The poet Robert Browning writes:
I walked a mile with Pleasure;
She chattered all the way
But left me none the wiser
For all she had to say.
I walked a mile with Sorrow
And ne'er a word said she;
But oh, the things I learned from her
When Sorrow walked with me!
"Where do you find comfort", you asked,
and I found myself at a loss for an answer.
I am accustomed to comforting others
and now, when I need comforting,
where do I find it?
O All-Transcendent God
what words can sing Your praises?
No word does You justice.
What mind can probe Your secret?
No mind can encompass You.
You are alone beyond the power of speech,
yet all that we speak stems from You.
You are alone beyond the power of thought,
yet all that we can conceive springs from You.
All things proclaim You,
Dear Lord,
We pray that this New Year will bring us closer to You.
May we take the time to get to know You.
Help us to truly celebrate the gifts You have graciously given us
and use them to serve You and spread Your word,
May we also see and love you in all the people we meet,
so that in turn, they can see You in us.
God our Father,
on this eve of the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God
give us an appreciation of the many gifts
You have given us during the past year.
Help us bless You in return during the coming year
by sharing some of our gifts with others who have far,
far less than we do.
Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, who,
being made subject to Mary and Joseph,
consecrated domestic life by Your ineffable virtues;
grant that we, with the assistance of both,
may be taught by the example of Your Holy Family
and may attain to its everlasting fellowship.
Who lives and reigns, world without end.
Amen.
O God, for the sake of whose Church
the glorious Bishop Thomas fell by the sword of ungodly men:
grant, we beseech You that all who implore his aid,
may obtain the good fruit of his petition.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
forever and ever.
Amen.
Lord, be good to them,
and show them all Your Love.
Lord, be kind to them,
and grant them peace above.
Lord, be merciful to them,
and wipe their sins away.
Lord, be generous to them,
with all my heart I pray.
Lord, be gracious to them,
for good that they have done.
Lord be gentle with them,
for sufferings undergone.
Lord, you are the living Word of God
who came to dwell in hearts of all people.
Increase my desire and strengthen my will
to know the Word of God and to live it in my life.
Share with me your abundant grace and power.
Show me your will for me as I learn
to do great wonders in small ways
in my home and community.
Stephen, full of grace and power,
who worked great wonders and signs among the people.
You crowned him with glory and honor, O Lord.
You gave him rule over the works of Your hands.
Now, Grant, O Lord, that we may
imitate Your servant, Stephen,
whose memory we celebrate.
Teach us to love even our enemies
as Stephen knew how to pray even
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.
We go in the name of the Church to announce, by deed and word, the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Missionary Society of St. Columban
1902 N. Calhoun
St. Columbans, NE 68056
Phone: 877-299-1920
Fax: 402-291-4984
email: mission@columban.org
