July 28

Let us pray:
There are times, Lord,
when we say we are hungry
but we really have no idea
what real hunger is,
and the desperation
that goes with it.
We even tend to waste food.
We ask you, Lord, to inspire us
to discover the real priorities in life
so that we may live simply
so that others may simply live.
Amen.

July 29

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus,
the Bible reminds us
of the dignity and equality
of all people,
and you call us to love our neighbours
as we love ourselves.
At the beginning of your ministry
you read out loud
in the synagogue of Nazareth
from the prophet, Isaiah,
saying:
“I have been sent to give liberty
to the captives.”
Today we will meet people
who are held captive in different ways
by being treated unfairly,
or abused, taken for granted,
overworked, looked down upon.
Be with us, Lord,
that we may help
to bring freedom today
by giving respect and support
and encouragement. Amen.

July 30

Let us pray:
Lord God, I thank you
for your gifts to me
of skills, talents, and abilities.
May I use them
to the best of my ability
and grow as the person
you want me to be.
Amen.

July 31

Let us pray:
God our Father,
it was Pope John the Twenty-Third
who was speaking about the need
to bring new life to the Church.
To illustrate his point,
he walked to his window
and opened it wide,
saying that fresh air was needed
to blow away the cobwebs
and refreshen the Church.
Father, do not let us
shut ourselves off from others,
but may the windows
of our hearts and minds be open,
so that we may be made new
by your Holy Spirit
and be influenced for good.
Inspire us, too,
to let our light shine out,
knowing that Jesus said
that we are the light of the world.
Amen.

The Window Tax was brought in under King
William III (of Orange). Originally it was to
bring in extra money to pay for the replacement
of damaged coins. 100 years later the then
Prime Minister - Pitt the Younger - increased
this tax, and even more windows were bricked
up! Another 50 years later the hated tax was
repealed on 24th July in 1851.
✍ Mt 514-16: “You are the light of the world…
Let your light shine before others so that,
seeing your good works, they may praise
your Father in heaven.”
✍ Acts 207-12 - The young man, Eutychus, sitting
on a window-sill, drops off to sleep as Paul
preaches, falling out of the upstairs window.
Paul prays and he comes back to life.
✍ Acts 21-13
: “they heard what sounded like a
powerful wind from heaven” - the coming of
the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
✍ Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603), regarding respect
for the conscience of each individual, said:
“I would not open windows into men’s souls.”
✍ The historical incident known as the
“Defenestration of Prague” - when Czechs
threw out of the window two diplomats from
the Hapsburg rulers - led to the Thirty Years
War (1618-1648).
✍ John XXIII was Pope from 1958-1963.
✍ Today is the feast of St Ignatius Loyola - see 31
March.
V Colours of day; I watch the sunrise; The
light of Christ

AUGUST

Lead me this day, Lord,
to live fully in the present moment
and enjoy all that is good around me.
May all that is life-giving remind me of your life and love
that surround me now.

3 Let us pray:
God our Father,
if I could trace back
through the last two thousand years,
marking out routes
from Jesus himself
and then through people
whose faith has touched others
and so reached me,
I would be astounded
by the individuals I would encounter.
I give thanks, Father,
for all those people
over two thousand years
who have inspired others
and played their part
in passing on
to generation after generation
the living heritage of their faith.
Especially I give thanks
for those who have lived their faith
through difficulties
and hardship and persecution.
I pray, Father, that I may grow
in your faith and love
through good times and bad.
Amen.

August 2

Let us pray:
Lord our God, open us up
to your Spirit living within us,
that we may live fully
each day of our lives.
Touch us,
that we may become more aware
of all that is around us,
growing in a sense
of wonder and awe,
and in appreciation
for all that we see and hear
and touch and taste and smell.
May we live in such a way
that we never
take anything for granted,
but always be appreciative
and express our thanks
to those who are part of our lives.
Amen.

