Offering the day

Divine Heart of Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
we offer you all our prayers,
works, joys and sufferings, of this day,
in reperation for our offences,
and for all the Intentions for which you
continually immolate yourself upon our altars.
We offer them in particular for the needs
of the Church, and those of the Institute,
for our Causes of Beatification and
Canonisation, for our parents, living and dead,
and for the Intentions of the Apostolate of Prayer.  Amen.
(Marcellin Champagnat, 1789-1840)

Spirit of love, alive in the universe,
stir our hearts into flame
by the fire and breath
of your wisdom and love.
It is by the power of God’s love
that we move and live and have our being.
United with Jesus,
who shows us the depth of that love
we offer you our day in all its experiencs.
Purify and transform us
so that Christ may be revealed in us
and in the hearts of all those
we encounter today.  Amen.

Father of us all, at the beginning of this day
we acknowledge your creation
and care of the world in love.
By the grace of the Holy Spirit
may all our thoughts and actions
be united with the self-offering of Jesus
in thanksgiving for your goodness to us.
We commend to you the needs of the church,
the Institute, our community
and our apostolate,
and all our parents and relatives,
living and dead.
In union with Mary,
the perfect example of redeemed humanity, 
may we express in our lives
and show to others the mystery of Christ. Amen.

Creator God, we rejoice in the gift of this day.
Thank you for entrusting us with such wonderful gifts.
At the end of this day,
may our world be a better place
for my having been in it.
I thank you for all those who will be your messengers to me.
May I recognise your face in each of them.
Give me a heart that is full of your love.
So that I may honour
and serve you in other people.
Be with me as I journey through this day,
for your love’s sake. Amen.

Lord, we come before you
to make a simple offering of our lives to you.
In the events of this day
may we be attuned to receive your Word
and respond generously, as Mary did.
May the gifts that you continue to give us
be a source of new life and hope to all we meet. Amen.

Dear Father, I hope to be of service
to others this day.
Through, with and in Jesus,
I offer you now my day,
with its prayers, works,
joys and sufferings
for a deeper understanding
of the human heart of Jesus
and for the union of all Christians
according to the mind of Jesus.  Amen.

Creator God, as we gather today,
we are aware of your choice of us
to be co-creators, your men on the mission
of bringing the Good News of Jesus to our world.
This is a wonderful and awesome involvement
in the saving and life-giving work of your Son.
Together, may we shape a world
that is more responsive
to the compassion of your unconditional
and never failing love. Amen.

Lord we present ourselves to you at the beginning of a new day,
in which we acknowledge our dependence on you
for many daily blessings, as you provide and care for us.
We offer to you our humble efforts this day to be your light,
your witness and your instrument
in making your Kingdom present,
in the places where we live, work or travel. Amen.

Loving God, we thank you for bringing us to the beginning of another day.
Thank you for the gift of life, love and freedom we enjoy.
May this bring us opportunities to be your messengers of peace.
Help us in our mission and ministry to be people of peace.
Let us recognise you as the source of our own peace.
You have gifted us by naming us your children.
God of love, God of peace, be with us throughout this day.  Amen.

Lord, You call each of us by name,
choosing us to be your companions and co-workers,
with great love in the hope that we will respond.
This day we thank you for the grace given us
and we accept again as our own,
this vocation to be Brother to all,
under the care and in the spirit of Mary.
Draw us deeper into the intimacy with You
that is the goal of our calling.
We call on You, who calls on us,
that today we may be faithful
to the grace given to us.  Amen.

Take back, O Lord, all my freedom.
Accept the whole of my memory,
my understanding and my will.
Whatever I have, or possess, comes to me from you.
I give it all back to you,
surrender it all to the guidance of your will.
Grant me only your grace and your love.
Give me but that, and I ask for nothing more. Amen.
(Ignatius Loyola, 1491-1556)

Grant Lord, that we may hold to you without parting,
worship you without wearying
serve you without failing,
faithfully seek you, happily find you,
and forever possess you,
the only God, blessed now and forever.  Amen. 
(St Anselm, 1033-1109)

I welcome this day,
the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his power to guard,
his ear to listen to my every need;
the wisdom of God to teach me,
his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
The Word of God to give me speech,
his heavenly host to companion me.

Christ be with me, Christ within me
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger.
Christ in the hearts of all who love me,
Christ in the mouth of friend and stranger.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Eternal Father, Spirit and Word,
Salvation is of Christ, the Lord.  Amen.

God within me, God without,
how shall I ever be in doubt?
There is no place where I may go
and not there see God’s face, not know.
I am God’s vision and God’s ears.
So through the harvest of my years,
I am the sower and the sown.
God’s self unfolding, and God’s own.

Spirit of the Universe,
I claim the power of your Light.
Please, illuminate my path
as I go forward into today.
Grant me clarity of thought,
kindness of spirit, courage of heart,
and a healthy body so that
I may become more the person
you created me to be.  Amen.