Pray As You Go - Daily Prayer

Saint Come et Saint DamienNous sommes aujourd’hui le vendredi 26 septembre. Je me mets en présence de Dieu. Au nom du Père, et du Fils, et du Saint-Esprit. Amen. Nous écoutons le chant “O digne es tu” par le Chemin Neuf. 1. Ô Jésus, digne es tu de recevoir La louange et l’honneur. Ô Jésus, digne es tu de recevoir La louange et l’honneur. R/ Tu es Dieu et je suis à toi, Tu es Dieu, tu es Dieu, Tu es roi, et je fléchis les genoux devant toi, Ô mon roi. 2. Tu es saint, et tu sièges en majesté dans la gloire, dans les cieux. Tu es saint, et tu sièges en majesté dans la gloire, dans les cieux. Nous prions aujourd’hui avec l’évangile du jour, dans saint Luc, au chapitre 9. En ce jour-là, Jésus était en prière à l’écart. Comme ses disciples étaient là, il les interrogea : « Au dire des foules, qui suis-je ? » Ils répondirent : « Jean le Baptiste ; mais pour d’autres, Élie ; et pour d’autres, un prophète d’autrefois qui serait ressuscité. » Jésus leur demanda : « Et vous, que dites-vous ? Pour vous, qui suis-je ? » Alors Pierre prit la parole et dit : « Le Christ, le Messie de Dieu. » Mais Jésus, avec autorité, leur défendit vivement de le dire à personne, et déclara : « Il faut que le Fils de l’homme souffre beaucoup, qu’il soit rejeté par les anciens, les grands prêtres et les scribes, qu’il soit tué, et que, le troisième jour, il ressuscite. » Textes liturgiques © AELF, Paris 1. « Au dire des foules, qui suis-je ? » Jésus pose la question, donc elle mérite que j’y réfléchisse. Autour de moi, que dit-on de Jésus ? Pour mes proches, pour mes connaissances, qui est Jésus ? Je laisse venir à ma mémoire quelques personnes que je tiens pour profondément chrétiennes. Je pense aussi à d’autres personnes qui rejettent le Christ, qui l’ignorent ou se trompent à son sujet. Je présente tous ces gens à Dieu. 2. « Et vous, qui dites-vous que je suis ? » C’est la grande question, un véritable tournant dans l’évangile : le temps vient où il faut se prononcer. Seigneur, j’ai entendu bien des choses à ton sujet ; je vais maintenant répondre à ta question : voici qui tu es pour moi. Voici ce que tu représentes aujourd’hui dans ma vie, voici quelle relation je souhaite entretenir avec toi. Je réfléchis, et je réponds au Seigneur. 3. « Il faut que le Fils de l’homme souffre beaucoup… » Dès qu’il a entendu la foi de Pierre, Jésus lui annonce la vérité sur son destin : aimer jusqu’à mourir, et ressusciter. J’entends cette vérité qui m’est bien connue. Une fois de plus, je l’accueille. Une fois de plus, je la laisse descendre en moi. Je peux m’engager à te suivre Jésus, où que tu ailles. Nous réentendons cette belle page d’évangile. Invité par Jésus à une confession de foi personnelle, je lui parle librement pendant quelques instants. Âme de Jésus-Christ, sanctifiez-moi, Corps de Jésus-Christ, sauvez-moi, Sang de Jésus-Christ, enivrez-moi, Eau du côté de Jésus-Christ, lavez-moi, Passion de Jésus-Christ, fortifiez-moi. Ô bon Jésus, exaucez-moi. Cachez-moi dans vos plaies. Ne permettez pas que je sois jamais séparé de vous. Défendez-moi contre la malice de mes ennemis. Appelez-moi à l’heure de ma mort et ordonnez-moi d’aller avec vous, afin que je vous loue avec vos saints, Dans tous les siècles des siècles. Ainsi soit-il. Au nom du Père, et du Fils, et du Saint-Esprit. Amen.

