Month: June 2024

Teach Us To Pray

No Room for Worry

Smitten With Goodness
Season of neediness in prayer

Can any of us by worrying add a single moment to our life? We are called to trust in God‘s faithfulness. When we think about how God provides for even the smallest creatures, how can we doubt that our needs will be met? Jesus tells us that if we keep our eyes on the kingdom of God, then we will not worry.

Too often our lives are pulled in one direction or another and our focus drifts away from God. Frequently it is in those moments that we become overwhelmed or begin to feel lost. We need to take time every day to focus and continue seeking God. And in doing so all the other claims on our time will be refocused towards the same goal.

Lord, your providential love for us provides for our every need. Give us the faith to surrender our lives to you, the hope to believe in your promise, and the charity to serve you in our neighbor. Amen

Teach Us To Pray

Role in God’s Plan

Smitten With Goodness
Season of neediness in prayer

St. John Henry Newman is celebrated not only for his theological insights but also for his profound reflections on personal vocation and purpose. His prayer, “The Mission of My Life,” encapsulates his deep understanding of divine providence and individual calling. In this beautiful and introspective prayer, Newman eloquently expresses the belief that every person has a unique role in God’s plan, encouraging the faithful to seek and embrace their God-given mission with trust and humility. 

The Mission of My Life

God has created us to live in service, he has committed some work to me which he has not committed to any one else. I have my mission. I may never know what it is in this life, but I will  be told about it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.

He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments.

Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about. 

Amen

Teach Us To Pray

Lightness of Laughter

Smitten With Goodness
Season of neediness in prayer

Sometimes I take life too seriously and need to lighten up.  As I’m getting older, I’m appreciating the lightness of laughter and realizing a good sense of humor is actually good for us.  My husband loves to watch comedy specials for a good laugh and tries to get me to appreciate them. Much is lost on me however there are a few that resonate and cause me to laugh and have a shift of perspective. Most of the time my humor throughout the day is directed towards myself when I notice I’m setting unrealistic expectations or being too hard on myself. I’m learning to laugh, lean in and be gentle with myself. 

Do you need to cultivate good humor in your day? Praying this prayer by St. Thomas More frequently can help!

Prayer for Good Humor

Grant me, O Lord, good digestion, and also something to digest.
Grant me a healthy body, and the necessary good humor to maintain it.
Grant me a simple soul that knows to treasure all that is good and that doesn’t frighten easily at the sight of evil,
but rather finds the means to put things back in their place.
Give me a soul that knows not boredom, grumblings, sighs and laments, nor excess of stress, because of that obstructing thing called “I.”
Grant me, O Lord, a sense of good humor.
Allow me the grace to be able to take a joke to discover in life a bit of joy, and to be able to share it with others.

Amen

Teach Us To Pray

Saying I Am Sorry

Smitten With Goodness
Season of neediness in prayer

Saying an Act of Contrition is a deeply personal and spiritually enriching practice that lies at the heart of Catholic confession and repentance. This timeless prayer expresses genuine sorrow for sins and a firm resolve to amend one’s life, seeking God’s boundless mercy and forgiveness. As a fundamental component of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Act of Contrition invites the faithful to reflect on their actions, acknowledge their shortcomings, and open their hearts to divine grace. In a world where distractions and moral challenges abound, taking a moment to sincerely recite this prayer fosters spiritual renewal and a deeper connection with God. The Act of Contrition remains a powerful testament to the transformative power of God’s love and the human capacity for redemption. Join me in this sacred prayer and incorporate it into your daily spiritual practice.

Act of Contrition

My God,

I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.

In choosing to do wrong

and failing to do good,

I have sinned against you

whom I should love above all things.

I firmly intend, with your help,

to do penance,

to sin no more,

and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.

Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.

In his name, my God, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, Son of God,

have mercy on me, a sinner.

