The Prayer of Righteous Ephrem
February 20, 2012
The following prayer is attributed to Saint Ephrem the Syrian and used during the Great Lent by the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches that use the Byzantine rite. In the Byzantine tradition, this prayer is considered to be the most succinct summation of the spirit of Great Lent and is hence the Lenten prayer par excellence, prayed during all Lenten weekday services:
O Lord and Master of my life, give me not the spirit of sloth, idle curiosity (meddling), lust for power and idle talk.
But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity (integrity), humility, patience and love.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own faults and not to judge my brother. For blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The following prayer is attributed to Saint Ephrem the Syrian and used during the Great Lent by the Eastern Orthodox Church and those Eastern Catholic Churches that use the Byzantine rite. In the Byzantine tradition, this prayer is considered to be the most succinct summation of the spirit of Great Lent and is hence the Lenten prayer par excellence, prayed during all Lenten weekday services:
O Lord and Master of my life, give me not the spirit of sloth, idle curiosity (meddling), lust for power and idle talk.
But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity (integrity), humility, patience and love.
Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own faults and not to judge my brother. For blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Advent II
December 3, 2011
I came across this article, which seems appropriate during this Advent season. And I am especially fond of it because of our devotion to St. Joseph. I hope you find it inspirational as well.
St. Joseph, a Model of Recollection . . . . . . . . . . . Benedict XVI
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 18, 2005- With Christmas approaching, Benedict XVI exhorted the faithful to cultivate a spirit of interior recollection in an often noisy world that makes it hard to listen to God. The Pope today presented St. Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus, as a model of recollection. Joseph’s silence in the Gospel, the Holy Father said, "does not demonstrate an empty interior, but rather the fullness of faith that he carries in his heart. Let’s allow ourselves to be ‘infected’ by the silence of St. Joseph!"
Silence "is so lacking in this world which is often too noisy, which is not favorable to recollection and listening to the voice of God," Benedict XVI said. "In this time of preparation for Christmas, let us cultivate interior recollection so as to receive and keep Jesus in our lives."
He suggested that the faithful establish in these days "a kind of spiritual dialogue with St. Joseph so that he helps us live to the fullest this mystery of faith." The Bishop of Rome recalled that his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, "who was very devoted to St. Joseph," dedicated the apostolic exhortation "Redemptoris Custos" (Custodian of the Redeemer) to the adoptive father of Jesus. In that 1989 document, John Paul II gave "a particular importance to the silence of St. Joseph," observed Benedict XVI.
Such a silence was "permeated with the contemplation of the mystery of God, in an attitude of total availability to the divine will," Benedict XVI said. "A silence through which Joseph, together with Mary, guard the Word of God, known through sacred Scripture, comparing it continually to the events of the life of Jesus; a silence interwoven with constant prayer, a prayer of blessing of the Lord, of adoration of his holy will and of boundless confidence in his providence."
The Holy Father added: "It is not exaggerated to say that Jesus will learn—on a human level—precisely from ‘father’ Joseph this intense interior life, which is the condition of authentic righteousness, the ‘interior righteousness,’ which one day he will teach to his disciples."
I came across this article, which seems appropriate during this Advent season. And I am especially fond of it because of our devotion to St. Joseph. I hope you find it inspirational as well.
St. Joseph, a Model of Recollection . . . . . . . . . . . Benedict XVI
VATICAN CITY, DEC. 18, 2005- With Christmas approaching, Benedict XVI exhorted the faithful to cultivate a spirit of interior recollection in an often noisy world that makes it hard to listen to God. The Pope today presented St. Joseph, the adoptive father of Jesus, as a model of recollection. Joseph’s silence in the Gospel, the Holy Father said, "does not demonstrate an empty interior, but rather the fullness of faith that he carries in his heart. Let’s allow ourselves to be ‘infected’ by the silence of St. Joseph!"
Silence "is so lacking in this world which is often too noisy, which is not favorable to recollection and listening to the voice of God," Benedict XVI said. "In this time of preparation for Christmas, let us cultivate interior recollection so as to receive and keep Jesus in our lives."
He suggested that the faithful establish in these days "a kind of spiritual dialogue with St. Joseph so that he helps us live to the fullest this mystery of faith." The Bishop of Rome recalled that his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, "who was very devoted to St. Joseph," dedicated the apostolic exhortation "Redemptoris Custos" (Custodian of the Redeemer) to the adoptive father of Jesus. In that 1989 document, John Paul II gave "a particular importance to the silence of St. Joseph," observed Benedict XVI.
