Author Archives: MCS

daily life

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“Let us remember that the life in which we ought to be interested is “daily” life.  We can, each of us, only call the present time our own….Our Lord tells us to pray for today, and so he prevents us from tormenting ourselves about tomorrow.  It is as if [God] were to say to us: “[It is I] who gives you this day [and] will also give you what you need for this day. [It is I] who makes the sun to rise.  [It is I] who scatters the darkness of night and reveals to you the rays of the sun.”

-Gregory of Nyssa On the Lord’s Prayer

we’ll press for Canaan’s shore

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You weary heavy-laden souls
Who are oppressed sore
You travelers through the wilderness
To Canaan’s peaceful shore
Through beating winds and chilly rains,
And waters deep and cold
And enemies surrounding you
Have courage and be bold

The storms and hurricanes arise
The desert all around
And fiery serpents oft appear
Through the enchanted ground
Dark night and clouds and gloomy fear
And dragons often roar
But when the gospel trump we hear
We’ll press for Canaan’s shore

-Crooked Still, Florence

incarnation

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“There is nothing so secular, that is cannot be sacred,

and that is one of the deepest messages of the

Incarnation.”

-Madeleine L’Engle, Walking on Water: Reflections of Faith and Art

 

prayer of preparation and penitence

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Almighty God
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

come down, o love, divine

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Come down, O love divine, seek Thou this soul of mine,
And visit it with Thine own ardor glowing.
O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,
And kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn, til earthly passions turn
To dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
And let Thy glorious light shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

Let holy charity mine outward vesture be,
And lowliness become mine inner clothing;
True lowliness of heart, which takes the humbler part,
And o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long,
Shall far outpass the power of human telling;
For none can guess its grace, till he become the place
Wherein the Holy Spirit makes His dwelling.

-Bianco of Siena, Come Down, O Love Divine

come, Holy Spirit, come

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…

‘Come with the gift to heal
the wounds of guilt and fear,
And to oppression’s face reveal
The kingdom drawing near.
Where chaos longs to reign,
Descend, O holy Dove,
And free us all to work again
The miracles of love.

Spirit of truth, arise:
Inspire the prophet’s voice:
Expose to scorn the tyrant’s lies,
And bid the poor rejoice.
O Spirit, clear our sight,
All prejudice remove,
And help us to discern the right,
And covet only love.’

…

-Michael Forster, Come Holy Spirit, Come