Two Syriac Orthodox Eucharistic Prayers

Two Syriac Orthodox Prayers

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Prior to Reception of the Holy Eucharist

O Bread coming down from heaven to feed and nourish everyone, grant that I may partake of Thee in all pure desire, adoration and godly fear. O happy Wine of Life, may I be intoxicated by Thy love. 

O Thou Who didst cry, saying: "Whosoever is athirst let him come to Me and drink," behold my soul in thirst hath come unto Thee to be satisfied by the Water of Life. 

O God, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst come into my heart. Speak a word to heal my soul which is athirst for Thee even more than the deer longeth for streams of water, O Cup of Blessing and Salvation. 

O Heavenly Manna and Bread of Life, dwell in me forevermore. Amen.


After the Reception 
of the Holy Eucharist

With what tongues shall I utter Thy praise, O God, most high and greatly to be praised, for this Thy wondrous grace. It passeth all telling; for Thou hast been pleased even to give of Thyself to Thy servant for nourishment; and hast rejoiced my heart with the wine of Thy sacrifice. Thou hast sanctified me by Thy Spirit, and hast satisfied my hunger from out of the bounty of Thy house. My heart is Thy perpetual dwelling-place that Thou mayest preside over all my faculties and my desires, controlling them as Thou wilt. 

And I beseech Thee grant that this my Communion shall increase my faith, strengthen my trust in Thee, and rekindle the fire of Thy love within me, causing me to grow in every virtue; and grant that it be a weapon to shield me from all the tricks of the enemy of my soul until I become one with Thee in that life above where Thou art with all saints, so that I may join in the chorus of adoration and praise unto Thee with Thy Father and Thy Holy Ghost forever and ever. Amen.

Eric Milner-White: Lord, bless to me this Lent

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Laetare Sunday is now done and dusted, the Simnel Cake consumed, and the rose-coloured vestments tucked away till next time of display. Yet for some it feels as if this Lent is not quite what it should be. A friend wrote, "I feel somehow I got off on the wrong foot this Lent."

It is never too late to consecrate anew your Lenten journey at this very moment for what is left of the Season. To that end I share a well-known prayer of the Anglican divine Eric Milner-White (1884-1963) that appeared in the 1967 edition of My God, My Glory:

LORD, bless to me this Lent.

Lord, let me fast most truly and profitably,

by feeding in prayer on thy Spirit:

reveal me to myself

in the light of thy holiness.

Suffer me never to think

that I have knowledge enough to need no teaching,

wisdom enough to need no correction,

talents enough to need no grace,

goodness enough to need no progress,

humility enough to need no repentance,

devotion enough to need no quickening,

strength sufficient without thy Spirit;

lest, standing still, I fall back for evermore.

Shew me the desires that should be disciplined,

and sloths to be slain.

Shew me the omissions to be made up

and the habits to be mended.

And behind these, weaken, humble, and annihilate in me

self-will, self-righteousness, self-satisfaction,

self-sufficiency, self-assertion, vainglory.

May my whole effort be to return to thee;

O make it serious and sincere

persevering and fruitful in result,

by the help of thy Holy Spirit

and to thy glory,

my Lord and my GOD.

The Very Reverend Dr  Eric Milner-White 

My God, My Glory

SPCK: London

1967

Capilla Flamenca: Missa de septem doloribus: Kyrie

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Missa de septem doloribus: Kyrie

Capilla Flamenca

Eric Milner-White: Lord, bless to me this Lent

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As Lent progresses I share a well-known prayer of Eric Milner-White (1884-1963) that appeared in the 1967 edition of My God, My Glory.

LORD, bless to me this Lent.

Lord, let me fast most truly and profitably,

by feeding in prayer on thy Spirit:

reveal me to myself

in the light of thy holiness.

Suffer me never to think

that I have knowledge enough to need no teaching,

wisdom enough to need no correction,

talents enough to need no grace,

goodness enough to need no progress,

humility enough to need no repentance,

devotion enough to need no quickening,

strength sufficient without thy Spirit;

lest, standing still, I fall back for evermore.

Shew me the desires that should be disciplined,

and sloths to be slain.

Shew me the omissions to be made up

and the habits to be mended.

And behind these, weaken, humble, and annihilate in me

self-will, self-righteousness, self-satisfaction,

self-sufficiency, self-assertion, vainglory.

May my whole effort be to return to thee;

O make it serious and sincere

persevering and fruitful in result,

by the help of thy Holy Spirit

and to thy glory,

my Lord and my GOD.

The Very Reverend Dr  Eric Milner-White 

My God, My Glory

SPCK: London

1967

Te Deum laudamus (Gregorian chant)

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1 January A.D. 2023

Dante Alighieri's Hymn to Mary - Msgr Ronald Knox Translation

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On the last day of Anno Domino 2022 

and the first day of the year Anno Domino 2023, 

I would like to share with you, dear Reader, 

the Ronald Knox translation of Dante Alighieri's Hymn to Mary:

Maiden, yet a mother,

Daughter of thy Son,

High beyond all other,

Lowlier is none;

Thou the consummation

Planned by God's decree,

When our lost creation

Nobler rose in thee!

