Posted in PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 4 September

Our Morning Offering – 4 September

St Mother Teresa’s Prayer
“Radiating Christ”

Dear Jesus, help us to spread
Your fragrance everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with Your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly
that our lives may only be a radiance of Yours.
Shine through us and be so in us
that every soul we come in contact with
may feel Your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see,
no longer us but only Jesus.
Stay with us
and then we shall begin to shine
as You shine,
so to shine as to be light to others.
The light, O Jesus, will be all from You.
None of it will be ours.
It will be You shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise You in the way You love best
by shining on those around us.
Let us preach You,
without preaching,
not by words but by our example;
by the catching force –
the sympathetic influence of what we do,
the evident fullness of the love
our hearts bear to You. Amen

st mother teresa's prayer - radiating christ

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 3 September – The Memorial of St Pope Gregory the Great – Father & Doctor

Our Morning Offering – 3 September – The Memorial of St Pope Gregory the Great – Father & Doctor

St Gregory’s Prayer of Praise

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!
Amenst gregory's prayer of praise.2

Posted in franciscan OFM, MORNING Prayers, papal ENCYCLICALS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Quote/s of the Day – Pope Francis – Laudato Si – – 1 September – World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

Quote/s of the Day – Pope Francis – Laudato Si – – 1 September – World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation

“Creatures are not just resources but have value in and of themselves and give glory to God

It is not enough, however, to think of different species merely as potential “resources” to be exploited, while overlooking the fact that they have value in themselves.  Each year sees the disappearance of thousands of plant and animal species which we will never know, which our children will never see because they have been lost for ever.   The great majority become extinct for reasons related to human activity.   Because of us, thousands of species will no longer give glory to God by their very existence, nor convey their message to us.   We have no such right. (33)”

“Overpopulation is not the problem

Instead of resolving the problems of the poor and thinking of how the world can be different, some can only propose a reduction in the birth rate.   At times, developing countries face forms of international pressure which make economic assistance contingent on certain policies of “reproductive health”. […]   To blame population growth instead of extreme and selective consumerism on the part of some, is one way of refusing to face the issues.   It is an attempt to legitimise the present model of distribution, where a minority believes that it has the right to consume in a way which can never be universalised, since the planet could not even contain the waste products of such consumption. (50)”

Pope Francis – Laudato Si

Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfolds rich blessing on our way,
O praise God! Alleluia!
The fruits and flowers that verdant grow,
Let them His praise abundant show.
O praise God, O praise God,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

St. Francis of Assisi
(Translated by William H Draper) (Image by St Francis by Albert Chevallier Tayler)

dear mother earth - st francis prayer

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, Uncategorized

Our Morning Offering – 31 August

Our Morning Offering – 31 August

O LORD MY GOD
By Saint Anselm

O Lord my God.
Teach my heart this day
where and how to find You.
You have made me and re-made me,
and You have bestowed on me
all the good things I possess,
and still I do not know You.
I have not yet done
that for which I was made.
Teach me to seek You,
for I cannot seek You
unless you teach me,
or find You
unless You show Yourself to me.
Let me seek You in my desire;
let me desire You in my seeking.
Let me find You by loving You;
let me love You when I find You. Ameno lord my god - st anselm

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 30 August

Our Morning Offering – 30 August

O Lord, the house of my soul is narrow
By St Augustine (354-430) Father & Doctor

O God, the Light of the heart that sees You,
The Life of the soul that loves You,
The Strength of the mind that seeks You:
May I ever continue
to be steadfast in Your love.
Be the joy of my heart;
Take all of me to Yourself and abide therein.
The house of my soul is,
I confess, too narrow for You.
Enlarge it that You may enter.
It is ruinous but do repair it.
It has within it what must offend Your eyes;
I confess and know it,
but whose help shall I seek
in cleansing it but Yours alone?
To You, O God, I cry urgently.
Cleanse me from secret faults.
Keep me from false pride and sensuality
That they not get dominion over me.
AmenO LORD, THE HOUSE OF MY SOUL IS NARROW - full prayer -ST AUGUSTINE

