Irish Blessing for the New Year

It is obvious that I have a love affair with Ireland, so this seems appropriate for the new year. I would also like to point out that it's 1/1/11. Awesome.
God bless.

Peace.

Vocation Prayer

This prayer was passed on to me by a friend and it was originally written by Thomas Merton. As graduate school decisions approach I have been reading this almost everyday. If you're trying to figure out your life you might want to too. ;)


Peace.

My Lord God,

I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that my desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Amen.

Keep Us from Pettiness

Keep Us From Pettiness

Keep us, O God, from pettiness;

let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.

Let us be done with faultfinding and leave off self-seeking.

May we put away all pretenses and meet each other, face to face, without self-pity and without prejudice.

May we never be hasty in judgment and always generous.

Let us take time for all things; make us to grow calm, serene, gentle.  Teach us to put in action our better impulses-straightforward and unafraid.

Grant that we may realize

it is the little things of life that create difficulties;

that in the big things of life we are as one.

Oh, Lord, let us not forget to be kind.

Amen.

Prayer for Students

Finals may be way behind me, but I know that a lot of students are finishing up Thanksgiving break and gearing up for the last big push. I use this prayer all the time, especially getting ready for finals. Hopefully it helps!


Peace.

Prayer for Students

Father of Light and Wisdom, thank you for giving me a mind that can know and a heart that can love. Help me to keep learning every day of my life--no matter what the subject may be. Let me be convinced that all knowledge leads to you and let me know how to find you and love you in all the things you have made. Encourage me when the studies are difficult and when I am tempted to give up, enlighten me when my brain is slow, and help me to grasp the truth held out to me. Grant me the grace to put my knowledge to use in building the kingdom of God on earth so that I may enter the kingdom of God in heaven.

Amen.

The Prayer of St. Brigid

While I was in Ireland over the summer I picked up a Holy Card with a prayer to St. Brigid on it. St. Brigid was a nun in the 5th Century and she is one of the patrons of Ireland. I picked it up almost by accident, but the prayer on the back of the card has become one of my favorites. I like to pray it each morning before I start my day to help me get into a good mindset. I think I would have liked St. Brigid. She sounds like a good lady.

Brigid-


You were a woman of peace. You brought harmony where there was conflict. You brought light to the darkness. You brought hope to the downcast. May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious, and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world. Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made. Brigid, you were a voice for the wounded and weary. Strengthen what is weak within us. Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens. May we grow each day into a greater wholeness in mind, body, and spirit.


Amen.

Artist's Prayer

Perhaps I should have mentioned earlier that I am currently following a program called “The Artist’s Way” during my time here in Italy. For those of you that are unfamiliar with it, the Artist’s Way is a 12 week program to help “blocked creatives” (read: people who like colors and words better than numbers) to tap into their creative powers and fulfill their dreams of doing the creative work they’ve always wanted to. I am on Week 4 of this course currently and I am in love! It is not always fun, because it includes writing three longhand pages every morning, which necessitates waking up earlier than I absolutely HAVE to, which, in college, is never a preferable, but I can already see the growth in my artistic life that is coming from it.

Read more about The Artist’s Way here at their website. I highly recommend this program! Julia Cameron is truly a gifted teacher and an inspirational artist.

I tell you all this to get to a point: One of this week’s exercises is to write an Artist Prayer, which I would like to share with all of you. This is my Artist’s Prayer, and you are welcome to use mine or create your own. Even outside the context of The Artist’s Way, I think this is a worthwhile exercise.

Dear Lord,

Help me to use my creativity to glorify you.

Free me from the doubt and fear that keeps me locked inside my own limitations and perceptions. Lead me to my passions, my mediums and my stories. Help me to see the beauty of your work so that I may also bring beauty to others. Bless me with patience and perseverance in faith, art, and life. Let me be your hands, your eyes, and your mouth in the world. Fill my heart with your love and your peace, despite my perceived successes or failures. Hold my hand as I take my daily leap of faith.

Thy will be done.

Amen.

Peace.