Such a silence was "permeated with the contemplation of the mystery of God, in an attitude of total availability to the divine will," Benedict XVI said. "A silence through which Joseph, together with Mary, guard the Word of God, known through sacred Scripture, comparing it continually to the events of the life of Jesus; a silence interwoven with constant prayer, a prayer of blessing of the Lord, of adoration of his holy will and of boundless confidence in his providence."
The Holy Father added: "It is not exaggerated to say that Jesus will learn—on a human level—precisely from ‘father’ Joseph this intense interior life, which is the condition of authentic righteousness, the ‘interior righteousness,’ which one day he will teach to his disciples."
Advent
December 1, 2011
Pope John Paul II in his address on Dec. 18, 2002 said, "The liturgy of Advent…helps us to understand fully the value and meaning of the mystery of Christmas. It is not just about commemorating the historical event, which occurred some 2,000 years ago in a little village of Judea. Instead, it is necessary to understand that the whole of our life must be an ‘advent,’ a vigilant awaiting of the final coming of Christ. To predispose our mind to welcome the Lord who, as we say in the Creed, one day will come to judge the living and the dead, we must learn to recognize him as present in the events of daily life. Therefore, Advent is, so to speak, an intense training that directs us decisively toward him who already came, who will come, and who comes continuously."
Pope John Paul II in his address on Dec. 18, 2002 said, "The liturgy of Advent…helps us to understand fully the value and meaning of the mystery of Christmas. It is not just about commemorating the historical event, which occurred some 2,000 years ago in a little village of Judea. Instead, it is necessary to understand that the whole of our life must be an ‘advent,’ a vigilant awaiting of the final coming of Christ. To predispose our mind to welcome the Lord who, as we say in the Creed, one day will come to judge the living and the dead, we must learn to recognize him as present in the events of daily life. Therefore, Advent is, so to speak, an intense training that directs us decisively toward him who already came, who will come, and who comes continuously."
Divine Providence
Lately, I've been reflecting on this subject of Divine Providence. While I've been here at Luke's parents' house, I've been reading a book called Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence by Caussade. I highly recommend it. It's an excellent book, at least the little sections that I've been able to ponder over. It has reminded me that my brother Joseph loves the icon Our Lady of Divine Providence... and, of course, one of my and Luke's favorite quotes is, "In the Designs of Providence, there are no mere coincidences." (JPII said that.) As of late, Divine Providence is popping up all over the place; behind each door I open and around each corner I walk, I come face to face with it, and I long to know it more. So that is why I'm writing on this subject today.
I thought it might be nice to share some words I read this week (in the book I mentioned above) that really struck me:
"We must leave everything to Divine Providence that turns all things to the greatest advantage of those who are guided by faith and surrender themselves unreservedly to it. I pray God that he will make you realize thoroughly the valuable temporal and spiritual benefits resulting from this blessed practice of complete resignation to all the holy desires of God, and of utter self-abandonment to the adorable decrees of his lovable and incomprehensible Providence, without whose orders, our faith tells us, not one hair of our head falls to the ground nor a single leaf in autumn of all the forests in all the world. Jesus Christ could surely have used no better words than these to convince us that there is no event, big or little, in the world, which this sovereign Providence does not bring about."
I thought it might be nice to share some words I read this week (in the book I mentioned above) that really struck me:
"We must leave everything to Divine Providence that turns all things to the greatest advantage of those who are guided by faith and surrender themselves unreservedly to it. I pray God that he will make you realize thoroughly the valuable temporal and spiritual benefits resulting from this blessed practice of complete resignation to all the holy desires of God, and of utter self-abandonment to the adorable decrees of his lovable and incomprehensible Providence, without whose orders, our faith tells us, not one hair of our head falls to the ground nor a single leaf in autumn of all the forests in all the world. Jesus Christ could surely have used no better words than these to convince us that there is no event, big or little, in the world, which this sovereign Providence does not bring about."
Archbishop Chaput
Here's an excellent article by Archbishop Chaput, taken from the Denver Catholic Register:
"The seasons every year are a reflection of a greater reality. Most of us love autumn, which always has a special beauty in Colorado. But as the days grow shorter and colder, our spirit subtly changes. November reminds us that all life, including our own, comes to an end.
