NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 5/29

Lord...

When I take for granted
all that I have:
help me find
my deepest joys -
in the simple things of life...

When I want more and more,
so much more than I need:
help me remember 
the joy that's mine
in the simplest of my possessions...

When I want what I want
- and must have it now -
then help me remember
the joys at hand -
in all that I already have...

When greed and envy
spoil my heart:
help me cherish
true peace
in the simple joys

that heal and fill my soul... 

 

And remind me, Lord,

to share with others

the bounty that's mine:

the joys I've known

and joys yet to come,

the joy that I find

in your and your love... 

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me while I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep rest in your peace...

Amen. 

Simple Song from MASS  

    by Leonard Bernstein

        sung by Alan Titus

 

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Sing God a simple song, lauda laude*
Make it up as you go along, lauda laude
Sing like you like to sing, 

God loves all simple things.
For God is the simplest of all, 

For God is the simplest of all.

 

I will sing the Lord a new song, 

to praise him, to bless him, to bless the Lord.
I will sing his praises while I live, 

all of my days.

 

Blessed is the man who loves the Lord,
Blessed is the man who praises him.
Lauda, lauda, laude, 

and walks in his ways.

 

I will lift up my eyes, 

to the hills from which comes my help.
I will lift up my voice to the Lord, 

singing lauda, laude.

 

For the Lord is my shade, 

is the shade upon my right hand.
And the sun shall not smite me by day, 

or the moon by night.

 

Blessed is the man who loves the Lord 

lauda, lauda, laude,
And walks in his ways.

 

Lauda, lauda, laude, 

lauda, lauda di da di day
All of my days

* Lauda, Laudē = praise!

 

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Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 5/29

Photo by CP

 

From before all time

you knew these blossoms, Lord

- each by name -

and you called them to flower 

in one family's yard,

on a particular street, 

in a certain town,

near the end of the month

in May 2026... 

From before all time

you knew, by name, 

each flake that fell

on this shrub's wintry wait 

for spring 

and for the warmth it needed 

- first to bud -

and then to blossom 

in your praise...

From before all time

you knew, by name, 

each raindrop sent
to baptize and caress 

each leaf and petal
blushing with your glory 

to remind us

you are near...

 

And from before all time 

you've known precisely 

just how many days
these blooms will last 

before they fade
and then let go the branches 

now that hold them fast...

 

And if you know so well 

a flower
- whose season is so short, 

whose life span is so brief -
how much more 

must you know us

- each by name - 

and call us, Lord,

your chosen, 

your beloved,

your own... 

 

With what care then

do you number

every decade, every year, every month, 
every hour, every minute, every second,

every season after season 

of our comings and our goings,

our sorrows and our joys

our flowering and fading... 

From before all time, O Lord,

you knew us and you loved us 

- each by name -
and called us into being 

in a place,

in a family, 

in a year, 

on a day
at an hour, 

in a season 

of your choosing... 

 

And just as surely, Lord,

will you call us

- each by name -

to let go our grasp, our grip

on the branch where we once blossomed

and we'll fall into your arms,

into your mercy and your peace,

into the season of your life

that is for ever,

without end... 

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 5/28

This image of the Beloved Disciple (in the chapel at Eastern Point) drew me to prayer many times over the 8 days I was on retreat there...

 

Many nights, Lord, 

    I'd just love to

        lean my head upon your shoulder 

    and just  listen 

        while you tell me a story 

            or sing me a song 

    or maybe, just hum softly

         'til I fall fast asleep...

 

Then I could put aside the worries

    I take with me to bed 

and ease my tossing-turning

    over troubles yet to come...

 

So, tonight, Lord:

    let my prayer find your shoulder
        and my heart lean close to yours;
    help me hear your voice, your words     

        as you sing a simple song 

            to calm my anxious soul...

And as you've brought me through this day,
    be in my dreams all through the night
- and be there in the morning
    when I greet the new day's light...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake,
    keep vigil while I sleep,
that awake, I may keep watch for you
    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen.    

You may be familiar with this hymn, but perhaps not with this beautiful, peaceful arrangement...

 

Lord of All Hopefulness

    lyrics by Jan Struther;

    tune: Slane (traditional Irish); 

    arranged by Nancy Grundahl

 

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Be with us, Lord, give us your bliss

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy:
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Be with us, Lord, give us you strength.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe:
Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,
your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

Be with us, Lord, give us your love.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace:
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

Be with us, Lord, give us your peace.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm:
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

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Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 5/28

Photo by CP

 

12 years ago, on a beautiful spring day, I had a therapy appointment in Jamaica Plain - a day so beautiful that I chose to park at some distance from the doctor's office just to take in a deep breath of spring...

 

If I'd driven instead of walking,
if I'd hurried rather than taking my time,
if I hadn't crossed the street to take a closer look,
I'd have surely missed the mystery:

    a gorgeous eastern red bud tree,

    sprouting from its bark a rare corsage,

    ready for the senior prom... 

    and fragrant lilacs, understated elegance,
    rehearsing the perfect curtsy
    for a timely spring debut...

Photo by CP

Oh, if only I'd slow down, Lord,
and take in what's around me:
    what mystery I might meet,
    what fragrance might give hint
    of your sweet, seductive presence
    blossoming in places I might miss
    - and so miss you...

Photo by CP

If I'd driven instead of walking, Lord,
if I'd hurried rather than taking my time,
if I hadn't crossed the street to take a closer look:
    I'd have surely missed the mystery, Lord,
    and more - I'd have missed you...

Amen.

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It's First Communion season...

 It's First Communion season and I've saved Megan O'Sulllivan's beautiful reflection for now.  I'm sure that many of my readers will enjoy this!

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 5/27

 I had lunch today and a long conversation with an old friend whom  I don't see that often... it might have seemed an unremarkable meeting were it not for the pure and simple joy it brought to my heart...

 

What a joy, a grace and a blessing, Lord,

    to break bread and to spend some time 

        with an old friend,

     a friend who's been there over the years

        - many years, even decades...

 

Someone who knows my story...

    someone whose story I know...

someone with whom I've shared many stories

    in laughter and tears,

    in good times and bad, 

    in friendship, love and communion...

 

What a joy, a grace and a blessing, Lord,

    to remember old times 

        and how it was then

            and how things have changed

                - and what lies ahead... 

 

What a joy, a grace and a blessing, Lord:

    speaking the language of memories shared

       in this friendly bond of trust and faith;  

    a break from the humdrum day-to-day,

        an oasis of peace in a world at war; 

    picking right up where we last left off;

        and trusting that what we shared today

            will last forever and ever more

    for you are the source of this joy, O Lord,

        and yours is the grace that binds us as friends

    and you are the blessing we found today

        in telling the stories we've shared...

 

Protect us, Lord while we're awake

    and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen. 

 

Tonight's music is a song of gratitude for the pure and simple joy of friendship...

 

Thank You for My Life by Ed Tossing

 

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Pause for Prayer: 5/27

 

 

 

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NIGHT PRAYER: Tuesday 5/26

I've only read the first pages of Pope Leo's letter but I'm already breathing in (again) the heady fresh air John XXIII spoke of when he opened the Second Vatican Council and invited the Church to open its windows and let the fresh air of the Spirit blow through.  

 

Leo is opening the windows again!

Founded on Christ, the living stone, we experience the powerful and mysterious action of the Holy Spirit, and we believe that every authentic human effort to cooperate with him for the good will be blessed by our heavenly Father, in whom we place our hope. For this reason, we can diligently contribute to every initiative that builds a more just world, and we can call others to collaborate in promoting the integral development of every human being. We wish to engage in dialogue with all men and women of our time, with whom we share in the events, questions and aspirations of humanity. Together with them, we seek to identify new paths for the common good and for promoting a dignified life for all. Indeed, openness to dialogue is an integral part of the Church’s vocation because, constituted in Christ as “a sacrament of communion..." she recognizes history as the place where the Gospel challenges and directs human experience.  (Magnifica Humanitas #2)

Lord,

I can feel the rush of the Spirit's wind

coming with gifts to fill the Church

and to fill the world 

    with wisdom, understanding and counsel     

        with fortitude, knowledge, and love of you...

 

I can see the hope the Spirit brings,

hope for a harvest of

    love, joy, peace, and patience, 

        kindness, goodness and faithfulness, 

            gentleness, generosity and self-control...

 

Leo is calling on all of us, and on the whole world,

    to open our hearts, our minds and our souls,

    to remember again who made us,

    who called and calls us

    to do what is just, to love what is good

    and to walk, humbly, with you...

 

We seek, we hunger and long for, Lord,

    the peace we cannot give ourselves,

    the peace that only you can make,

    the peace that only you can give... 

 

Help us welcome your Spirit,

    your word, your will and your wisdom;

help us believe again 

    that all can be one, 

    that we can be one 

    with you, with one another

    and with the wonder of all of creation...

 

Send the wind of your Spirit, Lord,

    to open our windows and breathe in us

        your mercy, your love and your grace...  

Protect us, Lord while we're awake

    and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

Amen. 

 

The Wind Is Blowin' Again by Lanny Wolfe

    performed by HCS Junior High Choir

 

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The wind is blowin' again, 

    the wind is blowin' again
Just like the day of Pentecost, 

    the wind is blowin' again

 

There was a crowd gathered 'round 

    from all over town
They came to see what it was all about
There was a sound that came down 

    from the upper room
Where the Holy Ghost was being poured out
It sounded just like the roar of a mighty wind
As it fell on every one of them
And the wind that blew at Pentecost 

- thank God it's blowin' again!

 

2. The wind of God is blowin' 

    through the world today
As the prophet Joel said it would do
For peter said on the day of Pentecost
It's for you and your children too
So open up your heart and let the wind blow in
You'll never, never, never be the same again
For the wind that blew at Pentecost 

keeps blowin' and blowin' again

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Leo's Letter

Yes, I'll be posting on Pope Leo's first encyclical letter: Magnifica Humanitas - once I've read it and had an opportunity to put some thoughts together.  

In the meantime, I encourage you to read it, too - right here!

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Pause for Prayer: TUESDAY 5/26

 

Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; 
    they are the charming gardeners 

        who make our souls blossom.
- Marcel Proust

Make of me a gardener, O Lord, 
in the garden of souls you've planted,
souls entrusted to all of us
to care for, nurture and serve...

Let me be as sunlight and warmth,
coaxing others to bud and to sprout;
and let my words be a gentle rain,
refreshing parched and thirsty hearts...   

Let my presence be soil for all
to thrive in, to grow and to flourish
but then I'll leave all the pruning to you,
lest, in haste, I do any harm...

And come, tend my own garden, Lord
be my ground, my grace and my light;
prune away and weed out what I really don't need;
help me grow and bloom and bear fruit! 

Amen.

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