January 1, 2013

Bulletin: January 1, 2013 New Year’s Day…

I am in my 70^th year of New Year’s. I have made resolutions galore…this year I’m going back to prayer…established prayers from favorite saints and should be saints who have inspired me. (These are from the Notre Dame Prayer book for students)… Lord help these prayers sink in!

Day by Day

Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ,

For all the benefits and blessings which you have given me, for all the pains and insults which you have borne for me.

Merciful Friend, Brother and Redeemer, May I know you more clearly,

Love you more dearly,

And follow you more nearly, Day by Day. St Richard of Chichester (1197- 1253)

The Peace Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light

And where there is sadness joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so

Much seek to be consoled as to console,

To be understood as to understand,

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. St Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

My Gift

Lord, I freely yield all my freedom to you. Take my memory, my intellect and my entire will. You have given me anything I am or have; I give it all back to you to stand under your will alone. Your love and your grace are enough for me; I shall ask for nothing more. St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

Jesus needs us

The Risen Christ is with us today, and He continues to need each one of you.

Jesus needs your eyes to continue to see. He needs your strength to continue to work.

He needs your voice to continue to teach. He needs your hands to continue to bless.

He needs your heart to continue to love. And Jesus needs your whole being to continue to build up his body, the Church.

As we believe, so let us live! Cardinal Joseph Bernadine (1928-1996)

For A Holy Heart

Lord, grant me a holy heart that sees always what is fine and pure and is not frightened at the sight of sin, but creates order wherever it goes.

Grant me a hart that knows nothing of boredom, weeping and sighing.

Let me not be too concerned with the bothersome thing I call ‘myself’.

Lord, give me a sense of humor and I will find happiness in life and profit for others.

St. Thomas More (1478-1535)

For Courage

Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to seek reward, except that of knowing that I do your will. Amen

St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)

Lord, Give me Strength

Give us your strength, Lord. Because sometimes things get tough, and we are ready to quit.

Give us your love, Lord. Because sometimes people reject us, and we are tempted to hate.

Give us your eyes, Lord. Because sometimes life gets dark, and we lose our way.

Give us your courage Lord. Because often we are put under pressure, and it’s hard to do what is right.

Give us yourself, Lord. Because our hearts were made for you, and we will not rest until we rest in you. Mark Link, S.J.

Universal Prayer for Peace

Lead me from death to life,

From falsehood to truth.

Lead me from despair to hope,

From fear to trust.

Lead me from hate to love,

From war to peace.

Let peace fill my heart, my world, my universe. Amen

Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)

For Peacefulness

Let nothing disturb you

Let nothing frighten you

Everything is changing

God alone is changeless

Patience attains the goal

One who has God lacks nothing

God alone fills our needs.

St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
Lord help each day of this New Year to respond to Your grace in leading me to You!