Office of Readings - 12/6/24

From the Second Reading in today's Office of Readings, a profound insight/reflection from St. Anselm's Proslogion

 

Insignificant man, escape from your everyday business for a short while, hide for a moment from your restless thoughts. Break off from your cares and troubles and be less concerned about your tasks and labors. Make a little time for God and rest a while in him.

Enter into your mind’s inner chamber. Shut out everything but God and whatever helps you to seek him; and when you have shut the door, look for him. Speak now to God and say with your whole heart: I seek your face; your face, Lord, I desire.

. . .

Teach me to seek you, and when I seek you show yourself to me, for I cannot seek you unless you teach me, nor can I find you unless you show yourself to me. Let me seek you in desiring you and desire you in seeking you, find you in loving you and love you in finding you.

 

Praise God!

Te Deum

The Te Deum is a beautiful prayer that is included in the Office of Readings on Sundays, holy days and solemnities. When saying this prayer yesterday morning, the following stanza stood out to me:

Come then, Lord, and help your people,

bought with the price of your own blood,

and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

This passage stood out to me for three reasons:

First, it is a reminder that we need the Lord's help and must ask for it always.

Second, it is a reminder of the price Jesus paid for our salvation. Interestingly, it is a reminder to the person praying the prayer, but also something we place before the Lord, humbly noting that we are his people, which he saw fit to purchase at such a great price.

Finally, it is a reminder of what is to come: glory everlasting.

I pray that we may all achieve that end.

Praise God!!

 

Beautiful Prayer

A prayer attributed to St. Pio of Pietrelcina ("Padre Pio"), which I came across in my Living with Christ prayer book yesterday. St. Pio's prayer resonated with me, and so I share it with you:

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need your strength. You are my life, and without you I am without fervor. You are my light, and without you I am in darkness. Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love you and always be in your company. Stay with me tonight, Jesus. In life with all its dangers, I need you. Amen.

 Praise God!