Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 5/16

 Detail from The Annunciation by Henry O. Tanner

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The month of May - and all Saturdays - are traditional times of devotion to Mary, the Blessed Mother. I have many posts for a day like this but once again, this one seems most apt for these days...

 

We live in a tough world, Lord,

    a rough and tumble, 

    harsh, coarse unforgiving place

where humankind and nature, too,

    make hard the streets we walk,

    the neighborhoods we live in 

    and the global village 

where we've yet to find the way 

    to live in harmony, 

    as a family,

    in peace...

So this morning we turn to Mary,

    your mother, our mother,

to Mary, a gentle woman, a quiet light, 

    a morning star, so strong and bright;

to Mary, gentle mother, peaceful dove,

    seat of wisdom, heart of love...

Be our mother, Mary,

    full of just the grace we need

        to be your faithful children,

    kind and gentle towards our neighbor,

        making peace with one and all

    and with the world we call our home...

 

Gentle Mother, peaceful dove,

    teach us wisdom; teach us love...

Amen. 

Hail Mary: Gentle Woman 

 by Carey Landry

  sung by the Daughters of Saint Paul 

 

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Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women
And blest is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now
And at the hour of death.
Amen.

Gentle woman, quiet light,
Morning star, so strong, so bright.
Gentle mother, peaceful dove,
Teach us wisdom, teach us love.

You were chosen by the Father,

You were chosen for the Son,

You were chosen from all women

and for woman, shining one...

Blessed are you among women,

blest in turn all women, too,

blessed they with peaceful spirits

blessed they with gentle hearts...

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NIGHT PRAYER: Friday 5/15

 

Sometimes, even often, Lord,

the mystery of how you move in my life

    blows my mind, 

    fills me with wonder,

    deepens my faith  

    and moves me to tears...

 

Sometimes, even often, Lord,

in the mystery of grace you show me how

    what I thought was lost

        is found again, 

    what I long had feared

        is finally  tamed, 

    what I dared not dream

        has now come true...

 

Sometimes, even often, Lord,

the mystery of how you move in my soul

    calms my worries,

    relieves my distress, 

    answers my prayer, 

    heals an old wound,

    makes light my burdens

    and easy my path...

 

And sometimes, even often, Lord, 

I need to wait on the mystery of you

    who knows just the time

        that's right for me,

    whose timing's not mine

        but is never too late,  

    whose time with me 

        is filled with patience, mercy and peace...

 

Sometimes, even often, Lord,

the mystery of how you move in my life

    opens my eyes, 

    blows my mind, 

    fills me with wonder,

    mends my brokenness, 

    lifts me up, 

    heals my wounds, 

    restores my hope,

    strengthens my resolve, 

    refreshes my spirits,

    deepens my faith,

    moves me to tears

        - and to you, my Lord and God... 

 

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. 

 

In His Time by Diane Ball

 

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Better late than never?

I didn't preach from a text on Ascension Thursday, nor did I record my homily that day. But I just realized that this mass had been live-streamed and since I received some very positive feedback, I thought it might be worth posting here.  

 

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Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 5/14

Lord Jesus... 

You're my Maker, my Creator,

    I'm the work of your fine hands;

You call me by my name, Lord

    - and you name me your beloved...

 

You're the source of all my talents, 

    all my blessings, skills and gifts;

you're my way, my truth and life

    and in the darkness, you're my light... 

 

You listen to my every word, 

    you heed each passing thought,

you hear my every prayer, Lord,

    long before it leaves my lips... 

     

You're with me in my greatest joys 

    and in my deepest sorrows;

 in good times and in bad

     and in sickness and in health... 

 

You are the inspiration, Lord,

    for all that I've accomplished, 

any good I've said or done or hoped,

    any work that bears my name...  

 

You comfort me, you challenge me,

    you send me out to do your will;

you give me strength when mine is gone

    and rest when day is done... 

You're the heart and brains and glue, Lord,

    of this outfit - me and you -

you're the source of all my wisdom,

    and what common sense I have...

 

- You've given me my friends, Lord,

        to encourage and advise me,

        to protect me and defend me,

        to pray for me, to play with me,

        to bring me peace and joy...

 

- You've been my silent partner, 

        (my so-much-better half)

    my advocate and helpmate,  

        my most forgiving judge...

 

- You're my refuge in the hard times,

        my shelter from the storm;

    you're the light on my dark path

        and my shepherd when I'm lost...

