loyola marymount university the lion prayerbook

Transcription

loyola marymount university the lion prayerbook
loyola marymount university
the lion prayerbook
The First Principle and Foundation
St. Ignatius begins his Spiritual Exercises with The First Principle and Foundation.
The Goal of our life is to live with God forever.
God, who loves us, gave us life.
Our own response of love allows God’s life
to flow into us without limit.
All the things in this world are gifts from God,
Presented to us so that we can know God more easily
And make a return of love more readily.
As a result, we appreciate and use all these gifts of God,
Insofar as they help us to develop as loving persons.
But if any of these gifts become the center of our lives,
They displace God
And so hinder our growth toward our goal.
In everyday life, then, we must hold ourselves in balance
Before all of these created gifts, insofar as we have a choice
And are not bound by some obligation.
We should not fix our desires on health or sickness,
Wealth or poverty, success or failure, a long life or a short one.
For everything has the potential of calling forth in us
A deeper response to our life in God.
Our only desire and our one choice should be this:
I want and I choose what better leads
To God’s deepening his life in me.
–St. Ignatius of Loyola, paraphrased by David L. Fleming, S.J.
http://ministry.lmu.edu | i
Dear LMU Community,
I hope this little book serves as a companion to you in your spiritual journey at LMU.
It has been my pleasure to support and accompany the students in imagining and
creating this second edition of the Lion Prayerbook. Our first edition proved to be
very popular and has become a wonderful introduction to the rich spirituality and
prayer tradition of our campus community.
This year we celebrate 100 years of LMU’s history. It is a history of faith. The early
Jesuits built upon the tradition of Catholic higher education in Los Angeles set by the
founding of St. Vincent’s College in 1865. It was with hope and trust in God that they
took up that ministry renamed as Los Angeles College in Highland Park in 1911.
It was with faith and trust in God that the Marymount Sisters boarded the train in
New York in 1923 to come west and establish Marymount High School – a school that
became Marymount College 10 years later. With trust in God, in 1968 the Sisters of
St. Joseph of Orange merged their ministry in higher education as equal partners with
the RSHM under the banner of Marymount College.
We stand on the shoulders of giants. These women and men, our Founders, always
recognized the need to “work as if everything depended upon them and pray as if
everything depended upon God.”
The HEART OF THE LION, indeed, the heart of our beloved LMU has always been
based on our prayerful and powerful relationship with God. This prayerbook is a
celebration of that relationship, in so many forms.
I am sure that our Religious Founders look down from heaven and are pleased to see
the Spirit still so powerfully alive in our students here at LMU. We humbly dedicate
this prayerbook to them. May God’s Spirit, alive in this text, speak to each one of you!
Sincerely,
Father Jim Erps SJ
Director of Campus Ministry
http://ministry.lmu.edu | iii
Dear Lions,
We are excited to share this second edition of the LMU Lion Prayerbook with you.
We hope you will find many occasions to pull it off your shelf or up on your computer,
browse through its pages, and find inspiration for your spiritual journey.
The LMU Lion Prayerbook is a student-coordinated promotion of prayer. Additionally,
we hope this book holds a deep call to faith to be sought after and discovered by
those who read it. Found inside are a collection of prayers written by students,
faculty, staff, and religious community members, as well as religious leaders who are
celebrating their faith or struggling to hold on to it. These prayers go deeply into
the writers’ thoughts, feelings and emotions. They offer an encounter of faith. They
are a form of communication with God and encourage us to hold firmly in faith as a
community under God.
More emphasis is given within this prayerbook to the students of the community.
Students are often in the midst of examining their beliefs and trying to live a life
of faith, while, at the same time, completing their studies and struggling with life’s
challenges. The LMU Lion Prayerbook is a support for students engaging in a process
of growth. We hope it inspires those who meander through its pages to examine their
spirituality and faith and to open up a new or already existing relationship with God.
We hope the LMU Lion Prayerbook serves as a support to your self-examination and
discernment and as a tool for you as you seek to discover your truest self and where
your greatest passion meets the world’s greatest needs.
Our greatest desire is for this book to serve as a companion for your own prayer in those
quiet moments when you desire to enter more deeply into yourself and open your heart
to God. We believe that individual growth in prayer strengthens our LMU community.
We are indebted to everyone in Campus Ministry who has encouraged the continuing
evolution of the LMU Lion Prayerbook project. We are also especially grateful to
James Erps, S.J., director of Campus Ministry, and Robert Caro, S.J., vice president for
mission and ministry; without their support this prayerbook would not have been possible.
Peace,
The LMU Lion Prayerbook Editorial Team
Raymond Camacho ’12; Alexa Garcia ’12; Ellen Zirkelbach ’14
iv | Lion Prayerbook
Witnessing Our Ignatian Tradition
Our Ignatian tradition is witnessed at LMU through......
The people who shape this vibrant community. We strive everyday in the battle between
acting for good, and doing better, as we become men and women of faith and service.
– Nick Pachelli ’13
Our students, faculty and staff when they sit in the sacred silence, listening attentively
to the voice of God, engaging deeply in this holy relationship and discerning how to
proceed in profound love and service.
– Lindy Wynne, staff
The quality of our daily interactions with all those we meet, especially those who are
different than we are or those with whom we disagree.
– David Burcham, LMU President
The gratitude for our many blessings that flood our hearts with love, which then expresses itself in service to others, not only in words.
– Wilkie Au, professor
A willingness to sacrifice for others, and to accept change in our lives that leads to the
betterment of the individuals in our lives. We strive for the development of our whole
person while maintaining our integrity as men and women, with and for others.
– Anonymous LMU Student
Ignatian Spirituality at LMU
Loyola Marymount University takes its fundamental inspiration from the combined heritage
of the Society of Jesus, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary and the Sisters of St. Joseph
of Orange. Each of these religious communities actively engages in the study and practice
of Ignatian spirituality. For this reason, the history of Loyola Marymount University has been
profoundly affected by the distinct spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola. In turn, Ignatian
spirituality has always and continues to impact and direct the student experience at LMU.
vi | Lion Prayerbook
Ignatian Spirituality Defined
Ignatian spirituality can be described as an active attentiveness to God
joined with a prompt responsiveness to God, who is ever active in our lives
– Charles J. Jackson, S.J.
The definition of Ignatian Spirituality is:
1. Finding God in all things
2. Becoming a contemplative in action
3. Looking at the world in an incarnational way
4. Seeking freedom and detachment
– James Martin, S.J.
