Resources

This resource tab gives direct access to key resources I put up on my blog: spiritual exercises I write, classic prayers, allusions to historic Christian practices, etc., that you may use for personal or group retreats or devotional times. In short, it will include things I think readers may want to refer quickly back to at some future time, without needing to wade through my index or individual posts. I trust it will be helpful. (If you have a thought as to how I can make past blogs more accessible, please shoot me a note and let me know!)

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Resource 1: Stations of Creation

Modeled after the style of the fourteen Stations of the Cross, whereby a person prayerfully meditates upon the Good Friday actions of Jesus on the way to Golgotha (see Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23 or John 19), Stations of Creation are a sequence of prayer reflections based upon objects observed in God’s natural world. Intended to enlarge both our gratitude and our stewardship, it has been my privilege to lead the exercise with groups large and small over the years.

For my complete blogpost in which the full resource may be found, please hit this link: 
Stations of Creation.

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Resource 2: Canticle of the Sun, Francis of Assisi

Canticle of the Sun is a classic and ancient prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, said to be written in the year 1225. It has been used as a hymn text over the centuries, perhaps best known today as the foundation for the hymn "All Creatures of our God and King." Here is the prayer in its entirety, rendered into English from its original Italian:

Most high, all-powerful, all good, Lord!

All praise is Yours, all glory, all honor and all blessing.

To You alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips

are worthy to pronounce Your name.

All praise be Yours, my Lord, through all that You have made,

and first, my Lord, Brother Sun, who brings the day and the

light You give to us through him. How beautiful is he,

how radiant in all his splendor! 

Of You, Most High, he bears the likeness.

All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars;

in the heavens you have made them, bright and precious and fair.

All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,

and fair and stormy, all the weather's moods,

by which You cherish all that You have made.

All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Sister Water,

so useful, lowly, precious, and pure.

All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire,

through whom You brighten up the night.

How beautiful he is, how joyful, full of power and strength!

All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth,

who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces

various fruits and colored flowers and herbs.

All praise be Yours, my Lord, through those who grant 

forgiveness for love of You, through those who endure 

sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace. 

By You, Most High, they will be crowned.

All praise be Yours, my Lord, through Sister Death,

from whose embrace no mortal can escape.

Happy those she finds doing your will!

The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give Him thanks,
and serve Him with great humility. Amen.

For my complete blogpost in which the ancient text is referenced, please hit this link: 
Canticle of the Sun.

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Resource 3: On the Road with the Stations of Creation

My friend Steve Wong took my Stations of Creation, referenced as Resource 1 above, and adapted it for use with his teenagers on a long summer road trip to do from their seats. He was gracious enough to share it with me, and I asked permission to share it on my blog. Find Steve's creative adaptation at the following link: On the Road with the Stations of Creation.

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Resource 4: The Rest List

Perhaps you don't always equate rest with the spiritual disciplines or practices, but I would like to get you to rethink this a bit. After being inspired by a friend with this idea, I put together an instruction sheet that can walk you through a spiritual exercise in which you think through the unique ways Jesus may use to 'give you rest' (Matthew 11:28). Hit this link if this sounds interesting: The Rest List.

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Resource 5: The Examen

St. Ignatius is credited with urging a spiritual discipline among the monks of his order that had them reflect intentionally on their day, to look for the action or presence of God or the lack of it. It's called an examen, or the examination of conscience, and is a fantastic spiritual practice. Though the blogpost in which I write about it does not give a process for a traditional examen, it uses an unusual and traditional old hymn to move one's thoughts in that direction. At some point, I will include a simple instruction for a more classic examen, but for now, check out this post to get a feel for it: Day is Done. 

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Resource 6: Laudato Si'

Laudato Si' is the title of Pope Francis' papal encyclical on the environment, released June 18 2015. A lengthy document of some 180+ pages, it concludes with a lovely prayer for our Earth that the Pope encourages all Christians to pray. The prayer's title is taken from the first words of St. Francis of Assisi's (his namesake's) prayer of praise, Canticle of the Sun, Resource 2 listed above. My blog for the week concentrated on this occasion, and can be found at Laudato Si'.

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Resource 7: Celtic Blessings

I have always loved blessings, and no group seems to do that better than the Celts. Not too long ago I did a post on Celtic blessings, and these short prayers of benediction are inspiring beyond their size. Check out this post at Celtic Blessings.  

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Resource 8: "I-Thou"

This is a poem I have written that pairs concepts in nature, pairs which depict God as the source and me as the outcome or result. Find it at I-Thou. 

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Resource 9: "When I Get to Heaven"

Here is another poem that reflects on the possibilities of heaven a naturalist muses upon. It can be found at When I Get to Heaven.

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Resource 10: Creation Doxology

I guess my resources lately have been poems I have written! Here is another, based on the text of the traditional Doxology. Check it out at Creation Doxology.

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Resource 11: A Celtic Prayer for a New Day and a New Beginning

Though I prepared this post in conjunction with New Years Day, I highlighted a beautiful morning prayer based on the image of tides. It may be used any new day. Check it out at New Day.

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Resource 12: St. Patrick's 'Breastplate' Prayer (or 'Lorica')

St. Patrick's Breastplate, or Lorica, is a prayer going all the way back in various forms to the evangelization of Ireland in the 400's AD, traditionally written by Patrick himself. A prayer for protection, it picks up several of the key characteristics of Celtic prayer, including nature, journey and the real presence of Christ. Here is the excerpt I have shared in my post:

St. Patrick’s Lorica

I arise today

Through a mighty strength -- the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness

Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today, through

The strength of heaven,

The light of the sun,

The radiance of the moon,

The splendor of fire,

The speed of lightning,

The swiftness of wind,

The depth of the sea,

The stability of the earth,

The firmness of rock.

I arise today, through

God’s strength to pilot me,

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s wisdom to guide me,

God’s eye to look before me,

God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to speak for me,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to protect me,

God’s post to save me

From snares of devils,

From temptation of vices,

From inclinations of nature,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.

Christ with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ on my right,

Christ on my left,

Christ where I lie down,

Christ where I sit down,

Christ where I arise,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength -- the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness

Of the Creator of creation.

Salvation is of the Lord.

Salvation is of the Lord.

Salvation is of Christ.

May thy salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.

For my complete blogpost on the prayer, including some of the details on St. Paddy and what a lorica is, you may find it here -- The Lorica.