You desire truth in the heart;
therefore in my secret heart teach me wisdom.
Wash me and I shall be clean;
and I shall be whiter than snow.
Wash me and I shall be clean;
and I shall be whiter than snow.
~Psalm 51.6-7
Help me with self-control, Lord.
Let every man be quick to hear,
slow to speak, slow to anger;
for a man's anger does not fulfill God's justice.
If a man who does not control his tongue
imagines that he is devout,
he is self-deceived;
his worship is pointless.
slow to speak, slow to anger;
for a man's anger does not fulfill God's justice.
If a man who does not control his tongue
imagines that he is devout,
he is self-deceived;
his worship is pointless.
~James 1:19-20, 26
May I always know, Lord, that you are God.
7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and underground waters welling up in valleys and hills,
8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey,
9 a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper.
10 You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you.
11 Take care that you do not forget the Lord your God, by failing to keep his commandments, his ordinances, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today.
12 When you have eaten your fill and have built fine houses and live in them,
13 and when your herds and flocks have multiplied, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied,
14 then do not exalt yourself, forgetting the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,
15 who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, an arid waste-land with poisonous[a] snakes and scorpions. He made water flow for you from flint rock,
16 and fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors did not know, to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good.
17 Do not say to yourself, 'My power and the might of my own hand have gained me this wealth.'
18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, so that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your ancestors, as he is doing today.
~Deuteronomy 8:7-18
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)
Give me strength, Lord, to stand fast with you.
May you attain full knowledge of God's will through perfect wisdom and spiritual insight.
Then you will lead a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way.
You will multiply good works of every sort and grow in the knowledge of God.
By the might of his glory you will be endowed with the strength needed to stand fast, even to endure joyfully whatever may come.
Then you will lead a life worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way.
You will multiply good works of every sort and grow in the knowledge of God.
By the might of his glory you will be endowed with the strength needed to stand fast, even to endure joyfully whatever may come.
~Colossians 1:9b-11
May I set my hopes on God who does provide everything.
The Good Fight of Faith
But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.
As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.
Personal Instructions and Benediction
Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge; by professing it some have missed the mark as regards the faith.
Grace be with you.
~Timothy 6.11-21
Lord, may I learn and share your wisdom.
Those who are learned will be as radiant as the sky in all its beauty; those who instruct the people in goodness will shine like the stars for all eternity.
Antiphon for the morning canticle
Feast of St. Alphonsus Ligouri, Aug 1, 2017
Feast of St. Alphonsus Ligouri, Aug 1, 2017
May the love of Christ urge us on.
For the love of Christ urges us on,
because we are convinced that one has died for all;
therefore all have died.
And he died for all,
so that those who live might live no longer for themselves,
but for him who died and was raised for them.
because we are convinced that one has died for all;
therefore all have died.
And he died for all,
so that those who live might live no longer for themselves,
but for him who died and was raised for them.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Create a pure heart for me, O God.
Create a pure heart for me, O God;
renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence;
take not your holy spirit from me.
Restore in me the joy of your salvation;
sustain in me a willing spirit.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
that sinners may return to you.
Rescue me from bloodshed, O God,
God of my salvation,
and then my tongue shall ring out your justice.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight;
burnt offering from me would not please you.
My sacrifice to God, a broken spirit:
a broken and humbled heart,
O God, you will not spurn.
renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence;
take not your holy spirit from me.
Restore in me the joy of your salvation;
sustain in me a willing spirit.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
that sinners may return to you.
Rescue me from bloodshed, O God,
God of my salvation,
and then my tongue shall ring out your justice.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight;
burnt offering from me would not please you.
My sacrifice to God, a broken spirit:
a broken and humbled heart,
O God, you will not spurn.
Psalm 51.12-19 (New Grail)
Lord, be my guide.
Lord,
guide us in your gentle mercy,
for left to ourselves
we cannot do your will.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
guide us in your gentle mercy,
for left to ourselves
we cannot do your will.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.
from Christian Prayer
Help me to set things right, O Lord.
Wash yourselves clean!
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim; redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.
Come now, let us set things right,
says the Lord:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes;
cease doing evil; learn to do good.
Make justice your aim; redress the wronged,
hear the orphan’s plea, defend the widow.
Come now, let us set things right,
says the Lord:
Though your sins be like scarlet,
they may become white as snow;
Though they be crimson red,
they may become white as wool.
Isaiah 1:16-18
Teach me your faithfulness, O Lord.
For the word of the Lord is faithful
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.
Psalm 33
Thanks be to God for this holy day.
Today is holy to the Lord your God.
Do not be sad, and do not weep;
for today is holy to our Lord.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!
Nehemiah 8:9, 10
By his suffering in service to us, he redeemed the world!
Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,
and their guilt he shall bear.
Therefore I will give him his portion among the great,
and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty,
because he surrendered himself to death
and was counted among the wicked;
and he shall take away the sins of many,
and win pardon for their offenses.
and their guilt he shall bear.
