Prayer for Thursday (St. Anthony of Padua)

Today is the Christian feast of St. Anthony of Padua.

A man who was completely innocent,
offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies,
and became the ransom of the world.
It was a perfect act.
~ Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi

Dear Saint Anthony, you were prompt to fulfill all justice. You gave God and His creation the service He required from you. You respected other people’s rights and treated them with kindness and understanding. Saint Anthony, Zealous for Justice, teach me the beauty of this virtue. Make me prompt to fulfill all justice toward God and toward all creation.

(adapted from a prayer by the Franciscan Mission Associates)

This Week’s Affirmation:

“I am One with God and all creation.”

(For more on Affirmations, go to my Affirmations Page.)

 

Prayer for Wednesday (AA Founded)

Today is the anniversary of the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. May God grant serenity to those who still suffer.

Learning how to live in the greatest peace, partnership, and brotherhood
with all men and women, of whatever description,
is a moving and fascinating adventure.
~ Bill W., co-founder of AA

God, give me grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.

(Reinhold Niebuhr)

This Week’s Affirmation:

“I am One with God and all creation.”

(For more on Affirmations, go to my Affirmations Page.)

Prayer for Tuesday (Iroquois Strawberry Festival)

Today the Iroquois Nation celebrates the Strawberry Festival.

…… everything on the earth has a purpose,
every disease an herb to cure it,
and every person a mission.
This is the Indian theory of existence.
~ Mourning Dove, Salish (1888-1936)

Hear me, four quarters of the world – a relative I am! Give me the strength to walk the soft earth. Give me the eyes to see and the strength to understand, that I may be like you. With your power only can I face the winds. Great Spirit, all over the earth the faces of living things are all alike. With tenderness have these come up out of the ground. Look upon these faces of children without number and with children in their arms, that they may face the winds and walk the good road to the day of quiet. This is my prayer’ hear me!

(Souix prayer)

This Week’s Affirmation:

“I am One with God and all creation.”

(For more on Affirmations, go to my Affirmations Page.)