Glory

Glory to you for flowing air.
Glory for light beyond compare.
Glory for water as it flows.
Glory for soil and all that grows.
Glory for life and love and birth.
Glory to you, Lord of the Earth. 

- David Adam,' The Open Gate: Celtic Prayers for Growing Spiritually'

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A summer prayer

Father, Creator of all, thank You for summer!
Thank you for the warmth of the sun and the increased daylight.
Thank You for the beauty I see all around me
and for the opportunity to be outside and enjoy Your creation.
Thank You for the increased time I have to be with my friends and family,
and for the more casual pace of the summer season.
Draw me closer to You this summer.
Teach me how I can pray no matter where I am or what I am doing.
Warm my soul with the awareness of Your presence
and light my path with Your Word and Counsel.
As I enjoy Your creation,
create in me a pure heart and a hunger and a thirst for You.
- Summer prayer from ‘Ignatian spirituality’

(Photo by me.)

Early hymn

Lord of light, shine on us;

Lord of peace, dwell in us;

Lord of might, protect us; 

Lord of love, enfold us;

Lord of wisdom, enlighten us.

Then, Lord, let us 

go out as your witnesses, 

in obedience to your command;

to share the good news 

of your mighty love for us

in the gift of your son, 

our saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

- Eleventh century Latin hymn

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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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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

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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

 

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Iona prayer praising God for the new day

O Sun behind all suns,
I give you greeting this new day.
Let all Creation praise you,
Let the daylight
and the shadows praise you.
Let the fertile earth
and the swelling sea praise you.
Let the winds and the rain,
the lightening and the thunder
praise you.
Let all that breathes,
both male and female, praise you.
And I shall praise you.
O God of all life
I give you greeting this day.

- From 'Celtic Prayers From Iona'

Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.
Even the sparrow finds a home,
   and the swallow a nest for herself,
   where she may lay her young, at your altars,
O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house,
   ever singing your praise. Selah
Happy are those whose strength is in you,
   in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

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