Liberty...

"Government should protect every man in thinking and speaking freely, and see that one does not abuse another. The liberty I contend for is more than toleration. The very idea of toleration is despicable; it supposes that some have a pre-eminence above the rest to grant indulgence, whereas all should be equally free, Jews, Turks, Pagans and Christians." 

- John Leland, Baptist preacher, 1790

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Celtic evening prayer

God with me lying down,

God with me rising up,

God with me in each ray of light,

Nor I a ray of joy without him,

Nor one ray without him.

Christ with me sleeping,

Christ with me waking,

Christ with me watching,

Every day and night,

Each day and night.

God with me protecting,

The Lord with me directing,

The Spirit with me strengthening,

Forever and forevermore,

Ever and evermore, Amen.

- Celtic evening prayer

Photo - by me....

Morning prayer

"May I arise this morning
feeling your warmth
embracing me,
conscious of your love
forgiving me,
knowing your peace
within me,
feeling your Spirit
strengthen me,
hearing your whisper
encouraging me.
In all I do
and in all I say
may my life
this day
and all days
reflect
the beauty of my Lord."
- Morning prayer from 'Faith and Worship'

 

 

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God is so close - prayer

"Be the eye of God betwixt me and each eye,
The purpose of God betwixt me and each purpose,
The hand of God betwixt me and each hand,
The shield of God betwixt me and each shield,
The desire of God betwixt me and each desire,
The bridle of God betwixt me and each bridle,
And no mouth can curse me."
- Ancient Celtic prayer

 

 

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St Boniface's prayer

Eternal God, the refuge and help of all your children,
we praise you for all you have given us,
for all you have done for us,
for all that you are to us.
In our weakness, you are strength,
in our darkness, you are light,
in our sorrow, you are comfort and peace.
We cannot number your blessings,
we cannot declare your love:
For all your blessings we bless you.
May we live as in your presence,
and love the things that you love,
and serve you in our daily lives;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Prayer of St. Boniface

 

 

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Jesuit wisdom

After I heard that the new pope was a member of the Jesuit order I looked up the internet to find a succinct summary of Jesuit wisdom. I found the following...

Fr James Martin SJ suggests the following five points to summerise Jesuit wisdom...

“Allow yourself to be human.  You’re a human being with a body, after all, and sometimes bodies get sick.  So why not just allow yourself to be human?”

“You don’t have to be someone else to be holy. Just be yourself.  That’s the person God called into the Jesuits, after all.” 

“You’re not married to everyone. There’s no need to please everyone.  Plus, you couldn’t if you tried.  Just be kind and generous and the rest will take care of itself.” 

“Don’t let anyone prevent you from becoming the person you want to be. God desires you to become loving and charitable.  Don’t let the way anyone else is distract you.” 

“You’re not Jesus. No one person can do everything.  And even Jesus didn’t heal everyone in Palestine.  Accepting your limitations helps you to do your best and leave the rest up to God.”

This was written by American priest James Martin, SJ, who is a contributing editor to America magazine and author of "Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor and Laughter are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life," and "The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything." 

 Image courtesy of  xedos4 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Prayer for days work

"Almighty God, thank Thee for the job of this day.
May we find gladness in all its toil and difficulty,
its pleasure and success,
and even in its failure and sorrow.
We would look always away from ourselves,
and behold the glory and the need of the world
that we may have the will and the strength to bring
the gift of gladness to others;
that with them we stand to bear
the burden and heat of the day
and offer Thee the praise of work well done."
- Charles Lewis Slattery

 

 

Image courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net 

 

Sharing

“I am struck by how sharing our weakness and difficulties is more nourishing to others than sharing our qualities and successes.”
― Jean Vanier, 'Community And Growth'

 

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Between doubt and belief...

Image from SustainableMan.org 

St Magnus

I have just finished reading George Mackay Brown's novel "Magnus" which retells in a poetic way the ancient Orcadian saga of how Magnus, one of the ruling earls in 1100s became the patron saint of Orkney through his life and martyrdom. After his death many cures were reported from people visiting his grave.  Here is an extract from the book to give you a flavour....

