An invitation

In your imagination you can walk through the leaves and sit down on this bench and invite Jesus to come and talk with you. I have several things to say to Jesus about the many graces He gives each of us everyday! My gratitude journal has been neglected lately, but I do try to thank each day for the little joys and surprises. I am trying to see the good in all that happens. It is interesting to me that I have no desire to watch television as it is just too many commercials. I do want to watch a few things but now depend on the newspapers for most of my news and I do find myself praying as I read the morning paper. There is so much suffering and I just hope the Pope's plea for us all to think of the common good will make a difference in our country.

St. Madeleine Sophie said, " We are called to reproduce in our lives the commandment that Jesus call his own: the precept of charity.   We should all have the same thought; we ought to be ready to face any sacrifice in the interests of others."

And here is another quote: "Interior life is the primary need of our hearts. It is only the glory of God and zeal for the good of our neighbor that can draw us away."
Now go sit on that bench and dialogue with Jesus.

Autumn

 

 

While I enjoy still being able to swim in Miami. I do miss the brisk weather and the turning of the leaves into their brilliant autumn colors. I would love to take a drive through New England some year in the Fall months. I guess that is on my "bucket" list. Maybe next year. In fact, now that we are one Province, I would love to drive to Canada. I have been to Halifax and to Prince Edwards Island on a great vacation years ago and another time visited Toronto, but that is all I know of Canada. It is too bad that the train trip across Canada is so costly as that is one trip I still desire to make someday.

 

Since the cursor wants to act up again and only start from the center, I will cut this blog but give you another quote from St. Madeleine Sophie to think about. She said, "Let us cling to God alone and keep our gaze, our hopes, fixed on God. Let us live in peace, steeped in trust in God's goodness. Their is your source of strength; you will find it nowhere else."

 

 

September is almost over

I have just finished reading the Life of Mother Louise Callan; you can find it on Amazon and I had the Kindle edition which I read on my I-pad; I with I had had the printed edition as then I could have easily checked the notes at the end of the book while reading it. If you knew Mother Callan personally, you will want to read this book. Many of you know her because of her wonderful life of Philippine Duchesne. She taught me at Maryville and also made the retreat at St. Charles one summer when I was also making it. She had just finished the last chapter and offered to read it to us during our noonday meal. Each day of the retreat I was aware of the last days of Philippine and we were all crying by the time Mother Callan finished the chapter. I do not remember anything the priest said in that retreat, but I do remember listening to Mother Callan.
On the fifth day of the retreat, Reverend Mother Walsh arrived to tell me that I would not be going back to Villa Duchesne in September (I had made my vows in December and then taught at Villa from January to June and then went to twelve weeks of summer school and was actually missing class to make my retreat at St. Charles.

What an example has been given to us...

If you have been reading my blog for the last years, you know how grateful I am to Pope Francis; he has inspired so many to reach out to others and to proclaim the Good News with joy! I think this visit to the United States has been very good for all of us and it is amazing that he can accomplish so much in such a short time. It is as if Jesus were visiting and I think Jesus would be saying the same things and reaching out to all.

Now we must pray that the synod of Bishops will also follow the Pope's lead and make decisions that are full of compassion. I also hope that Pope Francis will push for a greater role for women in the Church today. I have not followed all the television coverage, but just feel so good about the entire visit. I think he has touched many hearts. He is an example for all of us.

The Holy Spirit

In this blog I have often mentioned over the years my efforts to develop a personal relationship with each Person in the Blessed Trinity. The Holy Spirit is invoked by me often for help, but I was thinking that I ought also to be thanking the Spirit for all the aid I constantly receive. I get carried away when I begin to think of the Trinity and how each Person is constantly loving and not one of us is forgotten. It is such a mystery, but after reading the daily news I just need to confide the world to God again each day. It does not help to get depressed over the violence, the suffering, the needless deaths because people carry guns, etc. - I do feel helpless, but God is all-powerful and all-loving and so I am consoled by the fact that God does care for our world and for each of us.

Pope Francis spoke of the culture of encounter. I liked what he said so much that it is one of my goals. Here is the quote I copied in my journal. I hope I have it right as I did not give the source:
"To be a person of dialogue, committed to the culture of encounter, who looks for the best in people and is not judgmental..."
We encounter others each day - let us look for the good in each and never be critical as we cannot judge another.