Posted in JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 29 August

Our Morning Offering – 29 August

O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness
By St Ignatius Loyola

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

o christ jesus when all is darkness - st iggy - No 2

Posted in DEVOTIO, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, Uncategorized

Our Morning Offering – August 28 – The Memorial of St Augustine (354-430) – Doctor of Grace

Our Morning Offering – August 28 – The Memorial of St Augustine (354-430) – Doctor of Grace

Only You!
By ST AUGUSTINE

Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know You
and desire nothing save only You.
Let me hate myself and love You.
Let me do everything for the sake of You.
Let me humble myself and exalt You.
Let me think of nothing except You.
Let me die to myself and live in You.
Let me accept whatever happens as from You.
Let me banish self and follow You
and ever desire to follow You.
Let me fly from myself and take refuge in You,
That I may deserve to be defended by You.
Let me fear for myself.
Let me fear You
and let me be among those who are chosen by You.
Let me distrust myself and put my trust in You.
Let me be willing to obey for the sake of You.
Let me cling to nothing save only to You,
And let me be poor because of You.
Look upon me, that I may love You.
Call me that I may see You and for ever enjoy You.
Amen

lord jesus, lt me know myself and know you - st augustine

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 27 August – The Memorial of St Monica

Our Morning Offering – 27 August – The Memorial of St Monica

LATE HAVE I LOVED YOU
By St Augustine

Late have I loved You,
Beauty so ancient and so new,
late have I loved You!
Lo, you were within,
but I outside, seeking there for You,
and upon the shapely things You have made
I rushed headlong – I, misshapen.
You were with me but I was not with You.
They held me back far from You,
those things which would have no being,
were they not in You.
You called, shouted, broke through my deafness.
You flared, blazed, banished my blindness.
You lavished Your fragrance, I gasped
and now I pant for You;
I tasted You and now I hunger and thirst;
You touched me and I burned for Your peace.

late have i loved you - st augustine

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, Uncategorized

Our Morning Offering – 23 August

Our Morning Offering – 23 August

To You we Cry, O Queen of Mercy!
By St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
Doctor mellifluus (Mellifluous Doctor)

To you we cry,
O Queen of Mercy!
Return, that we may
behold you dispensing favours,
bestowing remedies,
giving strength.
Ah, tender Mother!
Tell your all-powerful Son
that we have no more wine.
We are thirsty after the wine of His love,
of that marvelous wine
that fills souls with a holy inebriation,
inflames them,
and gives them the strength to despise
the things of this world
and to seek with ardour heavenly goods.
Amen

to you we cry O queen of mercy no 2.- st bernard

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, franciscan OFM, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Our Morning Offering – 22 August – The Queenship of Mary

Our Morning Offering – 22 August – The Queenship of Mary

Mary our Queen, Holy Mother of God
By St Anthony of Padua (1195-1231) Evangelical Doctor

Mary, our Queen,
Holy Mother of God,
we beg you to hear our prayer.
Make our hearts overflow with divine grace
and resplendent with heavenly wisdom.
Render them strong with your might
and rich in virtue.
Pour down upon us the gift of mercy
so that we may obtain the pardon of our sins.
Help us to live in such a way
as to merit the glory and bliss of heaven.
May this be granted us by your Son Jesus
who has exalted you above the angels,
has crowned you as Queen,
and has seated you with Him
forever on His refulgent throne.
Amen.

mary our queen, holy mother of god by st anthony of padua.2

Posted in papal ENCYCLICALS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

The Memorial of the Queenship of Mary – 22 August

The Memorial of the Queenship of Mary – 22 August – A Marian feast day decreed by Pope Pius XII on 11 October 1954, in his encyclical Ad caeli reginam to recognise and celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of the world, of the universe, of the angels, of heaven,  Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Virgins, all Saints,of Families, Queen conceived without original sin Queen assumed into Heaven, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, Queen of Mercy, Queen of Peace.   The movement to officially recognise the Queenship of Mary was initially promoted by several Catholic Mariological congresses in Lyon, France, Freiburg, Germany and Einsiedeln, Switzerland. Pro Regalitate Mariae, an international society to promote the Queenship of Mary, was founded in Rome, Italy by noted Marioligist and writer Father Gabriel Roschini.   Patronages – the diocese of Cabinda, Angola.

