Apostleship of Prayer
In the Apostleship of Prayer millions of people around the world unite together each day in an approach to prayer that is both simple and profound. It is centred on the Daily Offering. By making this Offering slowly each morning you turn your attention to God in prayer for a short time, in that way making him the centre of the day ahead.
Daily Offering
or
I offer You my prayers, thoughts, words, actions,
and sufferings in union with Your Son Jesus Christ,
Who continues to offer Himself in the Eucharist
for the salvation of the world. May the Holy Spirit,
Who guided Jesus, be my guide and my strength today
so that I may witness to Your love. With Mary,
the mother of our Lord and of the Church,
I pray especially for this month's intentions
as proposed by the Holy Father.
____________________________
Holy Father,
I offer you this day
All that I do and think and say
Uniting it with what was done
By Jesus Christ, your only Son.
Amen.
OTHER PRAYERS
Mary Our Mother, and our help for the journey,
we trust you to accompany us as we, the people of the Diocese of Charlottetown, face the reality of our changing world and together work to keep our church alive.
We ask God for the gifts of discernment and understanding in order to respond to the challenges on our pastoral journey, for the gift of generosity and peace to accept change, and for the gifts of wisdom and openness as we dialogue about our future. We ask this so that together we may continue the mission of your son, Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, in building the Kingdom of God. Amen!
Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more. (St. Ignatius Loyola)
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
In the hour of my death, call me.
And bid me come to Thee.
That with Thy saints I may praise Thee.
Forever and ever. Amen. (St. Ignatius Loyola)
Teach us, Good Lord
Teach us, Good Lord
To serve you as you deserve.
To give and not count the cost.
To fight and not heed the wounds.
To toil and not to seek for rest.
To labor and not to ask for any reward
Except that of knowing that we do Your Will.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
(St. Ignatius Loyola)
Dedication of the Day
Father, I dedicate this new day to you;
as I go about my work.
I ask you to bless those with whom I come in contact.
Lord, I pray for all men and women
who work to earn their living;
give them satisfaction in what they do.
Spirit of God, comfort the unemployed and their families; they are your children and my brothers and sisters.
I ask you to help them find work soon.
Christian meditation calls the person to enter within, to move to the realm of silence and solitude, the level of the heart, to let go of thinking and imagining or controlling and to cultivate simple presence to the Divine Presence. One is lovingly attentive to the Divine Indwelling.
In Christian meditation, the mantra -- which is usually the Ma-ra-na-tha (Come, Lord Jesus) -- is spoken throughout the prayer as an effort, not only to be totally attentive, but to be empty and silent and alone before God. The mantra is the instrument that creates the emptiness; it hollows out the soul. Meditation takes seriously the teaching of the masters that creating silence and emptiness is the best invitation to the spirit.
Reflections on The Cross of San Damiano By Patrick McNamara, OFM,Cap. I look to the Cross, I gaze upon its figure, I wait, I listen, I hope. Will you speak, will you move, will I be moved. Will you once again touch the heart of one who seeks. Of one who questions, of one who seems so lost. Will you embrace the soul, as you did that of Francis. Will you take it to Yourself. Will you give it peace, give it comfort, give it love This soul waits, listens, prays for such grace. This soul seeks the Love from the Lover. It wavers. It stumbles. It falls. Your gaze looks down, embraces all. Takes all, Loves All. Your Grace heals, accepts. Again you respond, Again you Love. Again you speak to a searching and troubled heart. I turn. I continue the journey. I continue in Hope. I too have heard you Speak. Blessing of Animals A FRANCISCAN TRADITION FEAST OF SAINT FRANCIS - OCTOBER 4TH Welcome Prayer For Our Animal Friends (With permission The Prayer Pet Line) Link to Pet Prayer Line Heavenly Father, our human ties with our friends of other species is a wonderful and special gift from You. We now ask You to grant our special animal companions your Fatherly care and healing power to take away any suffering they have. Give us, their human friends, new understanding of our responsibilities to these creatures of yours. They have trust in us as we have trust in You; We are on this earth together to give one another friendship, affection, and caring. Take our heartfelt prayers and fill Your ill or suffering animals with healing Light and strength to overcome whatever weakness of body they have. ( Here mention the names of the animals needing prayer ) Your goodness is turned upon every living thing and Your grace flows to all Your creatures. Grant to our special animal companions long and healthy lives. Give them good relationships with and if You see fit to take them from us, help us to understand that they are not gone from us, but only drawing closer to You. Grant our petitions through the intercession of good St. Francis of Assisi, who honored You through all Your creatures. St. Francis of Assisi Sermon to the Birds - c - 1220 My little sisters, the birds, much bounden are ye unto God, your Creator, and always in every place ought ye to praise Him, for that He hath given you liberty to fly about everywhere, and hath also given you double and triple rainment; moreover He preserved your seed in the ark of Noah, that your race might not perish out of the world; still more are ye beholden to Him for the element of the air which He hath appointed for you; beyond all this, ye sow not, neither do you reap; and God feedeth you, and giveth you the streams and fountains for your drink; the mountains and valleys for your refuge and the high trees whereon to make your nests; and because ye know not how to spin or sow, God clotheth you, you and your children; wherefore your Creator loveth you much, seeing that He hath bestowed on you so many benefits; and therefore, my little sisters, beware of the sin of ingratitude, and study always to give praises unto God. |