Daily Devotional: August 7th
Daily Prayer VII
Oh gods, shield me from accidents that may befall,
My mortal frame fragile, but my soul stands tall.
Immortal, divine, separate from earthly plight,
Let not misfortunes dim my inner light.
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Grant me serenity in the exercise of my will,
Troubles that befall, let them not instill
Disruption in my pursuit of liberty,
Nor bind my soul to base necessity.
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When the call for goodness resonates within,
Let not my mortal self shy away from the din.
Guide me to prioritize my immortal soul's quest,
In caring for it, may I truly be blessed.
Daily Meditation
"A temple should indeed be adorned with gifts but the soul with disciplines.”
—Iamblichus
A beautiful soul is one that has taken on disciplines willingly. It is easy and in our nature to be overcome by the whims of the body, but listening to the needs of the soul, even when they contradict the wants of the body, takes great discipline. To bring discipline into the soul, we need to bring the power of reason over our desires and passions. Even when we do this, our passions don’t disappear. Yet, by putting reason first, we can choose which passions we follow rather than following them blindly wherever they may lead us.
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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