The Spiritual Exercises
The foundation of Ignatian spirituality is the Spiritual Exercises. The Spiritual
Exercises grew out of Ignatius Loyola’s personal experience as a man seeking to
grow in union with God. Ignatius wrote that the exercises “have as their purpose
the conquest of self and the regulation of one’s life in such a way that no decision
is made under the influence of any inordinate attachment.” (Spiritual Exercises, 21)
The themes of the Spiritual Exercises include: spiritual discernment in decision
making; generosity of response to God’s invitation; fraternity and companionship in
service; and a disposition to find God in all things. As these themes are integrated
throughout the exercises, they are also integrated in the mission of LMU.
Mission Statement of Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount understands and declares its purpose to be:
• The encouragement of learning
• The education of the whole person
• The service of faith and the promotion of justice
Prayer in the Exercises
The two primary forms of praying taught in the Spiritual Exercises are meditation
and contemplation.
Meditation calls you to use your mind to examine the basic principles that guide
your life as you pray over words, images and ideas.
Contemplation focuses on feeling with your heart. Contemplation engages your
emotions and deepest desires as you imagine entering scenes in scripture and
allowing God to be revealed to you.
As prayer is an important part of Ignatian spirituality it is also an important part
of life at LMU.
viii | Lion Prayerbook
Prayer at LMU is:
Taking a moment and being completely present to it, discovering the small pockets
of silence amidst the chaos of campus life, and realizing how special and rare those
moments are. In doing so, I cannot help, but reflect on all events of my life that have
led me to that moment and be thankful to God, for as I look back on my life I know
that I will never be alone, for God is always with me.
– Eric Bozeman ’13
A reminder that we are not alone. We live in God’s world. Those of us who are Jews,
Christians or Muslims all worship the same God. My prayer is that those of us who
pray in the name of Jesus, and those of us who pray in the name of the One who sent
Jesus will be mindful of the life and the God that we share.
– Amir Hussain, professor
Having the ability to embrace myself and my true feelings, without reservations or
doubts, about how I am feeling in any certain moment. Here in this place, I find an
openness in myself that is not clouded by insecurities and societal standards that
sometimes place a shadow on our hearts.
– Jacob Ufholtz ’13
Living moments with intention and being cognizant about my role in the world; who
I am, who I am looking to be, and what drives me to get there.
– Cooper McKenna ’13
..... the glue that holds us together.
..... the spark of our relationship with the Divine.
..... our attentive awareness that God is with us always.
..... a deep listening and responding to God’s grace in our lives.
..... sitting on the bluff in silence, solitude and awe.
– Joanna Carroll, C.S.J., staff
Going to Mass for the first time all year and then wanting to make that my norm. It is
never being alone. It is having a bad day, walking past people between classes, then
seeing that one person who hugs you and makes it all better.
– Katie Deline ’12
A reflection. Looking at my day and identifying each of the situations that arose and when
I felt at ease or uncomfortable. Prayer, for me, is recognizing the importance of feelings.
– Penny Azizi ’14
An essential part of who we are.
– David Burcham, LMU President
http://ministry.lmu.edu | xi
The Awareness Examen
The Awareness Examen aids individuals in daily reflection and prayer. In the Spiritual
Exercises, Ignatius offered two forms and purposes for the examination of conscience.
Although Ignatius offers concrete description regarding the examen, he also allows
flexibility for individual creativity in how one chooses to reflect on moments of
consolation and desolation in one’s day and how one is called to proceed in the
upcoming day. Below are two adaptations of this daily examen:
Busy Person’s Awareness Examen
I pray in gratitude for all the gifts that I have received as I glance back at the
experiences of the past 24 hours, and allow a spontaneous conversation to
develop with God who was and is present.
I pray for enlightenment so that the Spirit will help me see myself honestly, as I review
both my actions and my heart’s involvement in them.
I survey the period since last engaging in reflective prayer, paying special attention
to the more intense feelings, moods, thoughts, and desires that surface, as a way of
getting a sense of what is going on in my life.
I pray for healing in my heart for the any of the ways that I have not lived up
to the requirements of love in my relationship with God, myself and others.
I ask for help to live with renewed hope and increased love of God and others, considering
briefly the immediate future and paying attention to the feelings that spontaneously arise.
An Ecological Examen
When did I experience the beauty and blessing of God’s creation today?
Where was I most conscious today of God’s image in creation?
How have I made an intentional effort to care for God’s creation today?
What challenges or joys have I experienced today in responding to God and
striving to care for creation?
How can I respond more fully or be more attentive to breaks in my relationship
with creation and with God?
As I imagine tomorrow, I ask for the grace to see the world with new eyes
To live with renewed hope
And to love as Christ in the dynamic interconnections of all creation
Amen
– adapted from Joseph Carver, S.J., by the LMU Passion Magazine Editorial Team 2010-2011
xii | Lion Prayerbook
The Prayers
The organization of the prayers that follow correlates with the seasons of the year. Each
seasonal section is devoted to the struggles and opportunities that many students face
during these specific times of the academic year. We give special attention to the blessings
that first-year students are offered and the struggles that first-year students face as they
transition into LMU and their first year progresses. It is our hope that these prayers will
serve as a companion to students through the seasons of the year.
Tua Luce Dirige / Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Dear God,
Thank You for the privilege You have given me of serving over many years as a faculty
member and administrator at LMU. Each fall I am thrilled to watch the arrival of the
new first-year class You send us. Their adult lives, their professional careers, and the
contributions they will make to the world lie open before them, and their enthusiasm
and idealism are contagious. Please help these young men and women, like so many
before them, to find on our campus a supportive academic community — one that will
challenge them to grow intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and in every other way.
During their time here, may they come to realize that the opportunity to develop their
talents through an LMU education that is meant not just for their personal betterment,
but also for the service they will give to their communities as women and men attuned
to the needs of those living on the margins of society.
Finally, dear God, I ask You to guide our newest students by Your light. May all they
undertake be done for your greater glory. Amen.
– Robert V. Caro, S.J., Vice President for Mission and Ministry
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 3
FA L L
During the fall, first-year students often arrive to campus
with great excitement and anxiety. Many encounter struggles
with homesickness, loneliness, anxiety about professors and
academic life, stress about the expenses related to college,
and uneasiness about the social pressures of new friends and
a new community. Concurrently, many are also taken with
the great opportunities that LMU offers.
The Gift of LMU
I’ve been given an incredible gift.
My life has been blessed and I am lucky
enough to have an experience here that
most of the world will never know.
I will use my experience here.
I will give back.
I will give the rest of the world a little
piece of LMU through my actions.
– Anonymous LMU Student
Uncertainty
Dear Lord,
When I came to LMU, I had no idea what to expect.
I was afraid.
I was nervous.
I was excited but unsure.
Would anyone understand me?
Would anyone share my values and beliefs?
I felt so alone.
But I was never alone, because You were right there beside me,
Walking with me every step of the way.