Teach Us To Pray

For The Love of Truth

Smitten With Goodness

The “Prayer for Charity in Truth” is a profound and timely invocation that calls for a deep, authentic love grounded in truth and justice. In an era where the complexities of social, economic, and ethical issues often challenge our understanding and practice of genuine charity, this prayer serves as a vital compass. It encourages believers to seek not only to act with compassion but to do so with a foundation of truth that respects the dignity and rights of every individual. Rooted in the principles of Catholic social teaching, the “Prayer for Charity in Truth” inspires us to go beyond superficial acts of kindness, urging us to engage in transformative love that addresses the root causes of injustice and inequality. As we navigate the intricacies of modern life, this prayer offers a beacon of hope and a call to action, reminding us that true charity is inseparable from the pursuit of truth. Through this prayer, we are invited to reflect deeply on how we can embody Christ’s love in our actions, advocating for a world where every person is valued and treated with the respect they deserve.

Prayer for Charity in Truth

Father, your truth is made known in your Word.
Guide us to seek the truth of the human person.
Teach us the way to love because you are Love.

Jesus, you embody Love and Truth.
Help us to recognize your face in the poor.
Enable us to live out our vocation to bring love and justice to your people.

Holy Spirit, you inspire us to transform our world.
Empower us to seek the common good for all persons.
Give us a spirit of solidarity and make us one human family.

Amen

Teach Us To Pray

Every Step of The Way

Smitten With Goodness
Season of neediness in prayer

The “Litany of the Way, Prayer for the Journey” is a beautiful prayer that serves as a guide and companion for those embarking on life’s many journeys. Rooted in the tradition of Christian litanies, this prayer offers a series of heartfelt petitions and invocations, seeking divine guidance, protection, and strength for travelers on both physical and spiritual paths. Whether one is setting out on a literal journey, navigating the complexities of daily life, or embarking on a profound spiritual quest, the “Litany of the Way” provides a profound sense of comfort and assurance. Its rhythmic cadence and evocative language draw us into a contemplative state, fostering a deep connection with God and an enduring sense of peace and purpose. This prayer reminds us that, no matter where our journey leads, we are never alone, and the divine presence accompanies us every step of the way.

Litany of the Way, Prayer for the Journey

As Jesus sought the quiet of the desert,
teach us to pray.

As Jesus washed the feet of his disciples,
teach us to love.

As Jesus promised paradise to the thief on the cross,
teach us to hope.

As Jesus called Peter to walk to him across the water,
teach us to believe. 

As the child Jesus sat among the elders in the temple,
teach us to seek answers.

As Jesus in the garden opened his mind and heart to God’s will,
teach us to listen.

As Jesus reflected on the Law and the prophets,
teach us to learn.

As Jesus used parables to reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom,
teach us to teach.

Teach Us To Pray

Soul of Christ

Smitten With Goodness
Season of neediness in prayer

The “Anima Christi” is a profound prayer revered for its plea for spiritual sanctity and divine union with Christ. Originating from the 14th century, this prayer has been a cornerstone of personal piety and liturgical tradition, often recited after receiving the Eucharist. Its rich imagery and heartfelt petitions resonate deeply, inviting believers into a transformative encounter with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Through the “Anima Christi,” faithful souls seek solace, purification, and protection, echoing a timeless longing for the redemptive grace and eternal presence of Christ in our lives. We all need a bit of this goodness!

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.

Body of Christ, save me.

Blood of Christ, embolden me.

Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.

O good Jesus, hear me.

Within your wounds hide me.

Never permit me to be parted from you.

From the evil Enemy defend me.

At the hour of my death call me

and bid me come to you,

that with your Saints I may praise you

for age upon age.

Amen.

Teach Us To Pray

Act of Love

Smitten With Goodness
Season of neediness in prayer

We are asked to love God with all our heart and all our strength.  Let’s lift our heart to God in an act of love today. 

O Lord God, I love you above all things and I love my neighbor for your sake because you are the highest, infinite and perfect good, worthy of all my love. In this love I intend to live and die. Amen

Teach Us To Pray

Act of Hope

Smitten With Goodness
Season of neediness in prayer

Where is your hope? Let’s lift our hearts to God in an act of hope today.

O Lord God, I hope by your grace for the pardon of all my sins and after life here to gain eternal happiness because you have promised it, who are infinitely powerful, faithful, kind, and merciful. In this hope I intend to live and die. Amen.

Teach Us To Pray

Act of Faith

Smitten With Goodness
Season of neediness in prayer

What we believe is our profession of faith. What is your act of faith?

O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches because you have revealed them who are eternal truth and wisdom, who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen