on earth but yours; no hands
but yours; no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through
which He is to go about doing
good; yours are the hands with
which He is to bless people now."
St. Teresa of Avila
.................................................................
Down In The River To Pray
Traditional
Refrain 1:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Stary Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
Traditional
Refrain 1:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Stary Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
O sisters, let's go down. Let'go down. Come on down.O sisters, let's go down, down in the river to pray.
Refrain 2:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Robe and Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
O brothers, let's go down. Let's go down. Come on down.Come on brothers, let's go down, down in the river to pray.
Refrain 1:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Stary Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
O fathers, let's go down. Let's go down. Come on down.O fathers, let's go down, down in the river to pray.
Refrain 1:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Stary Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
O mothers, let's go down. Come on down. Don't ya wanna go down?Come on mothers, let's go down, down in the river to pray.
Refrain 1:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Stary Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
O sinners, let's go down. Let's go down. Come on down.O sinners, let's go down, down in the river to pray.
Refrain 1:As I went down in the river to pray, studin' about that good ol' way,and who shall wear the Stary Crown; good Lord - show me the way.
..........................................................................................................................
EVENING PRAYER
OPENING MEDITATION
COME
COME TO THE RESTING PLACE
COME TO THE GARDEN
LEAVE ALL TROUBLES OUTSIDE
NO ONE WILL STEAL THEM
COME TO THE GARDEN
REST
BE AT PEACE
BE AT PEACE
COME TO THE GARDEN
AND SEE GOD’S FACE
PSALM 129
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA.
OUT OF THE DEPTHS
I HAVE CRIED TO YOU,OH LORD:
LORD, HEAR MY VOICE.LET YOUR EARS BE ATTENTIVE
TO THE SOUND OF MY PLEADING.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
IF YOU TAKE NOTICE OF OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, LORD –
LORD, WHO WOULD BE LEFT?BUT WITH YOU IS FORGIVENESS,
AND FOR THIS WE REVERE YOU.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
I RELY ON YOU, LORD,
MY SPIRIT RELIES ON YOUR PROMISE;MY SOUL HOPES IN THE LORD,
MORE THAN THE WATCHMAN WAITING FOR DAYBREAK.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIAMORE THAN THE WATCHMAN
WAITS FOR DAYBREAK,
LET ISRAEL HOPE IN THE LORD:
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
FOR WITH THE LORD
THERE IS KINDNESS
AND ABUNDANT REDEMPTION.HE HIMSELF WILL REDEEM ISRAEL
FROM ALL ITS TRANSGRESSIONS.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIAGLORY BE TO THE FATHER
AND TO THE SON
AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING,
IS NOW, AND EVER SHALL BE, WORLD WITHOUT END. AMEN.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
SONG - SANCTUARY
ALMIGHTY AND EVERLASTING GOD,
YOU HATE NOTHING
YOU HAVE MADE
AND FORGIVE THE SINS
OF ALL WHO ARE PENITENT:
CREATE
AND MAKE IN US
NEW AND CONTRITE HEARTS,
THAT WE,
WORTHILY LAMENTING OUR SINS
AND ACKNOWLEDGING OUR WRETCHEDNESS,
MAY OBTAIN OF YOU,
THE GOD OF ALL MERCY, PERFECT REMISSION
AND FORGIVENESS;
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD,
WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER.
AMEN.
MEDITATION
WHEN YOU WASH YOUR FACE TONIGHT
REMEMBER YOUR BAPTISM
SLEEP WELL
KNOWING YOU ARE FORGIVEN
(SPRINKLE WITH WATER)
A READING - EZECHIEL 34
THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS:
I MYSELF WILL SEARCH FOR MY SHEEP
AND LOOK AFTER THEM. 12
AS A SHEPHERD LOOKS AFTER HIS SCATTERED FLOCK
WHEN HE IS WITH THEM,
SO WILL I LOOK AFTER MY SHEEP.