Walking in the footsteps of St. Madeleine Sophie

Because we celebrate St. Madeleine Sophie's feast on May 25th, every month in Chile, we had special devotions for her. I do not know if this is done in others countries, but it has stayed with me to make the 25th a special day and I try to honor Sophie who means so much to me. The Society of the Sacred Heart owes her so much. She was the foundation stone in 1800 who would be chosen as our first Mother General; she governed the Society of the Sacred Heart for 65 years! I am just with her this month thinking of how much she suffered from her foot.

She wanted to live under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. She also urged us to listen to Jesus.
Here is a quote from her:
"Great should be our zeal and ardor in acquiring the very spirit of the Heart of Jesus, so that we may be able to communicate it to all who come in contact with us."

May we follow Sophie's example and act always under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit!

We are encountered so as to encounter others

According to Pope Francis, every time the Lord visits us, he calls us out of our house. "God's presence in our lives never leaves us tranquil; it always pushes to do something. When God comes, he always calls us out of our house. We are visited so that we can visit others; we are encountered so as to encounter others; we receive love in order to give love."

Have I encountered God today? How has God shown me His love? Who have I encountered? Did I pass on that love? I think these are questions to ask ourselves each day. We can always take time to encounter someone by e-mail or phone or at work or wherever.

Mary and Martha

I was praying about how Martha welcomed Jesus into her home and was bustling about to serve Him. Mary also welcomed Jesus but was content just to be with Him. Martha then decides that Mary should be helping her, but Jesus tells her that she is troubled about many things but Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her. Now, I remember giving this passage as to be meditated on during a directed retreat in Chile. The retreatant came back and told me that she was upset with Jesus; she thought Jesus should have agreed with Martha and told Mary to help her. 
I have always longed to be Mary but I am often Martha. The big problem is not to resent whatever role falls to me at that time. I still can be Mary sometimes and a contented Martha at other times. The important thing is to find joy in the many things and not let them trouble us.

Our vocation as Religious of the Sacred Heart is both active and contemplative. I think God gives a special grace so we can be both. It is never either or but both - certainly both prayer and ministry have given me joy for over 65 years of religious life. God keeps surprising me with new ways to give Him joy!

Of many things

Today I am praying to St. Madeleine Sophie and realizing how much she suffered from her foot. Since Thursday night, I have been in pain from my right foot. There is no comfortable position when I am in bed so I have not slept well for the past four nights. One takes for granted that everything will work as it should. I do not think this is serious as my doctor looked at it on Friday and just offered pain pills which I refused. I keep hoping it will be better and I can walk on it, have been in the pool, and then tried to act as if all was well. I am thinking today that I need to do something more. If you are reading this, please pray to St. Madeleine Sophie for me. I might also try St. Philippine Duchesne as I have her relic and she has taken good care of me for years. I need to be able to drive so it is important to cure this foot.

Well, that is probably the most unspiritual reflection I have written in all my years of writing a daily blog. Forgive me, but when one member of the body hurts, all the members suffer, too. My head is full of thoughts of a dear Religious of the Sacred Heart who went to God yesterday; it is also thinking of my community member who is in rehab. And then there is the joy of having the Pope in Cuba and coming to the United States.

Here is a quote from St. Madeleine Sophie: "Let us ask the spirit of fortitude to enable us to overcome generously the obstacles to our perfection-all the little miseries that trouble and preoccupy us. In a word, we may rise above these pettinesses so that we may forget ourselves and think only of God's interests."

Vocation within a vocation

This year of consecrated life has been special for all Religious; we have renewed ourselves in the charism of our Founder or Foundress. We have revisited our vocation and our vocation within our vocation, if we have discovered that. I think it took me some time to realize that my vocation within my vocation was to pipe a song of joy to Jesus; yet, when I look back over the years, it was always joy that was attracting me - to give joy to Jesus and to others. I was convinced that joy was what I had to give, but I did not realize that it is really a vocation within my vocation. This discovery has been a grace and I thank the Lord for it frequently!