When I wanted to leave, You gave me the strength to stay.
When I cried, You wiped my tears away.
And every day, You blessed me beyond anything I could even imagine.
You placed me in a family of other believers, who also desire to serve You, and who
Struggle with the same things as I do.
I cannot thank You enough, Lord, for all that You’ve done for me.
Thank You for breaking through my doubts and fears.
For comforting and reassuring me,
Showing me that this is where I’m meant to be,
And that You have a purpose for me here.
Thank You for helping me grow in faith and wisdom,
For teaching me through my trials.
Please give me the strength and the courage to follow You and to honor You
Every day of my life.
I love You.
– Heather Carmody ’12
4 | Lion Prayerbook
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 5
Perseverance
An Intercession
for Students
Knowing that You hear not only what we speak aloud but what we
whisper in our hearts, We bring before You our fears, anxieties,
hopes, and dreams…
I live with confusion and many complexities.
My future sometimes seems distant and unknown.
Due dates and exams fill my days.
I am faced with temptations and challenges daily.
I am a student.
For all undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students
For strength and diligence;
Wisdom and protection;
Encouragement and temperance.
For all the qualities that a student needs to successfully complete
his or her course of studies …
– Michaela Buccola ’08, staff
Always remember that Jesus is your fellow sufferer who understands.
During your times of trial and heartache, He will comfort you.
We often doubt this when we need it most, but have faith and believe
for this is what is promised to us.
Life will bring what you view as failure and disappointment;
rather see this as a chance to grow and be strong, to overcome evil in your path.
Beyond the cloud of anxiety and doubt that grips your mind is
where your true heart lies, where your purest love and self reside.
May God grant you confidence in knowing this.
With life comes struggle, but keep fighting for yourself,
your family, your friends, and those whom you love most,
and you will carry on.
– Matthew Santamaria ’13
“May You Trust God”
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
Let this presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.
– A prayer of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary
6 | Lion Prayerbook
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 7
Come Holy Spirit
Loving and sustaining God,
Thank You for the gift of Your Incarnate Word, Jesus the Christ.
Through Christ You have revealed our way to You
And have provided the Holy Spirit to illumine the path to the fullness of life.
May Your Holy Spirit grow within us,
And enable us to encounter the risen Christ
In each of our sisters and brothers.
May Your Holy Spirit inspire us to recognize
The value of academic excellence and the pursuit of higher learning,
So that these skills may be employed in Your service,
For the common good, for the healing and renewal of peoples,
And for the protection and sustainability of creation itself.
Come Holy Spirit,
Be our Advocate, our reminder that God’s love resides within us.
Remind us always that God is at work within us, and God is for us.
Come Holy Spirit,
Fill us with hope rooted in Christ.
May this Christian hope lead us to discover
The plans that God has for each of us.
Come Holy Spirit,
Impart Your divine love revealed in Christ
So that we may be refashioned anew in His image,
Sustained in faith,
And renewed in mind and heart
So as to be of service to our God who is Love.
Amen
– Marc Reeves, S.J., professor and staff
In Your Hands
Most gracious God, in Your hands is where I want to be
It was Your hands that created me, with great blessings and plans,
You have stitched me together with love and compassion
You have implanted in me a spirit of wisdom and truth
In the palm of Your hands my days are written, my future foretold
For it is Your hands that show me where I need to go; Your hands that
offer me all I need It is Your hands that provide me with comfort; hands
that protect my heart and perfect Your love in me
It is Your hands that hold me tight; hands that gently pick me up every
time I fall, and carry me through the darkest of days and coldest of nights
Hands that have wiped my tears and dried my eyes
I rest in Your hands.
And I will use my hands to make my prayers to You
To offer You and others my whole heart, and all of my love
I will use my hands to serve Your people; I will use them to help others
I will put my hands in Yours and walk this life with You
Amen
– Brya Sablan ’14
8 | Lion Prayerbook
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 9
We Are One!
I am an LMU student
living in Los Angeles, California;
becoming aware of the complex issues surrounding
immigration that my sisters and my brothers face each day.
I am your sister.
I am your brother.
We are one!
I am an immigrant farm worker
picking strawberries all day long
for U.S. supermarkets.
I am your sister.
I am your brother.
We are one!
I am a deported father
staying at the Casa del Migrante in Tijuana, Mexico;
and I am longing to be reunited with my wife and three children
still in the United States.
I am your sister.
I am your brother.
We are one!
I am the descendent of European immigrants,
recalling how my ancestors struggled to learn English, to find
work and
were rejected as Catholics here in the U.S.
I am your sister.
I am your brother.
We are one!
I am a student from Saudi Arabia
seeking a better education despite getting
harassed and stereotyped as a terrorist.
I am your sister.
I am your brother.
We are one!
I am an Indian woman
10 | Lion Prayerbook
working an outsourced job
as a customer service representative
for an American company and I am
seeking a better life.
I am your sister.
I am your brother.
We are one!
I am an American citizen
living in inner city LA
and born of undocumented immigrants.
I am your sister.
I am your brother.
We are one!
I am a lost boy from Sudan,
struggling to start over in the U.S.
after suffering through my country’s
violent civil war.
I am your sister.
I am your brother.
We are one!
Creator of All…
We, the women and men of LMU,
Join our minds, hearts, and voices
With the people of the world.
We recognize the deep bond
That we have with every created being.
We rejoice in Your sacred presence
Among us and within us.
With our sisters and our brothers,
we stand in solidarity.
We are one!
– De Colores 2010-2011
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 11
Past, Present, Future
Dear Lord,
Help me to remember my past
By keeping in touch with my friends
from home
By staying close with my parents
and my family
By remembering the people and
places that led me here
And, most important, by never
forgetting who I am
Help me to appreciate the present
By not letting any moment pass me by
By getting to know the people around me
By being the best friend that I can be
And, most important, by loving
everyone around me
Help me to look toward the future
By doing well in my classes
By keeping my body healthy
By working toward my goals
And, most important, by striving
every day to become the person
I’m meant to be.
– Ellen Zirkelbach ’14
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Seek Me Out
God come to me and seek me out!
I exalt You and praise Your name -- but to what avail?
And in these hands and in this mouth I hold You still,
Because I know You are more than just stained glass in lofty windows.
It seems that I see You everywhere,
But I can’t hold on to You.
But in the arms of friends,
You are not so far away -You must have told them to hold me in Your place.
God, You have come to me and sought me out.
– Kimberly Dennis ’11
Lift Up Our Hearts
Lord, lift up our eyes that we may see
those in need;
Those who hunger for Your friendship;
Those who crave Your light.
Lord, Lift up our ears that we may
Hear those who call for help;
Who speak Your name.
Lord, Lift up our arms that we may
Carry the downcast,
Build the broken,
Touch the lonely.
