Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Beautiful prayers


After I'm done with the song of songs I'll be doing a series of posts on prayers. I'm going to pick a few and look at the beauty of their poetry and theology.

Does anyone have any favorites from your own traditions?

I know I'll do:

The Prayer of St. Francis

And my favorites from Ignatius of Loyola:

Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more. Amen.


And

O my God, teach me to be generous:
to serve you as you deserve to be served;
to give without counting the cost;
to fight without fear of being wounded;
to work without seeking rest;
and to spend myself without expecting any reward,
but the knowledge that I am doing your holy will.

Hail Holy Queen will have to be there too.

I'll probably end the whole series with the Rosary.

But suggestions don't have to be Catholic. Prayers from any Christian tradition are fine.

3 comments:

DavidNic said...

I had not heard that. My prayers are there. A good 4th to you Peter!

Derek Lee is back for the Cubs!!

VIVA said...

Hello everyone.
I didn't want to be the first, but I see I don't have a choice ;)

The first prayer is
"Prayer To Our Lady, Help Of Christians"
By St. John Bosco.
"Most Holy Virgin Mary,
Help of Christian,
how sweet it is to come to your feet imploring your perpetual help.
If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children,
how can you,the most loving of all mothers forget me?
Grant then to me, I implore you,
your perpetual help in all my necessities,
in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations.
I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering.
Help the weak, cure the sick,
convert sinners.
Grant through your intercessions many vocations to the religious life.
Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,
that having invoked you on earth we may love and eternally thank you in heaven."


And the second is
"Guardian Angel Prayer"
Guardian Angel from heaven so bright,
Watching beside me to lead me aright,
Fold thy wings round me, and guard me with love,
Softly sing songs to me of heaven above. Amen.

DavidNic said...

I really like both of those. The guardian angel one is very beautiful and the one to Our Lady Help of Christians touches the heart in our current world.

Thanks!