Over the centuries, the Church has often called her people to reflect on the “Four Last Things”—death, judgment, hell and heaven. She has a good reason for doing so. Life is brief. And all of us, whether rich or poor, unknown or famous, will very soon encounter the Four Last Things, directly and personally. They’re very real, and they matter eternally.
When the young man in the Gospel asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” he was reminding us that each human soul has something to be saved for ... and something to be saved from. We are made for joy. We are made for heaven. But we have alternatives. The November feasts of All Saints and All Souls, which we just celebrated, draw our attention to the reality of the end of our lives. One day, we will die, and the people we love most in this world will die.
When we really understand that life as we know it is temporary and transitional, it changes the way we live. We begin to see that relationships are more important than things. We become aware that love of God and neighbor should drive our lives, rather than possessions and self-centeredness.
In Scripture, Jesus makes it clear that our salvation isn’t assured, nor is it easy. We will be judged on whether we loved God with all of our strength, and whether we loved our neighbor as ourselves. Knowing this should motivate us to evaluate our lives. God takes our choices and our actions very seriously. Do our lives reflect an understanding of this simple truth?
The examination of conscience has been a Christian practice throughout the centuries. At the end of the day, before going to bed every night, we should examine our conscience to see what we have done, or left undone, to please or displease God and to serve or not serve our brothers and sisters.
Praying for the dead has been a Catholic tradition from the earliest days of the Church. At every Mass, we pray for the dead. We should also pray for our beloved dead in our personal devotions. When we die, we hope the family and friends we leave behind will pray for us with great intensity so we might be worthy of the purifying love of God.
Death will always be a sobering prospect for human beings, but we Christians face it with confidence, knowing that there is new life beyond death. Our faith in Christ Jesus and his resurrection makes it possible for us to deal with this reality. We know we are going to die, but we also see death as the beginning of new life.
By the death and resurrection of Christ, the gates of heaven have been “opened” to us. The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” uses the following words to describe the glory of heaven:
“This mystery of blessed communion with God and all who are in Christ is beyond all understanding and description. Scripture speaks of it in images: life, light, peace, wedding feast, wine of the kingdom, the Father’s house, the heavenly Jerusalem, paradise: ‘No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him’” (No. 1027).
Those are great words to ponder as we draw to the close of the Church year—and look forward with hope to Advent."
"The seasons every year are a reflection of a greater reality. Most of us love autumn, which always has a special beauty in Colorado. But as the days grow shorter and colder, our spirit subtly changes. November reminds us that all life, including our own, comes to an end.
Over the centuries, the Church has often called her people to reflect on the “Four Last Things”—death, judgment, hell and heaven. She has a good reason for doing so. Life is brief. And all of us, whether rich or poor, unknown or famous, will very soon encounter the Four Last Things, directly and personally. They’re very real, and they matter eternally.
When the young man in the Gospel asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” he was reminding us that each human soul has something to be saved for ... and something to be saved from. We are made for joy. We are made for heaven. But we have alternatives. The November feasts of All Saints and All Souls, which we just celebrated, draw our attention to the reality of the end of our lives. One day, we will die, and the people we love most in this world will die.
When we really understand that life as we know it is temporary and transitional, it changes the way we live. We begin to see that relationships are more important than things. We become aware that love of God and neighbor should drive our lives, rather than possessions and self-centeredness.
In Scripture, Jesus makes it clear that our salvation isn’t assured, nor is it easy. We will be judged on whether we loved God with all of our strength, and whether we loved our neighbor as ourselves. Knowing this should motivate us to evaluate our lives. God takes our choices and our actions very seriously. Do our lives reflect an understanding of this simple truth?
The examination of conscience has been a Christian practice throughout the centuries. At the end of the day, before going to bed every night, we should examine our conscience to see what we have done, or left undone, to please or displease God and to serve or not serve our brothers and sisters.
Praying for the dead has been a Catholic tradition from the earliest days of the Church. At every Mass, we pray for the dead. We should also pray for our beloved dead in our personal devotions. When we die, we hope the family and friends we leave behind will pray for us with great intensity so we might be worthy of the purifying love of God.
Death will always be a sobering prospect for human beings, but we Christians face it with confidence, knowing that there is new life beyond death. Our faith in Christ Jesus and his resurrection makes it possible for us to deal with this reality. We know we are going to die, but we also see death as the beginning of new life.
