John Predmore, S.J., is a USA East Province Jesuit and was the pastor of Jordan's English language parish. He teaches art and directs BC High's adult spiritual formation programs. Formerly a retreat director in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Ignatian Spirituality is given through guided meditations, weekend-, 8-day, and 30-day Retreats based on The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatian Spirituality serves the contemporary world as people strive to develop a friendship with God.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Prayer: Alcuin of York
God, go with us. Help us to be an honor to the church. Give us the grace to follow Christ’s word, to be clear in our task and careful in our speech. Give us open hands and joyful hearts. Let Christ be on our lips. May our lives reflect a love of truth and compassion. Let no one come to us and go away sad. May we offer hope to the poor and solace to the disheartened. Let us walk before God’s people, that those who follow us might come into God’s kingdom. In word and example, let your light shine in the dark like the morning star.
This prayer covers so much in such a direct way and yet so beautifully. The phrase that stood out for me is "to be clear in our task and careful in our speech." This is particularly applicable to a situation in which I find myself in a ministry within our parish at the moment. This is very helpful. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI want to help people come to love the church again.
DeleteI think we do that by living our lives as Jesus taught us and by doing that within the church - by accepting people where they are. There is strength and comfort within the community of the church.
DeleteI agree. With so much institutional distrust, people need to rebuild its trust in the church as institution, community, place of refuge and comfort. I hope as we model our life after Francis, who models his after Christ, we can invite more people to love us.
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