Prayers for all Occasions 2

GIVING THANKS

O Divine Gift-giver,

I stand beneath the endless waterfall

of your abundant gifts to me.

I thank you especially for the blessing of life,

the most precious of all Your gifts to me.

I thank you, Ever-generous One,

for clothing to wear,

for food and drink to nourish my body,

for all the talents and skills that You have bestowed upon me.

I thank you for the many joys of my life,

for family and friends,

for work that gives to me a sense of purpose

and invests my life with meaning.

I thank You as well

for the suffering and trials of my life

which are also gifts

and which together with my mistakes are among my most important teachers.

Grant that I may never greet a new day

without the awareness of some gift

for which to give you thanks.

And may constant thanksgiving

be my song of perpetual praise to you.

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PSALM OF FEARLESSNESS

I am surrounded by a peaceful ebbing

as creation bows to the mystery of life;

all that grows and lives must give up life,

yet it does not really die.

as plants surrender their life,

bending, brown and wrinkled,

and yellow leaves of trees

float to my lawn like parachute troops, they do so in a sea of serenity.

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I hear no fearful cries from creation,

no screams of terror,

as death daily devours

once-green and growing life.

Peaceful and calm is autumn's swan song,

for she understands

that hidden in winter's death-grip

is spring's open-handed

full-brim breath of life.

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It is not a death rattle that sounds

over fields and backyard fences;

rather I hear a lullaby

softly swaying upon the autumn wind.

Sleep in peace, all that lives;

slumber secure, all that is dying,

for in every fall there is the rise

whose sister's name is spring.

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GOD HAS A PLAN FOR MY LIFE

God has created me to do Him some definite service.

He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another.

I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.

I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.

He has not created for me a naught.

I shall do good; I shall do His work.

I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place,

while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments.

Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away.

If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him.

f I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.

He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about.

He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers.

He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me.

Still, He knows what He is about.

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DAY FOR LIFE PRAYER​

We thank you Lord for the gift of life.

Help us to appreciate the unique dignity

of every person and the individual

contribution they make to the world,

in fulfillment of the task you give them.

Enable us by your grace to promote their

wellbeing, serving you in one another

in a spirit of generosity,

through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

"Only the great certitude of hope that my

own life and history in general, despite all its

setbacks and failures, are held firm by the

indestructible power of Love, and that this

gives them their meaning and importance,

only this kind of hope can give the

courage to act and to preserve."

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Pope Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi, n.35

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PSALM 80

Eternal Listener, give heed to

your people.

You, who are our Guide and our

Light!

You, who dwell amidst the angels,

shine forth into the heart of

all nations!

Enliven your people with compassion

that peace and justice

might flourish.

Restore us, O Holy One;

let your face shine upon us,

teach us to love!

Gentle Teacher, help us to turn

to You in prayer,

fasting from our negative thoughts.

In your steadfast love, You weep

with our tears,

tears that rise from fear,

doubt, and illusion.

You uphold us when we feel the sting

of pride,

when anxiety threatens to

paralyse us.

Restore us, O Holy One;

let your face shine upon us,

teach us to love!

You companion us through the wilderness,

through the shadows created by fear.

You plant your Seed into each heart.

You uproot the weeds of our sin,

You cultivate the soil of our

goodness.

Truly, in You, we become like a tiny

acorn,

holding the secret of a mighty oak.

You nourish us with the food of Love,

with streams of Living Water.

Be our strength as we break down walls

that separate and divide;

let not fear pluck away the gifts

we would share.

Roll away the stones that become obstacles

to growth,

to producing a bountiful harvest.

Receive our gratitude, O Heart of

all hearts!

Look upon us and see what

Love can do;

rejoice in the new birth

that You create!

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O LORD, FORGIVE

O Lord, forgive.

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Our insensitivity to the needs of others,

O Lord, forgive.

Our prejudice and fear that prevent us from loving,

O Lord, forgive.

The narrowness of our vision and our shrinking from your demands,

O Lord, forgive.

Our resentment against those who have hurt us,

O Lord, forgive.

Our desire to do your work in our way,

O Lord, forgive.

Our impatience with those who are different from us,

O Lord, forgive.

Our failure to listen properly to other points of view,

O Lord, forgive.

Our fear of coming out of the fortress of our own souls into fuller life and deeper love,

O Lord, forgive.

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PRAYER FOR ONE WHO YEARNS FOR A NEW HEART

Spirit of God,

I feel too tired to go on,

too empty even to want to be filled,

too broken to put the pieces together again.

Still, I feel a quiet stirring in me.

It is the call to come back to life, to be energised and renewed.

It is my heart crying out for newness,

for a lighter spirit, for a keener sense of hope in the future.

Spirit of God, who draws together bones of the desert and dryness of the heart,

come and take of my spirit all that has died in me.

Dream in me again.

Create of my brokenness a new and free heart.

Draw together life in me.

Let the dancing that's meant to be start its movement anew.

The grace of freedom, the gesture of rebirth, all of this awaits me.

I want to believe in my depths.

O God, I need a heart that is free from the dross of the past,

a heart that is fresh with enthusiasm and energy for the present as well as for the future.

