October 2021: Prayers and Reflections
Prayers and Reflections for October
Blessing For a Mother-to-be
You know your life has changed for ever,
For in all the days and years to come,
Distance will never be able to cut you off
From the one you now carry
For nine months under your heart
May you be blessed with quiet confidence
That God will guide you and mind you.
May the emerging spirit of your child
Imbibe encouragement and joy
From the continuous music of your heart.
So that it can grow with ease,
Expectant of wonder and welcome
When its form is fully filled
And it makes its journey out
To see you and settle at last
Relieved, and glad in your arms.
From ‘Benedictus’ By John O’Donohue – Day for Life, 3 October
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They’re Really Two-at-One
Jesus the Nazarene and Francis of Assisi!
Two attractive men, heart and soul.
But, risk any closeness, feel a tremor!
Jesus’ mind of at-oneness-with-all was undoubtedly
Shared and practiced and encouraged by Francis-The Brave.
So Francis too, reflects that strangeness …
Retreat as we may, the truth is plainly there …
Amen! The Mind of Christ is essential for all.
Amen! It is not the prerogative of Jesus-alone.
Amen! It made, it didn’t depend on, his Divinity.
Recall the old unexplored saying:
‘Francis was more-Jesus than Jesus-Himself!’
Perhaps it hints at this: Read the Gospels
With attention! Substitute Francis for Jesus.
Then we’ll have glimpsed something more of both.
And recognised they’re really Two-at-One …
Jesus the Nazarene, and Francis of Assisi.
Shine on each other! Shine on me, and on all …
From ‘Memories’ By Tom Hamill
St Francis of Assisi Memorial, 4 October
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Prayer for After Communion
Lord when we receive you in Holy Communion you are present to us as really as you were to the Twelve at the Last Supper. May we always appreciate the closeness between us in these moments. May we also realise that all those around us in this congregation are now intimately linked to you as well. We are now your body as you have made us your brothers and sisters. As You reached out in love and support to countless others, may we recognise your face in those who come to us in daily life. As you served others may we serve you in them. As you have become living bread for others may we in our turn become bread to nourish those in need in this our world. Amen
By Declan O’Loughlin, Dromintee, Co Armagh
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Leave it to Him
‘God knows what is my greatest happiness, but I do not. There is no rule about what is happy and good; what suits one would not suit another. And the ways by which perfection is reached vary very much; the medicines necessary for our souls are very different from each other. Thus God leads us by strange ways; we know He wills our happiness, but we neither know what our happiness is, nor the way. We are blind; left to ourselves we should take the wrong way; we must leave it to Him.’
St John Henry Newman
Memorial 9 October
How often have I thought that I may owe all the graces I’ve received to the prayers of a person who begged them from God for me, and whom I shall know only in heaven.
St Thérèse of Lisieux
Memorial 1 October
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