PRAYERS PSALMS & POETRY

Since this page has been online we have found it to be always the one most frequently sought by visitors at our site. Prayers for time of death or the dying are sought especially. See below some prayers for this particular pastoral need.

PRAYER IN TIME OF NEED
FOR GLOBAL HEALING

Dear God,
Lead me from death to life,
From falsehood to truth.
Lead me from despair to hope,
From fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love, from war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart our world, our universe.
Please heal those who have committed
grave travesties upon others and
prevent them from such actions again.
Please comfort, bless and heal
those who have suffered under
the hand of their violence.
Please allow our world
to come back to a position of
peace, joy and
understanding.
Amen

I will praise God, my Beloved,
for she is altogether lovely.

Her presence satisfies my soul;
she fills my senses to overflowing so that
I cannot speak.

Her touch brings me to life;
the warmth of her hands makes me wholly alive.

Her embrace nourishes me, body and spirit;
every part of my being responds to her touch.

The beauty of her face is more than I can bear;
in her gaze I drown.

When she looks upon me
I can withhold nothing.

When she asks for my love
all my defences crumble;
my pride and my control are utterly dissolved.

O God I fear your terrible mercy;
I am afraid to surrender my self.

If I let go into the whirlpool of your love,
shall I survive the embrace?

If I fall into the strong currents
of your desire,
shall I escape drowning?

But how shall I refuse my Beloved,
and how can I withdraw from the one
my heart yearns for?

On the edge of your abyss I look down
and tremble
but I will not stand gazing for ever.

Even in chaos you will bear me up;
if the waters go over my head
you will still be holding me.

For the chaos is yours also,
and in the swirling of mighty waters
is your presence known.

If I trust her, surely her power
will not fail me;
nor will she let me be utterly destroyed.

Though I lose all knowledge and all security,
yet will my God never forsake me.

But she will recreate me in her
steadfast love,
so that I need not be afraid.

Then will I praise my Beloved
among the people
among those who seek to know God.

A CELTIC BLESSING

Deep Peace of the Running Wave to you
Deep peace of the Flowing Air to you
Deep peace of the Quiet Earth to you
Deep peace of the Shining Stars to you
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you. Amen

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Today, Lord, I need some extra strength
and courage
To face whatever will happen.
So I can go forward with confidence and hope.
Be with me.
Strengthen me with your Presence
Surround me with your love
Keep me safe in your care and
Give me Peace.
Amen

COLLECT FOR PURITY

Almighty God,
Unto whom all hearts are open,
All desires known,
And from whom no secrets are hidden,
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
By the inspiration of your Holy Spirit
So that we may perfectly love Thee
And worthily magnify thy holy name
Through Christ, Our Lord
Amen.

ST IGNATIUS' PRAYER

Teach us, good Lord,
To serve Thee as Thou deservest
To give and not to count the cost
To fight and not to heed the wounds
To toil and not to seek for rest
To labour and not to ask for any reward
Save that of knowing that we do Thy Will.
Amen

PRAYER OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISSI

Lord make me an instrument of your Peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow Love
Where there is injury, Pardon
Where there is doubt, Faith
Where there is despair, Hope
Where there is darkness, Light
Where there is sadness, Joy

O Divine Master, grant that I 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
It is in dying
That we are born to eternal life.
Amen

CARDINAL NEWMAN'S PRAYER

O Lord support us all the day long
Until the evening comes,
The shadows lengthen and the busy world is hushed,
The fever of life is over and our work is done.

Then Lord in your Mercy,
Give us a safe lodging,
A Holy rest and peace at the last. Amen

THE "JESUS" PRAYER

Lord Jesus, Son of God,
Have mercy on me, a sinner.

A PRAYER OF ST BENEDICT

O Gracious and Holy Father
Give us Wisdom to perceive Thee,
Diligence to seek Thee,
Patience to wait for Thee,
Eyes to behold Thee,
A heart to meditate upon Thee,
And a life to proclaim Thee;
Through the power of the
Spirit of Jesus Christ
Our Lord. Amen

COMMENDATION OF THE DYING

Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world,
In the name of God, the Almighty Father, who created you,
In the name of Jesus Christ, his son, who redeemed you;
In the name of the Holy Ghost, who sanctified you.

May your guardian angel succour and defend you;
May the prayers of the blessed saints help you,
May your Redeemer look upon you in pardon and mercy,
May your portion be peace,
And may you rest with him this day in paradise. Amen

O God our only help in time of need, be close to me in my sorrow. In your mercy give me strength to keep going, and to help me to trust you whatever happens, and to increase my love. Into you loving hands, I commend myself and the soul of .......... Give us peace and rest in you. Amen

A PRAYER FOR THOSE IN EXTREMIS

O Lord, who does feel the pain of the world; look with mercy we ask, upon those who in their sickness and suffering are beyond the reach of human skill. To you alone belongs the power of life, and these souls, are yours. If in the mystery of your Providence it shall be their lot to bear their infirmity to the end, then Lord, of your love, give them grace to endure bravely, and such assurance of your presence with them in it that they may, like their Saviour, be made perfect through suffering. Amen

John Donne's Prayer

Bring us, O Lord God, at our last awakening, into the house and gate of heaven, to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence but one equal music; no fears nor hopes but one equal possession; no ends nor beginnings but one equal eternity; in the habitations of thy Majesty and thy Glory, world without end. Amen.