Daily Devotional: August 6th

Daily Prayer VIII 

Oh gods, restrain my taste for excess delight,  

Impose limits on pleasures, in wisdom's light.  

Lest harm befall my body or soul,  

Guide me towards temperance, make me whole. 

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May I not crave boundless material gain, 

 In measured abundance, let my needs attain.  

Moderation in all, the body's requisite,  

Grant me independence, a balanced fit. 

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Shield me from the chains of empty words,  

Grant discernment, where true wisdom girds.  

May I deem useful only words divine,  

That lead to genuine excellence, a path benign. 

Daily Meditation

"A slave to his passions cannot possibly be free.”

—Pythagoras

We are often prisoners of our own desires. We may be free to choose where to live, what to eat, where and when to go somewhere. However, our passions and desires often drive us to do things we know we shouldn’t. We may desire pleasure, food, and comforts that then influence our actions. We, likewise, can be driven to laziness, anger, or lust. If we do not have control over these desires, are we really free? Or have we become slaves to our mortal nature? Pythagoras tells us in plain words that we cannot hope to be free if we remain slaves to our base desires. To liberate ourselves is to listen only to the highest part of our soul and master our desires rather than obey their every call.

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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