Prayers: November 2003 Archives

From Ikos IV of the Akathist of Thanksgiving by Protopresbyter Gregory Petrov (Martyr)

When the sun is setting, when quietness falls like the peace of eternal sleep, and the silence of the spent day reigns, then in the splendour of its declining rays, filtering through the clouds, I see Thy dwelling-place: fiery and purple, gold and blue, they speak prophet-like of the ineffable beauty of Thy presence, and call to us in their majesty. We turn to the Father.

Glory to Thee at the hushed hour of nightfall
Glory to Thee, covering the earth with peace
Glory to Thee for the last ray of the sun as it sets
Glory to Thee for sleep's repose that restores us
Glory to Thee for Thy goodness even in the time of darkness
When all the world is hidden from our eyes
Glory to Thee for the prayers offered by a trembling soul
Glory to Thee for the pledge of our reawakening
On that glorious last day, that day which has no evening
Glory to Thee, O God, from age to age

Did I miss Mass Sunday or a Holy Day of Obligation through my own fault? Did I come to Mass on time? Leave early? Did I do work on Sunday that was not necessary? Did I set aside Sunday as a day of rest and a family day? Did I show reverence in the presence of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament? Did I fail to give thanks for this glorious day of rest, celebration, and holiness?

How can I come to love God more? How can I hear Him better in the world? How can I carry the spirit of the sabbath day into the other days of the week? How can I show the power of Jesus to all around me? How have I experienced that power in this day? How do I become more aware of His graciousness and His power?

O Master and holy God, who are beyond our understanding: at your word, light came forth out of darkness. In your mercy, you gave us rest through night-long sleep, and raised us up to glorify your goodness and to offer our supplication to You. Now, in your own tender love, accept us who adore You and give thanks to You with all our heart. Grant us all our requests, if they lead to salvation; give us the grace of manifesting that we are children of light and day, and heirs to your eternal reward. In the abundance of your mercies, O Lord, remember all your people; all those present who pray with us; all our brethren on land, at sea, or in the air, in every place of Your domain, who call upon your love for mankind. Upon all, pour down your great mercy, that we, saved in body and in soul, may persevere unfailingly; and that, in our confidence, we may extol your exalted and blessed Name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, always, now and forever. Amen.

Lord, one more day to love you!
Brother Charles de Foucauld

Please remember:

--the poor souls in purgatory
--all of those departed souls close to any member of St. Blogs who still are in need of our prayers
--Ms Moniz and her daughter Hailey, may God grant them rest and repose in Him
--For all those living without love that we who may love will touch their lives.

--Members of St. Blogs and visitors who are pregnant or who desire to become so
--Dylan as he is feeling greatly dejected and concerned about the future
--Christine and Gordon who endure the burden of separation as they await news of a job that will allow them once again to be together
--the people of southern California who have lost their homes and family members
--Ms Schiavo and her family
--the men and women of the American Armed forces
--the homeless, the lonely, and those without recourse in this world
--the intentions of the Holy Father

Praise Report

Keep on praying for Sister Anne!
Sister Anne did not have surgery until late Wed. They had to build up her blood. She had a spinal block, and came out of OR at 10:05 pm EST very chipper. Next day she was sitting up feeding herself and in great spirits. Nine lives. She'll be home soon. Thanks for your prayers.

For my brother's relatively rapid and trouble free recovery from surgery

Please add your own needs and intentions via the comment box.

How good it is to give thanks to Thee, O Lord, and to sing praises to Thine exalted Name; to declare Thy loving kindness at the break of the day, and Thy faithfulness during the night.

O Lord, hearken to our voice at the dawn of the day, and in the morning let us be found ready by Thee.

O Lord absolve and pardon all our sins. O Holy one, over shadow Thy right hand upon us, and heal all our infirmities for the sake, of Thy eternal Name.

