Prayer Corner
Prayers
Composed by Rev. Michael Joncas for the time of the Covid-19 pandemic
Posted on youtube.com by Spiritu on May 10, 2020
Prayers and suggestions to nurture our faith during the Coronavirus Pandemic are available on the Calgary Diocesan CWL website at this time.
Airdrie Sunrise courtesy of Joan Bailey
Morning Praise
By Joyce Rupp
In spirit and body, let us join together to praise the Holy One and offer out thanks for the beginning of each new day.
I thank you, Holy One, for the gift of another day of life.
I reach out in compassion to my sisters and brothers throughout the universe. I give to you all I am and all I have.
I open my entire being to receive the gift that you have waiting for me in this new day.
I touch this planet Earth with awe, reverence and gratitude – promising to call well for her today.
May I be united with you throughout this day, aware of your love strengthening me and shining through me.
Amen
Thank-you to Dolores MacGillivary for sharing this.
Prayer From Past President
The following prayer was composed by Mary Ryan, Past President, St. Dunstan Parish Council, Fredericton, New Brunswick:
Lord, season after season,
You continue to renew the face of the earth,
“For the greatness and beauty of created things
Comes a corresponding perception of their Creator.” (1)
Teach us, Lord,
As members of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada,
To become attuned to our need to protect
The beauty of our common home.
May our efforts lead us to sustain its natural order
So that, the words of Pope Francis,
Our heritage is never “deprived of physical contact
with nature.” (2)
Amen.
(1) The Wisdom of Solomon 3:5
(2) Francis.”Decline in the Quality of Human Life and the Breakdown of Society” Laudato Si, 24 May 2015: 44. Web.
The Canticle of All Creatures
by St. Francis of Assisi
Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You, my Lord, through our Sister,
Mother Earth who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praised be You, my Lord, through those who grant pardon
for love of You and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
By You Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Death,
from whom no one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.
Prayer for the Protection of Human Life
Heavenly Father, Lord and Maker of all that is good,
fill our hearts with joy before the wonders of Your creation.
Open our eyes to the presence of Your beloved Son Jesus in all those we encounter
and especially in the weakest and most vulnerable among us.
Where we see life threatened,
at its beginning or at its end, or by poverty and deprivation,
inspire us with love and mercy, so that, empowered by Your Holy Spirit,
we may work together to defend human dignity.
Help us to build a culture of life: a culture in which each and every person
is loved and valued as Your child,
from conception to natural death, and in every circumstance of life.
Amen.
Beatitudes for Caregivers
Blessed are those who sleep poorly because they’re worried about their loved one or because their loved one wakes in the middle of the night and needs help, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn because their loved one, though still alive, is slipping away because of dementia, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek who force themselves to speak up and speak out to make sure their loved one receives the help he or she needs, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for answers to why this is happening to their loved one and how much longer it will go on, for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are those who show mercy, kindness, and compassion to their loved one, for they will be shown mercy, kindness and compassion.
Blessed are those who keep clean a loved one who is physically or mentally unable to keep himself or herself clean, for they will see God.
Blessed are those who help their loved one find moments of peace, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are misunderstood, not appreciated and taken for granted in their role as caregiver, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those whose caregiving efforts are unjustly criticized—or who are falsely accused of not caring about others—because of your love for your care-receiver and your love for God, who has asked you to help His beloved son or daughter. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
Monica Dodds – catholicherald.com
Meshing God’s Will with Our Will
I don’t know if you have ever seen the CBC television show “Heartland”. On the show, Amy works with her horse as a horse whisperer. As she walks along, her horse follows her without reins or a harness. Without speaking to the horse, she then moves in front of the horse in a sort of dance.
This sight is beautiful in how the dance is executed. The horse imitates her movements. If the horse doesnot know her or trust her, the horse would not do it. The horse would move away from her if she pproached or spoke to the horse.
Have you ever thought of the relationship of your will to Jesus’s will? Are you learning to know Jesus and His Will for you? Do you trust Jesus’s will for you? Are you listening to Him when He speaks to you, directs you? He is waiting, asking you to follow His Will.
Pray that your will and Jesus’s Will meshes, will become one. He will lead the dance. Then your life will be a beautiful dance – your movement and Jesus’s Movements as one.
During Lent, may the Holy Spirit give you the graces of strength to act with justice, courage to love each other tenderly and a deep faith to follow in the walk with Jesus.
CWL Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Good and gracious God, we give thanks
for the many blessings that we receive
from You through your Divine Spirit.
Open our hearts and minds as we
ask for your guidance in developing
practical ways that will best reflect
the Catholic Women’s League
today and tomorrow.
Breathe into us right judgement
and courage to know and understand
Your will in our endeavours.
Be with us always so that in all things
we may act under the influence
of Your holy inspiration.
We ask this in your holy name.
Amen