I WILL RESCUE THEM FROM ALL THE PLACES
WHERE THEY WERE SCATTERED
ON A DAY OF CLOUDS AND DARKNESS. 13
I WILL BRING THEM OUT FROM THE NATIONS
AND GATHER THEM FROM THE COUNTRIES,
AND I WILL BRING THEM INTO THEIR OWN LAND.
I WILL PASTURE THEM ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL,
IN THE RAVINES
AND IN ALL THE SETTLEMENTS IN THE LAND. 14
I WILL TEND THEM IN A GOOD PASTURE,
AND THE MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS OF ISRAEL
WILL BE THEIR GRAZING LAND.
THERE THEY WILL LIE DOWN IN GOOD GRAZING LAND,
AND THERE THEY WILL FEED IN A RICH PASTURE
ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL. 15
I MYSELF WILL TEND MY SHEEP
AND HAVE THEM LIE DOWN, DECLARES THE SOVEREIGN LORD . 16
I WILL SEARCH FOR THE LOST
AND BRING BACK THE STRAYS.
I WILL BIND UP THE INJURED
AND STRENGTHEN THE WEAK,
BUT THE SLEEK AND THE STRONG
I WILL DESTROY.
I WILL SHEPHERD THE FLOCK WITH JUSTICE.
SONG
LORDS PRAYER
WHEN YOU PRAY…
WHEN YOU PRAY
SAY
OUR FATHER
MOTHER
KEEPER OF THE DAWN
GATE OPENER FOR THE SUN
HE WHO WALKS BEFORE THE DAY BEGINS
HE WHO WATCHES THROUGH THE NIGHT
HE WHO DWELLS IN OUR HOME
FATHER
MOTHER
EVER THERE
TO WHOM OR WHAT
CAN WE GIVE GLORY
CAN ANYTHING WE DO
ADD TO YOU
YOU ARE SELF CONTAINED
WITHIN YOURSELF
BUT IN A SPECIAL WAY
YOU ARE INCOMPLETE
WITHOUT US
SO TO YOUR COMPLETENESS
WE ADD OUR LOVE
AND WE SING
HOLY HOLY HOLY
IS YOUR NAME
SHOW YOUR POWER
AND ESTABLISH YOUR KINGDOM
SHOW YOUR POWER
AND ESTABLISH YOUR WILL
BUT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE
FOR IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS
THE MEANS TO ESTABLISH YOUR KINGDOM
THE MEANS TO ESTABLISH YOUR WILL
ON EARTH
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE US TODAY
FOOD FOR TODAY
MINDFUL OF OTHER'S NEEDS
MINDFUL THAT EVERYMAN
IS OUR BROTHER
MINDFUL THAT FOOD STORED
MAY NOT LAST
MINDFUL THAT WE SHOULD SHARE OUR SURPLUS
THAT WE SHOULD TRUST YOU FOR TOMORROW
GIVE US TODAY
OUR DAILY BREAD
DO NOT PUT US TO THE TEST
FOR OFTEN WE HAVE FAILED THE TEST
LIKE MOSES WE TAP THE ROCK TWICE
UNLIKE MOSES WE TAPPED IT MORE THAN TWICE
WHEN WE REMEMBERED TO TAP IT AT ALL
UNLIKE JOB
WE OFTEN CURSE
AND QUESTION
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL
BUT ALSO WHERE WE FIND EVIL
LET US RESIST IT
FOLLOWING THE DICTATES
WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS
TO ALL THE ABOVE
WE SAY AMEN
LET US PRAY THE PRAYER THAT JESUS TAUGHT US
OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM COME.
THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS,
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS.
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM,
AND THE POWER,
AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER. AMEN.
SONG - NOW THE DAY IS OVER
LET US PRAY.
LORD OUR GOD,
WE ARE TIRED BY THE WORK OF THE DAY.
REFRESH US WITH PEACEFUL SLEEP
AND, FOREVER RENEWED
BY THE HELP YOU GIVE,
LET US ALWAYS BE DEDICATED TO YOU
IN BODY AND MIND.THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD, AMEN.
