BEAUTIFUL PRAYERS


Here are some very lovely prayers, which express the goodness of God and all creation.

Gloria (an ancient Christian hymn)

Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to men of good will.

We praise You, We bless You, We adore You, We glorify You,
We give You thanks for Your great glory.

Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
Lord Jesus Christ, Only-begotten Son,
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father.
You Who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
You Who take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.
You Who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

For You alone are holy.
You alone are the Lord.
You alone, O Jesus Christ, are Most High
With the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

St. Patrick of Ireland

Lorica (Breastplate)
I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.

I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.

I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.

Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

(Literal translation from the Catholic Encyclopedia article on St Patrick.)

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St. Francis of Assisi:

Praises of God
You are holy, Lord, the only God,
and Your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong.
You are great.
You are the Most High.
You are Almighty.
You, Holy Father are King of heaven and earth.
You are Three and One, Lord God, all Good.
You are Good, all Good, supreme Good,
Lord God, living and true.
You are love. You are wisdom.
You are humility. You are endurance.
You are rest. You are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our riches, and You suffice for us.
You are beauty.
You are gentleness.
You are our protector.
You are our guardian and defender.
You are our courage. You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith, our great consolation.
You are our eternal life, Great and Wonderful Lord,
God Almighty, Merciful Saviour.

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Canticle of Brother Sun and Sister Moon
Most High, almighty, all-good Lord!
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.

Praise to You, O Lord our God, for all Your creatures,
especially our dear Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
fair is he, in splendor radiant,
Of You, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Praise to You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.

Praise to You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
for fair and stormy seasons and all heaven's varied moods,
by which You nourish all You have made.

Praise to You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful and humble, precious and pure.

Praise to You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night
he is beautiful and playful, invincible and keen.

Praise to You my Lord through our Sister, Mother Earth
who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits, multi-coloured flowers and herbs.

Praise to You my Lord through those who grant pardon for love of You
and patiently bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
By You Most High, they will be crowned.

Praise to You, my Lord for our Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are those she finds doing Your Will.
The second death can do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.

I See His Blood Upon the Rose, by Joseph M. Plunkett

I see His Blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of His eyes,
His Body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.

I see His Face in every flower;
The thunder and the singing of the birds
Are but His voice -- and carven by His power,
Rocks are His written words.

All pathways by His feet are worn,
His strong Heart stirs the ever-beating sea;
His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,
His Cross is every tree.


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