In retreat my first year in Chile, I wrote about all the joys that a Religious of the Sacred Heart has each day. I felt inspired when I sat down to do this on the last day of the retreat. Unfortunately, without making a copy, I showed it to my superior who asked to send it to Rome. Now I wish I could remember all that I wrote then.

Keeping a gratitude journal these past years has helped me to be conscious of the many daily joys we have. When I am grateful, I am usually joyful.

The disciples are slow-learners

This appeared early through a mistake.
The Sunday Gospel begins by Mark telling us that "Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not want anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples..."

And what was he teaching them? "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise. But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him."

How could they have understood what Jesus was telling them? They could understand the part perhaps where he would be handed over and killed, but certainly the idea that he will rise three days after his death was such a startling concept for them that they were not even able to ask a question.

Since they could not grasp this teaching, they continued with their own agenda; they were "discussing among themselves on the way who was greatest." When they reached Capernaum and are inside the house, Jesus asks them what they were arguing about on the way. They remain silent. So than Jesus tells them that "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all."

Jesus has to teach by example. he is still trying to teach them when the night before he is handed over, he washes their feet. He has told them to learn of him who is meek and humble of heart. He says the same to us. Am I a slow-learner?

Wisdom from above

This is not a very good photo but it does show our tiny Chapel with a view of one end of the pool. I love the Chapel and find that Jesus waits for me in it every afternoon. It is so helpful to be able to just sit in front of the Blessed Sacrament and words are not needed. I do listen and know that sometimes I hear God speaking to me.

This Sunday's second reading is from the Letter of St. James and this is what jumped out at me: "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconsistency or insincerity. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace."

Am I gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits? How consistent am I?

I think that following Jesus takes courage; we need this wisdom from above in order to be peace-makers. And our world is in such need of peace - peace in our hearts, peace in our communities, peace in the city, peace in the country, peace in the world.

Memories of Chile

I am celebrating with all the Chileans today, their Independence Day. The picture has Chilean horses ridden by the ocean and makes me think of the wonderful days I spent on the beaches in Chile. It is such a beautiful country and the people are so special that I am just grateful for the twenty years I was able to spend as a missionary there. I am grateful for the friendship of so many in all the places I lived and worked in Chile.

I am reflecting today on a quote from this week's "America", the September 14 issue where Gerard O'Connell, in his Vatican Dispatch says that Pope Francis is "a man of dialogue, committed to the culture of encounter, who looks for the best in people and is not judgmental." He has a great deal more to say about the Pope, but I am hoping that I can just try to live the above: to be a woman of dialogue, committed to the culture of encounter, who looks for the best in people and is not judgmental. I feel as if the Holy Spirit wants me to work at this and love the idea of being committed to a culture of encounter.

I wrote about celebrating with the Chileans before I heard about the earthquake. I lived in Coquimbo and so know what damage the fifteen foot waves must have done; Coquimbo is a port and is in the poorest region of Chile. Then, Valparaiso must have also had some damage and all along the coast there would be danger from the waves. I feel for the people there.

Priorities

I read something somewhere about writing down your five top priorities. I started to reflect about this and wonder if my goals are the same as priorities. And, how do I answer that question? I know that I am trying to give priority to the interior life, my prayer, my relationship with Jesus but also with the Father and the Holy Spirit. I would like to give priority to those who need me; to stay in relationship with some who are alone and often lonely. I guess one of my priorities is helping others to grow spiritually. It is just a question that started a new reflection today. Maybe it will help you to reflect on your priorities, too. I think it is perhaps easier to think of priorities for today and tomorrow rather than my long-term ones.

Stress creeps up on us

I have always thought of myself as being a relaxed person and, under stress, still able to let things roll off my back and stay calm. This is what I have thought and that is the way my Dad always seemed. I thought I had inherited his temperament.