Lord, Lift up our hearts that we may
See Your face,
Hear Your call,
Do Your will.
Amen.
– Sursum Corda Service Organization
2010-2011
Prayer For LMU
A Lion’s Prayer
for Peace
Lord,
Help students feel the presence of Jesus
Christ on campus.
I pray they find places to belong
To find their faith
To be healed
To reconcile with their broken world
And to shine their light in everything they do.
Amen
– Thuy Tran, C.S.J., staff God, we pray for peace,
Your most precious gift.
May our campus be protected
by Sukkat Shlomecha, the
shelter of Your peace, in all
that we do.
Help us to pursue wholeness
within ourselves, to find balance
and joy.
May we find strength and
beauty in each other, and may
we be strengthened as one
community to do Your work.
Protect us as we work with You
as partners in social justice,
give us strength to combat
the brokenness in our midst,
and through our prayers and
our actions, may we work to
create a world of Shalom.
– Rabbi Ilana Schachter, staff
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The Dawn
This is just the dawn.
So much to do and so much to see.
What of when I’m gone?
Make the most of your time.
This is your time to be free.
Be beautiful, as wind in a chime.
Your time is now.
The best it will ever be.
Stand firm and be you, no matter how.
What is important to you?
Find your family.
Challenge what you find there.
There is so much more.
What will be your legacy?
Stay true to your core.
This is just the dawn.
So much to do and so much to see.
What of when you’re gone?
– Sammy Juliano ’12 Prayer to Know God’s Will
May it please the supreme and divine Goodness
to give us all abundant grace
ever to know His most holy will
and perfectly to fulfill it.
– St. Ignatius of Loyola
For Strength
I pray that as I enter my senior year at LMU,
I have the strength to maintain my positivity and self-discovery in my last year of
college.
Although I have been here for three years and have learned about myself
and have grown into a more mature and confident individual,
I’m still searching for the person I want to be when I’m out of college.
I pray that when the time comes to receive my diploma,
I will fell ready to conquer my goals in the real world and not be afraid.
Leaving the comfort of my LMU home is very scary,
because I do not know what the future will hold.
I pray that I don’t let this fear stop me from taking chances in life
and growing more into my own person.
Amen
– Christina Keohane ’12
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 15
Home
Prayer for Intention
God, allow me to be present in
this moment.
I desire to be fully alive, right now.
Allow me to live this moment to its
fullest potential.
Help me to focus on whatever it is
that I’m doing right now and guard
me from distractions.
Allow me to be intentional in my
relationships, in my schoolwork, in
my activities.
Let passion fill every moment of
my life.
Help me not to worry about the future,
but allow me to be present today.
– Kyle Fuller ’13
16 | Lion Prayerbook
Who am I?
Where is home?
What is Home?
Home is family.
Home is Magis.
Home is my dorm.
Home is the classroom.
Home is my mentee.
Home is God.
Home is my friends.
Home is the bluff.
Home is service.
Home is my math book.
Home is San Diego.
Home is my professor.
Home is my parents.
Home is my past,
present, future.
Home is LMU.
I am Home.
– Alejandro Llamas ’13
Do It Anyway
If you promote justice and the service of faith,
people may look at you in confusion.
Be a LION anyway.
People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some
genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give the world your best you have anyway.
(If you promote justice and the service of faith, people may
look at you in confusion.
Be a LION anyway.)
In the end, it is between you and God.
Be your best LION anyways.
– credited to Mother Teresa, adapted by Marty Roers, staff
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 17
WINTER
The winter, often brings anxiety surrounding the holiday
return home, and grades from the first semester. Returning to
campus in January, first-year students often see opportunity
for a fresh start in the second semester while concurrently
feeling a sense of longing for relationships back home. It is
hard for many first-year students to imagine that in three
short years they will begin to feel the anxiety caused by their
pending graduation and departure from the bluff.
Peace in You
Dearest Lord,
I feel so distant from You right now.
I don’t know where I’m going and it has become so difficult to see You in all things.
When I look at the beloved around me, I know You are there, but I can’t feel You.
God, all I want is to be at peace in You, why is it so difficult?
Please help to turn my heart closer to You.
Help me to see the world with refreshed eyes.
You love us all so much, please help me always to remember that You are continually
my support system.
Help me to love others just as unconditionally and be Christ to them whenever I can.
Help me to grow closer to You each and every day, though I may not hear You clearly.
Amen
– Alexander Garoutte ’13
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 19
“Trying”
Open Our Hearts
I Am Trying…
To recognize You in my everyday life
To give myself to You fully
To trust that You’ll be there
To accept Your love
To understand what that would mean
To not be afraid to love You back
To know You
To put my faith in You
To accept You wholly
To not be afraid of what that means
To feel Your presence
To know what it means to lead a Christian life
To move on
To not be scared
To let go of my anger
To give up these emotions to You
To put these things in Your hands
To accept that maybe I can’t do this alone,
that maybe I need help, and that You are
the thing that can help me.
Amen
O God, at times like these,
Our hearts go out to the people of the world who
are suffering today.
We pray for Your children,
Especially the poor, the widowed, the orphaned,
and the marginalized, and those still suffering in
places of the world from:
the death of loved ones,
the lack of clean water and adequate food,
the fear of basic security and safety,
and the loss of homes and personal property
due to violence, wars, and natural disasters.
In Your mercy, O God,
embrace all our neighbors throughout the world
with Your love,
open our eyes to see in our neighbors a reflection of
Your divinity,
open our ears to hear what is happening in our
world today,
open our minds to realize that our education
of the whole person extends beyond the bluff,
and open our hearts so that we may
compassionately respond.
May we grow in love and solidarity
with ALL our sisters and brothers
as we seek to rebuild and renew
Your reign here, now and forever.
Amen.
– Ariana Sanchez ’13
– Human Rights Coalition 2010-2011
20 | Lion Prayerbook
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 21
Guide Us
Lord,
Help us to silence the world around us to listen to our inner selves.
Guide us as we search for answers to overcome life’s challenges.
Lead us to find our truest passions to commit to them with our heart, mind and body.
As we get caught in our crazy world, let us find the time relax and re-nourish to
continue pursuing the things we love.
Amen.
– Leticia Duenas ’12
In Thanksgiving
Gracious God,
We come to You today in thanksgiving for the many blessings You have given to us.
We thank You for the heart, mind and spirit of every single woman in this organization.
We thank You for the beauty and great promise that resides within each one of us.
And we ask You for Your guidance this year, and every year that follows so that we
might be able to build a stronger community for black women in this world.
May we not shy away from struggles that we may face today, but instead, use them to
make us stronger women for tomorrow.