MAY THE ALMIGHTY LORD GRANT US A QUIET NIGHT
AND A PERFECT END.
AMEN
"KEEP WATCH, DEAR LORD,
WITH THOSE WHO WORK,
OR WATCH, OR WEEP THIS NIGHT,
AND GIVE YOUR ANGELS
CHARGE OVER THOSE WHO SLEEP.
TEND THE SICK, LORD CHRIST;
GIVE REST TO THE WEARY,
BLESS THE DYING,
SOOTHE THE SUFFERING,
PITY THE AFFLICTED,
SHIELD THE JOYOUS;
AND ALL FOR YOUR LOVE'S SAKE. AMEN."
THE ALMIGHTY AND MERCIFUL LORD
THE FATHER
THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
BLESS US AND KEEP US
AMEN
........................................................................................................................................
OPENING MEDITATION
COME
COME TO THE RESTING PLACE
COME TO THE GARDEN
LEAVE ALL TROUBLES OUTSIDE
NO ONE WILL STEAL THEM
COME TO THE GARDEN
REST
BE AT PEACE
BE AT PEACE
COME TO THE GARDEN
AND SEE GOD’S FACE
PSALM 129
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA.
OUT OF THE DEPTHS
I HAVE CRIED TO YOU,OH LORD:
LORD, HEAR MY VOICE.LET YOUR EARS BE ATTENTIVE
TO THE SOUND OF MY PLEADING.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
IF YOU TAKE NOTICE OF OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, LORD –
LORD, WHO WOULD BE LEFT?BUT WITH YOU IS FORGIVENESS,
AND FOR THIS WE REVERE YOU.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
I RELY ON YOU, LORD,
MY SPIRIT RELIES ON YOUR PROMISE;MY SOUL HOPES IN THE LORD,
MORE THAN THE WATCHMAN WAITING FOR DAYBREAK.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIAMORE THAN THE WATCHMAN
WAITS FOR DAYBREAK,
LET ISRAEL HOPE IN THE LORD:
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
FOR WITH THE LORD
THERE IS KINDNESS
AND ABUNDANT REDEMPTION.HE HIMSELF WILL REDEEM ISRAEL
FROM ALL ITS TRANSGRESSIONS.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIAGLORY BE TO THE FATHER
AND TO THE SON
AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING,
IS NOW, AND EVER SHALL BE, WORLD WITHOUT END. AMEN.
KEEP US SAFE, LORD, WHILE WE ARE AWAKE, AND GUARD US WHILE WE SLEEP, SO THAT WE MAY WATCH WITH CHRIST AND REST IN PEACE.
AMEN, ALLELUIA
SONG - SANCTUARY
ALMIGHTY AND EVERLASTING GOD,
YOU HATE NOTHING
YOU HAVE MADE
AND FORGIVE THE SINS
OF ALL WHO ARE PENITENT:
CREATE
AND MAKE IN US
NEW AND CONTRITE HEARTS,
THAT WE,
WORTHILY LAMENTING OUR SINS
AND ACKNOWLEDGING OUR WRETCHEDNESS,
MAY OBTAIN OF YOU,
THE GOD OF ALL MERCY, PERFECT REMISSION
AND FORGIVENESS;
THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD,
WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER.
AMEN.
MEDITATION
WHEN YOU WASH YOUR FACE TONIGHT
REMEMBER YOUR BAPTISM
SLEEP WELL
KNOWING YOU ARE FORGIVEN
(SPRINKLE WITH WATER)
A READING - EZECHIEL 34
THIS IS WHAT THE SOVEREIGN LORD SAYS:
I MYSELF WILL SEARCH FOR MY SHEEP
AND LOOK AFTER THEM. 12
AS A SHEPHERD LOOKS AFTER HIS SCATTERED FLOCK
WHEN HE IS WITH THEM,
SO WILL I LOOK AFTER MY SHEEP.
