Pause for Prayer: SATURDAY 11/7

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Lord, you will not fail today:

    to show me your face,
    speak to my heart,
    and touch my soul with your mercy...

You will not fail:
    to walk by my side
    and show me the way
    to where your peace awaits me...

You will not fail:
   to help me carry the burdens I bear,

   to pierce my deepest grief with joy

   and to be the light in my darkest hour...

You will not fail:
    to give me all that I truly need          
    to come at last to this day's end,
    my soul at peace with you...

 

Then help me, Lord, not fail today:
    to look for you
        in all I meet;
    to open my heart
        to your healing touch;

    and to find you ever at my side,
        guiding, helping and lifting me up
            each time I trip and I fall...

 

Help me, Lord, to seek your presence

    in life as it meets me today

    with all of its many ups and downs,

    its twists and turns, laughter and tears, 

       and all of my sorrows and joys...

 

Today's the day that you've made, Lord,

    and I trust in faith that you will not fail:  

        to guide each step that I take

    'til evening falls and finds me safe,

        asleep and at peace with you...    

Amen.

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Night Prayer: FRIDAY 11/6

As you know, this week I moved from Good Shepherd Parish in Wayland to Regina Cleri, the archdiocesan residence for senior priests in downtown Boston.  The differences are many, sometimes stark and startling, filled with grace - and welcome...

 

No rain where you're praying tonight? Here's something to put you in the mood:

 

 

This Friday night I'm learning, 

or more accurately -I'm remembering -

the difference between a rainy night in the city

and a rain night in the suburbs...

 

Back in Wayland, Lord,

the rain falls unassumingly, 

modestly, subtly 

- perhaps, even humbly

 

but here in the city 

the rain comes down straightforwardly,

rather matter-of-factly, intentionally

- even bluntly...

 

Even in a storm, 

suburban rain falls with a certain grace, 

veiling nature with a glistening sheen,

moistening her tender skin with grace...

 

While urban rains pour down 

drenching high-rises, sidewalks and pedestrians,

pelting everything in sight with mercy

come to cleanse a city's soul...

 

I've lived out in the country, Lord,

and now, back in the city

so I've known the different ways you rain

your mercy and your grace

on your people and the land...

 

Rain on me, O Lord!

Drench and all but drown me

in the waters of redemption

and bathe me in your kindness,

deep down in my soul... 

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. 

 

"Rain Down" is one of my favorites - and the images on this video make it a perfect companion for tonight's prayer! 

 

Rain Down by Jaime Cortez

 

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Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 11/6

Whether the day ahead is busy and full
    - or a day when I haven't very much to do,
I know that you, Lord, have your eye on me
    and plans for how I might best spend today...

If my day looks overbooked, Lord:

    point out the tasks that might be useless
and let me see what foolishness 

    I may have even scheduled,

- and all the precious time I waste 

    when I make no time for you...

If my calendar is free, wide open,

    then show me ways that I might fill it:
        reaching out to those in need,

        making peace as I am able,

        or spending time with someone

            who's alone and needs a friend...

 

And if today's an in-betweener,
    - busy now but later free -
then help me balance work and play

    and spend this day for what it is:
        24 hours, your gift to me,
        to grow in faith and hope and joy,
        to grow in love of you, Lord

        and in service of my neighbor...

Amen.

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Night Prayer: THURSDAY 11/5

Lord, there's something about the end of day,

   perhaps especially in the fall,

yes, something about the end of day 

    that opens my mind and heart in prayer

        and draws my prayerful attention:

 

    to those I dearly love 

       and those I struggle to love...

    to the needs of those I know

       and the needs of others I've never met...

    to memories in need of healing

       and hope in need of being refreshed...

    to regret for things I regret I've done

       and remorse for things I've failed to do...

    to those who long to have a friend

       and to those in need of solitude...

    to homeless folks in autumn's chill

       and those who shelter and care for them...

    to those deprived of a just, fare share

       and those who have more than they'll ever need...

 

    to a world whose soul is starved for peace

       and to those who seek to make it...

Lord, there's something about the end of day,

   perhaps especially in the fall,

yes, something about the end of day 

    that moves my mind and heart to pray

        for your mercy, healing and grace...

