CWCO: Morning Prayers to Share, Day 1

The Catholic Writer's Conference Online is now over ... but it was such a wonderful event, I wanted to share some of the highlights with you, so you'll be encouraged to sign up next year! Even better, perhaps you'd like to sign up for the conference e-book, which is available May 30. To order your copy of the book, click here.

This week I'll be posting the morning devotions that I shared each morning of the conference. Feel free to post any intentions you might have in the "comments" section of the post.

Author and writing coach Brenda Ueland once observed, "To become a better writer, become a better person." For Catholics, this means growing in virtue, and weeding out vice.

Every morning this week we will be taking a look at one or two vices, which I explore in greater depth in my talk "The Good Writer" (forum). I developed this talk based on the work I did while creating Raising Up Mommy. To order the book, go to http://www.christianword.com/.

May 2: Beginnings

“Life is like a cash register, in that every account, every thought, every deed, like every sale, is registered and recorded.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen

We begin this conference (+) in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As we do so, I’d like to invite the Holy Spirit in a special way to hover over us. May He bring to light opportunities for virtue, as well as the insights intended especially for each of us, so that we might accomplish the work God wants us to do.

And so, please join me in this “Holy Spirit Prayer,” which we used at editorial meetings at Servant Publications … for creativity, for insight, for wisdom.

Holy Spirit, Font of Light,
Focus of God’s glory bright,
Shed on us a shining ray.

Father of the Fatherless,
Giver of gifts limitless,
Come and touch our hearts today.

Source of strength and sure relief,
Comforter in time of grief,
Enter in and be our Guest.

On our journey grant us aid,
Freshening breeze and cooling shade,
In our labors, inward rest.

Enter each aspiring heart,
Occupy its inmost part
With your dazzling purity.

All that gives to us our worth,
All that benefits the earth,
You bring to maturity.

With Your soft refreshing rains,
Break our droughts, remove our stains,
Bind up all our injuries.

Shake with rushing wind our will,
Melt with fire our icy chill,
Bring to light our perjuries.

As Your promise we believe,
Make us ready to receive
Gifts from Your unbounded store.

Grant enabling energy,
Courage in adversity,
Joys that last forevermore. Amen.