|
COMMUNITY PRAYERS WORDS OF ST. VINCENT
RISING.—You should, Sisters, adhere as strictly as
possible to the hours designated by the Rules for your
exercises. Let us speak first of the time of rising. It
should be a great stimulus to you to remember that all your
Sisters, wherever they may be, are rising at the same time
for the service of God. It is not after all so difficult for
those who are in good health, and who rest well during the
seven hours allowed for repose. If there are any, who,
through their own fault, do not sleep well, it would be
unreasonable for them to neglect rising at the appointed
hour: it would be flattering nature. I will simply tell you
my own custom. Frequently I do not sleep, yet, unless the
perspiration induced in order to lessen my fever prevents me,
I rise at four o'clock with the others. Indeed I am particular
not to fail in this, because I have remarked, how easily we
may acquire a habit of not being punctual. For this reason,
it is necessary that you should do violence to yourselves, and
after a little time you will find it easy to conform to the
Rule, for our bodies are like those animals which being once
accustomed to one road, follow that always. You should,
however, be regular about going to bed, and then you will find it
less difficult to rise early.
Morning Prayer.—You should give your first thoughts to
God, and return thanks to Him for having preserved you
during the night. Make a brief examen to see if you have
offended Him during it; thank Him, if you have not; ask
His pardon, if you have. Offer Him all your thoughts,
words, actions and feelings; you will be strengthened by
this early oblation of yourself to Him, and resolution not
to offend Him, for the performance of your daily duties.
As good Christians, and true Sisters of Charity, you should
habituate yourselves to making this holy offering in order not
to lose the recompense attached to your actions.
The first thing you should do after rising from bed, should
be to go on your knees to adore God. What is meant by
adoring God ? Nothing more than to render Him the honor
which belongs to Him alone, and to acknowledge Him as
your Creator and Sovereign Lord. You should afterwards
beg the Divine benediction, inclining your head a little to
receive it devoutly, praying that it may render all your
thoughts, words and actions, agreeable to the Divine Majesty,
and that they may tend to His glory, and that all may be
done for His holy love.
|
|
