May Nineteenth

ALMIGHTY God, Father of mercies, be pleased to work in me what Thou hast commanded should be in me. Give me, O Lord, the grace of an earnest sorrow, -- turn my sin into repentance, and let my repentance proceed to pardon; and teach me so diligently to watch over all my actions that I may never transgress Thy holy laws willingly, but that it may be the work of my life to obey Thee, the joy of my soul to please Thee, and the perfection of my desires to live with Thee in the kingdom of Thy grace and glory - Amen.

-- JEREMY TAYLOR (1613-1667)

November The Twenty-Ninth

HEAR our prayers, O Lord, and consider our desires. Give unto us true humility, a meek and quiet spirit, a loving and a friendly, a holy and a useful manner of life; bearing the burdens of our neighbors, denying ourselves, and studying to benefit others, and to please Thee in all things. Grant us to be righteous in performing promises, loving to our relatives, careful of our charges; to be gentle and easy to be entreated, slow to anger, and readily prepared for every good work - Amen.

-- JEREMY TAYLOR (1613-1667)

November The Third

O ETERNAL God, sanctify my body and soul, my thoughts and my intentions, my words and actions, that whatsoever I shall think, or speak, or do, may be by me designed for the glorification of Thy Name, and, by Thy blessing, it may be effective and successful in the work of God, according as it can be capable. Lord, turn my necessities into virtue, the works of nature into orderly, regular, temperate; and let no pride or self-seeking, no covetousness or revenge, no little ends and low imaginations, pollute my spirit, and unhallow any of my words and actions; but let my body be a servant of my spirit, and both body and spirit servants of Jesus; that, doing all things for Thy glory here, I may be partaker of Thy glory hereafter, through Jesus Christ, our Lord - Amen.

-- JEREMY TAYLOR (1613-1667)

October The Thirtieth

O LORD GOD, Father of mercies, the Fountain of comfort and blessing, of life and peace, of plenty and pardon, who fillest heaven with Thy glory, and earth with Thy goodness; I give Thee the most earnest, and most humble returns of my glad and thankful heart, for Thou hast refreshed me with Thy comforts, and enlarged me with Thy blessing; for, besides the blessings of all mankind, the blessings of nature and the blessings of grace, the support of every minute, and the comforts of every day, Thou hast poured out an excellent expression of Thy loving-kindness upon me.
Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy works; I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of Thy hands. Blessed be the Lord which only doeth wondrous and gracious things; and blessed be the Name of His Majesty for ever; and all the earth shall be filled with His Majesty - Amen.

-- JEREMY TAYLOR (1613-1667) The Second Engineer smoking a cigarette while standing on deck getting a breath of fresh air. Location, United Kingdom. Taken in 1940 by photographer William Vandivert. Life magazine images.

October The Fifth

O ETERNAL God, who hast created me to do the work of God after the manner of men, and to serve Thee in this generation, and according to my capacities; give me Thy grace that I may be a prudent spender of my time, so as I may best prevent or resist all temptation, and be profitable to the Christian commonwealth; and, by discharging all my duty, may glorify Thy name. Take from me all slothfulness, and give me a diligent and an active spirit, and wisdom to choose my employment; that I may do works proportionable to my person, and to the dignity of a Christian, and may fill up all the spaces of my time with actions of religion and charity; improving my talent entrusted to me by Thee, my Lord, that I may enter into the joy of the Lord, to partake of Thy eternal felicities, even for Thy mercy's sake - Amen.

-- JEREMY TAYLOR (1613-1667)
Blond model in long dress with bandana motif standing near workman. Taken in 1938 by photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt. Life magazine image.

July The Nineteenth

O MOST glorious God! relieve my spirit with Thy graciousness; take from me all tediousness of spirit, and give me a hope that shall not fail, a desire of holiness not to be satisfied till it possesses a charity that will always increase; that I may turn all things into religion, doing all to Thy glory; that, when Thou shalt call me from this deliciousness of employment, I may pass into the employments of saints and angels; whose work it is, with ternal joy and thanksgiving, to sing praises unto Thy mercies - Amen.

-- JEREMY TALOR (1513-1667)
Head of an Angel, by Leonardo Da Vinci, photograph taken in 1901.

March The Twenty-Fifth

O ETERNAL Purity! Thou are brighter than the sun, purer than the angels, and the heavens are not clean in Thy sight; with mercy behold Thy servant, apt to be tempted with every object, and to be overcome by every enemy.
I cannot, O God, stand in the day of battle and danger, unless Thou coverest me with Thy shield, and hidest me under Thy wings. Thou didst make me after Thine image; be pleased to preserve me so pure and spotless, that my body may be a holy temple, and my soul a sancutary to entertain Thy divinest Spirit, the Spirit of love and holiness. - Amen.

- JEREMY TAYLOR (1613-1667)