 I have decided on reflection this week that I do let stress creep into my life and it does have an effect on me. I even feel stiff in my shoulders, impatient with myself and wondering why I am letting stress creep into my life. One reason, of course, is that we one of my community is in the hospital. I suffer when I see her suffering and there is nothing I can do about this except pray. Usually, I am relaxed after prayer. When I was at our Elder Care Residence last year, my blood pressure was checked every evening. I noticed that when I had just come from the Chapel it was at its lowest. This to me is proof that sitting in the Presence of God is a great way to relieve stress. Swimming is another way for me to really relax. I guess reading is still another way. If I am sharing all of this today, it is because we all need to be alert and stop that stress that wants to creep up on us when we are not even aware that we begin to feel "tight",  less understanding of others, and maybe even feel angry with ourselves. Take a deep breath, then go do something that will relieve the stress before you take it out on others. This is the advice I am giving to myself, but maybe it will help you, too.

Known and loved

Jesus loves us just as we are. He knows us and He loves us. That realization always brings gratitude and joy to my heart. I am known, with all my faults and failings, and I am loved! This love of the Heart of Jesus for each of us is an infinite love that surpasses all that we can imagine.

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. In the prayer that I often say before beginning my own prayer in the morning, there is a part where I ask Mary, "Mother of Sorrows,  teach me how to penetrate into the depths of the wound in the Heart of your Divine Son, my Spouse, my Savior, and my God, that I may be lost in it forever."

His Heart, Open for us

One thing that comes through when reading the different homilies and talks of Pope Francis is his concern for others. He is living and teaching as Jesus would, if Pope. I think Jesus would prefer to be walking around in one of the poorest countries today and just being with the people and teaching them about God's love.

Sometimes my morning hour of prayer carries me through the day. I suspect it always does, but I am conscious of the strength of that hour or more of quiet prayer before I leave my room permeating my day. It gives me strength and joy and that helps me to have these qualities for others.

This morning I went back to a passage from a Conference given by our Mother General at that time, Clare Pratt, in 2003 for our young Religious in Rome before their final profession. Each group always receives a name and a devise. This time, the name was "The Open and Welcoming Heart of Jesus" with the devise: "Through his wounds we are healed." (Is 53,5)

What stayed with me was how the Heart of Jesus, the core of His being, is where He invites us, "calls us home"  His Heart is always open to welcome us and we are invited to enter it, "rest in it and find there the healing that we seek, that we cannot bring about ourselves."

Sunday thoughts

When I hear Jesus asking me, "Who do you say that I am?"  I am needing an entire page in my journal to answer the question. For me, Jesus is Spouse, best friends, my Lord and my God, Father, Good Shepherd, my Beloved, the Way, Consoler, the One who loves me unconditionally, One who knows and understands me better than I do myself; Teacher, Example of one who is meek and humble of heart, Son of the Father and Second Person of the Holy Trinity, etc.
I am sure I had more in my Journal but these answers come to mind as I sit here in front of the computer. I hope we will all listen to Jesus as He calls us to ponder His questions anew.

Who Am I?

Jesus asks his disciples the question: "Who do people say that I am?" They tell him. Then he asks: 'But you, who do you say I am?
Jesus is still asking this question of each of us. And, I think, Jesus also wants us to ask ourselves, "Who am I?" Why am I here? What am I called to be? I am sure that Jesus asked himself these same questions after his baptism by John. Then he went off to the desert and spent forty days pondering these same questions or similar ones. Only then did he come back and begin to call others and to talk to them about the reign of God. Let us take time this week end to ponder anew these same questions.

This is a picture that intrigues me. Why is the man standing in the boat? Is he trying to haul in a fish? I really do not know and can only guess. I think I do a great deal of that in my daily life. It is dangerous to interpret something when I have no idea of why a person is doing what she or he seems to be doing. I can easily make a mistake and before you know it, I have a whole story about what I thought I saw. I may be judging the other, attributing motives, etc. Reverend Mother Bulto, one of our Mother Generals, once told us in Chile that she never judged another because she knew that she acted with good intentions and had to believe that others did, too, no matter how the scene appeared.
Judge not and you will not be judged; think positive thoughts and see the good in all and you will be filled with joy!

Taking Others To God

When we pray for others, we are really taking them to God.
I have been thinking about how the deaf man's friends took him to Jesus and remembering how the paralytic's friends had even taken up the roof to get him to Jesus; Jesus healed both and so I am spending time this week really taking all my friends to God. I sit in the Presence of Jesus in our tiny Chapel and offer them to Jesus, one by one. I say their names and pray for each. This is something I am cultivating now; I have usually just asked Jesus to take care of my friends although I mentally called to mind some I thought had greater need or I had promised to pray for recently, but never went through and took each friend to Jesus. Now, I feel it is important to do this. Perhaps I will only do it for a week or so, but it is helping me right now to do it.

