY GHOST

Our Morning Offering – 15 April – Nunc, Sancte, nobis Spiritus

Our Morning Offering – 15 April – Thursday of the Second Week of Easter

Nunc, Sancte, nobis Spiritus
By St Ambrose (340-397)
Come, Holy Ghost, Who ever One

Trans St John Henry Newman (1801-1890) Trans 1836

Come, Holy Ghost, Who ever One
Art with the Father and the Son.
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls possess
With Thy full flood of holiness.

In will and deed, by heart and tongue,
With all our powers, Thy praise be sung.
And love light up our mortal frame,
Till others catch the living flame.

Almighty Father, hear our cry
Through Jesus Christ our Lord most high,
Who with the Holy Ghost and Thee
Doth live and reign eternally.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, JESUIT SJ, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 14 April – May I Be United with You, Good Jesus

Our Morning Offering – 14 April – Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter

May I Be United with You, Good Jesus
St Peter Canisius (1521-1597)
Doctor of the Church

Let my eyes take their sleep
but may my heart always
keep watch for You.
May Your right hand bless Your servants
who love You.
May I be united with the praise
that flows from You, Lord Jesus,
to all Your saints;
united with the gratitude
drawn from Your heart, good Jesus,
that causes Your saints to thank You;
united with Your passion, good Jesus,
by which You took away our guilt;
united with the divine longing
that You had on earth, for our salvation;
united with every prayer
that welled from Your divine heart, good Jesus
and flowed into the hearts of Your saints.
Amen

Posted in EASTER, HYMNS, Our MORNING Offering, The RESURRECTION

Our Morning offering – 13 April – He is Risen, Tell the Story

Our Morning Offering – 13 April – Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter

He is Risen, Tell the Story
By Father Willard F Janusch (1930-2018)

He is risen, tell the story
to the nations of the night;
from their sin and from their blindness,
let them walk in Easter light.
Now begins a new creation,
now has come our true salvation.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Mary goes to tell the others
of the wonders she has seen;
John and Peter come a’running
what can all this truly mean?
O Rabboni, Master holy,
to appear to one so lowly!
Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

He has cut down death and evil,
He has conquered all despair;
He has lifted from our shoulders,
all the weight of anxious care.
Risen Brother, now before you,
we will worship and adore You.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

Now get busy, bring the message,
so that all may come to know
there is hope for saint and sinner,
for our God has loved us so.
Ev’ry church bell is a’ringing,
ev’ry Christian now is singing.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God!

A Parish Priest, Seminary Professor and prolific Musician and Hymnist, Fr Willard wa Ordained in 1956 and died at the age of 88 in 2018.

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, EASTER, GOD ALONE!, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, QUOTES for CHRIST

Our Morning Offering – 12 April – Jesu, be You my Life!

Our Morning Offering – 12 April – Monday of the Second week of Easter

Jesu, be You my Life!
Msgr Robert Hugh Benson (1871-1914)
Supernumerary Private Chamberlain to St PopePius X

I cannot live alone another hour,
Jesu, be You my Life!
I have not power to strive,
be You my Power
in every strife!
I can do nothing
– hope, nor love, nor fear.
But only fail and fall.
Be You my soul and self,
O Jesu dear.
My God and all!
Amen

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, EASTER, MARIAN Antiphons, MARIAN PRAYERS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the CHURCH

Our Morning Offering – 11 April – The Regina Coeli

Our Morning Offering – 11 April – The Octave Day of Easter

The Regina Coeli

Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
For He whom thou did merit to bear, alleluia.
Has risen, as He said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia.

Let us pray.
O God, who gave joy to the world
through the resurrection of Thy son,
our Lord Jesus Christ,
grant we beseech Thee,
that through the intercession
of the Virgin Mary,
His mother, we may obtain
the joys of everlasting life.
Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen

Remember to exchange your Angelus prayer for the Regina Coeli as from Easter Sunday for the next 50 days of Eastertide.
According to Catholic tradition, St Gregory the Great (540-604) heard angels chanting the first three lines one Easter morning in Rome, while following barefoot in a great religious procession of the icon of the Virgin painted by St Luke the Evangelist. He was thereupon inspired to add the fourth line.

