Et ventis et mari

 

 

You, Lord God, calmed the winds and the waves, and brought rest to the Lake of Gennesaret, grant eternal rest to those who died in the wind and the waves, and bring calm to those mourn them now.

In nomine Domini nostri Iesu Christi. Amen.

—

[Frank Franklin II, “Breezy Point, Queens” (2012). Link here]

—

Dixit autem illis: ‘Ubi est fides vestra?’ Qui timentes mirati sunt ad invicem, dicentes: ‘Quis putas hic est? quia et ventis et mari imperat, et obediunt ei?’ [Lk 8.25]

He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’ They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?’ [NRSV]

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Tuesday of the First Week of Lent

God willed that many things should be said by the prophets, his servants, and listened to by his people. How much greater are the things spoken by the Son. These are now witnessed to by the very Word of God who spoke through the prophets. The Word of God does not now command us to prepare the way for his coming: he comes in person and opens up the way for us and directs us toward it. Before, we wandered in the darkness of death, aimlessly and blindly. Now we are enlightened by the light of grace, and are to keep to the highway of life, with the Lord to precede and direct us.

The Lord has given us many counsels and commandments to help us toward salvation. He has even given us a pattern of prayer, instructing us on how we are to pray. He has given us life, and with his accustomed generosity, he has also taught us how to pray. He has made it easy for us to be heard as we pray to the Father in the words taught us by the Son.

So, my brothers, let us pray as God our master has taught us. To ask the Father in words his Son has given us, to let him hear the prayer of Christ ringing in his ears, is to make our prayer one of friendship, a family prayer. Let the Father recognize the words of his Son. Let the Son who lives in our hearts be also on our lips. We have him as an advocate for sinners before the Father; when we ask forgiveness for our sins, let us use the words given by our advocate. He tells us: Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. What more effective prayer could we then make in the name of Christ than in the words of his own prayer?

St Cyprian, bishop and martyr, On the Lord’s Prayer (full text here)

—

Duccio di Buoninsegna, from Maestà (1308-11)

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captivity

Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: My heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength, nights, days, youth, age, and spend them in thy service, O my crucified Master, Redeemer, God.

Frederick W. Robertson, 19th cent.

—

Andrea Mantegna, Crucifixion (1457-1459)

 

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Thanksgiving Prayer I

Thanksgiving Prayer

For the earth who opens herself to nourish,
for the light and the dark and the passing of days,
for blisters that bring forth food from soil and toil,
for the plentiful gift upon our table,
let us say thanks.

For the strong shoulders that bear our sorrow,
for the gentle hands that heal our hearts,
for compassionate eyes and lips
that spread affirmation over doubt,
for the lavish gift around our table,
let us show thanks.

For the sharp words that test our compassion,
for tear-streaked cheeks and addled minds,
for the lost and the lonely who stretch or do not stretch their hand,
for those who lay challenge and joy at our table,
let us be thanks.

Amen.

Danielle Fenske, Colorado Vincentian Volunteers

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St Polycarp

Ἐπεὶ δε ποτε κατέπαυσεν τὴν προσευχήν, μνημονεύσας ἁπάντων καὶ τῶν πώποτε συμβεβληκοτων αὐτῷ, μικρῶν τε καὶ μεγάλων, ἐνδόξων τε καὶ ἀδόξων καὶ πάσης τῆς κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην καθολικῆς ἐκκλησίας…

“Then he finished his prayer, having remembered everyone he had ever met, both the small and the great, reputable and disreputable, as well as the entire universal church throughout the world.”
The Martyrdom of Polycarp

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