And most important, please help us to become the phenomenal women that
You made us to be.
In Jesus’ Name, we pray.
Amen.
– Sisters in Solidarity 2010-2011
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 23
Reason
I don’t have any reasons, I’ve left them
all behind.
The purpose for reason is greater than
ourselves
But I want a break,
Want to leash this running mind.
We hold the capacity for rational thought,
We try to understand, to look deeper,
But still my leash is taut.
A tidal wave amounting to happiness,
To power, to fear.
To karma.
So that we might amount to love and
call someone dear.
I may call myself something,
But disagree with half I say
I cannot look to words
To describe me a certain way.
Reason? I don’t know.
I want to believe
That all this is more than a show.
There’s more to us,
Or why else would we try.
Searching for relief
From that pent-up sigh.
With and for others
We go on our way.
Trying to understand
What makes us stay
Service, Love and Solidarity
– Veronica Coe ’13
– Belles Service Organization 2010-2011
Lord,
Help us to see the world:
The wonder that it is
But also the harsh realities that it has
We are called to be Your servants
Give us the strength to show the world’s beauty
Give us also the strength to help rid the world of injustices
We are called to love one other
Let us be ever present to the grace of the days that You give us
And let us be ever aware of the needs of the people we share this world with
We are called to work together
Help us to continue to serve with love in solidarity
Amen.
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 25
Growing Pains
A Prayer for Humility
There will be times where whatever your situation it
feels like it is THE only chapter in your life,
The only feelings you will know, the only type of consciousness
you will experience. And when you feel this type of pain,
Know that you are not a sole body that time is leaving behind.
The feelings of disconnect are false.
This feeling of being lost is just the pains of growth
being recognized.
Doing things that are good even when no one is looking,
A desire to become educated as a whole person just because
you want to,
Doing great and powerful things without expecting praise,
Loving the things,
The people,
And the experiences in which show great value to you,
because you love them so much.
– Hallie Rush ’13
– Anonymous LMU Student
Struggling for Perfection
Lord,
Your presence at LMU offers great comfort.
I am blessed to have the opportunity to study here.
Yet, I find myself struggling.
I struggle with balance.
I struggle with a desire for perfection.
I forget we cannot have the perfection You inspire.
Instead,
I lift up my imperfections,
I lift up my struggles,
I lift up my life, to You.
I stand here before You,
Asking for Your guidance and love.
I ask that I may follow You more wholeheartedly.
– Rachel Usedom ’14
26 | Lion Prayerbook
Prayer for Love
I pray that love can find its way into the hearts of all.
That love can transform and move people to be better not just for
others, but also for themselves.
That love can block out the hate and negativity that is in the world.
Similar to how a light can illuminate darkness.
I pray that love will make those that feel empty, feel whole
The blind, see
And the evil, good.
Love, unconditionally, is one of the sweetest gifts that life can bring.
I pray that we all learn to love one another unconditionally as God
loved and continues to love us in the same manner.
Amen
– Aundrey Page ’13
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 27
Prayer for the Loss of Someone
Even though you left when I was away.
I feel you walk beside me every day.
I miss you more as time goes on.
Your love gives me the strength to go on.
It wasn’t fair I couldn’t be there, but I know I will make you proud.
I lost you when I was finding myself.
Years will go by and the pain will fade
Because I know I’ll see you again someday.
– Zack Rigney ’14
Blessed
Why?
Dear God,
I just want to know why?
Why do I feel like I have no direction?
Why do I wake up each morning unsure at what my day will be like?
I don’t know much
But I know that You know why.
All my life I’ve been told that You have a plan for me.
So I ask You now.
Why?
With the hope that someday You will tell me or lead me to the answer.
Amen
– Stephanie Schlerf ’12
28 | Lion Prayerbook
I have been blessed with more than I think I have.
I know when I am stressed or disappointed I tend to complain
When in reality I have more going for me than most.
Help me to remember this – when I am stressed over a test,
Have a fight with my parents,
Or am not accepted into something I wanted,
That I am still extremely blessed.
Help me to see and realize this more and to spread this realization to others;
To know that even when the going seems tough, it could always be worse.
We only have one life to live on earth and I need to think
“Is this time I have better spent in anxiety or appreciation?”
I have concrete goals for myself for the future,
but don’t let me miss out on the little moments between now and the future.
I know there is a bigger plan for me and whatever happens, happens.
So help me to keep this in mind – to be grateful for all I have been blessed with
and enjoy the little moments in life too.
– Heather Lougee ’12
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 29
Longing For Peace
Oh, Lord, I truly long to find Your peace within me.
Help me to find peace amidst
the struggle; purpose amidst the
workload; joy amidst the discomfort; happiness amidst the confusion;
and love amidst the stranger.
I long to find You, Lord, within me
as I search for ways to be better, ways to be stronger and ways to
be more at peace. In Your peace,
I find You and find true strength.
Amen.
– Maria R. Alderete ’87, staff
Prayer for Generosity
Eternal Word, only begotten Son of God,
Teach me true generosity.
Teach me to serve You as You deserve.
To give without counting the cost,
To fight heedless of wounds,
To labor without seeking rest,
To sacrifice myself without thought of any reward
Save the knowledge that I have done Your will.
Amen.
– St. Ignatius of Loyola
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 31
In the Puddles
Crying out “Rain!” for the pot of gold to come,
Living only for sun when the clouds send us some.
A desire to be busy when twiddling thumbs,
Wanting nothing but rest when life’s tempo beats drums.
We look for the future, for what could be better,
We pray as if sending Santa a letter
For all that we want that we don’t have right now,
As if God will listen as we furrow our brow
At the beautiful instances of life that He sends,
When we wish to be seeing life through different lens.
Finding Community
So rejoice in the puddles when rain comes your way
And show off your smile when sun brightens the day.
To be busy or not is all up to you,
Just do what you do, so that love comes true.
Lord I’m still looking for community.
Still looking for a place
And looking for people who share in my faith
Lord, I’m looking for the Spirit
A direction in faith
I want something to focus me on what I truly need
Lord, I want to serve You
Helping those less fortunate
Fulfilling a mission that You’ve instilled in me
Lord, I want to be a leader
In the great mass of people
I want to show Your grace in my words and actions
Lord, let me to be all that You know I can be
Help me to be a servant leader
Fulfilling mission
Growing in spirituality
And finding that community that will ground me in my faith
Amen
– Kristen Cope ’13
– Christian Life Community 2010-2011
Let’s open our eyes to the gifts that God gave,
For each breath we take is a moment to save.
To be discontented and sad is undoubtedly trite,
When every moment we’re living is, in itself, bright.
Were given each moment we have for love,
To strengthen our friendships and praise God above.
For nothing can matter if done just for lust
Yet everything matters when in God we trust.
