Blue Morpho Butterfly

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

A Prayer by St Patrick link @460 link

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
Of the Creator of Creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven,
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.

I arise today
Through a might, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness
of the Creator of Creation.
Amen

Prayer of Hope by Christina G. Rossetti (1830-1895) link and link

O Lord, in Whom is our hope, remove far from us, we pray Thee,
empty hopes and presumptuous confidence.
Make our hearts so right with Thy most holy and loving heart,
that hoping in Thee we may do good;
until that day when faith and hope shall be abolished by sight and possession,
and love shall be all in all.
Amen

Prayer of Richard of Chichester (1193-1257) link and link

Thanks be to You, our Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits which You have given us,
for all the pains and insults which You have borne for us.
Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,
may we know You more clearly,
love You more dearly,
and follow You more nearly,
day by day.
Amen.

Scripture: I Corinthians 13:4-5 NIV

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

Benediction link

As you leave this place
may the Living Lord go with you;
May he go behind you, to encourage you,
beside you, to befriend you,
above you, to watch over you,
beneath you, to lift you from your sorrows,
within you, to give you the gifts of faith, hope, and love,
and always before you, to show you the way.
Amen