August 3

6 Lord Jesus,
we can think of your people
down the ages
who have travelled over
life’s stormy sea
and, in dying,
have reached the harbour
of peace, light and happiness.
As you calmed the sea,
we ask you to be with us
and bring peace in our lives each day,
because the boat of our own lives
is small
and the ocean is very large.
As you have set our course,
we ask you to steer our lives
towards the shore of everlasting life.
Bring us, at last,
along with all who are dear to us,
to the quiet rest that we seek,
where you live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen

August 4

It was on this day in 1859, that John
Vianney died. As is the case with most
saints, the date of his death is also his
feastday, because the day of death is
considered the person’s “birth-day in
heaven.”

John Vianney said:
“We do not have to talk very much
in order to pray well.
We know that God is there…
Let us open our hearts to him.
Let us rejoice in his presence.
This is the best prayer.”

Let’s simply pause for a moment in silence
in God’s presence
(pause…)

August 5

Let us pray:
Lord, I pray for all who suffer
from hatred and prejudice,
from abuse and ill-treatment,
and for all who are victims
of what others do.
I pray, too, for the people of violence,
that they may change their ways
and learn to respect others.
I pray for myself,
that when I face
what is negative or evil
I may have
the courage and generosity
to break the cycle
of violence, hatred, fear or distrust,
and make my own choices
and take responsibility
for the direction
in which I want my life to go.
I pray that I may always do to others
as I would wish them to do to me.
Amen.

August 6

Let’s pray in silence for all victims of war
and violence and unrest in our own times.
(pause…)

We’ll use as our prayer today Psalm 8, a
copy of which was left on the Moon in a
metal canister during the first manned
landing in July 1969:

August 7

Let us pray:
Lord, our God and King,
your greatness is seen
throughout the earth.

When I gaze at the heavens
which your fingers have formed,
and look at the moon and the stars
which you have set there,
I realise how small we are
in the magnificence of your creation.

Yet you treasure us
above all that you have made,
and you give us control
over all the works of your hand
- animals both wild and tame,
birds in the air,
and the creatures of the sea.

Lord, our God and King,
your greatness is seen
throughout the earth.

August 8

Let us pray:
Lord, inspire me
to get my priorities right
and make my choices wisely.
Amen.

August 9

No prayer for today. Not applicable.

Substitution by BW

Dear God, let your Spirit have his way within me. Guide me and teach me along the way.

[from the book Quiet Moments in the Presence of God]

August 10

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus,
you talked about the need for us
to have our priorities right,
and not to hoard possessions.
You said that where our treasure is,
there our heart and commitment
will really be.
Touch our hearts
that we may love people
and use things
- and never the other way around.
Inspire us to seek first your kingdom
and use our talents and gifts
for the benefit of others. Amen.

August 10

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus,
you talked about the need for us
to have our priorities right,
and not to hoard possessions.
You said that where our treasure is,
there our heart and commitment
will really be.
Touch our hearts
that we may love people
and use things
- and never the other way around.
Inspire us to seek first your kingdom
and use our talents and gifts
for the benefit of others. Amen.

Augusst 11

Lord Jesus,
you are the light of the world.
Let us never cut ourselves off
either from the light and life
that you give to us,
or from the good influence
that others have on us.
When we encounter darkness
in our lives,
enable us to bring to it
the light that we already have
within us. Amen

Quote:

There is a saying: “Be like the sundial
that records only the light and
goodness of the day.

August 12

Let us pray for all priests whom we know:
God our Father, we pray
for those whom you have called
to serve your people as priests.
Every day
may they live in your presence
and deepen their friendship
with Jesus, your Son.
Fill them with your Spirit
and inspire them
to be faithful in prayer
and always place their trust in you.
May they grow in faith and compassion
as they celebrate
the Sacraments of your love
and bring good news to the poor
and healing to the broken-hearted
Inspire them to live in such a way
that they are credible witnesses
of the transforming power
of your love,
as they share the hopes and the joys,
the sorrows and the frustrations
of those entrusted to their care.
Give them the gifts they need
to accompany your people
along the path of holiness. Amen.

August 13

Let us pray:
Lord, if I ever cut people off
or isolate myself
from the needs of others,
alert me to what I am doing.
Open my eyes
to see what unites people
rather than what divides us.
Show me
how to build bridges
between people
rather than putting up walls
that divide. Amen.