 

You’re the One who always has my back,

        who wipes my tears away:

    yours the shoulder I can lean on,

        yours the hand that lifts me up...

You're my teacher, always helping me 

    to see and understand 

the movement of your grace, Lord,

    in the mystery of my life...

 

You're the fine gold thread that's woven

    through the sackcloth of my life,

always binding us together,

    ever knitting us as one... 

     

Apart from you, I would not be,

    without you, I am nothing;

with you I have everything 

    - and even more than that... 

 

You’re my Alpha and Omega:

    my beginning and my end,

the source of all I am and have

    and all I'm called to be...

    

You are my Lord, you are my God,

    my Savior and Redeemer:

I'm your child, I'm your servant,

    I'm your own beloved child...

 

For all of this I thank you, Lord,

    I praise your holy name:

you are my all, my greatest hope

    from whom all blessings flow... 

     

Amen.  

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NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 5/14

I think I know the spot, Lord,

    deep within my soul,

    the place you call your dwelling,

    your home within my heart...

 

It's the place within me, Lord,

    that's most in need of mercy,

    most in need of healing

    and most in need of peace...

 

It's the lonely, empty place within

    where I most need your presence

    and the fullness of your spirit

    and your sweet, amazing grace...

 

It's the place within me, Lord,

    most in need of deeper faith,

    most in need of saving hope,

    most in need of healing love...

Where you come to dwell, Lord,

    is exactly where I need you; 

where you pitch your tent

    is where I need your shelter

and where you  make your home

    is where my lonely heart awaits you...

 

So please, Lord, find a dwelling place

    down deep within my heart

and make yourself to home there

    as I make my home in you...

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.

 

Dwelling Place by John Foley, SJ

  

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1) I fall on my knees to the Father of Jesus, 

The Lord who has shown us the Glory of God. 

 

2) May he in His love give us strength for our living 

The strength of His Spirit the Glory of God. 

 

May Christ find a dwelling place of faith in our hearts. 

May our lives be rooted in love, rooted in love. 

 

3) May grace and peace be yours in God our Father 

and in His Son.

 

May Christ find a dwelling place of faith in our hearts. 

May our lives be rooted in love, rooted in love.

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A moment of reflection on Ascension Thursday...

Remain true to yourself, but move ever upward 
    toward greater consciousness and greater love! 

 
At the summit you will find yourselves united 
    with all those who, from every direction, 
        have made the same ascent. 

 
For everything that rises must converge.
 

– Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

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Pause for Prayer: Ascension Thursday

                    The Ascension of Christ by Dali  

The perspective of Dali's Ascension never fails to draw me in!  The earthy feet of the Risen Jesus ascending into heaven to reign for ever at the Father's right hand in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

 

It's not Ascension Thursday everywhere!

Is it Ascension Thursday where you live? In some parts of the Catholic world, the observance of the Ascension has been transferred to this coming Sunday. Or perhaps your local church will celebrate the Ascension today. The answer can be found here.

You can find the scriptures for Ascension day here. This Preface prayer for the Ascension offers a brief theological summary of what the Church celebrates on this 40th day after Easter. The theology is in the verbs!

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks and praise. Today the Lord Jesus, the king of glory, the conqueror of sin and death, ascended to heaven while the angels sang his praises.

Christ, the mediator between God and humankind, judge of the world and Lord of all, has passed beyond our sight, not to abandon us but to be our hope. Christ is the beginning, the head of the Church; where he has gone, we hope to follow.

The joy of the resurrection and ascension renews the whole world, while the choirs of heaven sing for ever to your glory: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Ascension is so much more than just an exit line after the Resurrection! The Ascension of the Lord, home to his Father in heaven, fulfills Jesus' mission and brings it to completion. 

A Prayer for Ascension Thursday

Just 40 days after Easter, Lord:
    you brought your friends together,
        to say goodbye, to bid them all farewell...

Taking leave was bittersweet:
    the memory of what had been,
        the promise of what was yet to be;
    the pledge that on a day to come
        we'd all be one again, with you...

In your life, Lord, there'd been

    comings and goings, meeting and knowing;

    sorrow and sadness, miracles and joy;

    deserts and dinners, feasting and fasting;

    your preaching, parables, words of wisdom;

    comfort and conflict, judgment and suffering;

    surrender and sacrifice, dying and rising

        - and hope born again - 

    with the promise for all 

        of life without end...