Amen

(Orthodox Morning Prayer)

Please remember:

--the poor souls in purgatory
--all of those departed souls close to any member of St. Blogs who still are in need of our prayers
--Ms Moniz and her daughter Hailey, may God grant them rest and repose in Him

--Members of St. Blogs and visitors who are pregnant or who desire to become so
--Dylan as he is feeling greatly dejected and concerned about the future
--Christine and Gordon who endure the burden of separation as they await news of a job that will allow them once again to be together
--the people of southern California who have lost their homes and family members
--Ms Schiavo and her family
--the men and women of the American Armed forces
--the homeless, the lonely, and those without recourse in this world
--the intentions of the Holy Father

Praise Report

Keep on praying for Sister Anne!
Sister Anne did not have surgery until late Wed. They had to build up her blood. She had a spinal block, and came out of OR at 10:05 pm EST very chipper. Next day she was sitting up feeding herself and in great spirits. Nine lives. She'll be home soon. Thanks for your prayers.

For my brother's relatively rapid and trouble free recovery from surgery

Please add your own needs and intentions via the comment box.

As I have it on most excellent authority that I might best ascend to virtue through the regular discipline of morning offering and evening examen, I attempt to reestablish that rhythm here. Be aware that the weekend I may make these prayers, but I'm not certain that I shall be able to post them.

Once again remembering the turmoil of our brethren in the Anglican communion and of those who are presently lost in the riving of the Episcopalian Church:

ALMIGHTY and most merciful Father; We have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; And we have done those things which we ought not to have done; And there is no health in us. But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare thou them, O God, who confess their faults. Restore thou those who are penitent; According to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesu our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of thy holy Name. Amen. (BCP, 1622)

Have we forgiven our enemies today? Harder, have we truly forgiven those we love, those closest to us and most capable of really hurting us? Have we offered that forgiveness willingly? Have we forgiven those whose hurt from long ago echoes in our very bones today? Have we forgiven unconditionally, or have we stood on our principles? Have we asked forgiveness of those we have wronged? Have we been able to admit when we have wronged others? Have we been careful of our words so as to limit the times when we inadvertantly offend? Have we offered all our hurt at another's hands to our Lord? Have we asked Him to bind up our hurts and make good of them? Have we turned to Him and asked the forgiveness only He can offer, or have we presumed upon it?

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, exhilirate me
Water from the side of Christ, cleanse me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within thy wounds shelter me
Never let me separated from thee.

From the wicked foe defend me
At the hour of my death please call me
And bid me come fly to thee
That with the saints I may praise thee,
For thine is the kingdom and the Power and the glory,
Now and for all eternity.

Please remember:

--the poor souls in purgatory
--all of those departed souls close to any member of St. Blogs who still are in need of our prayers
--Ms Moniz and her daughter Hailey, may God grant them rest and repose in Him

--Members of St. Blogs and visitors who are pregnant or who desire to become so
--Dylan as he is feeling greatly dejected and concerned about the future
--Christine and Gordon who endure the burden of separation as they await news of a job that will allow them once again to be together
--the people of southern California who have lost their homes and family members
--Ms Schiavo and her family
--the men and women of the American Armed forces
--the homeless, the lonely, and those without recourse in this world
--the intentions of the Holy Father

Praise

--for my brother's rapid, relatively uncomplicated recovery
--for the success of Sr. Anne's surgery

Please add your own needs and intentions via the comment box.

Lord, Jesus,
through the hands of Your Blessed Mother, I offer You all my thoughts, words, and actions this day for all the intentions of Your Most Sacred Heart. Especially, I offer You all the acts of faith in You and Your Love that I perform, in order to obtain from Your Sacred Heart the grace of Baptism for all the innocent babies who will be murdered by abortion today. Because their own fathers and mothers will violently refuse them life, and thus refuse to stand before You as guarantors of their baby's faith in You, accept me as the spiritual father/ mother of those babies. And, within the Divine economy of Your Mystical Body except me as guarantor of those babies' desire to be with You forever, so that having been killed most cruelly, they may be admitted to Your Presence as sinless, martyrs to the truth of Your Love and Your Salvation. I ask this for Your Holy Name Sake. Amen.     

Please remember:

--my brother who is recovering from complications from the surgery he underwent yesterday
--Mother Ann of the Carmel of Port Tobacco who needs surgery for broken bones

--the poor souls in purgatory
--all of those departed souls close to any member of St. Blogs who still are in need of our prayers
--Ms Moniz and her daughter Hailey, may God grant them rest and repose in Him

--Members of St. Blogs and visitors who are pregnant or who desire to become so
--Dylan as he is feeling greatly dejected and concerned about the future
--Christine and Gordon who endure the burden of separation as they await news of a job that will allow them once again to be together
--the people of southern California who have lost their homes and family members
--Ms Schiavo and her family
--the men and women of the American Armed forces
--the homeless, the lonely, and those without recourse in this world
--the intentions of the Holy Father

Praise

--thanksgiving for the success of Christine's garage sale
--thanksgiving for the relatively good news of Linda's medical report

Please add your own needs and intentions via the comment box.

