O my God,
grant that I may so wait upon you,
that when quick decisions and actions are needed,
I may mount up with wings as an eagle,
and when under direction of your will,
and the needs of people
I have to keep going under pressure,
I may run and not be weary,
and in times of routine and humble duty,
I may walk and not faint.
For all my fresh springs are in you …
O God of my strength. Amen.

---George Appleton

You, Lord, brought into being the everlasting fabric of the universe; you wove the tapestry of life. From one generation to another you are constant and righteous in your laws, wise and prudent in your actions. To look round is to see your goodness; to trust you is to know your generosity, to confess to you is to receive your forgiveness.

          Make us clean with the strong soap of your truth. Make us whole with the powerful medicine of your grace. Show us the light of your smile. Protect us with your mighty arm. Save us from all wrongdoing by your outstretched arm. Deliver us from all those that hate us without cause. And to us and all humankind grant peace and accord.

          To you, who alone can grant to us those and all good things, we offer up our praise through Jesus Christ, the high priest and guardian of our souls. Amen.                                                                              
---Clement of Rome

I have just hung up; why did he telephone?

I don’t know … O! I get it …

I talked a lot and listened very little.

Forgive me, Lord, it was a monologue and not a dialogue.
I explained my idea and did not get his;
Since I didn’t listen, I learned nothing,
Since I didn’t listen, I didn’t help,
Since I didn’t listen, we didn’t communicate.

Forgive me, Lord, for we were connected,
and now we are cut off.

---Michael Quoist

Help me ---
to learn that selfishness and happiness cannot exist together;
to discover your joy by losing myself and bringing
love, help, and happiness to others.

Through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

---Allan W. Schreiber

Have mercy
Upon us.

Have mercy
Upon our efforts,
That we
Before thee,
In love and in faith,
Righteousness and humility,
May follow thee,
With self-denial, steadfastness and courage,
And meet thee
In the silence. 

Have mercy
Upon us.

Have mercy
Upon our efforts,
That we
Before thee,
In love and in faith,
Righteousness and humility,
May follow thee,
With self-denial, steadfastness and courage,
And meet thee
In the silence. 

Give us
A pure hearts
That we may see thee,
A humble heart
That we may  hear thee,
A heart of love
That we may serve thee,
A heart of faith
That we may love thee,

Thou
Whom I do not know
But whose I am.

 Thou
Whom I do not comprehend
But who hast dedicated me
To my fate.

Thou –

--Dag Hammarskjold, 1961

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at my end, and at my departing.

                                                                             --- Sarum Primer

O Lord,
you know me.
You know when I sit
and when I stand.
You have me always present
in your mind.
For this, Lord, I thank you.
You know the path for my life
and what is best for me.
Lord, reveal to me the path
I am to walk.
Bless me and guide me
and be Lord to me
that whichever road I take
I may do all for your glory.

     In Jesus’ name. Amen.

--- “Vocation Prayer” from the Beech Grove Benedictine Community

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;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand;
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 re born to Eternal Life.          
             
-St. Francis of Assisi