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 33
SPRING
The spring offers first-year students tremendous opportunities
for involvement in service, social and academic groups. With these opportunities, also often comes the stress of
over-commitment and struggles with time management. Springtime is also the time for deciding on roommates for the upcoming academic year. This decision-making process forces students to look at the relationships and friendships
they have built over the course of the year.
“God of
the Seasons”
God of the seasons, thank you for
the many signs of spring - new
flowers, warmer weather, birds
singing, brighter and longer days,
hopes of new beginnings and
dreams of future life. May You
guide us into a season of new life
and promise as we welcome the
joys of spring. Amen.
– A prayer of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary
Deeply Rooted
Just as seeds take root in the ground, so too do our acquaintances take root in our lives.
Just as some seeds take shape as tiny plants, so too do some of our acquaintances start
early friendships.
Just as some plants blossom and flower, so too do our friendships blossom.
And some of those plants become trees with roots that grow deep in the ground.
They are strong, powerful, unmoving, and deeply rooted.
Embrace each acquaintance,
As each one could become a friend.
Nurture each friend, as each one could blossom in your life.
Cherish each true friend, who stands strong and tall with you,
Deeply rooted in your own life.
Each acquaintance has the potential to be a true friend,
If you allow each one to take root in your heart.
– The Sisters of Delta Delta Delta 2010-2011
34 | Lion Prayerbook
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Taking On Too Much
My God,
I desire ever to unite my
life to Your life,
My thoughts to Your thoughts,
My affections to Your affections,
My heart to Your heart,
My works to Your works,
My whole self to Yourself.
Amen
Gracious and Loving God,
I thank You for the gifts and talents You have entrusted in me.
I thank You for the desire to help all that I see.
I thank You for the ability to carry the weight
of family and friends.
I thank You for Your graces, which never appear to end.
With all that You have given me, and all that You have done.
I hope that You hear my prayer for one thing, just one.
Help me to be, and not always to do.
Help me to slow down, and listen to You.
Help me to find my consolation from within.
Instead of only seeking joy from service, or a win.
Remind me of the feeling of Your unconditional love
Quiet my mind so I may hear Your call from above.
In a world of Martha’s, stressing to prepare for what’s near
Help me be the Mary, knowing Your presence is already here
Help me to be, and not always to do.
Help me to slow down, and listen to You.
You gave me life so that I may do Your will
But You gave me life so that I may enjoy it still
Teach me to balance my time between others and self.
Teach me to discern between what draws good and poor health
Help me to be, and not always to do.
Help me slow down, and listen to You.
Amen.
– Jean-Pierre Medaille, S.J.
– Matt Duncan ’11
Desire
36 | Lion Prayerbook
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 37
Spring Cleaning
With so much going on, it is easy for our lives to become cluttered.
There are endless choices and opportunities;
Work to be done, places to be.
Each new commitment creates more clutter,
Until so much stacks up that it is impossible to see through it anymore.
We become lost in to-do lists, planning, activities and expectations.
Suddenly the opportunities lose joy and meaning.
It’s time to clean out your life,
Before the clutter begins to control you.
Start with a spring-cleaning of your heart.
Breathe in deeply.
Breathe out everything that fills your mind and heart.
Allow yourself to be still.
Focused only on this moment and on nothing outside of it.
Cleanse your heart in this silence.
Listen for God’s voice.
More audible now without all the clutter.
Breathe in deeply.
Filling your heart with the peace of this silence.
Approach the clutter again with this peace and organize the mess once more.
Fit all of it into nice boxes.
Use the grace of peace to control the clutter
And to regain the cleanliness of your life once more.
– Kelly McNulty ’11
God on the Bluff
I sit on the bluff
Looking over the city I now call home.
It’s a home I appreciate for it has helped me to be and grow into this woman I should be.
I sit on this the bluff
Thinking about how God has blessed me
And provided me with strength and courage to fly in high flight
And run the distance in my journey of life
To love Him and all that I have in my life.
– Ashley Walterson ’13
38 | Lion Prayerbook
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 39
God, I Will Wait
God, I wonder about my future.
I worry about the decisions I must make.
I am uncertain of where to turn.
There are countless paths I could take,
And this is only serving to further mystify me.
How do I know what to choose?
How can I be certain that I am choosing what is best for me?
When will be the time when I finally hear You answer my prayers?
Standing in Solidarity
with the People of Jamaica
Oh awesome Jah,
When I see us, I see one love.
Bless us in times of challenge, fragility, and hope.
Let us be the hand up and never the handout.
Make us the shoulder to lean on, not the shoulder to stand on.
Allow us to serve with compassion, joy, and commitment.
And never underestimate the power of love.
Amen.
– Ignacaio Companions, Jamaica Spring Break 2012 Trip
40 | Lion Prayerbook
God, while I wait, please let my faith never waver.
Allow me to see the beauty in uncertainty.
Allow me to be grateful for all the days in between successes
and setbacks.
Allow me to revel in every moment spent in the presence of my
family and friends,
And to not be hesitant to lean on them during these moments
of doubtfulness.
God, please give me the strength
To remain patient,
To strive for optimism,
And to trust that, in the end, Your plan for me will always prosper.
Amen
– Melissa Perez ’12
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 41
Moments in Time
The people matter.
Time is an unstoppable force, with no regard for those in its path or left in its wake.
It is uncontrollable,
Constantly eluding our grasp.
But within that time are moments.
Moments filled with people.
People that can love, cry, hurt, laugh and share.
Lord, help me cherish these moments and those I share them with.
Help me to focus on the depth of relationship,
Not the fear of time.
Within these moments, allow me to discover peace with the physical world,
Peace with others,
Peace with myself,
And peace with You.
We are Your children, therefore all of us, family.
Let me love others as such.
With time out of my control, remind me often: The people matter.
Amen
– Jarron Vosburg ’12
Kairos
I pray that students experience God’s love on this beautiful campus
And find sacred spaces that foster sacred relationships.
I pray students will be courageous enough to be open to new experiences
That invite them into Kairos
“God’s Time”
Amen
– Christine M. Nangle ’01, staff
42 | Lion Prayerbook
Consolation from Desolation
Lord help me.
I’m stuck in a rut
My friends are moving on
My family is becoming more distant
I don’t know where I’m going with what I’m doing
I sometimes feel like a disappointment
I sometimes feel like I’m not enough
And I often times believe those thoughts
I want to be free and happy
I want to feel the beauty that others see in me
I want to be able to love myself
The way I truly love others
Lord help me
I need You
Because no one else will listen right now
But I can still feel Your presence
And it’s giving me hope
Hope
There’s hope
You are hope
You are my hope
Amen
– Alexa Garcia ’12
To Be A Saint
To be a saint means simply this;
To love God with all our heart,
To trust God,
To abandon one’s self to God completely in absolute confidence.
