The Beatitudes

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit, 
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn,
for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Amen.
(Taken from the Gospel of Matthew 5:3-10)

Prayer for the New Year

Click on the prayer to view it full-screen.

(Taken from the CEVN prayer of the week website.)

Spirit of God

Spirit of God 

Spirit of God,
you are the breath of creation,
the wind of change
that blows through our lives,
opening us up to new dreams and new hopes,
new life in Jesus Christ.

Forgive us our closed minds
which barricade themselves
against new ideas,
preferring the past
to what you might want to do through us tomorrow.

Forgive our closed eyes
which fail to see the needs of your world,
blind to opportunities of service and love.

Forgive our closed hands
which clutch our gifts and our wealth
for our own use alone.

Forgive us our closed hearts
which limit our affections to ourselves
and our own.

Spirit of new life,
forgive us and break down
the prison walls of our selfishness,
that we might be open to your love
and open for the service of your world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

(Taken from Education for Justice)

A True Story

One day a son asks his father: "Daddy, will you run the marathon with me?" 
The father answers yes and both run their first marathon together. 
One day, the son asks his father if he wants to run the marathon with him again and the father answers yes. 
They both run the marathon together again. 
Then one day the son asks his father: "Daddy, will you run the Ironman with me?" 
The Ironman is the toughest. It requires a 4km swim, 180km biking and 42km 
running. 
The father says yes again. 
This all sounds easy...but check this video.

Prayer for Friends

A Prayer for our Friends

Lord, bless our friends today we pray,

Wherever they may be;
And help them as they go their way,
To keep their trust in Thee.


Lord, hear each prayer they raise to Thee,
And dry each falling tear;
And hover over them constantly,
For treasured friends are dear.


Surround them with Thy mercy,
Lord, Protect them by Thy power;
And let them feel Thy presence,
Lord, In every lonely hour. 


Stand by them when the road is steep,
And no one seems to care;
Thy arm of love around them keep,
And whisper You are there. 


And give them strength to bear the cross,
As through this vale they go;
And stand by them in every loss,
That they meet here below. 


And when at last the hour shall be,
That life's short journey ends;
O, let them lean the more on Thee,
And comfort these, our friends. 


And open heaven's gate, dear Lord,
And let them enter there;
For heaven will be heaven,
Lord, Because our friends are there.


Amen.


(Taken from Our Catholic Prayers blog)

Animal school

A reflection about how everyone at school is different, and how these differences should be embraced, not ignored.


(Original video can be found at the Raising Small Souls website)

Prayer for Students 
God of Light and Truth,
thank you for giving me
a mind that can know
and a heart that can love. 
Help me to keep learning every day of my life,
for all knowledge leads to you.
Let me be aware of your presence
in all things and at all times. 
Encourage me when work is difficult
and when I am tempted to give up;
encourage me when my brain seems slow
and the way forward is difficult. 
Grant me the grace to put my mind to use
exploring the world you have created, 
confident that in you there a wisdom
that is real.
Amen. 

(Author: Charles Henderson. Taken from Godweb.org)

A Child's Prayer for Morning

A Child's Prayer for Morning 
Now, before I run to play, 
Let me not forget to pray
To God who kept me through the night
And waked me with the morning light. 
Help me, Lord, to love thee more
Than I ever loved before, 
In my work and in my play
Be thou with me through the day.
Amen. 

(Author unknown. Taken from Godweb.org)

The Christmas Story

The Christmas Story by St Paul's Arts 'n' Kids (NZ)

A very cute re-enactment of the Nativity.