Protect us, Lord, while we're awake

    and watch over us as we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen. 

  

Watch, O Lord by Marty Haugen

 

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Watch, O Lord, with all those awake this night.
Watch, O Lord, with all those who weep.
Give your angels and saints
Charge over all who sleep

Tend your ailing ones In your love, Lord.
Rest your weary ones In your love, Lord.
Bless your dying ones In your love, Oh, Lord of all.

 
Chorus

 
Soothe your suffering ones In your love, Lord.
Heal afflicted ones In your love, Lord.
Shield Your joyous ones In your love, Oh, Lord of all.

 
Chorus

Hold your grieving ones In your love, Lord.
Help your fallen ones In your love, Lord.
Mend your broken ones In your love, Oh, Lord of all.

 
Chorus

Guard your little ones In your love, Lord.
Guide your searching ones In your love, Lord.
Grant us all your peace In your love, Oh, Lord of all.

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Pause for Prayer: THURSDAY 11/5

 

Did I remember 

    to pack my faith when I moved?

I'm in a new place, Lord:

    I have a new address, 

    a new place I call home...

 

I live in a new neighborhood:

    no longer in the suburbs,

    I'm in the heart of the city...

 

I have new housemates - 5 dozen!

    And despite our common history

    we're as different as our finger prints...

 

So many different sights and sounds

    right outside my door

    - I'm not in Wayland anymore!

 

New opportunities, new choices:

    new paths to walk, new sights to see,

    - new ways for me to be with thee!

 

(Couldn't pass up the rhyme!) 

 

But the thing is, Lord:

    regardless of all that's new,

        I'm still the same old me

    and regardless of all that's changing

        you're ever and always 

            my Lord and God,

                ever and always the same... 

 

So, will my new environment 

    open my heart anew, afresh

        to your mercy, grace and peace?

 

Will my change of zip code

    draw my eye, my mind, my soul

        closer to you and your word?

 

Lord, this I know:

    you're always there

        wherever I may be;

here, there or anywhere

    you're by my side,

        folding me into your arms...

 

So in any way and in every way

    you draw me to your side,

give me the grace to follow you

    with new and deeper faith...

 

Amen. 

 

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Night Prayer: ALL SOULS DAY

 

As the sun sets on All Souls Day, Lord,

I lift up to you my family members,

loved ones and friends who have died...

(Take time to remember, even to write down,
the names of those for whom you pray tonight.

If you make a list you can refer to it through

November, the Month of All Souls

and add to it as other names come to mind.) 

You know each of them by name, Lord:
your love for them far exceeds my own,
even those I've loved the most...

I entrust them to your mercy
and pray that with all who've gone before them
you'll welcome them to heaven's joy...

Make safe their journey, Lord, 

from my arms into yours:

embrace them with the lasting peace 

that only you can give...

And grant me, Lord, the grace I need
to live my life believing
that one day I'll be one with you
and all of those for whom I pray this night...

Protect me, Lord, while I'm awake

    and watch over me as I sleep

that awake, I might keep watch with you

    and asleep, rest in your peace...

 

Amen.

 

(Tonight's song is a beautiful blend of the human experience of loss and grief and the promise of faith in the risen Lord...

No More Goodbyes by Tom Dermody

 

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One day in the love of Christ
we'll meet once again
we'll laugh as we celebrate
a life with no end
where death has been overcome
by our risen Lord

And there are no more goodbyes
no more tears
no more loneliness
and no more fear
Our pain turns to joy
darkness to light
in God's heaven
there are no more goodbyes

No words tell the gratitude
we have for the gift
your life was to each of us
we'll never forget
May angels now lead you home
to our risen Lord

Where there are no more goodbyes
no more tears
no more loneliness
and no more fear
Our pain turns to joy
darkness to light
in God's heaven
there are no more goodbyes

Though now with our heavy hearts
we go our separate ways
we trust in the certain hope
there will come a day
we'll join you in paradise
with our risen Lord.

There will be no more goodbyes
no more tears
no more loneliness
and no more fear
Our pain turns to joy
darkness to light
in God's heaven
there are no more goodbyes
In God's heaven
there are no more goodbyes

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Moving Day!

