My prayer on this first Friday

Psalm 51
O God, have mercy on me

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offense.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
My offenses truly I know them;
my sin is always before me.
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.
That you may be justified when you give sentence
and be without reproach when you judge.
O see, in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.
Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may revive.
From my sins turn away your face
and blot out all my guilt.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
Give me again the joy of your help;
with a spirit of fervor sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.
O rescue me, God, my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit.
A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.
In your goodness, show favor to Zion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
holocausts offered on your altar

It's Friday in Lent: Pray Psalm 51

For this last Friday in Lent, pray Psalm 51

Psalm 51
O God, have mercy on me

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offense.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
My offenses truly I know them;
my sin is always before me
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.
That you may be justified when you give sentence
and be without reproach when you judge,
O see, in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.
Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may revive.
From my sins turn away your face
and blot out all my guilt.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
Give me again the joy of your help;
with a spirit of fervor sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.
O rescue me, God, my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit,
a humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.
In your goodness, show favor to Zion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
holocausts offered on your altar.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

For my Bible study team and all of you: my favorite Psalm; a plea for mercy

Psalm 51
O God, have mercy on me

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offense.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
My offenses truly I know them;
my sin is always before me
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.
That you may be justified when you give sentence
and be without reproach when you judge,
O see, in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.
Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may revive.
From my sins turn away your face
and blot out all my guilt.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
Give me again the joy of your help;
with a spirit of fervor sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.
O rescue me, God, my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit,
a humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.
In your goodness, show favor to Zion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
holocausts offered on your altar.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
— as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

For this last Friday in Lent, pray Psalm 51

Psalm 51
O God, have mercy on me

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offense.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.
My offenses truly I know them;
my sin is always before me
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
what is evil in your sight I have done.
That you may be justified when you give sentence
and be without reproach when you judge,
O see, in guilt I was born,
a sinner was I conceived.
Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me wisdom.
O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may revive.
From my sins turn away your face
and blot out all my guilt.
A pure heart create for me, O God,
put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
nor deprive me of your holy spirit.
Give me again the joy of your help;
with a spirit of fervor sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors your ways
and sinners may return to you.
O rescue me, God, my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.
O Lord, open my lips
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
For in sacrifice you take no delight,
burnt offering from me you would refuse,
my sacrifice, a contrite spirit,
a humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn.
In your goodness, show favor to Zion:
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice,
holocausts offered on your altar.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
– as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Fridays in Lent

Since Lent 2000, my first as a member of the Knights of Columbus, Fridays in Lent have been all about the KC Fish Fry and Stations of the Cross.  In fact my home council, just formed a few months earlier at the end of 1999, KC Fish Fry with a direct tie to the evening Stations of the Cross.  Purpose intended became purpose achieved as the KC Fish Fry has grown and grown and Friday evening attendance at Stations continues to be strong!  So every Friday night for me in Lent is full of wonderful memories of the Fish Fry and praying the Stations of the Cross in beautiful St. Jane de Chantal Church.

Now over the years things have changed.  But the memories and the occasional routine is revisited!  Since ordination I gave up my duties as the money collector at the front door of the KC Hall.  Today I find myself perhaps leading the Stations of the Cross, now at my new parish down the road at MHT.  Or I may visit another church for Stations or taste the fried fish from another KC Council.  Another wonderful tradition that I love during Lent, although we pray it every Friday throughout the year, is praying Psalm 51:

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
In your compassion blot out my offense.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
and cleanse me from my sin.

Yes, Fridays in Lent are so special.  and when I reflect on this prayerfully I am always moved to thank God for the gift of the season we call Lent, the gift of a Church that He sent His Son to establish, a Church that endures, some 2,000 years now, and for gift of His abundant undeserved mercy!

There is only one more Friday in Lent before we arrive at the Triduum, and Good Friday.  Go make it memorable, make it prayerful, ask Him for His mercy!

Want to learn more about Lent?

Want a refresher course on Lent? New to the faith or just want to know why Catholics do what they do during Lent? There is a great article that explains plenty: http://marysaggies.blogspot.com/2009/02/lent-2009.html




Tommorrow is the first Friday of Lent. For those of you on the Northshore, please plan on attending Stations of the Cross at St. Jane's in Abita Springs and St. Michael's Mission in Bush. Both start at 7 p.m.



I would appreciate any comments on what YOU are doing during this Lenten season; any prayer or devotional practices, what you are abstaining from, any acts of charity?

A great psalm to pray in Lent, it is prayed almost every Friday of the year at morning prayer:
Psalm 51:
Have mercy on me God in your goodness; in your abundant compassion blot out my offense. Wash away all my guilt; from my sin cleanse me.
A clean heart create for me, O God; renew in me a steadfast spirit.
Restore my joy in your salvation; sustain in me a willing spirit. Verses 3-4, 12, 14.