Posted in HYMNS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MARIAN Saturdays, MARIAN TITLES, Our MORNING Offering

Our Morning Offering – 10 April – Easter Saturday – The Mater Christi

Our Morning Offering – 10 April – Easter Saturday

The Mater Christi
Unknown Author

Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
What shall I ask of thee?
I do not sigh for the wealth of earth
For the joys that fade and flee,
But, Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
This do I long to see —
The bliss untold which thy arms enfold,
The Treasure upon thy knee.

Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
He was All-in-All to thee,
In the winter’s cave, in Nazareth’s home,
In the hamlets of Galilee,
So, Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
He will not say nay to thee,
When He lifts His Face to thy sweet embrace,
Speak to Him, Mother, of me.

Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
The world will bid Him flee,
Too busy to heed His gentle voice,
Too blind His charms to see,
Then, Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
Come with thy Babe to me,
Tho’ the world be cold, my heart shall hold
A shelter for Him and thee.

Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
What shall I do for thee?
I will love thy Son with the whole of my strength,
My only King shall He be.
Yes! Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
This will I do for thee,
Of all that are dear or cherished here,
None shall be dear as He.

Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
I toss on a stormy sea,
O lift thy Child as a Beacon Light,
To the Port where I fain would be!
And, Mother of Christ, Mother of Christ,
This do I ask of thee —
When the voyage is o’er, oh! stand on the shore
And show Him at last to me.

The author is unclear – The 1920 St Gregory Hymn book (editor Nicola A. Montani) credits it to Nicola A Montani.
The 1914 American Catholic hymn book credits it to “S. N. D. ” – most likely meaning a Sister of Notre Dame.

Posted in CHRIST the KING, CHRIST the LIGHT, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, EASTER, HYMNS, JUNE-THE SACRED HEART, Our MORNING Offering, QUOTES for CHRIST, QUOTES on the CROSS of CHRIST, SACRED HEART PRAYERS

Our Morning Offering – 9 April – Easter Friday – To Christ the Prince of Peace

Our Morning Offering – 9 April – Easter Friday

To Christ the Prince of Peace
Fr Edward Caswell CO (1814-1878)

To Christ the Prince of Peace,
And Son of God most high,
The Father of the world to come,
Sing we with holy joy.

Deep in His heart, for us,
The wound of love He bore;
That love wherewith He still inflames
The hearts that Him adore.

O Jesu, victim blest,
What else but love divine
Could Thee constrain to open thus
That Sacred Heart of thine?

O fount of endless life,
O spring of water clear,
O flame celestial, cleansing all
Who unto Thee draw near!

Hide us in Thy dear heart,
For thither do we fly;
There seek Thy grace through life, in death
Thine immortality.
Amen

Posted in EASTER, FATHERS of the Church, LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for SEASONS, The LAMB of GOD, The REDEMPTION

Our Morning Offering – 8 April – Easter Thursday – O Lamb of God

Our Morning Offering – 8 April – Easter Thursday

O Lamb of God
By St Irenaeus (c 130 – c 202)
Bishop & Martyr, Father of the Church

O Lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world,
look upon us and have mercy upon us,
You who art Yourself, both victim and Priest,
Yourself, both Reward and Redeemer,
keep safe from all evil
those whom You have redeemed,
O Saviour of the world.
Amen

Posted in "Follow Me", CHRIST the WORD and WISDOM, CHRIST, the WAY,TRUTH,LIFE, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – Easter Wednesday – The Saving Word

Our Morning Offering – Easter Wednesday and the Memorial of St John Baptiste de La Salle (1651-1719)

The Saving Word
By St John Baptiste de La Salle (1651-1719)