Today, Monday, November 2 is  moving day and I'm very excited! 

I've scheduled an All Souls Night Prayer which will appear later today - and then I'll be taking a quick break.  Once I've unpacked and set up my rooms to reasonable degree of livability - I'll resume posting - and I hope that's no later than Thursday.  In the meanwhile - pray for me as I will for you! 

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Monday Morning Offering: ALL SOULS DAY

Morning Coffee by George Mendoza

 

 

 

 

 

  

November wraps its dampened shroud

‘round nature’s shrugged shoulders:
    our souls know well the chill, Lord,
    of summer gone and winter oh-so-near...

Bare limbs scratch against gray skies,
and snatch the mourner’s veil
from hearts laid bare in shivering loss,
    alone, exposed in grief…

November, Lord: no other month
    could better claim the name All Souls
or set the scene for praying, weeping,
    grieving those before us gone, 

        marked with faith's signed Cross…

 

So this November morning, Lord,

I offer you my loved ones:

    created by your hand, 

    claimed by saving grace

    now held, I pray, in your embrace…

I offer you from my heart's depths
    the ones I can't let go…

I offer from my hands to yours
    the ones whose hands held mine...

I offer you a prayer of tears
    for those whose absence haunts my days…

I offer from my selfish heart
    the ones I hurt and bruised:
I pray you heal the wounds I caused
    and with your gentle mercy, Lord, 

        forgive and pardon me...

I offer you a prayer, O Lord,
for those with none to pray for them:
    brothers, sisters never met,
    yet sisters, brothers nonetheless
    for all are one in you...

I offer you all souls who wait  

    your final purging touch
to ready them for heaven,
    for life with you forever,
        for peace that has no end...

I offer you my grief, O Lord,
refresh me in your tender care:
    help me trust I'll see again
        the ones I've lost to death, when
    gathered in your kingdom's joy,
        your mercy brings us home...

Beneath November’s canopy

walk others, Lord, who know as well as I

the depths of this month’s memories

and All the Souls for whom we pray:

    make us gentle with each other,

    mindful of the loss and grief

    that binds us in your love…

 

Accept my mourning offering
on this dark November day 

until it dies and wakes again, 

a new day born, 

a promise 

of what's yet to come:
the day that has no end...

(Take a few moments now to remember,
to write down or speak aloud,
the names of those who've died,
for whom you pray this All Souls Day...)

May these and all souls of the faithful departed,
through your mercy, O God,
rest in peace... 

Amen.

 
For your prayer this day: Pie Jesu from Requiem by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Below are the words in both Latin and English.

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Pie Jesu,
qui tollis peccata mundi,
dona eis requiem.
Agnus Dei,
qui tollis peccata mundi,
dona eis requiem,
sempiternam, sempiternam requiem.

Sweet Jesus,
you take away the sins of the world,
give them rest.
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world,
give them rest,
eternal rest.

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Night Prayer: SUNDAY 11/1

It's the night before I move to Boston and last-minute details have my attention - so here's a prayer from my archives which matches just precisely

the scene just outside my back door...  

 

The leaves fall fast and furious!

They lay a rusty earth-toned carpet 

stretching from my backdoor 

to the church across the yard...

 

I cannot simply walk here, Lord:

some muscle memory, deep within,

sets my gait to shuffling 

as I scuffle through the crisp and crunch 

of leaves beneath my step...

As when I was younger, Lord:

a child on my way to school

or out in my backyard,

looking for a heap of leaves, 

raked in rounded piles,

inviting me to jump, to dive 

and softly land with glee and and pure delight  

on pillows left each autumn

- fall's leafy parting gift...

 

I love that lovely swooshing sound:

- a soft shoe -

tapped on your dance floor

and whispering of your presence 

underfoot and all around... 

I'm too old now for diving 

into heaps and piles of leaves

but grateful just to shuffle, Lord,

and softly dance and make my way

'cross autumn's backyard carpet

from my backdoor to the church...

 

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.

 

Tonight, just the natural music of a walk through fallen leaves...

 

Walking on Fallen Leaves 

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