By the death and resurrection of Christ, the gates of heaven have been “opened” to us. The “Catechism of the Catholic Church” uses the following words to describe the glory of heaven:
“This mystery of blessed communion with God and all who are in Christ is beyond all understanding and description. Scripture speaks of it in images: life, light, peace, wedding feast, wine of the kingdom, the Father’s house, the heavenly Jerusalem, paradise: ‘No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him’” (No. 1027).
Those are great words to ponder as we draw to the close of the Church year—and look forward with hope to Advent."
Joseph's Sufferings
I came across an article on the internet that I thought was excellent. We all have suffering in our lives... and it's never easy to understand. We all know the story of Joseph in the Old Testament... a great story to reflect on in tough times. This is an excerpt from an article on him (by Christie Hadley, who writes for the Cincinnati Catholic Examiner). Whatever your struggles are, I hope you find strength and inspiration in this little piece of writing.
The Old Testament story of Joseph is one of suffering and glory.
Think about it – here is a man who is despised by his family, who is sold into slavery and had lost nearly all hope. He then rises to governor of the country and is in a place to save the world from famine including his own family.
What Joseph’s brothers intended for evil, God used for His glory. The struggles and suffering that Joseph endured led him to a place where he would be able to save humanity from hunger and the moment where he could reconcile with his family.
Good can come of struggles. Joseph didn’t know when he was forced into slavery that it would turn out so well. Can you imagine his anguish?
It is the same for us today. We don’t know the good that will come out of our struggles. Whether those are small personal struggles, wrestling with good and evil or difficulties with family relationships like Joseph or whether those struggles are the struggles the entire world is facing with the economic crisis, we must believe good will come out of it. God uses evil for His glory.
The Old Testament story of Joseph is one of suffering and glory.
Think about it – here is a man who is despised by his family, who is sold into slavery and had lost nearly all hope. He then rises to governor of the country and is in a place to save the world from famine including his own family.
What Joseph’s brothers intended for evil, God used for His glory. The struggles and suffering that Joseph endured led him to a place where he would be able to save humanity from hunger and the moment where he could reconcile with his family.
Good can come of struggles. Joseph didn’t know when he was forced into slavery that it would turn out so well. Can you imagine his anguish?
It is the same for us today. We don’t know the good that will come out of our struggles. Whether those are small personal struggles, wrestling with good and evil or difficulties with family relationships like Joseph or whether those struggles are the struggles the entire world is facing with the economic crisis, we must believe good will come out of it. God uses evil for His glory.
Henry Ford
I thought this was a great quote by him: "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals."
McGuffey Reader
My sister Andrea sent this to me, and I found it really amazing. This is a lesson straight from a McGuffey Reader, which was widely used as a textbook in American schools from the mid-19th century to the mid-2oth. God and Religion were infused into education and a natural part of life and learning. Oh, how far we've strayed!
McGuffey’s Third Eclectic Reader - LESSON XXV
THINGS TO REMEMBER.
1. When you rise in the morning, remember who kept you from danger during the night. Remember who watched over you while you slept, and whose sun shines around you, and gives you the sweet light of day.
2. Let God have the thanks of your heart, for his kindness and his care; and pray for his protection during the wakeful hours of day.
3. Remember that God made all creatures to be happy, and will do nothing that may prevent their being so, without good reason for it.
4. When you are at the table, do not eat in a greedy manner, like a pig. Eat quietly, and do not reach forth your hand for the food, but ask someone to help you.
5. Do not become peevish and pout, because you do not get a part of everything. Be satisfied with what is given you.
6. Avoid a pouting face, angry looks, and angry words. Do not slam the doors. Go quietly up and down stairs; and never make a loud noise about the house.
7. Be kind and gentle in your manners; not like the howling winter storm, but like the bright summer morning.
8. Do always as your parents bid you. Obey them with a ready mind, and with a pleasant face.
9. Never do anything that you would be afraid or ashamed that your parents should know. Remember, if no one else sees you, God does, from whom you cannot hide even your most secret thought.
10. At night, before you go to sleep, think whether you have done anything that was wrong during the day, and pray to God to forgive you. If anyone has done you wrong, forgive him in your heart.