No father on earth
loves his children
as much as You love the beings You created. Lord.
Not content with just giving them existence,
You inspire them with the means
for happiness in this life
and someday, having a place in Your House.
First through the prophets
and then through Your holy Apostles.
You have given us the Word of Life.
But it was through Jesus. Your beloved Son.
that You gave the definitive Word to the world:
the “Good News’ that saves us.
Strengthen us. Lord, against our weakness;
guide our steps
along the road You have pointed out –
Christ our brother, Who is the Way,
He, the Truth and He, the Life.
Amen

Posted in Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 6 April – Easter Tuesday – A Song of Praise

Our Morning Offering – 6 April – Easter Tuesday

A Song of Praise
St John Baptiste de la Salle (1651-1719)

(Instructions and Prayers Ch 17. 81-82)

My tongue is untied
in praise of my God.
because His mercy
for mankind has no limits
and He is loving
with all His creatures across the Centuries.
I unite my voice with that of the Angels and Saints
to sing the glory of God in Heaven
and His peace on earth.
Through Christ in Whom Thou, Father, are pleased,
with Christ and in Christ
may every praise, power,
honour and glory be given to Thee
throughout the ages.
Alleluia!
SO BE IT
!

Posted in DOMINICAN OP, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 5 April – Grant me, O my God, St Vincent Ferrer

Our Morning Offering – 5 April – Easter Monday and the Memorial of St Vincent Ferrer OP (1350-1419)

Grant me, O my God
By St Vincent Ferrer (1350-1419)

Good Jesus,
let me be penetrated with love
to the very marrow of my bones,
with fear and respect toward You.
Let me burn with zeal for Your honour,
so that I may resent all the outrages
committed against You, especially those
of which I myself have been guilty.
Grant further, O my God,
that I may adore and acknowledge You humbly,
as my Creator
and that, penetrated with gratitude
for all Your benefits,
I may never cease to render You thanks.
Grant that I may bless You in all things,
praise and glorify You,
with a heart full of joy and gladness
and that, obeying You with docility
in every respect, I may one day,
despite my ingratitude and unworthiness,
be seated at Your table
together with Your Holy Angels and Apostles
to enjoy ineffable delights.
Amen

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, EASTER, FATHERS of the Church, FEASTS and SOLEMNITIES, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The RESURRECTION

Our Morning Offering – 4 April – Your Loving Kindness, An Easter Prayer

Our Morning Offering – 4 April – Easter Sunday, The Resurrection of the Lord

Your Loving Kindness
An Easter Prayer
By St Pope Gregory the Great (540-604)
Church Father and Doctor

It is only right,
with all the powers of our heart and mind,
to praise You Father and Your Only-Begotten Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Dear Father, by Your wondrous condescension
of loving kindness toward us, Your servants,
You gave up Your Son.
Dear Jesus You paid the debt of Adam for us
to the Eternal Father, by Your Blood
poured forth in loving kindness.
You cleared away the darkness of sin
by Your magnificent and radiant Resurrection.
You broke the bonds of death
and rose from the grave as a Conqueror.
You reconciled Heaven and earth.
Our life had no hope of eternal happiness
before You redeemed us.
Your Resurrection has washed away our sins,
restored our innocence and brought us joy.
How inestimable is the tenderness of Your Love!
We pray You, Lord,
to preserve Your servants in the peaceful enjoyment
of this Easter happiness.
We ask this through Jesus Christ Our Lord,
Who lives and reigns with God, the Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, forever and ever
Amen

Posted in HOLY SATURDAY, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES on DEATH, The LAST THINGS, The RESURRECTION

Our Morning Offering – 3 April – Sabbatum Sanctum

Our Morning Offering – 3 April – Holy Saturday

Sabbatum Sanctum
By St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

I look at You, my Lord Jesus
and think of Your most holy Body
and I keep it before me,
as a pledge of my own resurrection.
Though I die, as die I certainly shall,
nevertheless, I shall not forever die,
for I shall rise again.
O You, who are the Truth,
I know and believe with my whole heart,
that this very flesh of mine will rise again.
I know, base and odious as it is at present,
that it will one day, if I be worthy,
be raised incorruptible
and altogether beautiful and glorious.
This I know,
this by Your grace,
I will ever keep before me.
Amen