I am grateful for all the friends I have who also take me to prayer. I also believe in the Communion of Saints and know that Jesus hears from my friends in heaven when I am in need. I am sure my parents are great intercessors.

Wisdom from St. Madeleine Sophie

I feel that St. Madeleine Sophie wants me to share some of her wisdom today. These are just a few quotes that may help you:

"Let us ask for the spirit of fortitude to enable us to overcome generously the obstacles to our perfection --all the little miseries that trouble and preoccupy us. In a word, we may rise above these pettinesses so that we may forget ourselves and think only of God's interests."

"It is costly to remain in miserable mediocrity belonging neither to God now or to oneself. It is like swimming between two currents; it is dangerous and painful. Let us hurry and go with the current; once there the Holy Spirit will move us along and we will arrive in port more surely.

"Interior life is the primary need of our hearts. It is only the glory of God and zeal for the good of our neighbor that can draw us away."

We receive from Him and then go out to work for Him

I am sorry that I cannot get this bit I copied from the Internet to go to larger print but I think it worth reflecting on today.

This reflection is taken from (in)Courage

"I was doing many things, pouring myself out for God, but not really spending time getting refilled by God. 
Maybe you can relate?
We run at a breakneck pace to try and achieve what God simply wants us to slow down enough to receive.
He really does have it all worked out. The gaps are filled. The provision is ready. The needs are met. The questions are answered. The problems are solved.
And the parts He’s purposed for us? He’s got it all perfectly portioned out in assignments meant for us today. No more. No less.
All He asks is that we personally receive from Him before setting out to work for Him. In doing so we are fueled by His power and encouraged by His presence. This is the daily sacred exchange where ministry duty turns into pure delight.
It’s not hard to serve the One with whom we are crazy in love.
And He is most pleased when we are most focused on Him. Not only doing things for Him but rather being with Him no matter what we are doing.
He’s perfectly capable of doing everything that needs to be accomplished. He actually doesn’t need us..."

Feast of Our Lady's Nativity

Today we celebrate the birthday of Mary. She lived in a tiny village, was just one of the children but God had chosen her from before her birth to be the Mother of Jesus. Mary did not know this and even when visited by the Angel Gabriel, she could have said "no". God invites us, but never forces us to do anything. I hope He keeps pursuing us when we do not heed His invitations, but Mary was faithful and is a model for us.

I guess I am realizing what it must have meant for her to say "yes" to being the Mother of Jesus. She suffered greatly, but now spends time consoling us in all our troubles!

Labor Day

Happy Labor Day to all!
Melissa Musick Nussbaum has a reflection at the beginning of Give Us This Day, for September. She is writing for all types of communities- families, people bond not by blood but shared interests, etc. and, of course, religious communities are included. I am only sharing the first sentence of her reflection which has the title "In the Wilds of a Household".

"When I realized that St. Benedict had survived two attempts by his own monks to poison him, I knew I'd found someone who understands what it is to live in community."

Later she mentions toothpaste in the sink rather than foreign policy as the cause for squabble. I can relate to this as I love having a clean, orderly house and that just does not seem to be realistic so I must change my expectations. One can only change oneself. On the other hand, community is a wonderful experience when we live together and can laugh, pray, and share our lives. One feels part of the ministry of others. I have found much joy in living in community. However, I suspect there is some truth in the saying that even my mother used to quote after my Dad retired: "I married your father for life but not for lunch."

Sunday Scripture

Many people only hear the Word of God when it is read at the Sunday liturgies. I was thinking about this and realize that is one reason the Holy Father keeps asking us to read the Gospels everyday. He gave away small books of the Gospels so that people could carry them with them.
The readings at Mass are important and carefully chosen for Sundays so that there is a connection between the first reading and the Gospel. My parish church, St. Thomas, the Apostle, projects the reading on the wall which I find very helpful. Many of the congregation speak Spanish at home and, although there are Spanish Masses in all the parishes, more are in English and so it helps to have the readings projected on the walls on either side of the altar. I suppose that those of us who are hearing impaired appreciate this and I wish the homilies could have three points and have these on the wall, too.

