Amen, amen

Lord, hear our prayers.

Come, Lord Jesus, bless our brothers and sisters the world over, and give grace to all in the OEF: the postulants, the associates, the novices and professed and our servants. Today we especially pray for these brothers and sisters, God give you peace:


Barbara Guther
David Luke Hutton
Sharon Inglis
Carole Jacoba Jerome
Dennis Kane
Bruce Kay
Shoshanah Kay
Charles Pacificus Kowalski
Shona Langford
Pat Leon
Patrick Lublink
Christopher Markert
Kevin McCoy
Renee Medrano
Nancy Menning
Craig Robert Miller
Ysidro Sebastian Osmundo Mohn
Cyndi Anjelika Morse


Lord, guide our feet into the way of peace. Amen.



Let us pray:


[as some Christian Meditators do, beginning and ending a silent period with the following two prayers, and practicing Christian meditation in between -- from the World Community for Christian Meditation.]



Heavenly Father, open our hearts to the silent presence of the spirit of your Son. Lead us into that mysterious silence where your love is revealed to all who call.

Maranatha... Come, Lord Jesus. [John Main, OSB]


(You may practice Christian Meditation at this point, or observe a period of silence as you are able.)


May this group be a true spiritual home for the seeker, a friend for the lonely, a guide for the confused.

May those who pray here be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to serve all who come and to receive them as Christ himself. In the silence of this room [Chapel] may all the suffering, violence and confusion of the world encounter the power that will console, renew and uplift the human spirit.

May this silence be a power to open the hearts of men and women to the vision of God, and so to each other, in love and peace, justice and human dignity. May the beauty of Divine Life fill this group and the hearts of all who pray here with joyful hope.

May all who come here weighed down by the problems of humanity leave giving thanks for the wonder of human life. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. [WCCM]



'Food for thought' before setting out on this day (from Andre Louf, OCSO, in The Monastic Way, January 3):


In order to pray more and better we must often do less, let go of more things, give up numerous good intentions, and be content to yield up to the inner pressure of the Spirit the moment [the Spirit] bubbles up in us and tries to win us over and take us in tow. Ultimately all our attempts and all our methods must come to an end and wither away in order that the Spirit of Jesus may facilitate and validate his own prayer in our heart.


Maranatha... Come, Lord Jesus.


-- Brother Carlo --