Category: Time to Pray

For we never came with a flattering word, 
  -as you know,
nor greedy, under a cover, 
   -as God is witness
nor seeking glory from people,
nor from you all
nor from others,
although we are able to weigh (on you) as Christ’s apostles.

But we became as little children amongst you, 
as a wet-nurse takes care of her own children.
In this way, caring so much for you
we take pleasure to share with 
not only the gospel of God
but also our own souls
because you became beloved to us.

Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.

Thomas More (c.1478-1535)

For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters,
about our entrance to you,
that it has not been empty,
but having suffered previously
and been treated disgracefully,
as you know
in Philippi
we had courage in our God,
to speak to you
the gospel of God 
amongst much opposition.

For our appeal
is not from error nor impure motives nor from deceit
but as we have been approved by God
to be trusted with the gospel
so we have spoken
and not to please people
but God
who tests our hearts.

Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today – tonight -forever
Amen.

St Columba

For from you the word of the Lord has rung out
    not only in Macedonian and Achaia
    but also in every place
–  your faith in God has rung out 
  so that we do not have a need to say anything (about it)

For they themselves report about us
of what sort of entrance we had with you
and how you turned to God from idols
to serve the living and true God.
and to wait expectantly for his Son,
from the heavens, 
whom he raised from among  the dead people,
Jesus
who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God, who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.

Gertrude the Great

And you all became our imitators, and imitators of the Lord,
– having received  the word in many tribulations with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
so that you all have become a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

St Ignatius

We always give thanks to God for you all mentioning you in our prayers…

..having known,
brothers and sisters
beloved by God,
your choosing,
-because our Gospel did not come to you
in word only,
but also in power
and in the Holy Spirit 
and in full conviction,
just as you know what kind of human being we were among you all, for you all.

Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.
Amen

St Anselm

We always give thanks to God for you all
always mentioning you in our prayers:
constantly remembering:
Your work of faith,
  and the labour of love
  and the endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ 
-before God and our Father.

Thank you, dear Jesus,
for all you have given me,
for all you have taken away from me,
for all you have left me.

Thomas More (c.1478-1535)

Paul and Silvanas* and Timothy
to the church of the Thessalonians
in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
grace to you all 
and peace.

• Silas in Acts

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen

And when the Sabbath was over, Mary the Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Jacob and Salome bought fragrant spices in order to go and anoint him. 

And very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb, at sunrise. 

And they were saying to each other ‘Who will roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb for us?’

And having looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away. For it was very large. 

And having entered the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, wearing a white robe, and they were alarmed. 

But he said to them ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has been raised. He is not here. Look – the place where they put him.  

‘But go, tell his disciples and Peter “He goes ahead into Galilee”. You will see him there, as he told you all. ‘

And having gone out, they ran away from the tomb. For trembling and amazement gripped them. And they said nothing to anyone  – for they were afraid. 

O Lord Jesus Christ,
stay beside me to defend me,
within me to guide me,
before me to lead me,
and above me to bless me,
that with you and in you,
I may live, and move and have my being,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

(unknown)

James Tissot (French, 1836-1902). The Descent from the Cross (La descent de croix), 1886-1894. Opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, Image: 13 1/4 x 9 9/16 in. (33.7 x 24.3 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased by public subscription, 00.159.320 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 00.159.320_PS2.jpg)

And now evening had come,
(and since it was the Day of Preparation,
which is the day before the Sabbath)
having arrived, 
Joseph of Aramathea 
a respected council member,
who himself was also waiting for the Kingdom of God,
having summoned his courage,
went into to Pilate
and asked for the body of Jesus.

But Pilate was amazed that he had died already, 
and having called the centurion to him
asked him if he had already died
and having found out from the centurion, 
he released the body to Joseph. 

And having bought a linen cloth,
and having taken him down,
he wrapped him in the linen cloth,
and placed him in a tomb,
which had been cut from the rock
and rolled a stone across the entrance of the tomb. 

Mary the Magdalen and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was placed. 

Lord God,
your feed us with the living bread from heaven.
You renew our faith
increase our hope
and strengthen our love.
Teach us to hunger for Christ
who is the true and living bread
and live by every word that comes from your mouth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

..and it was the sixth hour – darkness came upon the whole land until the ninth hour. 

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice:

Eloi, eloi, lema sabachthani 

Which translated means 

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

And some of the bystanders hearing (him) said: ‘Listen, he calls on Elijah.

Someone, having run and filled a sponge with cheap wine, gave it to him to drink put on a stick, saying ‘Leave him – let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.’

And Jesus, having given up a great cry, breathed out his last.

And the curtain of the temple was torn into two, from top to bottom. 

The centurion, who stood opposite him, having seen him die this way said: ‘Truly, this man was God’s son.’

And there were women watching from a distance, among them were Mary the Magdalene, and Mary mother of Jacob the younger and of Justus, and Salome, who were following when he was in Galilee , and served him, and many others who traveled with him to Jerusalem. 

Grant, Lord,
that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying,
serve you without failing;
faithfully seek you,
happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God,blessed now and for ever.
Amen

St Anselm