Prayer for Tuesday (St. Francis Day)

Lord, make me a channel of thy peace;
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.

Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life.
Amen.

(St. Francis of Assisi, Source: Chapter 11, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.)

Today’s Affirmation:

“Every day is a new day full of hope, happiness and health.”

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

Prayer for Sunday

Spiritual Truth
(an excerpt from July 2nd reading in Forgiving & Moving On by Dr. Tian Dayton)
Today I see that to change my life I have to change myself. … One of the ways in which I can serve the cause of humanity is to be, within myself, a genuinely spiritual person – related to no sect or creed, but standing on my own as a conduit of higher truth, recognizing that each person has equal access to that knowledge. I will look for truth within myself rather than outside. I will not wait for peace to be handed to me… but will do the inner work needed to achieve it.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon,
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console,
not so much to be understood as to understand,
not so much to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.
~St. Francis of Assisi

Today’s Affirmation:

“I understand that change is inevitable.
I welcome change and adapt myself to change.”

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

Prayer for Saturday

The Canticle of the Creatures

Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, honor and blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong;
no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

We praise You, Lord, for all Your creatures,
especially for Brother Sun,
who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
of You Most High, he bears your likeness.

We praise You, Lord, for Sister Moon and the stars,
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

We praise You, Lord, for Brothers Wind and Air,
fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.

We praise You, Lord, for Sister Water,
so useful, humble, precious and pure.

We praise You, Lord, for Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night.
He is beautiful, playful, robust, and strong.

We praise You, Lord, for Sister Earth,
who sustains us
with her fruits, colored flowers, and herbs.

We praise You, Lord, for those who pardon,
for love of You bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
by You Most High, they will be crowned.

We praise You, Lord, for Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in their sins!
Blessed are those that She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.

We praise and bless You, Lord, and give You thanks,
and serve You in all humility.

(St. Francis of Assisi)

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter
and those who matter don’t mind.
~ Dr. Seuss

Today’s Affirmation:

“I accept responsibility for my mistakes as well as my successes.”

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