"Love follows knowledge."
"Beauty above all beauty!"
– St. Catherine of Siena

Friday, December 13, 2019

Faith Filled Friday: The Prayer of the Laborer


I love the monthly magazine, Magnificat, which offers daily devotionals. I try to read every day's devotional at some point, but I admit I'm always behind.

Saturday, December 7th, was St. Ambrose's feast day and in the devotional they had a prayer he wrote, titled "The Prayer of the Laborer." Magnificat presents the prayer in the form of a poem, but I don't know if that is how St. Ambrose originally wrote it or the translator or the editors. But it was very inspirational. I present it here:

The Prayer of the Laborer
by Saint Ambrose

God, creator of all things
and ruler of the heavens, fitting
the day with beauteous light
and the night with grace of sleep:
May rest restore our slackened limbs
to the exercise of toil,
lighten our wearied minds,
and relieve our anxious preoccupations.
Now the day is over and night has begun,
we, your devotees, sing our hymn,
offering thanks and begging
that you would help us in our sinfulness.
May the depths of our hearts magnify you,
may our harmonious voices sound you,
may our chaste affections love you,,
may our sober minds adore you.
Thus, when the deep gloom of night
closes in upon the day,
our faith may not know darkness
and the night may shine with faith.
Do not permit our minds to slumber;
it is sinfulness that knows slumber.
May faith, which refreshes the chaste,
temper sleep’s embrace.
When the depths of our hearts have been stripped of unclean thoughts,
let them dream of you,
nor let worry, the stratagem of the envious foe,
disturb us as we rest.
We beseech Christ and the Father,
and the spirit of Christ and the Father,
who are one and omnipotent.
O Trinity, assist us who pray to you!

How lovely, especially after a tiring day at work.  It is a blessing to recite as you fall into that “grace of sleep.” 



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