-  I’m not going a step further till I know where we’re going.
- I told you. To the Birsay Kirk.
She screamed at him.
- I’m not going to any kirk!
- You must.
- I will not!
Echo after echo came back from the low crags. A cave boomed. He put his hand over her mouth. He said, gentle and low and pleading.
- Please, Mary.
She tore her wild mouth from his hand. She screamed like a madwoman.
- No! (…)
- I’m tired of the holy talk of them brothers every time they put a bandage on my eyes. O my poor afflicted daughter, bear your cross with patience… I don’t want any more of that class of talk. O no. I’ve had my belly-full of that palaver.
- Stay where you are, then. I won’t be that long (…)
…………….
He [Old Jock]went forward, tremulously, down the nave. There it was, set in the centre of the aisle, a square of new sandstone with a carved cross – the tomb he was looking for. (…)
- A small blink only, Magnus. I’m asking no more (…)
Stone and silence. His knees and hands and mouth were beginning to be numb.
……………..
This man [St Magnus] was now in two places at once. He was lying with a terrible wound in his face in the kirk near where the old man and the old woman were girding themselves for the road; Birsay, place of his beginning and end, birth and sepulchre. Also he was pure essence in another intensity, a hoarder of the treasures of charity and prayer, a guardian.
This fragrant vivid ghost was everywhere and always, but especially he haunted the island of his childhood. That morning he had been summoned by a candle, a small pitiful earth-to-heaven cry; its flame quickly quenched, and seemingly futile (…)
Saint Magnus the Martyr accepted the tallow flame. He touched it to immortality, a hard diamond. The radiance he reserved, to give back again when it was needed (…)
……………..
She [Mary] screeched. She put her hands to her face.
- Ah-h-h-h! You struck me! You tore my face!…
- Be quiet. Nobody touched you.
Mary whimpered. And rubbed salt scurf from her eyes. And was quiet. And bent down. She plucked, tremulously, a flower from the grass. She knelt. She murmured names – daisy, seapink, thistle…
The old one got to her feet. She turned her glimmering face this way and that. Her finger pointed at the incoming ocean, then wavered over in the direction of Revay Hill…
…………….

Morning prayer from the Elders of Optino

"Lord, grant that I may meet the coming day with spiritual tranquility.
Grant that in all things I may rely upon your holy will.
In each hour of the day, reveal your will to me.
Whatever news may reach me this day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul, knowing that all is subject to your holy will.
Direct my thoughts and feelings in all my words and actions.
In all unexpected occurrences, do not let me forget that all is sent down by you.
Grant that I may deal firmly and wisely with every member of my family and all who are in my care, neither embarrassing nor saddening anyone.
Give me the strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring.
Direct my will and teach me to pray,
to believe,
to hope,
to be patient,
to forgive
and to love."
- Morning prayer from the Elders of Optino

Image courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Bread for the journey prayer

 

"When the journey is long
and we hunger and thirst,
Bread of Life, you sustain us.
When the road is hard
and our bodies weak
Bread of Life, you heal us.
When our spirits are low
and we can’t carry on
Bread of Life, you revive us.
When we offer our hand
in love and in service
Bread of life, you bless us.
When the challenge is great
and the workers are few
Bread of Life, you empower us.
When the victory is won
and we see your face
Bread of Life, you will rejoice with us!"
- A prayer from 'Faith and Worship'

 

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Celtic morning prayer canticle

"Christ, as a light
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right."
- Celtic Morning Prayer Canticle

 

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Literalism...

"It is interesting how some modern readers simply assume that ancient individuals and authors shared their supposed literalism, and their focus on facts and history and science, all of which are thoroughly modern concerns." - James McGrath

 

Image courtesy of Arvind Balaraman / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

 

Travel to wonder...

"People travel to wonder at the height of the mountains, at the huge waves of the seas, at the long course of the rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars, and yet they pass by themselves without wondering." - St. Augustine

 

  Image courtesy of Arvind Balaraman/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A prayer by Frederick Buechner

"Lord, catch me off guard today.
Surprise me with some moment of
beauty or pain.
So that at least for the moment
I may be startled into seeing that you
are here in all your splendor,
Always and everywhere,
Barely hidden,
Beneath,
Beyond,
Within this life I breathe."
- Frederick Buechner

 

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An evening prayer

"Lord, You have always given bread for the coming day; and though I am poor, tonight I believe.
Lord, You have always given strength for the coming day; and though I am weak, tonight I believe.
Lord, You have always given peace for the coming day; and though of anxious heart, tonight I believe.
Lord, You have always kept me safe in trials; and now, tried as I am, tonight I believe.
Lord, You have always marked the road for the coming day; and though it may be hidden, tonight I believe.
Lord, You have always lightened this darkness of mine; and though the night is here, tonight I believe.
Lord, You have always spoken when time was ripe; and though you be silent now, tonight I believe."
- A Celtic evening prayers

 

 

Picture source - self - Scottish sunset...

The dance with God...

"I cannot dance, o Lord, unless you lead me. If it is your will, I can leap with joy. But you must show me how to dance and sing by dancing and singing yourself! With you I will leap towards love, and from love I will leap to truth, and from truth I will leap to joy, and then I shall leap beyond all human senses. There I will remain and dance forevermore." 

- Mechtild of Magdeburg

 

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Blessing our work

Almighty God, thank Thee for the job of this day.
May we find gladness in all its toil and difficulty,
its pleasure and success,
and even in its failure and sorrow.
We would look always away from ourselves,
and behold the glory and the need of the world
that we may have the will and the strength to bring
the gift of gladness to others;
that with them we stand to bear
the burden and heat of the day
and offer Thee the praise of work well done.

- Charles Lewis Slattery

 

 Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net