Work of God

My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord

Five Ways to Pray Always: Part 5, Walking With Jesus

[click here to view part four of this seven part series] Walking With Jesus We are accustomed to saying, “I’m going to take a walk”–a phrase which points to a kind of possessive, “I’m in control” attitude. Perhaps it’s because we usually view walking in terms of going somewhere, accomplishing something, getting from here to… Read More ›

Litany of St. Joseph

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, God, the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, One God, Holy Mary, pray for us. Saint Joseph, Illustrious Scion… Read More ›

Lectio Divina and Prayer

“Breastplate” of St. Patrick

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… Read More ›

Five Ways to Pray Always: Part 4, Breathing the Breath of God

[click here to view part three of this seven part series] Breathing the Breath of God One of the post-Resurrection accounts in John’s Gospel says that Jesus extended his peace to the disciples and then breathed on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” It is the very same breath of God that the Creator breathed… Read More ›

Stations of the Cross go back to the Fourth Century

(Originally published in the Catholic Times by Tim Puett) The Stations of the Cross in the form most American Catholics know best are of comparatively recent vintage in Church terms, dating back to the year the U.S. Constitution was ratified. But their history goes back well before that, to the days when pilgrims were first… Read More ›

On the Observance of Lent: Lectio during Lent

[return to part three] In chapter forty-eight, Benedict sets forth an observance which is still prevalent in our order. He is talking in that chapter of the daily manual labor but he goes on to say: During the days of Lent, they should be free in the morning to read until the third hour, after… Read More ›

Prayer to St. Benedict

Glorious Saint Benedict, sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God’s grace! Behold me humbly kneeling at your feet. I implore you in your loving kindness to pray for me before the throne of God. To you I have recourse in the dangers that daily surround me. Shield me against my selfishness and my indifference… Read More ›

Five Ways to Pray Always: Part 3, Seeing Through God’s Eyes

[click here to view part two of this seven part series] Seeing Through God’s Eyes The essence of contemplation is seeing all of creation through God’s eyes. We’ve all had contemplative experiences, but perhaps we didn’t know it was contemplation. Watching the slow, multicolored sunset with simple, childlike awe to the point where we simply… Read More ›