Daily Devotional: August 10th

Daily Prayer IV

Blessed are those who shun the grip of selfish greed,  

With a wisdom that forbids harmful deeds.  

In emulation of the gods, they seek the good,  

Endeavoring to mirror divine brotherhood. 

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They hold in reverence the common good of the race,  

Aware that gods' concern resides in this shared space.  

They do not abandon the communal thread,  

For in unity, the divine essence is spread. 

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Blessed are those who, with gratitude, give thanks,  

To the gods for every boon, with hearts that flank  

Jove, the source whence fair and good first spring,  

In all things, a hymn of gratitude we sing. 

Daily Meditation

"The text before us addresses them as the Immortal Gods because they do not die nor cast away their likeness to God, but always and uniformly continue in the divine likeness.”

—Hierocles

While God is the creator of the cosmos and father to all, there are also his children, the immortal Gods who administer his will in the universe. These Immortal Gods always remain in divine likeness and harmony with God. Each God possesses a particular likeness to God that helps us to come to know God in a more intimate way. They are not merely subordinates to God but are specific divine personalities who can help us better understand the ineffable complexity of divinity. Through our devotion, admiration, and worship of the Gods, we come into closer union with the divine, and their divine light works its way into our souls, encouraging us toward virtue and a blessed life.

Monthly Ascesis

Developing a practice of chanting prayers is a powerful and effective way to create stillness in our souls, allowing us to behold God's presence in our lives.

This month, begin chanting the short prayer below. Start with just a few repetitions, for example, 10-15. Then, gradually increase the number over the month. When you reach a higher number of chants, say 100-200 per day, your mind will begin to quiet down, and a sense of stillness in your mind and soul will increase. Following your chants, take a moment to rest in the newfound stillness and keep your mind clear of thoughts for as long as you can.

DOMINE MERCURI, MACTE ESTO

(Do-min-ay Mehr-coor-ree, Mahk-tay Es-tow)

Lord Mercury, Be Blessed

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