You will show me the path to life

Psalm 16. A Psalm of David.

I say to the Lord, you are my Lord, you are my only good.

Worthless are all the false gods of the land. Accursed are all who delight in them.

They multiply their sorrows who court other gods. Blood libations to them I will not pour out, nor will I take their names upon my lips.

LORD, my allotted portion and my cup, you have made my destiny secure.

Pleasant places were measured out for me; fair to me indeed is my inheritance.

I bless the LORD who counsels me; even at night my heart exhorts me.

I keep the LORD always before me; with the Lord at my right, I shall never be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure,

For you will not abandon me to Sheol, nor let your faithful servant see the pit.

You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.

Picture source.

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I hope people have enjoyed this site. Today ends the posts, since this was meant for one month of inspiration to more and deeper prayer.

If you want more simple, short encouragement, I like Emilie Griffin's Doors Into Prayer, the collection Nearer To The Heart of God (both by the absolutely excellent Paraclete Press) and of course, the Bible.

Peace, and see you next year!
I.C.

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.




While we're in a Marian frame of mind...a video of the evangelical song "Mary, Did You Know," with clips from The Nativity Story and The Passion. Hat tip to The Deacon's Bench.

Click here to play.

To Jesus Christ our sovereign King

To Jesus Christ, our Sovereign King,
who is the world's salvation,
All praise and homage do we bring,
and thanks and adoration

Christ Jesus, Victor! Christ Jesus, Ruler! Christ Jesus, Lord and Redeemer.

Your reign extend, O King benign,
to every land and nation;
For in your kingdom Lord divine
Alone we find salvation

Christ Jesus, Victor! Christ Jesus, Ruler! Christ Jesus, Lord and Redeemer.

To you and to your Church, great King,
We pledge our heart's oblation;
Until before your throne we sing
In endless jubilation

Christ Jesus, Victor! Christ Jesus, Ruler! Christ Jesus, Lord and Redeemer.

--Msgr. Martin Hellriegal, 1941
In honor of today's feast, Christ the King (in Roman Catholic churches)

Whom shall I love, if I love not you

Lord, who am I, that You have loved me so much, and that You should so much desire to be loved by me?

O my God, worthy of infinite love! I love You, or rather, I should say, I love You not.

I love You above all things; more than my life, more than myself; but still I see that I love You too little.

O King of Heaven! make Thyself also King of my heart, possess me entirely.

II.

I leave all, and turn to You. I embrace You, I press You to my soul; despise me not, immeasurable good; I love You.

Now that You have united me to You, O my Jesus, how can I see myself separated from You? I love You, and will never cease to love You.

Unite Thyself to me, Lord; let not the corruption of my sins drive You away from me.

III.

O God, O God! whom shall I love, if I love not You, my life, my love, my all?

Chosen among thousands. My God, You only, You alone do I choose for my love.

My Redeemer, I desire no other but You.

Oh that I might be wholly consumed for You, who was entirely consumed for me!

Take possession, Lord, of my whole will, and do with me what You please.

--St Alphonsus Ligouri

More of this series of prayers here.

Let nothing disturb you

Let nothing disturb you.
Let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing.
God alone is changeless.
He who has patience wants for nothing
He who has God has all things.
God alone suffices.

--Teresa of Avila

Be Thou Alone My Hope

Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul
with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love,
and with true, calm and most holy apostolic charity,
that my soul may ever languish and melt with entire love and longing for Thee,
may yearn for Thee and for thy courts, may long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.

Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and super substantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delightful taste.

May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee,
Whom the angels desire to look upon,
and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor;
may it ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the fullness of the house of God;
may it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee,
run to Thee, come up to Thee, meditate on Thee, speak of Thee,
and do all for the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, with perseverance to the end;
and be Thou alone ever my hope,
my entire confidence,
my riches,
my delight,
my pleasure,
my joy,
my rest and tranquility,
my peace,
my sweetness,
my food,
my refreshment,
my refuge,
my help,
my wisdom,
my portion,
my possession,
my treasure;

in Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably.

Amen.

--St. Bonaventure

Picture source.

I arise today

I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the
Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession
of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.

