With acknowledgement and grateful thanks to Cardinal Basil Hume. The following is an extract from his book
" THE PILGRIM'S SECRET"
Ten golden rules on prayer.
1. Plan to pray; do not leave it to chance. Select a
time and a place (a room at home, on the bus, taking a walk).
(five minutes, ten, fifteen, thirty or more).
3. Decide what you are going to do when you pray -
e.g. which prayer to select to say slowly and lovingly;
or which passage from the Bible to read prayerfully. Sometimes use your own words; sometimes just be still and silent. Follow your inclination.
Pray: "Come Holy Spirit, teach me to pray; help me to do it".
5. Remember you are trying to get in touch with a Person, and that Person is God - Father or Son or Holy Spirit. He is wanting to get in touch with you.
6. Don't be a slave to one way of praying. Choose the one that you find easiest, and try some other method when the one you are using becomes a burden or doesn't help.
7. Don't look for results.
8. If you have distractions, then turn your distractions into your prayer. (If a car passes the window in the wrong gear, then say something to God about the driver - 1 mean a kind prayer for the welfare of the driver, not necessarily for his driving or gear box!)
9. If you always feel dry and uninterested at prayer, then read a spiritual book or pamphlet. An article in a Catholic paper may be a help. Spiritual reading is important.
10. Trying to pray is praying. Never give up trying.
The following prayers are produced with grateful thanks to Liverpool Hope College.
13th October 2001
A Simple Prayer in Troubled Times
God of love,
turn our hearts to your ways; and give us peace.
Amen.
A Prayer for Refugees
Almighty and merciful God,
whose Son became a refugee and had no place to call his own;
look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger, homeless and hungry.
Bless those who work to bring them relief; inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts; and guide the nations of the world towards that day when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Two Prayers for Justice
Almighty God our heavenly Father,
guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Grant us, Lord God, a vision of our land as your love would make it:
- a land where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor;
- a land where the benefits of civilised life are shared, and everyone can enjoy them;
- a land where different races and cultures live in tolerance and mutual respect;
- a land where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love.
And give us the inspiration and courage to build it,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A Praver for Mercy
Lord, remember Christ your son who is peace itself and who has washed away our hatred with his blood. Because you love all people, look with mercy on us.
Banish the violence and evil within us, and in answer to our prayers restore tranquility and peace. Amen.
A Prayer for the Leaders of the Nations
O God our heavenly Father,
whose love sets no boundaries
and whose strength is in service; grant to the leaders of the nations
wisdom, courage and insight at this time of darkness and fear.
Give to all who exercise authority
determination to defend the principles of freedom, love and tolerance, strength to protect and safeguard the innocent and clarity of vision to guide the world into the paths of justice and peace. This we ask through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
A Praver'for Reconciliation
Gracious God,
ruling the earth and its people not by terror but in love; we worship you.
We confess that too often our words hurt others and our deeds are selfish; forgive us.
In this time of uncertainty and fear, help us to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us, in the name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Two Prayers for Peace
Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the king of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
0 God, who would fold both heaven and earth in a single peace: Let the design of thy great love
lighten upon the waste of our wraths and sorrows: and give peace to thy Church,
peace among nations,
peace in our dwellings,
and peace in our hearts:
through thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
A Prayer of St Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is discord, vision.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.
0 divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Verses from the Psalms
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and he shall comfort your heart; Wait patiently for the Lord.
(Psalm 27. 17)
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. (Psalm 46. 1)
Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46. 10)