Christ to Bless ~ A Morning Prayer

The Blessing of Christ ~ Hans Hemling (1481)

Christ to bless my mind and the thoughts of this new day.

Christ to bless my heart and its rhythmic beating.

Christ to bless my heart again and all its feeling.

Christ to bless my eyes and all their viewing.

Christ to bless my ears and their sensitive listening.

Christ to bless my nose and each life-breath inhaled.

Christ to bless my hands and every thing they give or receive.

Christ to bless my mouth and every word spoken.

Christ to bless my feet and the path they walk.

Christ to bless the work I undertake.

Christ to bless the prayers I pray.

Christ to bless my setting out and my returning.

Christ to bless my advances and my setbacks.

Christ to bless these friends of mine.

Christ to bless my family in its complexity.

Christ to bless my discipleship.

Christ to bless those I've failed or offended.

Christ to bless the days remaining. 

Fr. Stephen Morris

Invoking the Garden Saints ~ A Morning Prayer for the Nation

There are saints beyond counting, most of whom fit into one category or another. Of course, there are the apostles. Then there are martyr-saints, saints who were kings and queens, monks and nuns, popes and bishops. There are saints who were married with children (finally recognizing that lay people are supposed to be holy too). Dig around (no pun intended) and we see there's even a category of Garden Saints. 

Here's a home-made morning prayer we might offer on behalf of our needy country (and others too) suffering, what Pope Francis has called, an epidemic of animosity. But the right politics won't put us back together. As a nation we need to do some very deep, personal, inner work - sometimes called spiritual gardening. Might the Garden Saints plant seeds of new goodness, unity, reconciliation, courtesy and healing in our hearts. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

I arise today in the gentling of Francis,

   in his lauding of the Creator.

I arise today in the common sense of Brigid,

   in her community-building and inner flame.

I arise today in the discipline of Cuthbert,

   in his interior hermitage and animal friendships.

I arise today in the persuasion of Ansovino,

   in his awareness of the littlest and sharing of plenty.

Holy Dorothy of Caesarea,

   we'll need your patience today.

Holy Elizabeth of Hungary,

   may we care for one another.

Holy Fiacre of Meaux,

   may our hearts be closed to no one.

Holy Isidore and Maria,

   bless us in our prayer.

Holy Kessog of Scotland,

   cover us with justice.

Holy Nauchlan of Deeside,

   stave off our spiritual hunger.

The ever-bloom of Mother Mary, be ours this new day.
The generosity of Phocas, be ours this new day.

The watchful gaze of Magnus, be ours this new day.

The non-hate of Werenfried, be ours this new day.

The ordinariness of Adelard, be ours this new day. 

May Joseph, whose staff bloomed lilies, delight us.
May Swithin the rain-maker, uphold us.

May Rita, whose winter-garden bore figs, shield us.

May Urban, who tended vines, strengthen us. 

May Valentine, with his rooster, inspire us.

Thanks to You, O God ~ Morning Prayer

The conjunction of Mars, Jupiter and Venus in October's morning sky

Thanks to you, O God, in the night-time breathing;

the beating of my heart.

Thanks to you, O God, the icon's nimbus,
like the rising of the sun.

Thanks to you, O God, for the presence of planets;
the angel-world's care.

Thanks to you, O God, in my looking upon the earth;
my feet touching the ground.

Thanks to you, O God, the first thought of Mary's smile;
the blessing-Child in her arms.

Thanks to you, O God, in the receiving of water
and the tasting of food.

Thanks to you, O God, in the lighting of candles
and the kissing of the altar.

Thanks to you, O God, in the little dog's greeting;
the misty walk,
the wet-leaf color.

Thanks to you, O God: the wild stream, the waterfall,
echo of heaven's tune.

The nimbus coming into focus ~ like the sun rising