PRAYER. Live, Jesus, in our hearts! Campus Ministry. John Baptist de La Salle, Collection of Various Short Treatises, 55, 83.

Transcription

1 Morning prayers San Miguel High School February, 2017

2 PRAYER Hold in high esteem the holy exercise of mental prayer, since it is the foundation and support of all the virtues, as well as the source of the light and grace we need both to sanctify ourselves and to discharge the duties of our employment. Do you ever begin any work, pass from one action to another, leave the exercise room or dormitory, or enter there, without saying some prayer? Do you allow a considerable time, half an hour or an hour, to pass without saying some prayer, even if only to raise your heart to God? John Baptist de La Salle, Collection of Various Short Treatises, 55, 83. There can be no doubt that De La Salle considered prayer to be one of the foundations of the schools that he established with the early brothers. Prayer remains one of our essential Lasallian supports, even over 320 years later: Praying with the Scriptures or praying the Scriptures is fundamental to anyone s Christian life... It is a profoundly Lasallian way of praying (Secretariat Being Brothers Today, Reading Reality in Light of the Word: Lectio Divina for Lasallians). In order that we may pray as a unified community, we continue the San Miguel and Lasallian tradition of common morning prayer in our first period class. This booklet provides us with our prayers for the month, as well as a reflection on the prayer that we use multiple times a day: Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God. While this booklet provides our first morning prayer, you are welcome to use the theme of the morning prayer, or portions of the morning prayer, for your prayers for the rest of your classes during the day. Teachers are urged to use these prayers creatively. Let students lead the prayer, or share reading a prayer. A pdf version of the booklet is found on the Campus Ministry website, so you can copy and paste the prayer and project it on a smartboard. Perhaps you could create a powerpoint for the prayer, or use art or music to enhance the prayer theme. Also, where a student is the creator of the prayer (authors are identified unless the campus minister wrote the prayer), please take a minute to thank the student for their contribution. If you would like to submit a prayer(s), you are welcome to do so! Live, Jesus, in our hearts! Campus Ministry

3 A LASALLIAN PRAYER Let us remember that we are in the Holy Presence of God Voicing this little prayer is a tradition that has been followed by graduates of San Miguel High School, and every other Lasallian school throughout the world it is the traditional prayer of all Lasallians. This prayer, or rather, this invitation, derives from St. John Baptist de La Salle himself, who prescribed that it be invoked at certain times throughout the school day. It is significant that, in the Founder's time, it was used in the school situation as a reminder usually voiced by a student, to the teachers and students of the significance of what they were doing in the educational enterprise. Remembering that we are in the holy presence of God during prayer and work can help us accomplish great things. At San Miguel, we share De La Salle's enthusiasm for prayer, and we constantly remember, and grow in our awareness of, the holy presence of God. Let's take a moment to look at the parts of this prayer. The late Lasallian scholar, Brother Luke Salm, FSC, wrote about this prayer in these words: A moment's thought might open up the implications of what the brief exhortation is asking us to do. Let us remember. The word remember presumes that one is not addressing the presence of God for the first time. It implies that we have forgotten something, and of course we have. In the business of running a classroom or a school, in the rush to get to a staff meeting on time, or while preparing to participate in a workshop, God can hardly be at the forefront of our immediate concerns. Time out, then, to remember what and Who is central to the entire enterprise. We are in the holy presence. We means each one of us, individually and together as a community. We also implies that we are persons and therefore the presence is a personal presence. Personal presence differs from the way we are present to things (the furniture) or even to other people with whom there is no personal relationship. Our awareness of the presence of God is... a person-to- person presence... And the presence is holy, in another word awesome, because of the Person to whom we are present is holy and we are made holy by recalling it. The holy presence of God. We, who are limited in space and time, are being asked to grasp in faith and experience as real the presence of God who is outside space and time; God who is present not only to us, but to God's entire created universe; the God who is absolute mystery and at the same time is at the very ground of our existence; the God whose very self is communicated in grace to us who are God's rational creatures. To remember the presence of God in that sense puts us in touch with the source of our identity as human persons and with the ultimate goal that is our eternal destiny. (Adapted from LaSalle University Office of Mission Integration, LaSalle University and its Catholic Lasallian Mission, quoting Salm, address at Manhattan College, September 8, 2004)