I WILL RESCUE THEM FROM ALL THE PLACES
WHERE THEY WERE SCATTERED
ON A DAY OF CLOUDS AND DARKNESS. 13
I WILL BRING THEM OUT FROM THE NATIONS
AND GATHER THEM FROM THE COUNTRIES,
AND I WILL BRING THEM INTO THEIR OWN LAND.
I WILL PASTURE THEM ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL,
IN THE RAVINES
AND IN ALL THE SETTLEMENTS IN THE LAND. 14
I WILL TEND THEM IN A GOOD PASTURE,
AND THE MOUNTAIN HEIGHTS OF ISRAEL
WILL BE THEIR GRAZING LAND.
THERE THEY WILL LIE DOWN IN GOOD GRAZING LAND,
AND THERE THEY WILL FEED IN A RICH PASTURE
ON THE MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL. 15
I MYSELF WILL TEND MY SHEEP
AND HAVE THEM LIE DOWN, DECLARES THE SOVEREIGN LORD . 16
I WILL SEARCH FOR THE LOST
AND BRING BACK THE STRAYS.
I WILL BIND UP THE INJURED
AND STRENGTHEN THE WEAK,
BUT THE SLEEK AND THE STRONG
I WILL DESTROY.
I WILL SHEPHERD THE FLOCK WITH JUSTICE.
SONG
LORDS PRAYER
WHEN YOU PRAY…
WHEN YOU PRAY
SAY
OUR FATHER
MOTHER
KEEPER OF THE DAWN
GATE OPENER FOR THE SUN
HE WHO WALKS BEFORE THE DAY BEGINS
HE WHO WATCHES THROUGH THE NIGHT
HE WHO DWELLS IN OUR HOME
FATHER
MOTHER
EVER THERE
TO WHOM OR WHAT
CAN WE GIVE GLORY
CAN ANYTHING WE DO
ADD TO YOU
YOU ARE SELF CONTAINED
WITHIN YOURSELF
BUT IN A SPECIAL WAY
YOU ARE INCOMPLETE
WITHOUT US
SO TO YOUR COMPLETENESS
WE ADD OUR LOVE
AND WE SING
HOLY HOLY HOLY
IS YOUR NAME
SHOW YOUR POWER
AND ESTABLISH YOUR KINGDOM
SHOW YOUR POWER
AND ESTABLISH YOUR WILL
BUT IT HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE
FOR IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS
THE MEANS TO ESTABLISH YOUR KINGDOM
THE MEANS TO ESTABLISH YOUR WILL
ON EARTH
AS IT IS IN HEAVEN
GIVE US TODAY
FOOD FOR TODAY
MINDFUL OF OTHER'S NEEDS
MINDFUL THAT EVERYMAN
IS OUR BROTHER
MINDFUL THAT FOOD STORED
MAY NOT LAST
MINDFUL THAT WE SHOULD SHARE OUR SURPLUS
THAT WE SHOULD TRUST YOU FOR TOMORROW
GIVE US TODAY
OUR DAILY BREAD
DO NOT PUT US TO THE TEST
FOR OFTEN WE HAVE FAILED THE TEST
LIKE MOSES WE TAP THE ROCK TWICE
UNLIKE MOSES WE TAPPED IT MORE THAN TWICE
WHEN WE REMEMBERED TO TAP IT AT ALL
UNLIKE JOB
WE OFTEN CURSE
AND QUESTION
LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL
BUT ALSO WHERE WE FIND EVIL
LET US RESIST IT
FOLLOWING THE DICTATES
WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS
TO ALL THE ABOVE
WE SAY AMEN
LET US PRAY THE PRAYER THAT JESUS TAUGHT US
OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM COME.
THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS,
AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS.
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION,
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM,
AND THE POWER,
AND THE GLORY, FOR EVER. AMEN.
SONG - NOW THE DAY IS OVER
LET US PRAY.
LORD OUR GOD,
WE ARE TIRED BY THE WORK OF THE DAY.