– Bernard Gosselin, C.S.J.
44 | Lion Prayerbook
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 45
Falling in Love
Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in a
love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what
seizes your imagination will affect everything. It will decide what
will get you out of bed in the mornings, what you will do with your
evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, who you
know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and
gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.
– Pedro Arrupe, S.J.
46 | Lion Prayerbook
Roses
Finding Love
Can you feel the air change?
Can you feel hearts break?
I know that both do happen.
But all I want is faith.
And I can feel it,
So much so I believe it.
But still there is a struggle.
And all I want is faith.
And I believe I’ll move the mountains,
Or maybe I’ll drown in the sea.
Keep holding on,
All I got is holding on to these roses,
The thorns will keep on pressing
But my soul believes.
Lord,
Help me find love.
Love for myself,
For others,
For the unknown future after LMU.
Compel me to take chances for this love.
Lift my arms to embrace what may appear frightening,
Lift my eyes to face injustice,
And then lift my heart to conquer all that keeps me from You.
Allow these risks to shape my four years at LMU.
Amen.
– Joe Ward ’13
– Bri Lefevers ’13
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 47
SUMMER
Summer begins with the conclusion of the academic year
and graduation. First-year students often get swept up in the
anxiety of academics, apprehension about returning home for
the summer, and sadness of losing touch with friends.
“In My Journeying with You”
I Am Your Child
In my journeying with You,
may I never lose my sense of direction,
never lose sight of the landmark towards which I travel.
And should cloud or rain obscure my vision,
may I draw closer to You, so that my feet may tread
in Your footsteps, Your words be my encouragement,
and Your love my protection against the storms that
assail me.
Father, I am Your child.
That is Your greatest gift,
Your grace is enough for me.
Allow me to know You as my Mother.
Allow me to feel Your presence.
Allow me to always be in Your warm embrace.
Above all, allow me to be humble.
I am gracious for the gift of love,
The gift of life,
The many talents that I am called
To share with Your beautiful children.
– A prayer of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary
– Michael Bachmeier ’13
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 49
Golden Seal
Somehow, You love me God.
Somehow, You depend on me.
The many around me speak of Your Grace,
Speak of Your Glory,
Speak of Your Joy,
Speak of Your Love.
Wine and bread, Gift of Life.
I want to be close to You,
Just like the others around me.
It’s a struggle, a struggle, a struggle.
The day passes by and I heard You calling,
But I was too busy to answer,
Yet I know You are still there,
Loving, caring, holding, waiting.
Some days I feel away and far away from You,
And some days I feel so close to You,
And it’s in those days that I await to feel Your love again.
Fidelity, oh fidelity.
Faith, oh faith.
Hardship and strength, worry and release
It’s the cycle of being human.
And when I feel Your love,
What makes it all the more better,
Is sharing with my sisters and brothers
Enemies and lovers alike
We share this love, that is Your grace Your Glory.
And when the sun shines, the stars sparkle,
The wind blows in my face, when I hear laughter,
When a smile crosses the face of a loved one,
Or someone newly met in the game called life,
I feel Your love again.
It’s a struggle, a struggle, a struggle,
And I wait, just as You wait,
I stay, just as You stay,
And I smile in Your glory again,
Gathering it all, to share with the world.
– Ray Camacho ’12
Who Do You Say That I Am?
I pray that I will not lose myself in trying to further my career.
I want friendship without the thought of “what can they do for me.”
I pray that, Lord, You will bring people in my life who will see me not as what I do,
But who I am.
– Tracy Ip ’13
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 51
I Ask of You
O Lord,
I ask of You, from Your Presence,
A mercy by which You will guide my heart and order my concern,
A mercy by which You will repair my distractedness and bring back my alertness,
A mercy cleansing my works and inspiring my ways,
A mercy ennobling what I mean to others, and reuniting me with those to whom I belong,
A mercy whereby You preserve me from every evil.
This, O God, is my prayer. Yours it is to hear. This is my yearning. On You is all my reliance.
– A prayer of the Prophet Muhammad, reported by Abu Hamid al-Ghazali
The Love of Loves
And if we wish to find the model of our love for God
And our love for the neighbor,
Where will it be better found than in the Blessed Sacrament!
This mystery is called “the love of loves”.
– Jean-Pierre Medaille, S.J.
52 | Lion Prayerbook
Thy Will
A Living Prayer
Lord God, thy will be
done unto me
And only if it be thy will, will
it be done
If I fall carry me,
If I leave follow me,
When I return love me.
Amen
Lord, Grant me patience in my search and life’s journey,
Perseverance and strength to become who I was meant to be,
And peace of mind and soul.
Give me courage to accept without fear or judgment who I am
Who You made me to be.
And above all, guide my heart so that I may be a living prayer.
– John Paul Velasco ’12
Prayer of Thanks
As I kneel beside my bed.
Fold my hands and bow my head.
Dear God, here this prayer I say.
I want to thank You for today.
Thank You for the sun so bright.
Thank You for the stars tonight.
Thank You for long hours of play.
Thank You for this happy day.
– Eric Van Dyn Hoven ’12
– Joe Dhanens ’13
Not Alone
There will be times when you stand at a crossroad
completely overwhelmed.
Just know you never stand alone.
The Lord will stand with you until you are ready to decide
And then walk beside you all the way.
– Gina Lewis ’13
Let It Be
When I am happy Lord, let it be Your joy.
When I am serving Lord, let it be You that I serve.
When I am confused Lord, let it be You I confide and seek guidance in.
When I am stressed Lord, let me find comfort and peace in Your grace.
When I am downcast Lord, let me turn to You for support.
When I am alone Lord, let me find community in You.
When I wake and when I rest, let me find all things through You,
Guide me, encourage me, and allow me to do Your will.
– Britta Engstrom ’12
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 57
An Orientation Leader’s Prayer
Blessings
I come to You, God, from a genuine and sincere place.
As we both know, I don’t come to You as often as I should
But I vow to make progress and not only come in my time of need.
Help me maintain strength to go through these trials
and tribulations
Especially in this college environment and its obstacles.
Grades,
Involvement,
Leadership,
And relationships that are gained.
Give me the strength to have an open mind and to be
open to failure
So that I can learn from it and deal with the stresses involved
and manage.
For O’leading, help me with the doubt that I have and help
me “roll with the punches.”
Give me the strength to trust in myself, my partner, and my O’kids.
Give me the courage and confidence needed to show these
kids a good time
And enrich their minds and be impactful and influential as my
leaders were to me.
I consider myself charismatic,
But I am slightly unsure about these feelings.
Help me overcome my insecurities.