A steadfast heart is what I want to claim,

a heart that does not waver about the truth or fall short when it comes to loving well.

Do not allow the events of the past to dominate my memory

or chain my heart to negative feelings.

Move me beyond this, God of new hearts.

Fill my entire being with a fresh freedom

so that I will walk the journey as well as possible.

Create in me a vibrant spirit, one that carries hope,

one that believes in peace.

Take this heart of mine and fill it with your goodness.

Amen.

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INNER HEALING​

God of love, you are the shepherd and I am one of your flock.

The words of Ezekiel speak to me of your comforting presence and the truth of your care.

I bear so much hurt inside from what has happened to me.

My inner world has been one of anxiety and distress.

In Ezekiel you promise never to let me out of your sight, to look after me and to keep me from harm.

You assure me that you will rescue me when I am scattered,

that you will draw me close

when I lose my way in the mist and the darkness created in my wounds.

The pain of my hurts keeps me in a foreign land

where I do not feel at home with myself or others.

Help me to believe that you will lead me into a future rich with growth and peace.

Show me where to rest,

how to lay down my burdens and what to do in order to be healed.

Loving shepherd, I need to find a source of new life.

Come, bandage my wounds

and grant to this weak one

a profound and deep strength to go on.

Amen.

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DO NOT DELAY

Come, my Lord, down from above,

Come, my Lord, surround me with love.

Come, my Lord, enter my heart,

Come, my Lord, never depart.

Come, my Lord, my light, my way,

Come, my Lord, do not delay.

Come, my Lord, Prince of peace,

Come, my Lord, give me release.

Come, my Lord, free me from sorrow,

Come, my Lord, today and tomorrow.

Come, my Lord, shield me from strife,

Come, my Lord, protect me in life.

Come, my Lord, my dearest friend,

Come, my Lord, abide to life's end.

Come, my Lord, with each breath,

Come, my Lord, save me from death.

Come, Lord.

Come down.

Come among us.

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LET THE MUSIC START

Saviour, Master, let the music start

In the very depths of my heart.

Saviour, Master, let the music flow,

Until my whole life is truly aglow.

Saviour, Master, let my life vibrate

In your presence, let it celebrate.

Saviour, Master, let my whole being sing

Praise to you, Redeemer, Almighty King.

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COME RENEW US

Come, Lord, come to us.

Enter our darkness with your light,

Fill our emptiness with your presence,

Come refresh, restore, renew us.

In our sadness, come as joy,

In our troubles, come as peace,

In our fearfulness, come as hope.

In our darkness, come as light,

In our frailty, come as strength,

In our loneliness come as love,

Come refresh, restore, renew us.

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When you see the face of anger

look behind it

and you will see the face of pride.

Bring anger and pride

under your feet,

turn them into a ladder

and climb higher.

There is no peace until you become

their master.

Let go of anger, it may taste sweet

but it kills.

Don't become its victim

you need humility to climb to freedom.

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Let us fall in love again

and scatter gold dust all over the world.

Let us become a new spring

and feel the breeze drift in the heavens' scent.

Let us dress the earth in green,

and like the sap of a young tree

let the grace from within sustain us.

Let us carve gems out of our stony hearts

and let them light our path to Love.

The glance of Love is crystal clear

and we are blessed by its light.

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BLESSING FOR PENTECOST

May the enthusiasm of Spirit leap incessantly within you

and help you to live a vibrant life.

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May the warmth of Spirit's fire be extended through your concerns

and care for all those who need your love.

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May the blaze of Spirit's courage enable you to speak the truth

and to stand up for respect, dignity, and justice.

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May the undying embers of Spirit's faithfulness support you

when you feel spiritually dry and empty.

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May the strength of Spirit's love sustain your hope

as you enter into the pain of our world.

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May the clear light of Spirit's guidance be a source of effective discernment

and decision-making for you.

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May the Spirit's patient endurance be yours

while you wait for what is unknown to be revealed.

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May the steady flame of Spirit's goodness within you

convince you every day of the power of your presence with others.

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May the joyful fire of Spirit dance within you

and set happiness ablaze in your life.

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May the spark of your relationship with the Spirit catch afire

in the hearts of those with whom you live and work.

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May you be mindful of the Eternal Flame within you.

May you rely on this Source of Love to be your constant ally and steady guide.

Amen.

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PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO ARE FACING DIFFICULT EXAMINATIONS

Lord I am worried and tense as I think about my forthcoming exams.

I feel the tension rising in my heart and at times I am afraid.

I ask you to send down upon me the power of your Holy Spirit

to ease my worry,

to fill my heart with courage

and to give me the great gift of your wisdom.

Lord you know the path that lies ahead and how important my exams are for me.

Take away all fear and stress,

give me confidence and strength as I enter the place of examination.

Let there be no panic, but a deep trust in you and in my ability to succeed.

Help me to do myself justice for the work and effort I have put in to date

and may all my hard work bear fruit in plenty later on.

Spirit of calm, Spirit of peace, Spirt of confidence, Spirit of courage

come into my heart today and powerfully guide me as I sit and write.

Remove all fear from me and fill my heart to overflowing

with your understanding and love.

Amen.