This Sunday we see the care with which the Lord healed the man who had the speech impairment and probably he did not speak correctly because he was deaf. Jesus was also opening his ears so he could hear. All of us need to pray that Jesus opens our ears each day to hear His voice, to be attentive to the Holy Spirit, and then learn to speak to others of the goodness of the Lord!

Fear not, be strong...

The reading from Isaiah for Sunday's Mass reminds us again that we are not to be afraid. Whatever happens to us should not cause us to fear as we are loved by God. God cares for each of us and is always with us. I should be so grateful for His loving care, but I often forget to trust Him.  Perhaps that is why Isaiah says, "Be strong, fear not..." A trusting person is strong with the strength of God.

In Sunday's Gospel, Jesus heals the man who is deaf and cannot speak well. One commentary says that the man was probably not born deaf as he was not really mute. The fact is that he was suffering from his inability to communicate; Jesus was attentive to his need, took him aside, and healed him. I think this Gospel makes me want to pray more for people who suffer so that I bring them to Jesus in prayer and allow Jesus to do what is best for each.
My own profound hearing loss has brought me many graces and I do my best to be grateful and to realize what a gift it has been for me. At the same time, I struggle when I cannot hear. The truth is that even the struggle is a grace for me. And then there are the advantages of being able to take off my hearing aids and have absolute quiet!

Perhaps I will have a more spiritual reflection tomorrow!

Labor Day Week End

There is something exciting about a three-day week end, even if I am now retired. It used to be that schools only started after Labor Day, but only old-timers can remember that. I do not think I have ever done anything extraordinary over this long week end, but we have often used it for community planning, praying together, setting goals for the year, doing the community budget, and maybe going out for a meal. So far this year we have not planned because we are now only three in the community and one is ill. Perhaps I will cook something special.

My reflection is about taking time to think about the "labor" that awaits us this year and pray that we may do it well and with joy. We really never know all the work we will be called on to do (even if we are retired) and we need the wisdom and strength of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, let us rejoice that we have a long week end to pray and prepare spiritually for the academic work many of us are involved in - even if it is only trying to keep up with our children's or grandchildren's homework.

"Rapidification"

In the beginning of his encyclical, Laudato Si, Pope Francis looks at what is happening to our common home. He talks about the intensified pace of life and work "which might be called 'rapidification'." It is a good word to describe what is happening. Human activity has developed with a speed that contrasts with the slower pace of biological evolution. And the Pope points out that the goals of this rapid change are not necessarily geared to the common good.

Today we are hearing from many potential presidential candidates. How are they seeking the common good.

In Miami, there are so many killed by guns; we have drive-by shootings with no regard for human life. Someone told me this morning that over 30,000 die from guns each year and yet the NRA fights against sensible restrictions on guns. There are more suicides today because of access to guns. Crime has increased. Many children are killed because there are guns in their homes. I guess I keep getting incensed with the senseless killings we read about almost daily.

Making it easy to buy a gun is not thinking of the common good!

Where have you met Jesus?

We always remember the places where we have met Jesus; Pope Francis tells us it is good to revisit these places. It is the advice of many spiritual directors to go back in memory to your peak experiences in prayer. Often, we not only remember the place, but the time of day, the weather, what we were wearing, etc. We find strength and joy in doing this and are filled with gratitude. There are times when the encounter with Jesus has marked our lives. Let us revisit these today and thank the Lord for coming to us.

I guess every encounter with Jesus has marked our lives, but we are so unconscious of His Presence that we are often unaware and need to reflect back on our day to see where Jesus was not only present but giving us grace in so many ways.

On Care for Our Common Home

This week I am rereading Laudato Si, or "Care for Our Common Home". This time I am trying to take some notes as there is so much to pray over in Pope Francis' Encyclical. Now, today is dedicated to prayer for our creation so I am copying here a prayer Pope Francis gives at the end of the encyclical that "we can share with all who believe in a God who is the all-powerful Creator":

All powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of you love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Teach the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey toward your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.