Posted in HOLY WEEK, LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 2 April – The Angel of the Agony

Our Morning Offering – 2 April – Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord

The Angel of the Agony
St John Henry Newman (1801-1890)

Jesu! by that shuddering dread which fell on Thee;
Jesu! by that cold dismay which sicken’d Thee;
Jesu! by that pang of heart which thrill’d in Thee;
Jesu! by that mount of sins which crippled Thee;
Jesu! by that sense of guilt which stifled Thee;
Jesu! by that innocence that girded Thee;
Jesu! by that sanctity that reign’d in Thee;
Jesu! by that Godhead which was one with Thee;
Jesu! spare those souls which are so dear to Thee;
Who in prison, calm and patient, wait for Thee;
Hasten, Lord, their hour and bid them come to Thee;
To that glorious Home, where they shall ever gaze on Thee.
Amen

Posted in HOLY WEEK, LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, MARIAN POETRY, MARIAN PRAYERS, MATER DOLOROSA - Mother of SORROWS, Our MORNING Offering, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 1 April – When Mary Weeps

Our Morning Offering – 1 April – Maundy Thursday

When Mary Weeps
By Father Frederick M Lynk (1881-unknown)

When Mary weeps, her mother’s heart
Is full to overflowing.
When Mary weeps, pain’s piercing dart
Stabs Him beyond all knowing,
Who is by sinners Crucified,
Blasphemed, forsaken and denied.

When Mary weeps, God’s holy wrath
Is kindling cruel fires.
When Mary weeps, poor mankind’s path
Leads through war’s blood-soaked mires
And makes all human mothers moan
In love and pity for their own.

When Mary weeps, it’s time to pray
To have our sins forgiven.
When Mary weeps, each night and day
By sorrow must be riven,
Until His and her children will
Once more seek peace on Calvary’s hill.
When Mary weeps, we all must try
To dry her tears of sorrow.
When Mary weeps, we too must cry
To glimpse a brighter morrow,
When her Son’s name is recognised
And all, in love adore the Christ.
Amen

Posted in LENTEN PRAYERS & NOVENAS, Our MORNING Offering, POETRY, PRAYERS for VARIOUS NEEDS, QUOTES on LOVE of GOD, The PASSION

Our Morning Offering – 31 March – Sonnet to our Lord Crucified

Our Morning Offering – 31 March – Wednesday in Holy Week

Sonnet to our Lord Crucified
Anonymous, of Spanish origen

I am not moved to love Thee, O my God,
That I might hope in promised heaven to dwell,
Nor am I moved by fear of pain in hell,
To turn from sin and follow where Thou trod.
Thou move me, Lord, broken beneath the rod,
Or stretched out on the Cross, as nails compel
Thy hand to twitch.
It moves me that we sell,
To mockery and death, Thy Precious Blood.
It is, O Christ, Thy love which moves me so,
That my love rests not on a promised prize,
Nor holy fear or threat of endless woe,
It is not milk and honey but the flow
Of Blood from blessed wounds before my eyes,
That waters my buried soul and makes it grow.
Amen

Spanish:
No me mueve, mi Dios, para quererte,
Elcielo que me tienes prometido,
Mi me mueve el infierno tan temido,
para dejar por eso de ofenderte.
Tu me mueves, Senor, mueveme el verte
Clavado en una cruz y escarnecido,
Mueveme el ver tu cuerpo tan herido,
Muevenme tus afrentas y tu muerte.
Mueveme, en fin, tu amor de tal manera,
que aunque no hubiera cielo, yo te amara,
Y aunque no hubiera infierno, te temiera.
No me tienes que dar porque Te quiera,
Porque, aunque lo que espero no esperara,
Lo mismo que te quiero Te quisiera.

Who wrote it? Who knows?
The names fell from the pages,
Lost and never
To return to where
The eyes of the reader
Might ever see them.
‘I am no-one,
Constructing eternity so,
I can live forever’