I arise today through the strength of Christ with His Baptism,
through the strength of His Crucifixion with His Burial
through the strength of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
through the strength of His descent for the Judgment of Doom.

I arise today through the strength of the love of Cherubim
in obedience of Angels, in the service of the Archangels,
in hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
in prayers of Patriarchs, in predictions of Prophets,
in preachings of Apostles, in faiths of Confessors,
in innocence of Holy Virgins, in deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through the strength of Heaven:
light of Sun, brilliance of Moon, splendour of Fire,
speed of Lightning, swiftness of Wind, depth of Sea,
stability of Earth, firmness of Rock.

I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me,
God's host to secure me:
against snares of devils, against temptations of vices,
against inclinations of nature, against everyone who
shall wish me ill, afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.

I summon today all these powers between me (and these evils):
against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose
my body and my soul,
against incantations of false prophets,
against black laws of heathenry,
against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry,
against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
against every knowledge that endangers my body and soul.
Christ to protect me today
against poison, against burning, against drowning,
against wounding, so that there may come abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right,
Christ on my left, Christ in breadth, Christ in length,
Christ in height, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the
Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the
Oneness of the Creator of creation.
Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of Christ. May Thy Salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.

--St. Patrick of Ireland

Picture source.

Prayer of Self-Abandonment

Source.

Father,

I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.

Whatever you may do,
I thank you.

I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you
with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord,
and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands,
without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.

--Charles de Foucauld

Morning Prayer

When you dress yourself, pray: O Christ, clothe me with yourself. Be for me a warm garment that will protect me from catching the cold of this world.

If you are away from me, dear Lord, all things will be cold and lifeless. But if you are with me, all things will be warm, lively, and fresh.

As I cover my body with this article of clothing, please become the clothing of my soul. Put upon me mercy, meekness, love, and peace.

--John Bradford, Daily Meditations

Picture source.

Sacred Space

Sacred Space is a daily lectio divina style website run by the Ireland Jesuits, with interactive pages (the idea is to pray at your computer for 10 minutes). It's truly exquisitely done, very poetic, and encourages slowing down and noticing God in all things, as Ignatius of Loyola advocated. Enjoy!

P.s. if you hate the idea of praying at the computer, you can also print out the pages: it's a simple six step process.

You are holy

You are holy, Lord, the only God, and Your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong.
You are great.
You are the Most High.
You are Almighty.
You, Holy Father are King of heaven and earth.
You are Three and One, Lord God, all Good.
You are Good, all Good, supreme Good, Lord God, living and true.
You are love.
You are wisdom.
You are humility.
You are endurance.
You are rest.
You are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches, and You suffice for us.
You are beauty.
You are gentleness.
You are our protector.
You are our guardian and defender.
You are our courage.
You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith, our great consolation.
You are our eternal life, Great and Wonderful Lord, God Almighty, Merciful Saviour. Amen.

--St. Francis of Assisi

Come, Holy Spirit

Come, O true light!
Come, O eternal life!
Come, O hidden mystery!
Come, O indescribable treasure!
Come, O ineffable thing!
Come, O inconceivable person!
Come, O endless delight!
Come, O unsetting light!
Come, O true and fervent expectation
of all those who will be saved!
Come, O rising of those who lie down!
Come, O resurrection of the dead!
Come, O powerful one,
who always creates and re-creates and transforms
by your will alone!

...
Come, you whom my wretched soul
has desired and does desire!
Come, you who alone go to the lonely
for as you see I am lonely!
Come, you who have separated me from everything
and made me solitary in this world!
Come, you who have become yourself desire in me,
who have made me desire you,
the absolutely inaccessible one!
Come, O my breath and life!
Come, O consolation of my humble soul!
Come, O my joy, my glory, and my endless delight!

I thank you that you have become one spirit with me,
without confusion, without mutation,
without transformation, you the God of all;
and that you have become everything for me,
inexpressible and perfectly gratuitous nourishment,
which ever flows to the lips of my soul
and gushes out into the fountain of my heart,
dazzling garment which burns the demons,
purification which bathes me
with these imperishable and holy tears,
that your presence brings to those whom you visit....

Read entirety here, from the Orthodox saint Symeon the New Theologian

Magnificat

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.