Lord God Almighty, Who have brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us during this day by Your power, that we may not fall into sin but that all our words, thoughts and deeds may always proceed and be directed toward that which is just in Your sight.

Please remember:

--my brother who undergoes surgery for gall bladder removal today

--the poor souls in purgatory
--all of those departed souls close to any member of St. Blogs who still are in need of our prayers
--Ms Moniz and her daughter Hailey, may God grant them rest and repose in Him

--Dylan as he is feeling greatly dejected and concerned about the future
--Christine and Gordon who endure the burden of separation as they await news of a job that will allow them once again to be together
--the people of southern California who have lost their homes and family members
--Ms Schiavo and her family
--the men and women of the American Armed forces
--the homeless, the lonely, and those without recourse in this world
--the intentions of the Holy Father

Praise

--thanksgiving for the success of Christine's garage sale
--thanksgiving for the relatively good news of Linda's medical report

Please add your own needs and intentions via the comment box.

O Holy Ghost, Divine Spirit of light and love, I consecrate to Thee my mind, heart and will, my whole being for time and for eternity. May my mind be ever docile to Thy divine inspirations and to the teachings of the Holy Catholic Church whose infallible guide Thou art; my heart ever inflamed with the love of God and of my neighbor; my will ever conformable to the divine will; and my whole life a faithful imitation of the life and virtues of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Thee be honor and glory forever. Amen.

Eternal Spirit, increase within my soul, faith, hope and charity, that I may believe ever firmly the truths which Thou hast revealed, hope ever confidently in Thy divine promises, and love sincerely Thee, my God, and all my fellow men who were created to Thy image and likeness. Amen.

Please remember:

--the poor souls in purgatory
--all of those departed souls close to any member of St. Blogs who still are in need of our prayers
--Ms Moniz and her daughter Halley, may God grant them rest and repose in Him

--Dylan as he is feeling greatly dejected and concerned about the future
--Christine and Gordon who endure the burden of separation as they await news of a job that will allow them once again to be together
--the people of southern California who have lost their homes and family members
--Ms Schiavo and her family
--the men and women of the American Armed forces
--the homeless, the lonely, and those without recourse in this world
--the intentions of the Holy Father

Please add your own needs and intentions via the comment box.

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings, all that this day may bring, be they good or bad: for the love of God, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for all the sins committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Please remember:

--the poor souls in purgatory
--all of those departed souls close to any member of St. Blogs who still are in need of our prayers

--Dylan as he is feeling greatly dejected and concerned about the future
--Christine and Gordon who endure the burden of separation as they await news of a job that will allow them once again to be together
--the people of southern California who have lost their homes and family members
--Ms Schiavo and her family
--the men and women of the American Armed forces
--the homeless, the lonely, and those without recourse in this world
--the intentions of the Holy Father

Please add your own needs and intentions via the comment box.

Most Holy and Adorable Trinity, one God in three Persons, I firmly believe that You are here present; I adore You with the most profound humility; I praise You and give You thanks with all my heart for the favors You have bestowed on me. Your Goodness has brought me safely to the beginning of this day. Behold, O Lord, I offer You my whole being and in particular all my thoughts, words and actions, together with such crosses and contradictions as I may meet with in the course of this day. Give them, O Lord, Your blessing; may Your divine Love --animate them and may they tend to the greater honor and glory of Your Sovereign Majesty. Amen.

Please remember:

--the poor souls in purgatory
--all of those departed souls close to any member of St. Blogs who still are in need of our prayers

--Dylan as he is feeling greatly dejected and concerned about the future.
--the people of southern California who have lost their homes and family members
--Ms Schiavo and her family
--the men and women of the American Armed forces
--the homeless, the lonely, and those without recourse in this world
--the intentions of the Holy Father

Please add your own needs and intentions via the comment box.