A Magnificat (tr. from German by Olga Warneke IBVM)

My soul glorifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!
For he has blessed me lavishly
and makes me ready to respond.
He shatters my little world
and lets me be poor before him.
He takes from me all my plans
and gives me more than I can hope for or ask.
He gives me opportunities and the ability to become free
and to burst through my boundaries.
He gives the strength to be daring, to build on him alone,
for he shows himself as the ever greater One in my life.
He has made known to me this;
It is in my being servant that it becomes possible.
For God’s kingdom to break through
here and now.

Amen.

Anima Christi (2)  Pope John XXII (translated by Blessed John Henry Newman)

Soul of Christ, be my sanctification,
Body of Christ, be my salvation,
Blood of Christ, fill my veins
Water from the side of Christ, wash out my stains.
May Christ’s Passion strengthen me,
O good Jesus, hear me.
In thy wounds I fain would hide,
Never to be parted from thy side.
Guard me when my foes assail me,
Call me when my life shall fail me.
Command me then to come to thee.
That I for all eternity
With thy saints may praise thee.

Amen.

Holy Light Prayer (from the Liturgy of the Hours)

Lord God,
in your wisdom you created us;
by your providence you rule us;
penetrate our inmost being with your holy light,
so that our way of life may always be one of faithful service to you.
Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer for the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council (Pope John XXIII)

(Excerpted)
May this Council produce abundant fruits:
may the light and power of the Gospel
be more widely diffused in human society;
may new vigour be imparted
to the Catholic religion and its missionary function;
may we all acquire
a more profound knowledge of the Church’s doctrine
and a wholesome increase of Christian morality.

O gentle Guest of our souls,
confirm our mind in the truth
and dispose our hearts to obedience,
that the deliberations of the Council may find in us
generous consent and prompt obedience.

Renew in our days your miracles
as of a second Penetecost;
and grant that Holy Church,
reunited in our prayer,
more fervent than before,
around Mary the Mother of Jesus,
and under the leadership of Peter,
may extend the kingdom of the divine Saviour,
A kingdom of truth, justice, love and peace.

Amen.

Prayer of St Augustine

Eternal God, You are the light of the minds that know you,
the joy of the hearts that love you,
and the strength of the wills that serve you;
grant us so to know you, that we may truly serve you,
whom to serve is prefect freedom, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening

After Christina Rossetti (1820-94)

Speak, Lord, for your servent is listening.
Grant us ears to hear,
Eyes to see,
Wills to obey,
Hearts to love.
Then declare what you will,
Reveal what you will,
Command what you will,
Demand what you will.

Suscipe (St. Ignatius of Loyola)

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.