11. If you have not learned something useful, or been in some way useful, during the past day, think that it is a day lost, and be very sorry for it.
12. Trust in the Lord, and He will guide you in the way of good men. The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
13. We must do all the good we can to all men, for this is well pleasing in the sight of God. He delights to see his children walk in love, and do good one to another.
McGuffey’s Third Eclectic Reader - LESSON XXV
THINGS TO REMEMBER.
1. When you rise in the morning, remember who kept you from danger during the night. Remember who watched over you while you slept, and whose sun shines around you, and gives you the sweet light of day.
2. Let God have the thanks of your heart, for his kindness and his care; and pray for his protection during the wakeful hours of day.
3. Remember that God made all creatures to be happy, and will do nothing that may prevent their being so, without good reason for it.
4. When you are at the table, do not eat in a greedy manner, like a pig. Eat quietly, and do not reach forth your hand for the food, but ask someone to help you.
5. Do not become peevish and pout, because you do not get a part of everything. Be satisfied with what is given you.
6. Avoid a pouting face, angry looks, and angry words. Do not slam the doors. Go quietly up and down stairs; and never make a loud noise about the house.
7. Be kind and gentle in your manners; not like the howling winter storm, but like the bright summer morning.
8. Do always as your parents bid you. Obey them with a ready mind, and with a pleasant face.
9. Never do anything that you would be afraid or ashamed that your parents should know. Remember, if no one else sees you, God does, from whom you cannot hide even your most secret thought.
10. At night, before you go to sleep, think whether you have done anything that was wrong during the day, and pray to God to forgive you. If anyone has done you wrong, forgive him in your heart.
11. If you have not learned something useful, or been in some way useful, during the past day, think that it is a day lost, and be very sorry for it.
12. Trust in the Lord, and He will guide you in the way of good men. The path of the just is as the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
13. We must do all the good we can to all men, for this is well pleasing in the sight of God. He delights to see his children walk in love, and do good one to another.
Not Enough Time to Pray?
It's funny... I had just written to a priest asking his advice about the place of prayer in my very busy life. With two children and many duties to fulfill each day, it is nearly impossible to find time to sit down with the Bible and really pray. He gave me some great advice... to read about Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, who seemed to understand how to help those in the world to be recollected. That was her mission. The letters she wrote to various individuals while she was in Carmel are excellent for those trying to live a holy life in the midst of the hustle and bustle of family life.
Well, today I was browsing a website about St. Paul of the Cross, Founder of the Passionist Order and whose feast day is this week, and I came across this little nugget of wisdom. Pretty cool...
"Build an oratory within yourself, and there have Jesus on the altar
of your heart. Speak to Him often while you are doing your work. Speak to Him of
His holy love, of His holy sufferings and of the sorrows of most holy
Mary"
-St Paul of the Cross writing a reply on Jan 9, 1760 to a busy
married woman who felt that she couldn't seem to find enough time to
pray.
Well, today I was browsing a website about St. Paul of the Cross, Founder of the Passionist Order and whose feast day is this week, and I came across this little nugget of wisdom. Pretty cool...
"Build an oratory within yourself, and there have Jesus on the altar
of your heart. Speak to Him often while you are doing your work. Speak to Him of
His holy love, of His holy sufferings and of the sorrows of most holy
Mary"
-St Paul of the Cross writing a reply on Jan 9, 1760 to a busy
married woman who felt that she couldn't seem to find enough time to
pray.
St. Teresa of Avila
Her feast day is this coming Saturday, and seeing she is my confirmation saint, I thought I'd look up some of her quotes. I posted one on the sidebar of the blog, but there were so many good ones I have to add a few here...
"There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers."
"To have courage for whatever comes in life- everything lies in that."
"Pain is never permanent."
"Let nothing trouble you,
let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing;
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who possesses God lacks nothing:
God alone suffices."
"There are more tears shed over answered prayers than over unanswered prayers."
"To have courage for whatever comes in life- everything lies in that."
"Pain is never permanent."
"Let nothing trouble you,
let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing;
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who possesses God lacks nothing:
God alone suffices."
A Wise Old Owl
I've been teaching Jonah some new nursery rhymes, and as a result I've been learning some new ones myself! I am especially fond of this one, which holds some wisdom for all of us... right?
A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard
Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?
A wise old owl lived in an oak
The more he saw the less he spoke
The less he spoke the more he heard
Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?