Universalis.com

On June 22, 2013, at a farewell lunch in a church parking lot for a parish priest, a 23 year-old Dominican novice [1] introduced me to Universalis.com when I told him that after they (he along with three other young novices) leave for their studies, I would no longer go to church to pray the vespers and the compline.  I have been going to that website daily.  Thank you, Brother Matthew Peddemors.

Today, the reading is from the book of James:

Short Reading	James 1:2-4 ©

My brothers, you will always have your trials but, when they come, try to treat them as a happy privilege; you understand that your faith is only put to the test to make you patient, but patience too is to have its practical results so that you will become fully-developed, complete, with nothing missing. [2]

Prayers and intercessions follow:

Prayers and intercessions

Father, Christ prayed that we be forgiven through his passion. As you accepted him, accept his prayer for all sinners.

– Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

Through his beloved disciple, Jesus gave us Mary to be our mother;

  with her we pray to you for all her children.

– Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

Father, heed the anguish of those who cry out to you with your Son:

  ’My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’

– Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

Help us to hear the cry, ‘I thirst’;

  help us to see your Son, even in the least of his brothers.

– Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

To the man dying with him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I say to you, this day you will be with me in Paradise.’

  Father, let these words be heard again by those who die tonight.

– Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.

We pray for those who have gone before us, signed with the sign of the cross:

  may they rise with Christ in power when his voice resounds again through the universe: ‘It is consummated.’

– Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. [2]

[1] It makes no difference to me how young or old a person is relative to my age because there is always something new to learn from them.  Do not allow your pride to shut down your mind.  Keep it forever young. Keep it forever innocent.  You never know who God uses to speak to you.  God is present everywhere, be always ready with a receptive mind.

[2] http://universalis.com/-700/vespers.htm The page with this reading will not open because the website updates daily.  I was reading/praying today's vespers with Air on a G String by J.S.Bach played by Lang Lang at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlQX94roZi8