4 Wednesday, February 1 (Catholic Schools Week) O God, author of true freedom, who desired to gather the whole human race into one people, unshackled from the chains of slavery; grant that your Church, ever expanding in freedom and peace, may brilliantly shine out to all as a sacrament of salvation; and make known and active in the world the mystery of your love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. (Adapted from Rite of Opening the Door of Mercy in Local Churches, Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization) Thursday, February 2 (Feast of the Presentation of the Lord) (Catholic Schools Week) Almighty, ever-living God, on this day your only begotten Son was presented in the Temple, in flesh and blood like ours. Purify us in mind and heart that we may meet you in your glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. (Closing prayer, Vespers, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord) Friday, February 3 (Memorial of St. Blaise) (Catholic Schools Week) Lord, there are times when we are so concerned about ourselves that we don t think of others. We ask for the gift of your Spirit that we may grow in awareness of others: - noticing when someone is unhappy, - sensing when there s something wrong with somebody, - seeing when someone feels cut off or isolated, - knowing when to say the right word, - expressing thanks and compliments, - being thoughtful when someone is ill, - giving words of encouragement, - helping someone to feel welcome, - realising when someone needs the opportunity to talk. May we grow in sensitivity towards others. (Nicholas Hutchinson, FSC, Praying Each Day)

5 Monday, February 6 (Memorial of St. Paul Miki) Lord, we thank you for another day on this Earth, which you have created for us. Although our lives can be stressful, with homework, exams, and classwork, we know that we can come to you for help, because you gave us your only son to carry the cross for our salvation. So we know that the pain that is happening in some of these moments of our lives do not compare to the joy and happiness of the resurrection that you have for us. We thank you, and we bless you. In Jesus name, we pray. (Adapted from a prayer by Thelma Minjares, class of 2017) Tuesday, February 7 A reading from the book of Genesis: God said, "Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky." And so it happened: God created the great sea monsters and all kinds of swimming creatures with which the water teems, and all kinds of winged birds. God saw how good it was, and God blessed them, saying, "Be fertile, multiply, and fill the water of the seas; and let the birds multiply on the earth." Evening came, and morning followed the fifth day. Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds." And so it happened: God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. God saw how good it was. Then God said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground."

6 God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: "Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth." God also said: "See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food." And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation. Questions for reflection/silent prayer: 1) How do you see, celebrate, and observe God s goodness in all of creation? 2) How do you see and live out the goodness of God in yourself and others? Wednesday, February 8 (Memorial of Sts. Jerome Emiliani and Josephine Bakhita) God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son s Kingdom as religious and diocesan priests, sisters and brothers, especially members of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and Franciscan sisters. Renew their knowledge and love of you, and send your Holy Spirit to help them respond generously and courageously to your will. In your wisdom and mercy,help other young women and men, especially students here at San Miguel, to open their hearts to your call to serve others in religious life and the priesthood. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. (Adapted from the USCCB Prayer for Consecrated Persons)

7 Thursday, February 9 (Feast of San Miguel Febres Cordero, patron saint of San Miguel High School) Almighty and everlasting God, in saintly Brother Miguel you gave the Church a distinguished educator of youth. Grant that by imitating his exemplary dedication, we learn to welcome all young people with kindness and thereby guide them more surely to You. We ask this in your name, Jesus, you who are our brother and Lord. (Adapted from cbmidwest.org) Friday, February 10 (Memorial of St. Scholastica) A reading from the book of Genesis: Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals that the LORD God had made. The serpent asked the woman, "Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?" The woman answered the serpent: "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman: "You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is evil." The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. When they heard the sound of the LORD God moving about in the garden

