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| Potato Planting - Van Gogh, 1884 |
Most of us spend the largest part of our days working, at employment and also in our homes caring for them. Here are two beautiful, practical prayers on the theme of work from the heart and pen of a pastor who has taught me through his writings, Rev. Peter John Cameron.
The first group of petitions in this first prayer ask for protection, a beautiful example of how to use the petition in the Lord's Prayer, "and lead us not into temptation" as a seed for our prayers. The second group of petitions ask for grace, a fleshing out of the petition, "give us this day our daily bread."
Prayer to
Sanctify Work1
In a spirit of sacrifice, we consecrate our work day to the
Lord and pray:
R: Lord, protect.
From the temptation to be listless and lazy: R FROM TEMPTATION
From the temptation to complain: R
From the temptation to be critical of my boss: R
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| Peasant Woman Digging, van Gogh, 1885 |
From the temptation to cheat or to be dishonest with others:
R
From the temptation to gossip: R
From the temptation to lateness: R
From the temptation to waste time: R
From the temptation to be judgmental of my co-workers: R
From the temptation to procrastinate: R
From the temptation to indolence and lethargy: R
From the temptation to be hyper-critical: R
From the temptation to engage in idle conversation: R
From the temptation to be quick to take offense: R
From the temptation to shift my work onto others: R
From the temptation to impatience: R
From the temptation to cut corners or to be sloppy: R
From the temptation to give in to weariness: R
FOR GRACE
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| Basket of Potatoes, van Gogh, 1885 |
R: Lord,
please grant it.
For the grace to be a peacemaker: R
For the grace to witness to you by word and example: R
For the grace to be energetic and committed: R
For the grace to take initiative: R
For the grace to be compassionate and forgiving: R
For the grace to offer up all tedium and drudgery: R
For the grace to be attentive to those in need: R
For the grace to be generous in sharing: R
For the grace to be prudent in dealing with others: R
For the grace to be kind: R
For the grace to be understanding: R
For the grace to fulfill my responsibilities well: R
For the grace to be patient and persevering: R
For the grace to put myself in others’ shoes: R
For the grace to be dedicated and undistracted: R
For the grace to be honest and forthright: R
For the grace to be hard working: R
For the grace to be free of stress: R
For the grace to insight to solve problems: R
For the grace to industriousness: R
For the grace to resolve conflicts and difficulties: R
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| The Potato Eaters, van Gogh, 1885 |
For the grace to put up with hardships: R
For the grace to esteem the dignity of my co-workers: R
For the grace to be thankful for the chance to work: R
For the grace to spread the Good News of the Gospel: R
Prayer
After Work2
Most merciful Father, thank you for this day of work with
all its achievements as well as its burdens. Thank you for all the successes,
the challenges, and even the difficulties that it brought me. Your Son once
said to his apostles, “Come by yourselves to an out of the way place and rest a
little.” Thank you for this gift of rest. May this time be a chance for me to
renew my gratitude for all your blessings. In your great compassion and
generosity, please be mindful of those who are out of work. And help me to do a
better job tomorrow. I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
1Prayer to Sanctify Work, Father Peter John Cameron, Magnificat, September 2014, page 9-10
2Prayer After Work, ibid, page 11
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I hope you will find these prayers helpful in giving your work hours and days to the Lord. I know they have been helpful to me. May God's blessing of peace be with you all.
for a video combining a Bach Prelude and a reflection on Vincent van Gogh's, "A Pair of Shoes (1866), from my piano solo collection.
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MUSIC LINKS
The Promise of Living - Copland from "The Tender Land"
Fanfare for the Common Man - Copland
And a little fun while you work:
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