Thus his place preparèd,

He who all things made

'Mid his creatures tarried,

In thy bosom laid;

There his love he nourished,

Warmth that gave increase 

To the root whence flourished

Our eternal peace.

Lady, lest our vision,

Striving heavenward, fail,

Still let thy petition

With thy Son prevail

Unto whom all merit,

Pow'r and majesty

With the Holy Spirit

And the Father be.

Ave dulcissima Maria !

Salvete flores martyrum

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Daily Prayer of St Edmund the Martyr

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     Into Thy hands, O Lord, 

     and into the hands of Thy holy Angels, 

     I commit and entrust this day my soul, 

     my relations, my benefactors, 

     my friends and enemies, 

     and all Thy Catholic people. 

     Keep us, O Lord, through the day, 

     by the merits and intercession 

     of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all Thy Saints, 

     from all vicious and unruly desires, 

     from all sins and temptations of the devil, 

     and from sudden and unprovided death 

     and the pains of hell. 

     Illuminate my heart 

     with the grace of Thy Holy Spirit; 

     grant that I may ever be obedient 

     to Thy commandments; 

     suffer me not to be separated from Thee, O God, 

     who livest and reignest 

     with God the Father 

     and the same Holy Spirit 

     for ever and ever. Amen.

St. Edmund the Martyr

The Raccolta

1957

That we may be delivered from every sling and arrow,

St. Edmund, pray for us.

Uher Hymn: Now Light Your Lamps

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NOW LIGHT YOUR LAMPS

by Vincent Uher

Now light your lamps, ye Christians wise

and gather 'neath Christ's Star.

The Light of lights, the Prince of Peace

has come here from afar.

No warrior he, the Word made flesh,

the servant of us all,

the Child whose breathing brings us peace,

whose heartbeat saves us all.

God's mother's face reveals his light

as moon shines by the sun,

And Joseph's eyes filled full with joy

gleam bright with God's own Son.

O Christ our God, true face of God

now cradled in their arms,

O please accept what gifts we bring:

our hearts, our minds, our love.

Child Jesus, hear our fervent prayer

for peace to reign on earth,

for great and small, for rich and poor,

for each to know their worth.

Though fallen be the human race

and sin and hate abound

give peace to all for in each face

thy image still is found.

O sing, you blessed company

of faithful people, Sing !

for God the Child whose very light

demands the darkness flee.

O Trinity of endless light,

with love our praise we bring

where Wisdom found a cave for house

to bring forth earth's true king.

Copyright © 2007 Vincent Uher

(May be sung to the tune FOREST GREEN)

UherHymn: Sing of Mary, Blest is She

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+ By the hand of Enid Chadwick +

1.  Sing of Mary, blest is she!

Mother of the Saviour!
"Yes!" said she to Gabriel's plea,
"Yes!" to God forever.
"Yes!" for every woman born.
"Yes!" for every nation.
"Yes!" for all of the unborn.
"Yes!" for all creation.

2.  Sing of Joseph, vexed was he,

Troubled and perplex-ed

Till an angel in a dream

Peace to him directed.

"Take the Virgin as your wife.

Love her baby wholly.

Love the infant as your life.

He's God's Son most holy."

3.  Sing of Jesus, blest is he

In the Lord's Name coming,

Born in great humility

Every person loving,

Prince of Peace and Counsellor--

Wonderful the telling!--

Came to earth to save us all

And to share his blessing.

4.  Mary, Joseph join us now

And all saints in glory

As we tell his love for all

In the sacred story.

Angels, shepherds, and the kings

To Christ's side are running.

Let all people ready now

For his second coming.

5.  Glory be to God on high!

Glory in the highest!

Peace on earth, goodwill to all

From the Lord Most Highest.

Blessings come for everyone,

Graces to God's credit

From the Father with the Son

Through the Holy Spirit. 

Words: Copyright © 1996-2006 by Vincent Uher. 

Music: Tempus adest floridum (Piae Cantiones)

Meter: 76 76 D

Click above for larger version of hymn

Ave Maria by William Gomez

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As the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe draws nigh, 

I ask the Blessed Mother to embrace us all 

and take us to her Son Jesus.

The following setting of Ave Maria by William Gomez is one of the most beautiful settings of the prayer sung by Elina Garanča, mezzo-soprano, in Vienna during Christmastide A.D. 2007.  The text of this setting is in Spanish.

Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis peccatoribus

nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.

St Faustina: Prolonging the Time of Mercy

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Jesus said to St Faustina:

I am prolonging the time of Mercy for the sake of [sinners]…. 

While there is still time, let them have recourse to the fount of My Mercy… 

He who refuses to pass through the door of My Mercy must pass through the door of My Justice. 

Diary of St Faustina, 1160, 848, 1146

St Maria Faustina Kowalska