O Lord, Our God, gracious, patient and of much compassion mercifully regard our humble work. Strengthen us in our holy vocation and make us ever faithful to our calling.We humbly pray that by the grace of Your Holy Spirit we may so serve You in Your sick of this world that we may see You forever in heaven. Amen
Pieta by Michelangelo ,St Peter's Basilica,Rome- click on image for more details
PRAYER OF CICIAMS
THE INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC COMMITTEE OF NURSES AND MEDICO-SOCIAL (HEALTHCARE) ASSISTANTS
Dear Lord, Thou great healer,You have said 'whatever you do to the least of my brethren you did it to Me'. Guide us in our service of the sick,the marginalised and the destitute.Teach us to see Your image in each of them.May Your love shine forth in our lives.Let our minds,hearts and hands always radiate that love in lessening pain and in bringing comfort,joy, peace and healing wherever needed.Grant us the grace to serve You in all we do,to be rich in good deeds ,to be generous and willing to share with each other and in loving and serving humanity.
For the power, the mercy, the glory and the joy are Yours. Amen
Last supper by Leonardo Da Vinci Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie Milan -click image for more details
'Recent ethical thinking has tried to face up to the challenge of making right ethical decisions in conflict situations. If law is understood as an absolute in itself, there is no proper solution to human conflicts. We are on the way to a satisfactory solution only when we recognize law as an expression of value'.
George V Lobo SJ
(1997)
Moral & Pastoral Questions-Moral Absolutes:Towards a Solution,Anand,India.
CLICK IMAGE ABOVE FOR THE FOOTPRINTS ON THE SHORE POEM - BY MARY STEVENSON
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 and where there is sadness,joy.O Divine Master,grant that I may 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 and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Click on the image of Holman Hunt's picture of Christ the 'Light of the World' for 'Know,Love,Serve ' sung by 1 Body
'The calming of the storm at the command of Jesus is, of course, an invitation to us all to put our trust in Him.We need constantly to hear His authoritative command :'Be calm ' '
a landmark of natural beauty on the east coast of England
ENGLAND'S NAZARETH
the national shrine of Our Lady in Norfolk and site of the annual retreat of the Association of Catholic Nurses each June
Accommodation, meals and packed lunches can be booked through and details of annual pilgrimages to Walsingham are available from the R.C. Pilgrim Bureau
Mother of Christ,hear thou thy people's cry. Star of the sea and portal of the sky.
Sinking we strive and call to thee for aid,
Mother of Him who thee from nothing made. O by that joy which Gabriel brought to thee,
Thou Virgin first and last, let us thy mercy see.
DOMUS MEA DOMUS ORATIONIS VOCABITUR
Click on the image of Birmingham Oratory above for an arrangement of John Dyke's traditional music setting to the words of Leadly Kindly Light by John Henry Newman
LEAD KINDLY LIGHT
LEAD, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloomLead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home Lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to seeThe distant sceneone step enough for me. I was not ever thus, nor pray'd that ThouShouldst lead me on. I loved to choose and see my path, but now Lead Thou me on! I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,Pride ruled my will: remember not past years. So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still Will lead me on, O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent,till The night is gone; And with the morn those angel faces smile Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.
BIRMINGHAM ORATORY PRAYER FOR THE CANONIZATION OF
JOHN HENRY NEWMAN
A SAINT FOR BIRMINGHAM
Eternal Father,you led John Henry Newman to follow the kindly light of truth, and he obediently responded to your heavenly calls at any cost.As writer,preacher,counsellor and educator,as pastor,Oratorian and servant of the poor he laboured to build up your kingdom.
Grant that through your Vicar on Earth we may hear the words 'Well done,thou good and faithful servant,enter the company of the canonized saints'.
May you manifest your Servant's power of intercession by even extraordinary answers to the prayers of the faithful throughout the world.We pray particularly for our intentions in his name and in the name of Jesus Christ your Son Our Lord .Amen