From early times Christians have believed and not without reason, that she of whom was born the Son of the Most High received privileges of grace above all other beings created by God.   He “will reign in the house of Jacob forever,” “the Prince of Peace,” the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”   And when Christians reflected upon the intimate connection that obtains between a mother and a son, they readily acknowledged the supreme royal dignity of the Mother of God.

coronation - fra filippo lippi

Queenship

In this feast, particularly cherished by the Popes of modern times, we celebrate Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Pope Pius IX said of Mary’s Queenship:  “Turning her maternal Heart toward us and dealing with the affair of our salvation, she is concerned with the whole human race.   Constituted by the Lord, Queen of Heaven and earth and exalted above all choirs of Angels and the ranks of Saints in Heaven, standing at the right hand of Her only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, she petitions most powerfully with Her maternal prayers and she obtains what she seeks.”

And Pope Pius XII added the following:  “We commend that on the festival there be renewed the consecration of the human race to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.   Upon this there is founded a great hope that there will rejoice in the triumph of religion and in Christian peace…

…Therefore, let all approach with greater confidence now than before, to the throne of mercy and grace of our Queen and Mother to beg help in difficultly, light in darkness and solace in trouble and sorrow…

. . Whoever, therefore, honours the lady ruler of the Angels and of men – and let no one think themselves exempt from the payment of that tribute of a grateful and loving soul – let them call upon her as most truly Queen and as the Queen who brings the blessings of peace, that She may show us all, after this exile, Jesus, who will be our enduring peace and joy.”

St Lomman, Abbot, (5th—early 6th century)

 “The Help of Mary, Queen and Mother”

O Mary, when our eyes close in our last sleep and open to behold thy Son, the Just Judge and the Angel opens the Book and the Enemy accuses us;  in that terrible hour, come to our aid.  Be with us.
When death came to Joseph, you and your Son were with him:  Thy Son to judge, thou to console.   O Happy Joseph!   When death comes for us, be near us.   O Mary, when we are held captive in the place of atonement;  plead for us and visit us, that we may find consolation in thy presence.  Stretch forth thy hand to help us;  deliver us from our bondage.  We are thy children: Thou art our Mother.   As little children we come to thee; we know no fear.
O Mary, He changed water into wine for thee, even as He said:   My hour has not yet come.  Now He will not refuse thee, when you plead for us thy children.   O Mary, come quickly to our aid.   Do not let us stray from the Fold.   The wolf is waiting to destroy us. There shall be neither night nor day to thy praises.
Adoration to the Father Who created thee!   Adoration to they Son, Who took flesh from thee!   Adoration to the Holy Spirit, Thy Divine Spouse!   Three in One, One in Three. Equal in all things.   To Him be glory for ever.   Forever. Forever. Amen.

enlarged death of st joseph381px-Peter_Paul_Rubens_079Fra_Filippo_Lippi_-_Coronation_of_the_Virgin_detail_-_WGA13317giovanni di paolo

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY GHOST

Our Morning Offering – 21 August – The Memorial of St Pope Pius X

Our Morning Offering – August 21 – The Memorial of St Pope Pius X

Prayer for Union with the Holy Spirit
By St Pope Pius X

O Holy Spirit of Light and Love,
to You I consecrate my heart,
mind and will
for time and eternity.
May I be ever docile
to Your Divine inspirations
and to the teachings
of the Holy Catholic Church
whose infallible guide You are.
May my heart be ever inflamed
with the love of God and love of neighbour.
May my will be ever in harmony with Your Divine Will.
May my life faithfully imitate the life and virtues
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
To Him,
with the Father,
and You, Divine Spirit,
be honour and glory forever.
Amen.

