That I live
That I breathe
That I see and hear, even a little
That I have a heart to feel
A mind to know and remember by,
I thank you most bountiful and close God
Made one with us in Jesus Christ
And present to us
Even in the million ways I forget
John Kavanaugh, S.J., Philosophy
May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of you who choose to claim it.
St. Therese of Lisieux (The Little Flower)
O God, all holy one,
you are our Mother and our Father,
and we are your children.
Open our eyes and our hearts
so that we may be able to discern
your work in the universe.
And be able to see Your features
in every one of Your children.
May we learn that there are many paths
but all lead to You.
Help us to know that you have created us
for family, for togetherness,
for peace, for gentleness,
for compassion, for caring, for sharing.
May we know that You want us
to care for one another
as those who know
that they are sisters and brothers,
members of the same family,
Your family,
the human family.
Help us to beat our swords into plowshares
and our spears into pruning hooks,
so that we may be able to live
in peace and harmony,
wiping away the tears
from the eyes of those
who are less fortunate than ourselves.
And may we know war no more,
as we strive to be
what You want us to be:
Your children.
Amen.
Archbishop Desmond M. Tutu
Excerpted from Living God’s Justice: Reflections and Prayers, compiled by The Roundtable Association of Diocesan Social Action Directors, National Pastoral Life Center Editorial Board (St. Anthony Messenger Press).
Compassionate God, Mother of All
Bless every person I have met
Every face I have seen
Every voice I have heard
Especially those most dear
Bless every city, town and street that I have known
Every sight I have seen
Every sound I have heard
Every object I have touched
In some mysterious way these have all fashioned my life
All that I am I have received
Great God, Bless the World!
By: Fr. Jack Morris, SJ (Founder of the Jesuit Volunteer Corps)
The totality of my being I turn over to the Lord.
My entire existence I lay in His hands so that He may do with it whatever He likes.
My talents and inabilities,
My passions and boredoms,
My consolations and desolations
My true and false selves;
All of these I lay in His hands
so that His will be done.
For He has emancipated me from the evil one,
and on His wings He has delivered me
to a new life across despair-swept seas
to the shores of Eden, upon which Jesus sits by a charcoal fire . . .
I say, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you!”
And I follow Him to feed His sheep.
May my every breath, thought, feeling, wave of the tongue,
work of my hands, mind, soul, and heart be a proclamation of gratitude to God.
My Beloved, my Abba, my Savior;
the Provenance and Author of all I am,
and ever hope to be.
By: Tom Olson, S.J.
