Catholic Meditations

The Pit

Lord, I feel I am on the edge
of a malestrom,
peering into the dark
and evil-smelling pit
the enemy has laid for me.

At times wind from the pit
brushes past me,
other times, I hear the cries
of those tainted by its evil touch,
crying out for help.

O Lord,
give me your light
to show me where to walk,
give me your hand to steady
my shaky stance,
cleanse me of the storm's filth
with the power of your blood.

Without you,
the pit would surely take me.
Thank you Lord,
for protecting me
against the darkness.

Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2004

The Shroud

How white the linen
they laid out
at first.

How clean the water was
in its ewer,
waiting to be poured.

How fresh the towel.

Loving hands though,
soon turned the waters
ruby red
in a vain attempt
to erase some of the terrors of the day.

Sweet spice could not wholly
cover up the smell
of blood,
of pain,
of death,
of the cost of redemption.

Loving hands, though,
wrapped the linen snugly
over his prostrate form,
as if in final gesture,
a last farewell,
letting the whiteness of the sheet
turn what color it would,
Loving hands
never knowing
what image
their care
would leave behind.

Susan E Stone, 2004

Labels: Passion of Christ

A Prayer for Guidance in Dark Moments

O Lord, remember me now
while I feel lost,
and frightened
small,
and I know you are the only true refuge.

Give me patience,
so I may offer you my anxieties,
disappointments,
fears,
worries,
otherwise, I will gnaw them to a sharp tool
to hurt,
both myself and those around me.

Give me the strength to step out on faith
and do the things you want me to do
when you want me to do,
and how,
or else I will walk in circles,
repeating the same mistakes
over in over
in my merely human wisdom.

Teach me to see the direction
you want me to go in,
the direction that is from you,
and not the figment of my desire
and my fear,
and give me the wisdom to see
when you open the doors.

Most of all,
be my strength,
for with you, all things become possible,
and without you, I am but dust.

Today
and always,
Amen.


Susan E Stone, 2004

Light

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the bright
of an intensely sunny day
even though the cold
might be bitter,
for without the light,
how soon the endless
drudge of grey days stretching out
strips our hearts of joy and happiness.

So too Lord,
thank you for the light
of your immense intense love
to warm the cold of our aching hearts,
the sorrows of our lives,
the grey of our grievings,
for without that love to warm us,
to enlighten our lives,
the long, lonely stretch of meaningless days
grow too grey to bear.

You are the light, Lord,
behind all the love that touches us,
behind all the good that warms us,
behind all the joy that fills us.
O Light of the world,
may we never take you for granted,
and teach us always
to be lamps shedding your light
to all around us.

Now and forever,
Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2004

Prayer for Making a Good Lent

Lord, we love you,
fill our hearts with your light,
touch us with your mercy.

Help us to be beacons of your light
in the days ahead,

And as we come to this season of Lent,
a time of penance
and reflection
and recollection,
may we ever grow closer and nearer to you,
reflecting the truth of your light more clearly,
glad always to be your witnesses.

O Blessed Mother,
pray for us,
keep us always under your mantle,
and may we learn from you
how to always say yes when God calls,
today,
tomorrow,
throughout this Lenten season before us,
and ever more.

Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2004

Prayer for Coping with Difficult Times

Lord, give me
your patience,
the heart to give,
the mind to wait,
the knowledge that you are always there.
Help me to love
when I want to shout,
Help me to wait
when I want to run,
Help me to be strong
when I want to hide.

If you do not keep me in the palm of your hand,
I will have no shelter,
If you do not give me strength,
I will be blown away by the wind,
If you will not share your love,
my heart will dry up and shatter.

I put myself firmly in your hands,
now and forever, Amen.

Sue Stone
sue_stone@stonesneatstuff.com
www.catholicmeditations.com

When My Enemy Hurts Me

Dear Lord,
when my enemy hurts me,
teach me to give you first my pain
before I have a chance to hurt back
and continue the chain of
sin and sorrow.

Dear Lord,
when my enemy hurts me,
let me see through my hurt
to his hurt,
and then to help him in his sorrow.

Dear Lord,
when my enemy hurts me,
instead of feeling sorry for my self,
let me pray for him,
that he may be healed,
now and forever,
Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2004

Evening Prayer

Lord,
this day is winding to a close,
but let me not sleep
without thinking
of how you touched my life today,
of those who asked for prayer,
of those I know who need it,
of what I did, and how well I did it,
of where I failed.

But most of all,
let me spend some quiet time with you,
a brief moment connected
before I drift off into unconsciousnes,
still trusting
that you will keep my sleeping soul
safe in the palm of your hand.

Thank you Lord,
for being you,
this and every day.
Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2004

On Being Part of the Body of Christ

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
"Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?"
"Here I am," I said; "send me!" - Isaiah 6: 8

Lord, remind me always
that as part of the body of Christ,
we are your tools upon the earth,
your hands,
your feet,
your gentle touch,
your loving voice.

Help me to always
to be a lamp that shines with your light.

When my neighbor hurts me,
help me to respond to his hurt
with your love.

When my neighbor disgusts me,
help me see him with your eyes.

Above all,
let me live as your child,
ready always to demonstrate
not only with my words
but with my life
the truth of your way,
now and forever. Amen.

Susan E. Stone, 2004