You left your friends, Lord, 

    but didn't abandon them:
you promised your Spirit, the Spirit of truth

    to lead and guide, console and comfort;

to show us the path we're called to walk,

    the way that leads us home to you 

and to that day, still yet to come,

    when all will be one, forever in peace,

    when all will be one, again, in you... 

Amen.

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NIGHT PRAYER: Wednesday 5/13

I'm back from my (really great) 8 day silent retreat at Eastern Point in Gloucester.  I know many of your were praying for me while I was away - and I was praying for you, too!  Thus, tonight's prayer...

On my retreat, Lord,  

I had time and reason 

to remember and to pray for 

all the good people,

the really fine people 

who've been and who are

such a part of my life!

Generous people who selflessly give 

and give and give 

    - and then give some more...

 

Those who are kind,

so genuinely kind:

    no pretense, self-interest or guile...

 

Folks who forgive, Lord,

    quietly, quickly,

whose pardon is healing,

    deep in my soul... 

 

And the ones who are holy
    - and don’t even know it -

 whose holiness models 

    your grace and your peace...

 

Folks who are gentle

    in word and in deed,

never rough, never harsh,

    neither careless nor coarse...

 

Those who are strong

    and are there for support 

when I'm weak, when I'm sad,

    when I'm down, when I'm out...

 

The ones who are true 

    to conviction and conscience,

whose zeal never flags,

    whose faith never fades…

 

Friends who are honest

    in all that they say,

whose gift is the plain

    and unadorned truth...

Folks of compassion,

    with patience unending,

who listen with love

    while drying my tears...

 

People of prayer 

    who share their faith,
whose friendship is healing,

    is balm for my soul... 

 

Good people, Lord,
    so many good people

whose paths have crossed mine

    and become part of my life...

 
People, O Lord,
    more generous and kind,
        more forgiving and holy,
            more deeply convicted, faithful and true,
    more thoughtful and caring,
        stronger and gentler,
            more prayerful and pure
                than I in my sins... 

            I'm grateful, Lord, 

                for the gift of such friends,

                each a gift, a gem, a grace in my life;

            I pray that I'll learn from their loving ways

                to be such a friend

                    in grateful return... 

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. 

 

No doubt about it - tonight's song is very different!  It's not a Christian hymn or canticle, it's the work of an Indian guru who travels internationally speaking on peace and the practice of meditation.  A few of the references are drawn from Indian culture but there's a depth here that beautifully crosses any boundaries that may separate us...

 

My Friend Showed Me by Prem Rawat

   

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My friend showed me the business of divine,

My friend showed me the way to the one that’s mine.

In the silence of the heart where the truth aligns,

My friend showed me the business of divine.

 

In the open field it waited, lying hidden in clay,

Shining softly in sunlight 

    though the world just walked away.

Many passed without a glimmer, 

    never caught the sign,

But the true heart heard it whisper,

    lifted what was left behind.

 

My friend showed me the business of divine,

My friend showed me the way to the one that’s mine.

In the silence of the heart where the truth aligns,

My friend showed me the business of divine.

 

Everyone speaks of the jewel, 

    says they know the sacred thread,

But the knot of life stays tightened 

    while the truth remains unsaid.

Only those who dare to loosen 

    what is tangled in the mud

Feel the openin’ inside them, 

    see the treasure left behind.

 

My friend showed me the business of divine…

 

Blind are traveling in darkness, 

    blind ones leading blind,

Who will point toward the doorway? 

    Who will light the hidden sign?

Only love can lift the shadow, 

    only grace can clear the path,

Only guidance from the inward 

`frees us from the wanderer’s wrath.

 

My friend showed me the business of divine…

 

Like a fly caught deep in honey, 

`    wings are dreamin’ of the sky,

Sweetness holds it in its prison 

    though it longs to rise and fly.

Desire pulls and tightens softly, 

    every struggle just reminds,

Some dreams free you when awakened, 

    some dreams keep you stuck inside.

 

My friend showed me the business of divine…

 

Henna leaves look dull and quiet 

    till the fire of truth is stirred,

Kabir saw the hidden color 

    in the silence of the word.

When the heart becomes a canvas 

    and the being begins to shine,

Then the color of awakening 

    paints the business of divine.

 

My friend showed me the business of divine,

My friend showed me the way to the one that’s mine.

In the silence of the heart where the truth aligns,

My friend showed me the business of divine.

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