prayer for union with the Holy Spirit by St Pope Pius X

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

The Memorare by St Bernard of Clairvaux “Doctor of Light”

On the Feast Day of St Bernard, August 20, can we do better than call on our Mother

The Memorare by St Bernard of Clairvaux

REMEMBER, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled
to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought
thy 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 Express Novena you will recall, is 9 times the Memorare)

THE MEMORARE - ST BERNARDst bernard - doctor of light

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 20 August – The Memorial of St Bernard of Clairvaux

Our Morning Offering – 20 August – The Memorial of St Bernard of Clairvaux

Morning Prayer of St Bernard

High and holy God
Give me this day
a word of truth
to silence the lies
that would devour my soul
and kind encouragements
to strengthen me when I fall.
Gracious One
I come quietly to Your door
needing to receive
from Your hands
the nourishment
that gives life.
Amen and Amen.

MORNING PRAYER OF ST BERNARD.2

Posted in JESUIT SJ, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 18 August

Our Morning Offering – 18 August

Prayer of St Alberto Hurtado

Lord, help me to speak the truth before the strong
and not lie to gain the applause of the weak.
If You give me fortune, don’t take happiness away from me.
If You give me strength, don’t take reason away from me.
If You give me success, don’t take humility away from me.
If You give me humility, don’t take dignity away from me.
Help we always see the other side of the coin.
Do not let me blame others of treason
for not thinking like me.
Teach me to love people as myself
and to judge myself as others do.
Do not let me fall into pride if I triumph
nor in despair if I fail.
Rather, remind me that failure
is the experience which precedes triumph.
Teach me that forgiving is the grandest for the strong
and that revenge is the primitive sign of the weak.
If You take away my fortune, leave me with hope.
If You take away success, leave me with the strength
to triumph from the defeat.
If I fail people, give me the courage to ask pardon.
If the people fail me, give me the courage to forgive.
Lord, if I forget You, don’t forget me.
Amen

Here’s the Spanish:

Señor, ayúdame a decir la verdad delante de los fuertes
Y a no decir mentiras para ganarme el aplauso de los débiles.

Si me das fortuna, no me quites la felicidad.
Si me das fuerza, no me quites la razón.
Si me das éxito, no me quites la humildad.
Si me das humildad, no me quites la dignidad.

Ayúdame siempre a ver el otro lado de la medalla.
No me dejes inculpar de traición a los demás
por no pensar como yo.
Enséñame a querer a la gente como a mí mismo
y a juzgarme como a los demás.

No me dejes caer en el orgullo si triunfo,
ni en la desesperación si fracaso.
Más bien recuérdame que el fracaso
es la experiencia que precede al triunfo.

Enséñame que perdonar es lo más grande del fuerte,
Y que la venganza es la señal primitiva del débil.

Si me quitas la fortuna, déjame la esperanza.
Si me quitas el éxito, déjame la fuerza para triunfar del fracaso.

Si yo fallara a la gente, dame valor para disculparme.
Si la gente fallara conmigo, dame valor para perdonar.
Señor, si yo me olvido de Ti, no te olvides de mí.

prayer of st alberto hurtado

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, DOMINICAN OP, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 17 August

Our Morning Offering – 17 August

Our Lord, King of all!
By St Albert the Great O.P. (1200-1280) Doctor of the Church

We pray to You, O Lord,
who are the supreme Truth,
and all truth is from You.
We beseech You, O Lord,
who are the highest Wisdom,
and all the wise depend on You
for their wisdom.
You are the supreme Joy,
and all who are happy
owe it to You.
You are the Light of minds
and all receive
their understanding from You.
We love, we love You above all.
We seek You, we follow You,
and we are ready to serve You.
We desire to dwell under Your power
for You are the King of all.
Amenour lord, king of all - st albert the geat op