Help me be the O’leader that I want to be.
God is always favoring us with His choicest blessings
And we have so much to be thankful for
That life is too short to thank God for his benefits.
– Brian Martin ’14
– Bernard Gosselin, C.S.J.
Be Present
We have lost the concept of being truly alive.
We allow daily miniscule obstacles to distract us from what is real.
Technology has become the medium of our relationships
I cannot be present to a conversation without a text message
distracting me
From what is real in front of me,
Which is You.
Fight it.
Fight the technology that is being thrown at you constantly and build.
Build those interpersonal relationships that are real and genuine.
I say that because those relationships will save you through
your time of need
And time of celebration.
Be present and reflect on those relationships that mean the most to you
Because then you have become a LMU Lion,
You are truly alive.
Being present to the moment begins with silencing your phone,
Putting it away,
And asking me about my day.
– Mary Zuchoviki ’12
58 | Lion Prayerbook
http://ministry.lmu.edu | 59
I Must Be
When I most need You, faith slips through my fingers
My umbrella breaks in half in the middle of a hurricane
Where have You been? All my beliefs are contradicted
The clocks tick with no rhythm
I forget
A Lion’s Prayer
I pray that all LMU students may find their inner peace during their four years here at LMU
And that it may guide them on into life afterward.
Whether they are religious, spiritual, or not,
I pray that they are able to find that greater power that guides them,
Comforts them,
And shapes them from within.
I pray that LMU can affect them in the way it has affected me,
By discovering myself and my inner peace
Through the love, communities, and opportunities LMU has to offer.
I pray.
Amen
How the pieces came together
Forget who held my hand tight
Forget who hugged me the longest
Forget who molded my spirit
An iron curtain falls, an unwanted independence
I don’t want my smile to be a mask
I want to it to be a mirror to my soul
But I don’t even know who that is
The girl that used to have a polka-dot backpack and a scooter?
Or the girl that hardly speaks but giggles too much?
Or the girl that lets her heart follow her dreams?
I know You want whatever makes me happy
I must be
A fearless hummingbird going flower to flower
to discover my purpose.
– Michelle Figueroa ’14
– Kimiko Miyashima ’13
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Engagement of the World Prayer
Loving God,
Give me courage to reach out to others in the world around me.
Allow me to engage in my passions and pursue my dreams with positivity.
Help me to see You in all things and appreciate all people, places and nature.
Give me insight and deep love for the beautiful world You have created.
Aid me in doing my part to illustrate my love to You through my actions and small deeds.
Remind me to find beauty in everything and help me to live my life for You.
Empower me to make the kingdom of heaven present through loving engagement of the
world and crusading for justice here on earth.
Help me to be faithful and remain humble, for in You all things are precious.
Amen.
May it be your will, Eternal One, our God and God of our ancestors,
That You Grant me strength to find my way, Strength to understand who You are, who I am.
May I be blessed with a painter’s eyes and a philosopher’s mind, that I may sculpt a path
for myself.
May I seek wisdom from mentors,
And may I mentor those who are seeking.
Through my learning may I gain new perspectives,
Through my experiences may I gain new friends.
Through ruthless ambition may I be driven to make a difference,
Through creativity may I work to accomplish things beyond my imagination.
– Amanda Pesqueira ’12
Let us reach our desired destination for life, happiness, and peace.
I trust that things will fall into the place where they are meant to be,
And I trust that I will have the sense to understand when things need to be changed.
I hope that I can arrive at my fullest potential
And that I will regret nothing, because every experience is a lesson learned.
To know the vast depths of possibilities that lie ahead,
To never fully know how far my boundaries can expand.
Guide me to find my way in this incredible journey
Help me to find passion in the purpose of life; a life of purpose.
Blessed are you Eternal One, who listens to prayer.
– Andrea Stern ’14
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That All May Have Life
All Your creation is good.
All is deserving of Your immense love.
Allow me to be an agent of this love here on earth
Allow me to never lose sight of Your presence in all things.
Let kinship be formed in our body
Let all feel loved in an extravagant circle of compassion.
– Michael Bachmeier ’13
Prayer of Gratitude
Lord, our God, we give You thanks for Your gift of LMU,
You’ve made Your home in many places, including our own beautiful setting,
You show Yourself here; we are transfigured,
Not simply scholars and students,
But servants now of God, who so richly blesses LMU everyday.
The God who blesses Loyola Marymount forever.
Amen.
– David Burcham, LMU President
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Ignatian Terminology
A.M.D.G. “Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam”
For the Greater Glory of God
Cura Personalis “Care of the person”
A characteristic of Jesuit education.
It recognizes the full individuality
of each person and seeks to integrate
all aspects of that individuality,
including the intellectual, aesthetic,
moral, spiritual, affective, physical,
and social.
Discernment
delivered a speech to alumni of Jesuit
schools in Europe in 1973. In it, he
presented a profile of what a graduate
should embody.
Suscipe “Receive”
Title of a prayer written by Ignatius
and incorporated into the Spiritual
Exercises. This was Ignatius’ personal
prayer of surrender to God.
The Service of Faith and the
Promotion of Justice
Finding God In All Things
The summation of Ignatian spirituality
and a grace received by Ignatius after
his mystical experience at Manresa.
In 1975, Jesuits from around the
world met to discuss and analyze their
present state and to make plans for
the future. They declared the hallmark of the ministry to be the service
of faith and the promotion of justice in
imitation of Jesus Christ.
IHS
The Spiritual Exercises
A process of making correct choices
in the context of faith.
The first three letters of Jesus’ name
in Greek. The letters appear as a
symbol on the official seal of the
Society of Jesus.
Magis “More”
The term used by Ignatius and
Jesuits throughout the centuries to
indicate the spirit of generous service.
Exemplified in the questions: What
have I done for Christ? What am
I doing for Christ? What will I do
for Christ?
Men And Women For Others
Pedro Arrupe, S.J., superior general
of the Society of Jesus (1965-1981)
This way of Christian prayer,
developed by St. Ignatius, is premised
in the belief that one can discover
God’s presence in one’s life and the
freedom to respond to that presence
through a series of prayer exercise
and personal conversations.
Tua Luce Dirige
“Guide us by your light”
From the Marymount tradition
Ut Vitam Habeant
“That All May Have Life”
From the Marymount tradition
(John 10:10) - Encouraging that all
may have life and live it fully.
http: //ministry.lmu.edu | Facebook: LMU Campus Ministry | Twitter: @LMU_Ministry
Loyola Marymount University
Peg Dolan, RSHM, Campus Ministry Center
Malone Student Center 210
1 LMU Drive, MS 8445
Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659
310.338.2860
ministry@lmu.edu
© 2011
http://ministry.lmu.edu