REFRESH US WITH PEACEFUL SLEEP
AND, FOREVER RENEWED
BY THE HELP YOU GIVE,
LET US ALWAYS BE DEDICATED TO YOU
IN BODY AND MIND.THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD, AMEN.
MAY THE ALMIGHTY LORD GRANT US A QUIET NIGHT
AND A PERFECT END.
AMEN
"KEEP WATCH, DEAR LORD,
WITH THOSE WHO WORK,
OR WATCH, OR WEEP THIS NIGHT,
AND GIVE YOUR ANGELS
CHARGE OVER THOSE WHO SLEEP.
TEND THE SICK, LORD CHRIST;
GIVE REST TO THE WEARY,
BLESS THE DYING,
SOOTHE THE SUFFERING,
PITY THE AFFLICTED,
SHIELD THE JOYOUS;
AND ALL FOR YOUR LOVE'S SAKE. AMEN."
THE ALMIGHTY AND MERCIFUL LORD
THE FATHER
THE SON
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT
BLESS US AND KEEP US
AMEN
........................................................................................................................................
Reading IV: Eivind Josef Berggrav (1884 - 1959)
Prayer in times of great need has its difficulties. It is especially difficult when one is writhing in agony. It seems impossible to pray. At the most one can protest, and more easily accuse God. I dare, in the name of Jesus Christ, to say: Yes, do it! Accuse God face to face if it is impossible for you to approach him in any other way. Do you think that God is unable to bear it? I go so far as to say that I believe He will understand you.... Speak out to God, break through all false ideas of piety, and come to God Himself.... All that matters is that you go straight away to God.... Personal need, family need, national need—if it becomesa prayer, even though only a cry to begin with, even though only a momentary sigh—if only it is directed towards God, it will give deliverance. Need which becomes bitterness creates a canker. Need which becomes a prayer creates life. The pain does not disappear. But the rose springs from just the same root as the thorns. This is confirmed by God’s word: “God makes good just what you thought bad.” Salvation springs from exactly that which seemed bad. It cannot happen if we simply clench our fists or engage in chance speculations. It happens, on the contrary, whenwe know our clear need for God.
“A Little While,” a sermon preached in Kristiansand Cathedral, Nov.
1941, about eighteen months after the Nazi occupation of Norway
Prayer in times of great need has its difficulties. It is especially difficult when one is writhing in agony. It seems impossible to pray. At the most one can protest, and more easily accuse God. I dare, in the name of Jesus Christ, to say: Yes, do it! Accuse God face to face if it is impossible for you to approach him in any other way. Do you think that God is unable to bear it? I go so far as to say that I believe He will understand you.... Speak out to God, break through all false ideas of piety, and come to God Himself.... All that matters is that you go straight away to God.... Personal need, family need, national need—if it becomesa prayer, even though only a cry to begin with, even though only a momentary sigh—if only it is directed towards God, it will give deliverance. Need which becomes bitterness creates a canker. Need which becomes a prayer creates life. The pain does not disappear. But the rose springs from just the same root as the thorns. This is confirmed by God’s word: “God makes good just what you thought bad.” Salvation springs from exactly that which seemed bad. It cannot happen if we simply clench our fists or engage in chance speculations. It happens, on the contrary, whenwe know our clear need for God.
“A Little While,” a sermon preached in Kristiansand Cathedral, Nov.
1941, about eighteen months after the Nazi occupation of Norway
...........................................................................................................
A Prayer In Old Age
Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am growing older, and will some day be old. Keep me from getting talkative, and particularly from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
\Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs.
Keep my mind from the recital of endless details—give me wings to come to the point.
I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others' pains. But seal my lips on my own aches and pains—they are increasing, and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. Help me to endure them with patience.
I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessening cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint—some of them are so hard to live with—but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.
Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, 0 Lord, the grace to tell them so.
Make me thoughtful—but not moody: helpful, but not bossy.
With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but you know Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.
Amen.
17th century nun
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