Friday 26 September 2025Today is Friday the 26th of September, in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. Eliza King sings, ‘Poor in Spirit’. How does this song speak to you today? You are the fullness, the fullness of God You are the firstborn among all creation The air that I'm breathing, You're keeping me alive The goodness around me, You're the glory of my life I know I am poor in spirit Trying to to live without You, Jesus I know I am poor in spirit I can't live without You You are the beauty in every living thing The fragrance of wildflowers and the colour of the sea So Christ, would you meet me in my poverty I am not ashamed To say I need you Lord Jesus they will have You Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 9:18-22 Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’ They answered, ‘John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered, ‘The Messiah of God.’ He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’ If Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one of God, then neither Caesar, nor Herod, nor the Chief Priests are. If Jesus is, then they are not. If Jesus is proclaiming one God whose kingdom is justice, peace and compassion, then the emperor is not a god, and Rome’s oppressive kingdom is illegitimate. Do you sense the political implications of calling Jesus the Christ? Rome didn’t crucify ‘nice guys.’ It crucified political revolutionaries. If they were nonviolent, perhaps they were an even greater threat to Rome. Have we lost the political significance of what it means to call Jesus the Christ and to really follow him? Have we reduced Christianity to a safe religion that has no critique of violence, or misuse of wealth, or oppressive power? Jesus asks you: “Who do you say that I am?” How do you answer? As Jesus explains the significance of being the Christ, can you sense the atmosphere amongst the disciples? Luke 9:18-22 Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’ They answered, ‘John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered, ‘The Messiah of God.’ He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’ Jesus is killed, and Jesus rises again. His person and message are vindicated by God. How is the risen Jesus inviting you to follow him in your time and place? Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Thursday 25 September 2025Today is Thursday the 25th of September, in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. The Winchester College Chapel Choir, with the Portsmouth Grammar School Chamber Choir sings, ‘Seek the Lord’, the second part of the Isaiah Canticles, by Dan Locklair: ‘Seek the Lord while he wills to be found; call upon him when he draws near’. How will you draw near to the Lord today? Seek the Lord while he wills to be found; call upon him when he draws near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the evil ones their thoughts; And let them turn to the Lord, and he will have compassion, and to our God, for he will richly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as rain and snow fall from the heavens and return not again, but water the earth, Bringing forth life and giving growth, seed for sowing and bread for eating, So is my word that goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to me empty; But it will accomplish that which I have purposed, and prosper in that for which I sent it. Today’s reading is from the Prophet Haggai. Haggai 1:1-8 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest: Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house. Then the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your panelled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured, says the Lord. The prophet Haggai is challenging people for not prioritising the building of the Temple. They have their priorities all wrong. The prophets help us to see how God sees things: Haggai in his day. Jesus in his. Who are the prophets of today? Spend a moment praying for these prophets... Listen again. Notice the ultimate dissatisfaction that Haggai predicts as a fruit of misplaced priorities. Haggai 1:1-8 In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest: Thus says the Lord of hosts: These people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house. Then the word of the Lord came by the prophet Haggai, saying: Is it a time for you yourselves to live in your panelled houses, while this house lies in ruins? Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. You have sown much, and harvested little; you eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and you that earn wages earn wages to put them into a bag with holes. Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider how you have fared. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honoured, says the Lord. There is a kind of planting and building in life that brings delight to God. What is God wanting you to plant or build? Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Wednesday 24 September 2025Today is Wednesday the 24th of September, in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. The Monks of Glenstal Abbey sing Nos autem gloriari: ‘We should glory in nothing other than the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom is our salvation, life and resurrection; through him we are saved and set free. May God have mercy upon us and bless us, may he make his face shine upon us and be merciful to us.’ Nos autem gloriari oportet In cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi: In quo est salus, vita, et resurrectio nostra: Per quem salvati et liberati sumus. Today’s reading is from the Book of Ezra. Ezra 9:5-9 At the evening sacrifice I got up from my fasting, with my garments and my mantle torn, and fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the Lord my God, and said, ‘O my God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. From the days of our ancestors to this day we have been deep in guilt, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as is now the case. But now for a brief moment favour has been shown by the Lord our God, who has left us a remnant, and given us a stake in his holy place, in order that he may brighten our eyes and grant us a little sustenance in our slavery. For we are slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to give us new life to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judea and Jerusalem. The prophet Ezra is shocked by the degree to which the Jewish faith has been diluted by cultural assimilation during the exile in Babylon. How many of the world ‘s nations claiming to be Christian treat the poor, the stranger, the earth as kindly as God would have us do? How many of these nations are truly just? How many are compassionate? Is ‘my nation first’ really a Christian attitude? St Thomas More was martyred for his opposition to the dominant culture of his day. His last words were: “I die the King’s good servant and God’s first”. Jesus, too, was put to death as an enemy of the Empire. Where are you being called to resist the prevailing culture of your time and your place? How does God look at your nation? In your own context, how does God want you to be salt and yeast? Listen again and consider how Ezra’s words might be applicable today. Ezra 9:5-9 At the evening sacrifice I got up from my fasting, with my garments and my mantle torn, and fell on my knees, spread out my hands to the Lord my God, and said, ‘O my God, I am too ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. From the days of our ancestors to this day we have been deep in guilt, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been handed over to the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as is now the case. But now for a brief moment favour has been shown by the Lord our God, who has left us a remnant, and given us a stake in his holy place, in order that he may brighten our eyes and grant us a little sustenance in our slavery. For we are slaves; yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to give us new life to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judea and Jerusalem. How is God inviting you to repair, rebuild and to create something good in the world? Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Tuesday 23 September 2025Today is Tuesday the 23rd of September, the feast of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. Leslie Jordan with the Porter’s Gate sings, ‘Bind Us Together’. Bind us together within your love Bind us together within your holy love As we shared in our sorrows we will share in your joy Bind us together in love Bind us together and be our peace Bind us together and be our perfect peace Though the tempest may rage we will rest in your joy Bind us together in peace Bind us together and give us hope Bind us together and give us endless hope Though our tears were our bread we will feast in your joy Bind us together in hope Bind us together and make us one Bind us together and make us truly one In your love, in your peace, in your hope, in your joy Bind us together as one Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 8:19-21 Then [Jesus’] mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’ But he said to them, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’ The Jesus of the gospels is quite often jolly rude by our standards. He certainly seems to be radically free from conventional modes of behaviour. Going deeper, what’s Luke doing here? He is writing his gospel for a community that was not Jewish, but Greek speaking gentile. What’s he saying to this community he was writing to? What might that say to us now? Surely the same applies today. When a Christian person or nation is faithful to the radical teaching of Jesus on justice, mercy, compassion, they are Jesus' kin. How’s your church doing on that front? What about your nation? Might you talk to Jesus about this? Let’s focus on Mary, his mother, wanting to see her son this day. Listen again and imagine her hearing her son say these words. Luke 8:19-21 Then [Jesus’] mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’ But he said to them, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’ How do you imagine the eventual meeting of Jesus with his mother when she finally gets to him? Speak to Jesus about all that has unfolded for you in this scene. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Monday 22 September 2025Today is Monday the 22nd of September, in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. The Corydon Singers, conducted by Matthew Best, sing Cantique de Jean Racine by Fauré, a hymn to the invincible power and utter goodness of God, whose fire lights up the darkness, whose grace overcomes all evil. As I enter into prayer today, I trust myself to that grace, to that powerful goodness. I place myself in the hands of my loving God. Today’s reading is from the Book of Ezra. Ezra 1:1-6 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, in order that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of King Cyrus of Persia so that he sent a herald throughout all his kingdom, and also in a written edict declared: ‘Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of those among you who are of his people—may their God be with them!—are now permitted to go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem; and let all survivors, in whatever place they reside, be assisted by the people of their place with silver and gold, with goods and with animals, besides freewill-offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.’ The heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites—everyone whose spirit God had stirred—got ready to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. All their neighbours aided them with silver vessels, with gold, with goods, with animals, and with valuable gifts, besides all that was freely offered. King Cyrus of Persia, two and half thousand years ago has a choice. He could choose to continue the enslavement of the Jews in Babylon and hold onto the treasures stolen from Jerusalem. He opts instead to set them free, to return home, and sends their gold with them. Leaders can sometimes be just, and power can be used for good. Which leader today would you say is just, using their power for good? Pray for them... It may be easier to name leaders who misuse their status and their power. What is your prayer concerning them? It says that Cyrus has been given all the kingdoms of the earth. This may remind you of one of the temptations of Jesus in the desert. Jesus resists this option throughout his ministry. Can you imagine Jesus hearing this passage in his own day and pondering it? ‘Thus says King Cyrus of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of those among you who are of his people—may their God be with them!—are now permitted to go up to Jerusalem in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem; and let all survivors, in whatever place they reside, be assisted by the people of their place with silver and gold, with goods and with animals, besides freewill-offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.’ The heads of the families of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites—everyone whose spirit God had stirred—got ready to go up and rebuild the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. All their neighbours aided them with silver vessels, with gold, with goods, with animals, and with valuable gifts, besides all that was freely offered. If you were to be remembered for one thing in two and a half thousand years, what would you want it to be? Speak to God about this in these closing moments. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Sunday 21 September 2025Today is Sunday the 21st of September, beginning the 25th week of Ordinary Time. The community of Taizé sing Beati voi poveri: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.’ Today’s reading is from the Prophet Amos. Amos 8:4-7 Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, ‘When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practise deceit with false balances, buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat.’ The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds. This is a very challenging text for us to pray through. What does the prophet think is the most important thing to get right in our religious practice? The targets of the prophet’s criticism are those who are feeling impatient for something. What are they impatient for? Now listen as the passage is read a second time for you. Notice how you feel as you hear these words... Amos 8:4-7 Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, ‘When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practise deceit with false balances, buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat.’ The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds. In these closing moments, speak to God about any ways in which you have been challenged by this passage... Perhaps there is one action you would like to take today to help those in need... Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Saturday 20 September 2025Welcome to the Saturday Examen. On Saturdays we like to look prayerfully and reflectively back at what we have done during this week, both our activities and our praying, to get used to seeing where God has been. Here are some suggestions about what you might look for... Think of three things, possibly, but not necessarily, three moments in prayer, when you felt the touch of God this week. Now think of just two things for which you would like to tell God that you are sorry. Finally think of just one thing that you are being challenged to work on in the coming week, and ask for God’s help. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Friday 19 September 2025Today is Friday the 19th of September, in the 24th week of Ordinary Time. The nuns of Mary, Queen of Apostles, sing Veritas Mea: ‘My truth and My mercy are with him; and in My Name his horn shall be exalted. Alleluia!’ Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 8:1-3 Soon afterwards [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. Spend a moment following Jesus through the cities and villages. What do you notice about how he is “bringing the good news of the kingdom of God”? What inspires you? We hear of women providing for Jesus and the followers...you might like to think about the women you know today who work to bring about the good news. Take a moment to thank God for them. Now listen as the piece is read to you once more. Place yourself into the scene and become aware of what you notice... Luke 8:1-3 Soon afterwards [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. To finish, you might like to review this time of prayer. What were the thoughts and feelings that surfaced inside you? Can you turn them into a prayer to God in your own words? Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Friday 19 September 2025Today is Friday the 19th of September, in the 24th week of Ordinary Time. The nuns of Mary, Queen of Apostles, sing Veritas Mea: ‘My truth and My mercy are with him; and in My Name his horn shall be exalted. Alleluia!’ Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 8:1-3 Soon afterwards [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. Spend a moment following Jesus through the cities and villages... What do you notice about how he is “bringing the good news of the kingdom of God”? What inspires you? We hear of women providing for Jesus and the followers...you might like to think about the women you know today who work to bring about the good news. Take a moment to thank God for them. Now listen as the piece is read to you once more. Place yourself into the scene and become aware of what you notice... Luke 8:1-3 Soon afterwards [Jesus] went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. To finish, you might like to review this time of prayer. What were the thoughts and feelings that surfaced inside you? Can you turn them into a prayer to God in your own words? Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen