The following prayer, known as the Anima Christi (Life of Christ) and has been prayed by Christians for 500 years. Attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyala, it embodies the heartcry of the soul desiring intimacy with Jesus.
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Separated from Thee let me never be.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
At the hour of death, call me.
And close to Thee bid me.
That with Thy saints I may be Praising Thee,
Forever and ever.
Amen
Even to one not well-versed in Latin, the beauty of the original prayer touches the soul
Anima Christi in Latin
Amina Christi, sanctifica me.
Corpus Christi, salva me.
Sanquis Christi, inebria me.
Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.
Passio Christi, conforta me.
O bone Jesu, exaudi me.
Intra tua vulnera absconde me.
Ne permittas me separari a te.
Ab hoste maligno defende me.
In hora mortis meae voca me.
Et iube me venire ad te.
Ut cum Sanctis tuis laudem te.
In saecula saeculorum. Amen.
Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Sunday, November 12, 2017
The 36-Hour Day
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are thy ways. Who going through the vale of misery use it for a well, and the pools are filled with water. Psalm 84:5,6
My dad died suddenly six weeks ago. Capable, joyful, caring - he made everything okay for those around him and lived his life helping people. He was my mom's heart, mind and source of normal living. She has Alzheimer's disease.
"I recommend you place her tomorrow in a residential care facility," said someone from a home care agency.
"Your first job is to see to the care of your mother. You need to find an assisted living facility for her," said the attorney.
"Keep your mother at home where she is comfortable," said one of the African aides that I interviewed.
"Are you putting me in a nursing home?" my mother questioned angrily when my sister and I toured some residential living communities. Mom can't remember what day it is and will put on two different shoes, but her emotional impressions remain largely accurate. That is what makes the decision so hard.
Bottom line, I am the one who has to make this decision about my mother. Nobody else. And my heart bleeds for her.
Prayer: Lord, show me Your well and the pools that are filled with water as I go through this vale of misery. Please let mom feel cared for and loved. Protect her and give me Your Wisdom. Amen.
My dad died suddenly six weeks ago. Capable, joyful, caring - he made everything okay for those around him and lived his life helping people. He was my mom's heart, mind and source of normal living. She has Alzheimer's disease.
"I recommend you place her tomorrow in a residential care facility," said someone from a home care agency.
"Your first job is to see to the care of your mother. You need to find an assisted living facility for her," said the attorney.
"Keep your mother at home where she is comfortable," said one of the African aides that I interviewed.
"Are you putting me in a nursing home?" my mother questioned angrily when my sister and I toured some residential living communities. Mom can't remember what day it is and will put on two different shoes, but her emotional impressions remain largely accurate. That is what makes the decision so hard.
Bottom line, I am the one who has to make this decision about my mother. Nobody else. And my heart bleeds for her.
Prayer: Lord, show me Your well and the pools that are filled with water as I go through this vale of misery. Please let mom feel cared for and loved. Protect her and give me Your Wisdom. Amen.
Friday, June 30, 2017
Power Came Forth
And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all. [Luke 6:19 RSV]
The phrase "Wise men still seek Him," rings true here. Tired and sick we often are and we look for ways to touch Jesus.
Some ways that I am able to touch him: Reading the scriptures, praying (especially at an Adoration Chapel), and receiving Communion which is the ultimate oneness with Christ.
Dear Lord, I seek to touch you. Send Your power. Bring healing.
The phrase "Wise men still seek Him," rings true here. Tired and sick we often are and we look for ways to touch Jesus.
Some ways that I am able to touch him: Reading the scriptures, praying (especially at an Adoration Chapel), and receiving Communion which is the ultimate oneness with Christ.
Dear Lord, I seek to touch you. Send Your power. Bring healing.
Sunday, May 14, 2017
Mother's Day
We went through fire and water, and thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.
[Psalm 66:11]
A double celebration today of Mother's Day and a graduation. Thank you, Lord.
Psalm 124 says it best:
If the Lord himself had not been on our side, now may Israel say; if the Lord himself had not been on our side, when men rose up against us;
They had swallowed us up alive; when they were so wrathfully displeased at us.
Yea, the waters had drowned us, and the stream had gone over our soul.
The deep waters of the proud had gone even over our soul.
But praised be the Lord, who hath not given us over for a prey unto their teeth.
Our soul is escaped even as a bird out of the snare of the fowler; the snare is broken, and we are delivered.
Our help standeth in the Name of the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth. [Psalm 124]
Praise be to God forever.
[Psalm 66:11]
A double celebration today of Mother's Day and a graduation. Thank you, Lord.
Psalm 124 says it best:
If the Lord himself had not been on our side, now may Israel say; if the Lord himself had not been on our side, when men rose up against us;
They had swallowed us up alive; when they were so wrathfully displeased at us.
Yea, the waters had drowned us, and the stream had gone over our soul.
The deep waters of the proud had gone even over our soul.
But praised be the Lord, who hath not given us over for a prey unto their teeth.
Our soul is escaped even as a bird out of the snare of the fowler; the snare is broken, and we are delivered.
Our help standeth in the Name of the Lord, who hath made heaven and earth. [Psalm 124]
Praise be to God forever.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Aging
Wisdom from Clara - my elderly prayer partner who happens to be legally blind and virtually lame but who sees beyond this world and scales mountains with her prayers:
"Close relatives
especially as they grow old can be especially difficult. I
remember taking a class taught by Tony Campolo at Eastern. He said that
some older people become very difficult because in the background they envision
that soon death will come like a discordant note over and over again in a
symphony. If a person is fighting death, chances are that they are
fighting everyone else. They want desperately to live. The oddity is
that they often deprive younger people of the joy of living.
Although I
still miss my mother terribly, it was such a blessing when she said to me a few
days before she died, 'I have absolutely no fear of death. Jesus is my God
and my all!' As for some elderly people, I'm sure that they are angry and feel as though they are no longer
in control. The truth is that we never are. We are blessed if we can
lay all our problems at the foot of the Cross."
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Blessed Are They That Mourn
And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on Him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps for a first-born. [Zechariah 12:10]
The beauty of the Old Testament prophecy.
Lord, during this Holy Week. give us a spirit of compassion and supplication. Cause us to look upon You who was pierced. Allow us to mourn for You and weep bitterly for You.
The beauty of the Old Testament prophecy.
Lord, during this Holy Week. give us a spirit of compassion and supplication. Cause us to look upon You who was pierced. Allow us to mourn for You and weep bitterly for You.
Sunday, April 2, 2017
A Troubled Spirit
The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise. [Psalm 51:17]
How does our inner spirit respond during hard times? Do we get angry and become bitter towards God? Or do we allow the pain and difficulty to do a good work within us?
A troubled spirit. A broken heart. Good things? Apparently they are, in God's eyes.
In the passion of my Maker, be my sinful soul partaker; may I bear with her my part; of His passion bear the token, in a spirit bowed and broken bear His death within my heart. Amen.
How does our inner spirit respond during hard times? Do we get angry and become bitter towards God? Or do we allow the pain and difficulty to do a good work within us?
A troubled spirit. A broken heart. Good things? Apparently they are, in God's eyes.
In the passion of my Maker, be my sinful soul partaker; may I bear with her my part; of His passion bear the token, in a spirit bowed and broken bear His death within my heart. Amen.
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