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 16 August

Our Morning Offering – 16 August

Prayer For Strength
By St EPHREM of Syria (306-373) Doctor of the Church

Lord Jesus Christ,
King of kings,
You have power over life and death.
You know even things that are uncertain and obscure,
and our very thoughts and feelings are not hidden from You.
Cleanse me from my secret faults,
for I have done wrong and You saw it.
You know how weak I am,
both in soul and in body.
Give me strength, O Lord,
in my frailty and sustain me in my sufferings.
Grant me a prudent judgment, dear Lord,
and let me always be mindful of Your blessings.
Let me retain until the end, Your grace
that has protected me till now.
Amen

prayer for strength by st ephrem of syria

Posted in CONFESSION/PENANCE, DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, QUOTES of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The WORD

One Minute Reflection – 15 August

One Minute Reflection – 15 August

The Confessions – Book VIII – St Augustine’s Conversion to Christ.   Augustine is deeply impressed by Simplicianus’ story of the conversion to Christ of the famous orator and philosopher, Marius Victorinus.   He is stirred to emulate him but finds himself still enchained by his incontinence and preoccupation with worldly affairs.   He is then visited by a court official, Ponticianus, who tells him and Alypius the stories of the conversion of Anthony and also of two imperial “secret service agents.”   These stories throw him into a violent turmoil, in which his divided will struggles against himself.   He almost succeeds in making the decision for continence but is still held back.   Finally, a child’s song, overheard by chance, sends him to the Bible;  a text from Paul resolves the crisis;  the conversion is a fact.   Alypius also makes his decision and the two inform the rejoicing Monica.

“For I am the LORD, your God,
who grasp your right hand;
It is I who say to you, Do not fear,
I will help you.”….Isaiah 41:13

Isaiah 41 13

REFLECTION – “And Thou didst put it into my mind and it seemed good in my own sight, to go to Simplicianus, who appeared to me a faithful servant of Thine and Thy grace shone forth in him.   I had also been told that from his youth up he had lived in entire devotion to Thee.   He was already an old man and because of his great age, which he had passed in such a zealous discipleship in Thy way, he appeared to me likely to have gained much wisdom–and, indeed, he had.   From all his experience, I desired him to tell me–setting before him all my agitations–which would be the most fitting way for one who felt as I did to walk in thy way.”…St Augustine (From the Confessions – Book VIII – Chapter 1)

st simplician - pray for us

PRAYER – “Go on, O Lord and act: stir us up and call us back;  inflame us and draw us to Thee;  stir us up and grow sweet to us;  let us now love Thee, let us run to Thee.   Are there not many men … who, out of a deeper pit of darkess,.. return to Thee–who draw near to Thee and are illuminated by that light which gives those who receive it power from Thee to become Thy sons? “… (St Augustine – From the Confessions Book VIII – Chapter IV)  St Simplician, pray for us, Amen.

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, FATHERS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 15 August

Our Morning Offering – 15 August

PRAYER of ST AMBROSE  (340-397) Father and Doctor of the Church

O Lord, who has mercy upon all,
take away from me my sins
and mercifully kindle in me
the fire of Your Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone
and give me a heart of flesh,
a heart to love and adore You,
a heart to delight in You,
to follow and enjoy You,
for Christ’s sake. Amen

12_7_ _Saint_Ambrose_1_Francisco_de_Zurbarán

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Our Morning Offering – 13 August

Our Morning Offering – 13 August

A Eucharistic Offering
By Thomas à Kempis (1380-1471)

Lord, all things in heaven and earth are Yours.
I desire to offer myself to You
in free and perpetual oblation,
so that I may forever be with You.
Lord, in simpliciy of heart,
I offer myself this day to You,
to be Your servant in service
and sacrifice of perpetual praise.
Accept me with the oblation of Your precious Body,
which this day I offer You in the presence
of Your holy angels, here invisibly present,
so that it may be to my salvation
and to the salvation of all people. Amen

a eucharistic offering - by thomas a kempis

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 12 August

Our Morning Offering – 12 August

Prayer of Saint Jane de Chantal (1572-1641)