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, you said
that no-one could have greater love
than to give up their life
for someone else.
Remind us
in our personal circumstances today
that care and compassion
and love and sacrifice
can change everything. Amen

August 15

And so we pray today:
Mary, our Mother,
your total giving of yourselfa
reminds us
that we hold in trust
from God our Father
all our accomplishments
and talents and gifts
- trusted as we are
to offer them in his service,
and bring happiness and well-being
to our brothers and sisters.
Your “Yes” to God’s invitation
to be the mother of his Son
reminds us
that prayer is not just words
but is from the heart.
We ask you to pray to Jesus for us
that the Holy Spirit
may live fully in us, too,
so that we may pray
in the way that each of us finds best.
So may we be prepared to join you
in saying “Yes” to God our Father,
that Jesus may be born anew
in our hearts.
Amen.

August 16

And so we pray today:
Mary, our Mother,
your total giving of yourself
reminds us
that we hold in trust
from God our Father
all our accomplishments
and talents and gifts
- trusted as we are
to offer them in his service,
and bring happiness and well-being
to our brothers and sisters.
Your “Yes” to God’s invitation
to be the mother of his Son
reminds us
that prayer is not just words
but is from the heart.
We ask you to pray to Jesus for us
that the Holy Spirit
may live fully in us, too,
so that we may pray
in the way that each of us finds best.
So may we be prepared to join you
in saying “Yes” to God our Father,
that Jesus may be born anew
in our hearts.
Amen.

August 17

1 When Pope John Paul II visited Britain in
1982 he focussed on each of the Sacraments
in turn. During his visit to York,
couples were invited to renew their marriage
vows. We’ll base our prayer today
on themes in his sermon at that time:
2 Let us pray for people who are married,
that they may make choices to live sincerely
and in compassion, in gentleness
and patience, bearing with one another
and forgiving one another. In these ways
may their relationships grow and develop,
and so may they remain faithful
to each other in good times and bad.
Lord, in your mercy - hear our prayer.
3 Marriage is a sign of God’s faithful and
unbroken love. Let us pray that families
may share in God’s love, and grow as
communities where young people are
guided to maturity.
Lord, in your mercy - hear our prayer.

4 Let us pray that families may be generous
in extending their love to lonely and
burdened people locally, and to those
who are on the margins of society.
Lord, in your mercy - hear our prayer.
5 We pray for those who know the pain of
failure in marriage. We pray for those
who know the loneliness of bringing up
a family on their own. We pray for those
whose family life is dominated by tragedy,
or by illness of mind or body.
Lord, in your mercy - hear our prayer.
6 We see many damaged relationships
around us. We ask for the gift of being
able to build bridges between people.
Lord, in your mercy - hear our prayer.

OCTOBER
zz
This day, Father,
may my eyes be opened
to see the beauty
in all that is ordinary - yet special -
around me.
May the glory of all that you have made
remind me of your presence
and lead me closer to you.

October 26

1 We’ll use as our prayer today
a psalm from the Bible
in which we give thanks for all of creation,
knowing that what we see
can inspire us
to grow in a sense of wonder:
2 Lord our God, how great you are,
and I give thanks to you.
3 You stretch out the heavens like a tent,
with the sun to mark our days of work
and the moon for our nights of rest.
4 Your fingers created the earth
and wrapped it with the ocean
like a cloak.
There the ships sail,
and beneath them
glide the great sea creatures
that you made to play with.
5 You pour down rain
which the ground takes up.
You set springs
gushing forth in the valleys,
and streams that flow
between the mountains,
giving water to all that lives.
6 You make grass grow for the cattle
and crops in abundance for our needs.
You bring goodness to the trees,
and in their branches
the birds build their nests.
Swarms of all living creatures
are so many
that they could never be counted.
What variety you have created, Lord,
arranging everything so wisely!
You send your Spirit,
and all things have life.
Fill us with your Spirit, Lord,
and give us new life,
and renew the earth that you love.
Amen.
(Psalm 104)

The following words are from a poem entitled
‘The New Colossus’ by Emma Lazarus, and
were placed on a plaque by the huge statue in
1903. “The golden door” is a name for New
York Harbour.

“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses
yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse
of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless,
tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”