The Spiritual Life of Painsley Catholic High School

Upper Room
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Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday

Monday

Readings

Jesus said: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

The vocation of every man and woman is to serve other people (Tolstoy)

Bidding Prayers

Let us pray for everyone who serves God by helping other people. May they be blessed in their caring for others. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for all those who find their vocation as doctors or nurses, paramedics or care assistants. May their work bring Jesus close to other people. Lord, hear us.

(especially November 2nd):
Let us pray for all those who have died: may they all now reach the goal of their vocation in heaven. Lord, hear us.

Concluding Prayer

O God, you fill the hearts of your people with the gifts of love.
Give grace to all your servants, so that they may love you with all their strength and do your will with all their hearts. We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

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Tuesday

Readings

"I tell you the truth," Jesus said, "no-one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields - and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

It is hard to believe because it is so hard to obey (Kierkegaard)

Bidding Prayers

Let us pray that God will call more people to serve him as priests and deacons. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for all bishops and priests and deacons, especially those who find their work difficult or lonely. May they get hope and comfort from knowing how much they are helping others. Lord, hear us.

Concluding Prayer

Almighty Father, your Son called the apostles to be fishers of men. Raise up new apostles in your Holy Church. Make them eager to spread your kingdom on earth. We make this prayer in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

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Wednesday

Readings

A reading from the Colossians (3:23)
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human beings, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often. (Cardinal Newman)

Bidding Prayers

Let us pray for all those whose vocation is important but often unseen: parents and family members, guardians and carers, workers whose job is not highly valued but whose importance is immense. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for those who do not feel valued in what they do. May they gain hope from knowing that they are serving God even if they do not feel appreciated by other people. Lord, hear us.

Concluding Prayer

O God, we ask that Christians everywhere may find strength to tread the path of Jesus, and that the power of your grace may shine through their lives. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Thursday

Readings

A reading from the Gospel of Mark (8:34)
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important (T.S. Eliot)

Bidding Prayers

We pray for all who make great sacrifices to follow their vocations, especially those who follow the religious life as monks or nuns, or religious brothers or sisters.
Lord, hear us.

We pray that more people may feel called to follow God in the religious life. Lord, hear us.

Concluding Prayer

Father, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you; teach us to offer ourselves in your service, so that in this life we may have your peace and in the world to come may see you face to face. We make this prayer in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

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Friday

Readings

A reading from the first letter of Peter (4:10)
Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

The whole science of the saints consists in finding out and following the will of God. (Isidore of Seville c. 600)

Bidding Prayers

Let us pray for those who struggle to find their vocation and are unhappy or unsatisfied in the world that they do. Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for anyone who does not know what do - which job to apply for, which course to follow, which carreer to pursue. May God help them to make right decisions. Lord, hear us.

Concluding Prayer

Holy God, give us a great trust in your will for us, so we do not measure ourselves by what we have done or failed to do, but by how closely we have followed your will. We make this prayer in Jesus’ name.
Amen.

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and is part of the Painsley Catholic High School Web Site