O Holy Mother of the children of God!
When shall I rest in your immortal arms?
Our souls should be wholly consumed by this desire.
But I will restrain myself and peacefully await the hour
which the divine Saviour has destined for me,
to overwhelm me with that bliss.
In the meantime let us have only one desire,
to please Him by doing His holy will in all things.
What God wishes for us, let it be done:
we are His for time and eternity. Amen

prayer of st jane de chantal

Posted in franciscan OFM, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the CHURCH, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Thought for the Day – 11 August – The Memorial of St Clare of Assisi Clare (a name meaning “shining with light”)

Thought for the Day – 11 August – The Memorial of St Clare of Assisi

Clare (a name meaning “shining with light”)

The 41 years of Clare’s religious life are a model of piety and sanctity.   She demonstrated an indomitable resolve to lead the simple, literal gospel life as Francis taught her, resisting worldly pressures to dilute the rules of her order.   Through her commitment to the Gospel and her unwavering life of prayer, Clare established a new manner for women to live in community and serve the Lord—one of poverty and humility, service and contemplation, and generous concern for others.   Saint Clare continues to inspire us today through the example set forth in her life, as well as her writings which survive her.

Her life is one of simple focus.   From an early age she dedicated herself to the Lord and through a lifetime of humility, service, obedience, patient suffering, prayer and contemplation, Clare refined her being into a “model of perfection.”   Miracles aside, the daily life of poverty and labour resonates today, reminding us of the Lord’s call to us:  “He who is last shall be first.”   Saint Clare depended completely on the Lord, looking to the Eucharist as a source of joy and sustenance and never taking the gifts of God for granted.   Today, on her feast day, we might slow down and contemplate our relationship with the Lord, our dependence, the value we place upon our Eucharistic gift and privilege.   How well do we live the advice of Saint Clare:  “Totally love Him, Who gave Himself totally for your love.”

St Clare, shining with light – Pray for us!

ST CLARE PRAY FOR US 2

O wondrous blessed clarity of Clare!
In life she shone to a few;
after death she shines on the whole world!
On earth she was a clear light;
Now in heaven she is a brilliant sun.

O how great the vehemence of the
brilliance of this clarity!
On earth this light was indeed kept
within cloistered walls,
yet shed abroad its shining rays;
It was confined within a convent cell,
yet spread itself through the wide world.

– Pope Innocent IV

st clare pray for us 3

 

Posted in CATHOLIC-PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 10 August

Our Morning Offering – 10 August

The Universal Prayer
Attributed to Pope Clement XI (1700-1721)

Lord, I believe in You:  increase my faith.
I trust in You:  strengthen my trust.
I love You:  let me love You more and more.
I am sorry for my sins:  deepen my sorrow.
I worship You as my first beginning,
I long for You as my last end.

I praise You as my constant helper
and call on You as my loving protector.
Guide me by Your wisdom,
correct me with Your justice,
comfort me with Your mercy,
protect me with Your power.
I offer You, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on You;
my words:  to have You for their theme;
my actions:  to reflect my love for You;
my sufferings:  to be endured for Your greater glory.
I want to do what You ask of me:
in the way You ask,
for as long as You ask, because You ask it.

Lord, enlighten my understanding, strengthen my will,
purify my heart and make me holy.
Help me to repent of my past sins
and to resist temptation in the future.
Help me to rise above my human weaknesses
and to grow stronger as a Christian.
Let me love You, my Lord and my God,
and see myself as I really am: a pilgrim in this world,
a Christian called to respect and love all those lives I touch,
those in authority over me or those under my authority,
my friends and my enemies.
Help me to conquer anger with gentleness,
greed by generosity, apathy by fervour.
Help me to forget myself and reach out toward others.
Make me prudent in planning, courageous in taking risks.
Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity.

Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer,
temperate in food and drink, diligent in my work,
firm in my good intentions.
Let my conscience be clear, my conduct without fault,
my speech blameless, my life well-ordered.
Put me on guard against my human weaknesses.
Let me cherish Your love for me, keep your law
and come at last to Your salvation.
Teach me to realise that this world is passing,
that my true future is the happiness of heaven,
that life on earth is short and the life to come eternal.
Help me to prepare for death with a proper fear of judgment,
but a greater trust in Your goodness.
Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of heaven.
Grant this through Christ Our Lord. Amen

EXCERPT 3 NO 2 FROM THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER - POPE CLEMENT XI

Posted in CARMELITES, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 9 August

Our Morning Offering – 9 August

Excerpt from a Prayer
By St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross

O Prince of Peace,
to all who receive You,
Your bright light and peace.
Help me to live in daily contact with You,
listening to the words You have spoken
and obeying them.
O Divine Child, I place my hands in Yours;
I shall follow You.
Oh, let Your divine life flow into me.
O my God, fill my soul with holy joy,
courage and strength to serve You.
Enkindle Your love in me
and then walk with me
along the next stretch of road before me.
I do not see very far ahead
but when I have arrived
where the horizon now closes down,
a new prospect will open before me
and I shall meet with peace.
How wondrous are the marvels of Your love,
We are amazed, we stammer and grow dumb,
for word and spirit fail us.

prayer of st teresa benedicta - o Prince of Peace

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

Our Morning Offering – 8 August

Our Morning Offering – 8 August

Prayer of St Dominic

May God the Father who made us bless us.
May God the Son send His healing among us.
May God the Holy Spirit move within us and
give us eyes to see with, ears to hear with,
and hands that Your work might be done.
May we walk and preach
the word ofGod to all.
May the angel of peace watch over us
and lead us at last, by God’s grace,
to the Kingdom. Amen

prayer of st dominic - may god the father

 

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS for PRIESTS, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

The Feast Day of the Patron of Parish Priests – 4 August – St John Vianney the Curé of Ars

When Pope Benedict XVI announced a special Year for Priests to be observed in the Church (June 19, 2009 — June 19, 2010), he noted that the timing was not arbitrary. The year coincides, he said, with the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, “a true example of a pastor at the service of Christ’s flock.”

It is, therefore, appropriate that we pray for all our priests today:

Gracious and loving God, we thank your for the gift of our priests.
Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments.

Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.
Set their souls on fire with love for your people.

Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom.

Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel.
Allow them to experience joy in their ministry.

Help them to become instruments of your divine grace.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest.

Amen

St John Vianney, pray for all our priests!

prayer for priests

st john vianney pray for our priests

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 4 August

Our Morning Offering – 4 August

I love You, O my God
St John Vianney (1786-1859)

I love You, O my God.
My only desire is to love You, until the last breath of my life.
I love You, O infinitely loveable God
and I prefer to die loving You,
rather than to live for an instant without You.
I love You, O my God
and I desire only to go to heaven,
to have the happiness of loving You perfectly.
I love You, O my God
and my only fear is to go to hell
because one will never have the sweet solace of loving You there.
O my God, if my tongue cannot say at all times that I love You,
at least I want my heart to repeat it to You as many times as I breathe.
Ah! Do me the grace: to suffer while loving You,
to love You while suffering.
And, that when I die: I not only will love You
but experience it in my heart.
I beg You that the closer I come to my final end,
You will increase and perfect my love for You. Amen

PRAYER OF ST JOHN VIANNEY I LOVE YOU O MY GOD

Posted in MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS

Our Morning Offering – 3 August

Our Morning Offering – 3 August

Grant me, O Lord by Thomas à Kempis

Grant me, O Lord,
to know what I ought to know,
to love what I ought to love,
to praise what delights You most,
to value what is precious in Your sight,
to hate what is offensive to You.
Do not suffer me to judge
according to the sight of my eyes,
nor to pass sentence
according to the hearing
of the ears of ignorant men;
but to discern with a true judgment
between things visible and spiritual,
and above all things,
always to inquire,
what is the good pleasure of Your will. Amen

grant me, o lord 3 - by thomas a kempis

 