8 at the breezy time of the day, the man and his wife hid themselves from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Questions for reflection/silent prayer: 1) Do you try and hide from God? Why? 2) How can you be more open to what God asks of you daily? Monday, February 13 It is our duty and our joy to give you thanks and praise, O God, creator and sustainer of the universe. We give you thanks for sun and sea and sky, for bush and birds, for phases of the moon, for stars at night, and planets in their courses. All you make is very good. We give you thanks for our creation and our calling, for friendship and community, for love and laughter, tears and pain of growth. For your gift of life we praise you We give you thanks with those who went before us, with saints and martyrs, evangelists and prophets. With all who stand before you in earth and heaven, from every culture, land and tongue, we praise you, giving voice to every creature, giving thanks to you always. (Adapted from Bosco Peters, Celebrating Eucharist ( )) Tuesday, February 14 (Memorial of Sts. Cyril and Methodius) Father, you brought the light of the gospel to the Slavic peoples through St. Cyril and his brother St. Methodius, inspiring them to find new ways to spread your good news. Open our hearts to understand your teaching, help us to become one in faith and praise, so that we too may be inspired to be bold and creative in bringing the message of the gospel to all whom we encounter. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. (Adapted from Opening prayer, Memorial of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, Roman Missal, 2d ed.)

9 Wednesday, February 15 Lord God, give me such love for you and for others that it will blot out all hatred and bitterness. (Dietrich Bonhoffer) Thursday, February 16 Lord Jesus, I ask you to enter my life in a new way this day that I may grow in stature and wisdom and grace as the person you call me to be. Inspire me to follow you more closely and help me to live in such a way that I encourage others and bring life to them. No one is small in your eyes; let no one be small in mine. (Nicholas Hutchinson, FSC, Praying Each Day) Friday, February 17 (Memorial of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order) A reading from the gospel according to Mark: Jesus summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? What could one give in exchange for his life? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." Questions for reflection/silent prayer: 1) How do I deny myself in favor of the needs of others? 2) How do I deny myself in favor of what God is calling me to do?

10 Monday, February 20 Adapted from a reflection on Thanksgiving by Carlos Rodriguez (class of 2014): I am grateful. Grateful that I was taught how to grow up but I was still pulled back into being a kid as well. Grateful for all the friends that I have made; grateful for everyone being there for me, even on days when I wanted to be alone. I am grateful for the staff, for no matter who I go to, I know I am not alone here, whether it be for tutoring or just to go and vent. I am grateful for our teachers pushing us to be our best. How was work? How was the testing? How are you? I am grateful for being accepted here. I am grateful for all the time I have spent here, and I will continue to be grateful for everyone here; you guys are family to me. I will forever be grateful for San Miguel. Questions for reflection/silent prayer: 1) For what are you grateful to God? 2) How do you show that you are grateful for what God has given you? Tuesday, February 21 (Memorial of St. Peter Damian) God of all power, ruler of the universe, you are worthy of glory and praise. At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our home. From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. But we turned against you, and we turned against one another. Again and again, you called us to return. Through the prophets and sages you revealed your righteous law, and showed your mercy and forgiveness. And in the fullness of time you sent your only Son, incarnate of the Virgin Mary, to open for us the way of freedom and peace. By his blood, he reconciled us. By his wounds, we are healed. May we, blessed by your constant care for us, find our way back to you through your Son, Jesus Christ. (Adapted from The Book of Common Prayer)

11 Wednesday, February 22 (Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle) A reading from the gospel according to Matthew: When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Questions for reflection/silent prayer: 1) Who do you say that Jesus is? 2) What does it mean to you that Jesus is the Son of God? Tuesday, February 28 Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for it is from your goodness that we have this day to celebrate on the threshold of the Season of Lent. Tomorrow we will fast and abstain from meat. Today we feast. We thank you for the abundance of gifts you shower upon us. We thank you especially for one another. As we give you thanks, we are mindful of those who have so much less than we do. As we share these wonderful gifts together, we commit ourselves to greater generosity toward those who need our support. Prepare us for tomorrow. Tasting the fullness of what we have today, let us experience some hunger tomorrow. May our fasting make us more alert and may it heighten our consciousness so that we might be ready to hear your Word

12 and respond to your call. As our feasting fills us with gratitude so may our fasting and abstinence hollow out in us a place for deeper desires and an attentiveness to hear the cry of the poor. May our self-denial turn our hearts to you and give us a new freedom for generous service to others. We ask you these graces with our hearts full of delight and stirring with readiness for the journey ahead. We ask them with confidence in the name of Jesus the Lord. (Creighton University Online Ministries)