BLESSING FOR THE JOURNEY OF SEEKING GOD
When your soul whispers of its deepest longings,
may you quiet yourself to listen.
May you follow the path of yearning to the One alone who blends the uneven edges into a life of meaning.
May you meet and be united with God
and give thanks for the whispers that led you there.
may you quiet yourself to listen.
May you follow the path of yearning to the One alone who blends the uneven edges into a life of meaning.
May you meet and be united with God
and give thanks for the whispers that led you there.
CHRIST HAS NO BODY
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)
PRAYING WITH RELIGIOUS ICONS
At your place of prayer and after any prayer of preparation you wish to make, knowing yourself to be in the Presence of God, look at the Icons, or rather, let the Icons look, at you. Let the Icon of the Blessed Trinity, of God Incarnate, of His Mother, or of His Saints, or a Gospel 'happening' like the Nativity, speak to you as the large-eyed persons hold your attention. If you want to intellectualize your prayer for a while, try to formulate what seems to you the important theological point of the Icon. As you always have, tell God that you love Him, that you are sorry for offending His Love, how you enjoy the communion of His saints, pray for your loved ones, for the world, and that His will may be done. Submit to whatever God may think is good for you, and thank Him for His gifts and joys.
Many of us were taught to close our eyes when we pray. Praying with icons is an ancient prayer practice that involves keeping our eyes wide open, taking into our heart what the image visually communicates. We focus not on what is seen in the icon, but rather on what is seen through it - the love of God expressed through God's creatures.
This is prayer without words, with a focus on being in God's presence rather than performing in God's presence. It is a right-brain experience of touching and feeling what is holy - a divine mystery. Icons are not simply art; they are a way into contemplative prayer, and are therefore one way to let God speak to us. They are doorways into stillness, into closeness with God. If we sit with them long enough, we too can enter into the stillness, into the communion. And if we listen to them closely enough, with our hearts, we just may discern the voice of God.
Many of us were taught to close our eyes when we pray. Praying with icons is an ancient prayer practice that involves keeping our eyes wide open, taking into our heart what the image visually communicates. We focus not on what is seen in the icon, but rather on what is seen through it - the love of God expressed through God's creatures.
This is prayer without words, with a focus on being in God's presence rather than performing in God's presence. It is a right-brain experience of touching and feeling what is holy - a divine mystery. Icons are not simply art; they are a way into contemplative prayer, and are therefore one way to let God speak to us. They are doorways into stillness, into closeness with God. If we sit with them long enough, we too can enter into the stillness, into the communion. And if we listen to them closely enough, with our hearts, we just may discern the voice of God.
MORNING PRAYER
I will try this day to live a simple, sincere, and serene life, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity, and self-seeking; cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity, and the habit of holy silence; exercising economy in expenditure, generosity in giving, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust, and a childlike faith in God.
In particular I will try to be faithful in those habits of prayer, work, study, physical exercise, eating, and sleep which I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right.
And as I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even with a hope of success attempt it, I look to thee, O Lord God my Father, in Jesus my Savior, and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen (Forward Day By Day)
In particular I will try to be faithful in those habits of prayer, work, study, physical exercise, eating, and sleep which I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right.
And as I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even with a hope of success attempt it, I look to thee, O Lord God my Father, in Jesus my Savior, and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen (Forward Day By Day)
EVENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)
NIGHT PRAYER
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)
PRAYER OF GRADITUDE
O God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry;
When I have work, help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all;
When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer, and remembering, help me to destroy my complacency; bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough to help by word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted. Amen. (Samuel F. Pugh)
When I have work, help me to remember the jobless;
When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all;
When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer, and remembering, help me to destroy my complacency; bestir my compassion, and be concerned enough to help by word and deed, those who cry out for what we take for granted. Amen. (Samuel F. Pugh)
PRAYER AGAINST ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION
Lord, 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. Bless us with your strengthening power so nothing may frighten or worry us. We trust that in living close to you, we shall see your hand, your purpose, your will through all things. Amen. (Ignatius of Loyola)
PRAYER DURING FINANCIAL STRESS
Stand with me God of Wisdom, in the mess of my finances: in my fear of taking charge of the resources entrusted to my care; in my preference for ignorance over honest acknowledgment of the ways I use and fail to use my wealth; in my anxiety over debt, and in all the pressures of my financial life. Help me to take one step at a time toward honoring you through my use of money and honoring others from whom I buy and borrow. Make me humble to seek counsel, grateful for my abundance, prudent with my limited means, and patient with myself as I seek to be a better steward of all you have given me.
(The Rev. Jennifer Phillips, Simple Prayers for Complicated Lives)
(The Rev. Jennifer Phillips, Simple Prayers for Complicated Lives)
PRAYER FOR SERENITY
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, accepting hardship as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life, and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen. (Reinhold Niebuhr)
PRAYER FOR GRANDCHILDREN
Heavenly Father, thank you for the privilege of being a Grandparent. You have blessed my life with precious grandchildren and I am so grateful. They make my heart sing and bring such joy to my life. I pray that each one will grow up to live a Godly life – that they will grow with a heart’s desire to know you, love you and serve you. Bless and keep them in your loving care. Be their Joy in celebrating achievements, be their Hope on days of discouragement. Help them to praise you in all things. Amen. (Patricia Trost)
PRAYER FOR PETS AND ALL CREATURES
Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. We ask you to bless our pets. By the power of your love, enable them to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen
O God, we thank you for all the creatures you have made, so perfect in their kind-- great animals like the elephant and the rhinoceros, humorous animals like the camel and the monkey, friendly ones like the dog and the cat, working ones like the horse and the ox, timid ones like the squirrel and the rabbit, majestic ones like the lion and the tiger, for birds with their songs. O Lord give us such love for your creation, that love may cast out fear, and all your creatures see in humanity their friend and protector, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
O God, we thank you for all the creatures you have made, so perfect in their kind-- great animals like the elephant and the rhinoceros, humorous animals like the camel and the monkey, friendly ones like the dog and the cat, working ones like the horse and the ox, timid ones like the squirrel and the rabbit, majestic ones like the lion and the tiger, for birds with their songs. O Lord give us such love for your creation, that love may cast out fear, and all your creatures see in humanity their friend and protector, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
PRAYER FOR THE HUMAN FAMILY
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)
PRAYER FOR THE SICK
O God of heavenly powers, by the might of your command you drive away from out bodies all sickness and all infirmity: Be present in your goodness with your servant (name), that his/her weakness may be banished and his/her strength restored; and that, his/her health being renewed, he/she may bless your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer)
(Book of Common Prayer)
PRAYER FOR THE ACTIVELY DYING
Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant (name). Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him/her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)
PRAYER FOR A PEACEFUL DEATH
Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies' sake. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)