J U L Y
Prayer for Gardens and Orchards
ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, before our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned, they lived and were very happy in the Garden of Eden. There, as we read in the Holy Book, You would walk with them "at the afternoon air," and they heard the sound of You in the garden.
Later, Your own Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, began His fearful passion with His sweat of blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. Dear God, ever since then, a garden is a holy thing. You still walk there with men, at the afternoon air. You walk with men who can see You and Your generous and merciful providence working for them in the green things that grow and the trees that blossom and bear such rich and nourishing fruit: men who can see again the cross of Christ in every tree, and His crown of thorns in every thorn.
Bless all our gardens and orchards in this broad land of ours, dear God, and give us rich and plentiful harvest. Help us, as we go about our work here, to see You in Your loving kindness, working for us and with us.
Help us to do Your will at all times. Then, some day, we will walk with You and Your Son, and our dear Mother Mary, down the paths of another Garden, far better, far more beautiful than even the Garden of Eden. Amen.
A Prayer for Rain
ALMIGHTY God, we are in need of rain. We realize now, looking up into the clear, blue sky, what a marvel even the least drop of rain really is. To think that so much water can fall out of the sky, which now is empty and clear! We place our trust in You. We are sure that You know our needs. But You want us to ask You anyway, to show You that we know we are dependent on You. Look on our dry hills and fields, dear God, and bless them with the living blessing of soft rain. Then the land will rejoice, and the rivers will sing Your praises, and the hearts of men will be made glad. Amen.
Another Prayer for Rain
O GOD, in whom we live and move and have our being, grant us rain in due abundance, that being sufficiently helped with temporal gifts we may seek with more confidence those that are eternal. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Canticle of the Three Young Men in the Fiery Furnace
(Dan. 3:57-88, 56)
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord,
you heavens, bless the Lord;
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord.
all you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord;
Sun and moon, bless the Lord;
stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord;
all You winds, bless the Lord;
Fire and heat, bless the Lord;
cold and chill, bless the Lord;
Dew and rain, bless the Lord;
frost and cold, bless the Lord;
Ice and snow, bless the Lord;
nights and days, bless the Lord;
Light and darkness, bless the Lord;
lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.
Let the earth bless the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord;
everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord;
You springs, bless the Lord;
seas and rivers, bless the Lord;
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord;
all you birds of the air, bless the Lord;
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
You sons of men, bless the Lord;
O Israel, bless the Lord;
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord;
servants of the Lord, bless the Lord;
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord;
holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Ananias, Azarias, Misael, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
(Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
let us praise and exalt God above all forever.)
Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever!
Prayer of Saint Ignatius for Generosity
(Feast, July 31)
Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve You as You deserve: to give, and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for reward, except that of knowing that I am doing Your will.