 

Posted in EUCHARISTIC Adoration, Our MORNING Offering, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY, The HOLY EUCHARIST / The HOLY MASS

Our Morning Offering – 2 August – the ‘Our Father’ Paraphrase By St Peter Julian Eymard

Our Morning Offering – 2 August – The Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

EXCERPT from the ‘Our Father’ Paraphrase
By St Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868)
“Apostle of the Eucharist”

Our Father Who art in Heaven
In the heaven of the Eucharist …
Grant me the grace to find
all my joy in wanting You alone,
in desiring You alone
and in thinking of You alone.
Grant that by denying myself,
I may find light and life
in obeying Your good,
acceptable and perfect Will.
I will, what You will.
I will it because You will it.
I will it, as You will it.
I will it, as long as You will it.
Keep my thoughts and desires purely
from You,
for You
and in You.
In You, O Lord Jesus, have I hoped,
let me not be confounded forever.
You alone are good.
You alone are powerful.
You alone are eternal.
To You alone be honour and glory,
love and thanksgiving,
forever and ever.
Amenexcerpt from the our father paraphrase st peter julian eymard 2 aug 2020

 

And here is the full Prayer:

PRAYER OF ST PETER JULIAN EYMARD
Our Father Paraphrased

Our Father Who art in Heaven
In the heaven of the Eucharist,
to You Who are seated
on the throne of grace and love,
be benediction,
and honour,
and power and glory forever and ever!

Hallowed be Your Name
first in myself,
through the spirit of Your humility,
obedience and charity.
May I, in all humility and zeal, make You known,
loved and adored by all men in the Holy Eucharist.

Thy Kingdom come
Thy Eucharistic kingdom.
Rule forever over us
for Your greater glory
through the power of Your love,
the triumph of Your virtues
and the grace of a Eucharistic vocation
in my state as a layman.
Grant me the grace of Your love
so that I may be able to effectively
extend Your Eucharistic kingdom everywhere
and realise the desire You expressed:
“I have come to cast fire on the earth;
and what will I but that it be kindled!”
O, that I might be the incendiaries of this heavenly fire!

Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven
Grant me the grace to find
all my joy in wanting You alone,
in desiring You alone
and in thinking of You alone.
Grant that by denying myself,
I may find light and life in obeying Your good,
acceptable and perfect Will.
I will, what You will.
I will it, because You will it.
I will it, as You will it.
I will it, as long as You will it.
Keep my thoughts and desires purely from You,
for You and in You.

Give us this day our daily bread
You are our Eucharistic Lord
and You alone will be my food and clothing,
my riches and glory,
my remedy in illness
and my protection against all evil.
You will be all things to me.

And forgive us our trespasses
Forgive me Jesus,
for I am sorry for all my sins
just as they stand in Your eyes.

As we forgive those who trespass against us
For anyone who has offended me in any way,
with my whole heart I forgive them
and desire for them the gifts of Your love.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
Deliver me Jesus,
from the demon of pride,
impurity, discord and complacency.
Deliver me, from the cares and worries
of life, so that with a pure heart
and a free mind, I may joyfully spend my life
and devote all that I am
and all that I have,
in the service of You, my Eucharistic Lord.
Amen
In You, O Lord Jesus, have I hoped;
let me not be confounded forever.
You alone are good.
You alone are powerful.
You alone are eternal.
To You alone be honour and glory,
love and thanksgiving forever and ever. Amen Amen!

Posted in DOCTORS of the Church, MORNING Prayers, PRAYERS of the SAINTS, SAINT of the DAY

Our Morning Offering – 1 August

Our Morning Offering – 1 August

Morning Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)
Doctor of the Church
Doctor zelantissimus (Most Zealous Doctor)

My most sweet Lord,
I offer and consecrate to You this morning
all that I am and have:
my senses,
my thoughts,
my affections,
my desires,
my pleasures,
my inclinations,
my liberty.
In a word,
I place my whole body and soul in Your hands. Amen

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