1: Why Should We Pray?
2: Where Do We Begin?
3: How Should We Pray?
4: A Few Suggestions to Help You Pray
5: Can I say the Lord's Prayer?
6: The London Challenge
7: Praying for Christmas: The Advent Antiphons
8: Pocket Prayers
9: Praying with the Saints

9: Praying with the Saints

This month we take a look at some of the prayers which were written (or spoken) by the Saints remembered during July.

3rd July: Thomas the Apostle
Thomas is best known for being the Apostle who doubted reports of the resurrection, causing Jesus to show him the marks in his hands and feet and side. Thomas then proclaimed,

“My Lord and my God.”

11th July: Benedict of Nursia
Benedict established small monasteries and wrote a rule for monks: The Rule of Saint Benedict.

Gracious and holy Father,
give us wisdom to perceive you,
intelligence to understand you,
diligence to seek you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate on you,
and a life to proclaim you;
through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord.

15th July: Bonaventure
Bonaventure became the leader of the Franciscans after the death of their founder.

O Lord, holy Father,
show us what kind of man it is who is hanging for our sakes on the cross,
whose suffering causes the rocks themselves to crack and crumble with compassion,
whose death brings the dead back to life.

Let my heart crack and crumble at the sight of him.
Let my soul break apart with compassion for his suffering.
Let it be shattered with grief at my sins for which he dies.
And finally let it be softened with devoted love for him.

Lord Jesus, I put my faith in you.
I place my hope in you,
and I love you with my whole mind and my whole strength.
When you rise up to heaven,
I long to be carried up to heaven,
that my faith may be vindicated,
my hope fulfilled,
and my love rewarded.

Lord Jesus, as you sit upon your throne in heaven,
redeem those who are lost,
sanctify those who are redeemed,
and give joy to those who are sanctified.

31st July: Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius founded The Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits.

Take, Lord, all my liberty.
receive my memory, my understanding, and my whole will.
Whatever I have and possess, you have given me;
to you I restore it wholly
and to your will I utterly surrender it for my direction.
Give me the love of you only, with your grace,
and I am rich enough;
nor do I ask anything beside.

Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil, and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Compiled by The Revd Sue Groom with material from:
A Manual of Anglo-Catholic Devotion, compiled by Andrew Burnham;
The Fount Book of Prayer, edited by Robert Van de Weyer.
Illustrations from Signs, Symbols & Saints, Turvey Abbey, used under license.

Where Next?
Book Review: How to Pray: If you only ever pick up one book on prayer in your life, make it this one!
Christian Meditation: An introduction to Christian Meditation.
Intercessions Workshop: Leading the Intercessions in Public Worship (dates to be arranged).

Saints and Seasons through the Year
Saints' Prayers in May
Saints' Prayers in September