(a short prayer service to start a meeting on finances)

St. John Chrysostom

ALL:    Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.

                We will drink the cup, we will win the fight:

                We will stand against the darkness of the night!

                We will run the race, and see God’s face,

                And build the kingdom of love!

In every one of his endeavours, (the Founder) had his own special way of trusting in Divine providence. If God wanted something to happen, God would provide. "Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain who build it." (Psalm 127, 1)

There is a very fine line between prudent planning for the future financial welfare of a Province and putting our openness and faith in God’s Providence at risk. This openness to Providence ought to characterize every religious movement. How far can we go before we sever our dependence on God? If we have the capacity to get involved in important apostolic works that challenge us to take an active part in alleviating pain and poverty in our world, the money will come. It is a matter of being in solidarity in a way that goes beyond the tenets and conventional wisdom found in the world of finance. This is only possible if we gave an attitude of detachment and confidence on God.

Brother Benito Arbués, Former General, Marist Brothers

A PRAYER FOR PILGRIMS AND JOURNEYERS

                        A journey once taken alone
                        we now choose to take together.

                        Moving forward as one body
                        into a future filled with possibility,
                        we walk without maps,
                        but we walk confidently,
                        and we walk with hope,
                        because we have chosen to be lights
                        for each other, while on the way.

                        We travel forward along a way
                        we have not gone before;
                        we travel as one who is led,
                        arms outstretched,
                        as one who is called forth to life.

                        We travel in need, dependent on the Lord
                        for strength, for assurance;
                        dependent on each other,
                        God's instruments, for love.
                        Leaving known paths behind us,
                        we choose to journey forward
                        in faith and service.

                        As the journey brought us here,
                        so now we begin it anew,
                        in company.

                                edwin Hays

RESPONSE

Be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive God to be,
and whatever your labours and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
(from Desiderata)

Br. Nick Morris (Rome)