Therefore I will give him his portion among the great,
and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty,
because he surrendered himself to death
and was counted among the wicked;
and he shall take away the sins of many,
and win pardon for their offenses.
Isaiah 53:11b-12
Give us true knowledge
Lord, you are the source of unfailing light.
Give us true knowledge of your mercy
so that we may renounce our pride
and be filled with the riches of your house.
________
May I work for peace and for strength of the other.
The kingdom of God
is not a matter of eating or drinking,
but of justice, peace,
and the joy that is given by the Holy Spirit.
Whoever serves Christ in this way pleases God
and wins the esteem of men.
Let us, then,
make it our aim to work for peace
and to strengthen one another.
is not a matter of eating or drinking,
but of justice, peace,
and the joy that is given by the Holy Spirit.
Whoever serves Christ in this way pleases God
and wins the esteem of men.
Let us, then,
make it our aim to work for peace
and to strengthen one another.
Romans 14:17-19
Lord, fill us with your fruits
In your goodness pour out on us
the fruits of your Spirit,
– patience, kindness and gentleness.
the fruits of your Spirit,
– patience, kindness and gentleness.
Suscipe, Domine
Receive, O Lord, all my liberty.
Take my memory, my understanding, and my entire will.
Whatsoever I have or possess thou hast bestowed upon me;
I give it all back to thee
Take my memory, my understanding, and my entire will.
Whatsoever I have or possess thou hast bestowed upon me;
I give it all back to thee
and surrender it wholly to be governed by thy will.
Give me love for thee alone, along with thy grace,
and I am rich enough and ask for nothing more.
Suscipe, Domine, universam meam libertatem. Give me love for thee alone, along with thy grace,
and I am rich enough and ask for nothing more.
Accipe memoriam, intellectum, atque voluntatem omnem.
Quidquid habeo vel possideo mihi largitus es;
id tibi totum restituo,
ac tuae prorsus voluntati trado gubernandum.
Amorem tui solum cum gratia tua mihi dones,
et dives sum satis, nec aliud quidquam ultra posco.
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
Amorem tui solum cum gratia tua mihi dones,
et dives sum satis, nec aliud quidquam ultra posco.
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding and my entire will.
All I have and call my own, you have given to me;
All I have and call my own, you have given to me;
to you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.
~ St. Ignatius of Loyola
May all I say be a proclamation of God's Kingdom.
In praying,
do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
do not babble like the pagans,
who think that they will be heard because of their many words.
—Matthew 6:7
May I never neglect to do good.
Through Jesus Christ,
let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Do not neglect to do good
and to share what you have,
for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Obey your leaders and submit to them,
for they are keeping watch over your souls
and will give an account.
Let them do this with joy and not with sighing
—for that would be harmful to you.
Now may the God of peace,
who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great shepherd of the sheep,
by the blood of the eternal covenant,
make you complete in everything good
so that you may do his will,
working among us that which is pleasing in his sight,
through Jesus Christ,
to whom be the glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.
Do not neglect to do good
and to share what you have,
for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Obey your leaders and submit to them,
for they are keeping watch over your souls
and will give an account.
Let them do this with joy and not with sighing
—for that would be harmful to you.
Now may the God of peace,
who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great shepherd of the sheep,
by the blood of the eternal covenant,
make you complete in everything good
so that you may do his will,
working among us that which is pleasing in his sight,
through Jesus Christ,
to whom be the glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
Hebrews 13.15-17, 20-21
May I cherish the righteousness that comes through Christ.
Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind;
and if you think differently about anything,
this too God will reveal to you.
Only let us hold fast to what we have attained,
so that you may be blameless and innocent,
children of God without blemish
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
in which you shine like stars in the world,
and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me.
and if you think differently about anything,
this too God will reveal to you.
Only let us hold fast to what we have attained,
so that you may be blameless and innocent,
children of God without blemish
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
in which you shine like stars in the world,
and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me.
Philippians 3:15-16; 2:15,18
Help me, Lord, to mature in simplicity of heart.
Life is "simple" when all its aspects are consistent with its single purpose. Human life is designed and created by God with a singleness of purpose:
"I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. (Jeremiah 32.39 NIV)"
"The Lord protects the simple." From creation, the Lord protects his children... so that "all with go well for [us]" ... for our own good and of our children after us.
"O Lord, you have been our refuge,
from generation to generation.
Before the mountains were born,
or the earth or the world were brought forth,
you are God, from age to age. (Psalm 90.1-2 Grail)"
"I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. (Jeremiah 32.39 NIV)"
"The Lord protects the simple." From creation, the Lord protects his children... so that "all with go well for [us]" ... for our own good and of our children after us.
"O Lord, you have been our refuge,
from generation to generation.
Before the mountains were born,
or the earth or the world were brought forth,
you are God, from age to age. (Psalm 90.1-2 Grail)"