The Benefice of Barlings, Diocese of Lincoln : Parishes of Sudbrooke, Stainton by Langworth, and Barlings with Langworth
Love of God
O Lord our God,grant us grace
To desire you with all our whole heart,
That so desiring we may seek and find you,
And so finding you,may love you,
And loving you,may hate those sins
From which you have redeemed us. Anselm
O God,who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass man’s understanding :
Pour into our hearts such love towards thee,that we,loving thee above all things,
May obtain thy promises,which exceed all that we can desire,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. BCP
Lord of all power and might,who art the author and giver of all good things;
Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name,
Increase in us true religion,
Nourish us with all goodness,
And of thy great mercy keep us in the same;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. BCP
Sever me from myself that I may be grateful to you;
May I perish to myself that I may be safe in you;
May I die to myself that I may live in you;
May I wither to myself that I may blossom in you;
May I be emptied of myself that I may abound in you;
May I be nothing to myself that I may be all to you. Desiderius Erasmus
Give me,O Lord,a steadfast heart,
Which no unworthy affection may drag downwards;
Give me an unconquered heart,
Which no tribulation can wear out;
Give me an upright heart,
Which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.
Bestow on me also,O Lord my God,
Understanding to know you,
Diligence to seek you,
Wisdom to find you,
And a faithfulness that may finally embrace you,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thomas Aquinas
Write your blessed Name,O Lord, upon my heart,
There to remain so indelibly engraved,
That no prosperity,no adversity,
Shall ever move me from your love.
Be to me a strong tower of defence,
A comforter in tribulation,
A deliverer in distress,
A very present help in trouble,
And a guide to heaven
Through the many temptations and dangers of this life. Thomas à Kempis
Lord Jesus,
May your love draw us to you,
Your power strengthen us in your service,
And your joy fill our souls. adapted from William Temple
Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
Do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do,I thank you;
I am ready for all,I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
And in all your creatures,
I wish no more than this,O Lord.
Into your hands I commed my soul;
I offer it to you
With all the love of my heart,
For I love you,Lord,
And so need to give myself,
To surrender myself into your hands,
Without reserve,
And with boundless confidence,
For you are my Father. Charles de Foucauld
O Lord,who has taught us that
All our doings without love are nothing worth,
Send thy Holy Ghost,
And pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love,
The very bond of peace and all virtues,
Without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee;
Grant this for thy only Son Jesus Christ’s sake. BCP
Set our hearts on fire with love for thee,
O Christ our God,
That in its flame we may love thee,
with all our mind,
with all our soul,
and with all our strength,
And our neighbours as ourselves,
So that ,keeping thy commandments,
We may glorify thee,the giver of all good gifts.
Kontakion of the Eastern Orthodox Church
O God,in whom nothing can live but as it lives in love,
Grant us the spirit of love which does not want to be
rewarded,honoured or esteemed,
But only to become the blessing and happiness of
everything that wants it;
Love which is the very joy of life,
and thine own goodness and truth within the soul;
Who thyself art Love,
And by love our Redeemer,
From eternity to eternity. William Law
