The history of the church is seasoned with the most beautiful prayers, right from the teachings of Jesus. Twenty centuries have not blunted the impact of his words ‘give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses’. They remind us that the gift of life is renewed every day, and forgiveness is a special kind of food. It is good to know prayers by heart, such as the peace prayer of St Francis and ‘Take, Lord, receive’, by St Ignatius. In times of need, they come bubbling up from inside us.
Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu, speaks for us all when he said:
Prayer is not asking.
It is a longing of the soul.
It is daily admission of one’s
weakness. It is better in prayer
to have a heart without words
than words without a heart.
Sometimes we can also find heartwarming words outside our own tradition and give thanks for the communities that give voice to such prayers and blessings. Here are just a few:
The Gayatri Mantra is Hindu and dates from around 1500BCE, possibly even earlier
May my intellect be steady without agitation.
May it be clear without anger or passion.
May the brilliant light of the sun beam though my intellect so
that perception of the world may be clear, my discrimination
subtle, my judgment correct and quick, and my
comprehension of persons and situations precise and wise.
The Tao Te Ching, by Lao Tzu is Chinese and dates from around 400BCE
When life begins, we are tender and weak.
When life ends, we are stiff and rigid.
All things, including the grass and the trees,
Are soft and pliable in life, dry and brittle in death.
So the soft and supple are the companions of life,
While the stiff and unyielding are the companions of death.
The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings of the Buddha from around the third century BCE
Now may every living thing, young or old, weak or strong, living near or far, known or unknown, living or departed or yet unborn, may every living thing be full of bliss.
Zoroastrian prayer on a birthday
Assist me to be wise from the experiences of the past and to move into the future with joy and hope. Guide me to make the best use of each day and each opportunity as they come. Grant me thy clear and pure mind, I pray, and devotion to thee in everything I say or do. May the heavenly sun light my way for many a year to come and may thy love and blessings always be with me in life. May I always remain worthy of thy love.
From the Analects of Confucius (fifth to third centuries BCE)
The one who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
The noble-minded are calm and steady. Little people are forever fussing and fretting.
To be wealthy and honoured in an unjust society is a disgrace.
From a Jewish Sabbath prayer
Help us, lord, to carry these lessons, of rest and time, of understanding and peace, into the six days that lie ahead. To bless us in the working days of our lives. Amen.
Al Fatiha, Surah 1, the opening of the Qur’an
In the name of God, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful.
Praise be to God, Lord of all the worlds.
The Compassionate, the Merciful. Ruler on the Day of Reckoning.
You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.
Guide us on the straight path,
the path of those who have received your grace.
Michael McGirr is the Mission facilitator at Caritas Australia. He is the author of many books, including Ideas to Save Your Life and Books that Saved My Life (both Text), and Finding God’s Traces (Jesuit Communications).