Section:
prayers
BIRTHDAY PRAYER OPTIONS
What you hold, may you always hold.
What you do, may you always do and never abandon.
But with swift pace, light step, and unswerving feet
so that even your steps stir up no dust,
go forward
securely, joyfully, and swiftly,
on the path of prudent happiness,
believing nothing,
agreeing with nothing
which would dissuade you from this resolution
or which would place a stumbling block on the way
so that you may offer your vows to the Most High
in the pursuit of that perfection
to which the Spirit of the Lord has called you.
From “Second Letter of Clare to Agnes,” page 196, #11-14 in Francis and Clare: The Complete Works (Classics of Western Civilization series), translation and introduction by Regis J. Armstrong, OFM Cap, and Ignatius C. Brady, OFM. Preface by John Vaughn, OFM. Copyright © 1982 by Paulist Press. Used with permission of Paulist Press, Inc., New York/Mahwah, NJ.
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Loving God, God of all life, we thank you for the many ways in which you have gifted ____ and we rejoice in the many ways she/he has shared those gifts with us. We pray that as ____ continues her/his dance of life, she/he may always know the graced rhythm of your love and presence.
