The other day I was sorting through some papers and getting my work area tidy.  As I worked, a line from a psalm kept going through my head.  I find that this happens often to me an at the most unusual of times.  Its not just Psalms, it can be a line of text from the liturgy or other prayers.  But it did get my attention this time and it made me think about an interesting relationship that I have with the Psalms.

Praying Morning and Evening Prayer for something close to a dozen years, the cycle of the Psalms has become a part of my language of faith.  In the course of the month we cycle through almost all the psalms with a few being repeated.  While I still cant say them without my breviary, certain lines always seem to pop out, but rarely the same ones twice.

You would think with all of the repetition that this form of prayer might grow old.  When I started out, I feared in fact that it would do just that.  But it has not.  In fact what I have found is that the Psalms are quite current and relevant to the life of prayer.  It seems that no matter what my daily situation or concern, something in the Morning or Evening Prayer, and often both, speaks directly to my needs.  They have become for me a living and vibrant foundation for the rest of my prayer, and often lead me to prayer that is both helpful and satisfying.   This is a great example of scripture taking root, not so much by my doing, but by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Not everyone is called to pray the Daily Office, and that’s perfectly fine.  But if your looking for a jumping off point for your prayer, try it for a month and see.  Its not something you can try once or twice and then leave it.  Its something that first must become familiar in order to become helpful. So try it for a month and then see what you think!  There are several helpful websites on line  to get you started!

Happy Saturday!

Our beloved Bl. Pope John Paul II called on the Church to breath with both lungs… the Western and Eastern Traditions.  In light of this I offer the following prayer to the Holy Trinity as a breath from the East!

Having arisen from sleep, we fall down before thee, 0 Blessed One, and sing to thee, O Mighty One, the Angelic Hymn: Holy, holy, holy art thou, 0 God. Through the Theotokos ( Mary) have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

From my bed and sleep Thou hast raised me: 0 Lord, enlighten my mind and my heart, and open my lips that I may praise thee, 0 Holy Trinity: Holy, holy, holy art thou, 0 God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.
Both now and ever, and unto ages of ages, Amen.

Suddenly the Judge shall come, and the deeds of each shall be revealed: but with feat we cry out in the middle of the night: Holy. holy, holy art thou, 0 God. Through the Theotokos have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy. (12 times)

There is much to appreciate in the Eastern Spiritual tradition.  If your interested in learning more Orthodoxnet.com is a great site to teach you some basics.

Jim was a quiet and simple man.  Devoted to his family, to his work and his hobbies.  He was in every way someone that made your day just because he was your friend.  Jim was not particularly social however.  He attended Mass when he could, but was not all that active in the Parish nor did he talk much if ever about his faith,

He did however have one unfailing habit.  Everyday that he could he visited his Church or any parish where the Blessed Sacrament could be visited.  He once told a friend that he didnt really pray….he simply went in to the Church, made his veneration, and then sat there.  He started out by saying… ” Jesus, its Jim”  Then he would simply sit there for the hour.  Say an Our Father and go.

I dont know how many years he did this…but it was many.  Finally Jim came down with a cold, that turned into a pretty serious upper respiratory infection which he could not fight off.  He entered into his eternity.

Several days after his death I had a dream about Jim.  I saw him walking towards a source of light….a light which gave forth such love…..  but I couldnt hear anything.  Out of the light comes our Lord, and hugs Jim……then I hear…. ” Jim, its Jesus”.

Perhaps a visit to the Blessed Sacrament would be in order today?

Brethren:

There wont be a usual post today.  I am attending a funeral of a dear friend and my first spiritual director.  Br. Luke Stone, TOR served his Church and Order well and has earned his rest.

I ask your prayers for the repose of his soul. 

Thankfully for us, life is changed not ended!

May he and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace….

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