So Your Whole Day Will Turn into Worship

'Keep struggling so that the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar 

really becomes the center and root of your interior life, 

and so your whole day will turn into an act of worship - 

an extension of the Mass you have attended 

and a preparation for the next. 

This will then overflow in aspirations, 

visits to the Blessed Sacrament, 

and the offering up of 
your professional work 

and your family life.'

St. Josemaria Escriva

The Interior Choir Stall

'Pray perseveringly, be attentive to prayer, and pray in a spirit of thanksgiving.' (Colossians 4:2)

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise; give thanks to Him, bless His Name."  (Psalm 100:4)

"Rejoice always, never cease praying, render constant thanks; such is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be ever in my mouth."  (Psalm 34:2)

"I will praise You as long as I live."  (Psalm 63:5)

"Continually offer to Him a sacrifice of praise."  (Hebrews 13:15)

"Let my soul live to praise You."  (Psalm 119:175) 

“Every day will I bless You, and I will praise Your Name forever and ever." (Psalm 146:2)

"Present your needs to God in very form of prayer and in petitions full of gratitude.  Then God's own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard over your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus."  (Philippians 4: 6-7)

Painting:  John White Alexander, Juliette 1897

This post is part of our "New Cloistered Adventure."  For an explanation of what that means, click this line.   


To look at our portable choir stalls, click this line 

As Long As I Live

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be ever in my mouth."  (Psalm 34:2)

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise; give thanks to Him, bless His Name."  (Psalm 100:4)

"He that offers praise as a sacrifice glorifies Me."  (Psalm 50:23)

"Praise the Lord for He is good; sing praise to our God, for He is gracious; it is fitting to praise Him.  (Psalm 147:1)

"I will praise You as long as I live."  (Psalm 63:5)

"The favors of the Lord I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim Your faithfulness."  (Psalm 89:2)

"Continually offer to Him a sacrifice of praise."  (Hebrews 13:15)

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednago "fell bound, into the midst of the white-hot furnace.  They walked about in the flames, singing and blessing the Lord.  In the fire, Abednago stood and prayed aloud:   'Blessed are You, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and glorious forever is Your Name.  For You are just in all You have done; all Your deeds are faultless, all Your ways right, and all Your judgements proper.'"  (Daniel 3:24-27)

 "Praised be the Lord, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies."  (Psalm 18:4)

"I heard the voices of every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea; everything in the universe cried aloud:  'to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!'"  (Revelation 5:13)

You are invited to click here to leave comments in the Parlor    

By Degrees

"Accustom yourself
by degrees
to worship Him.
Beg His grace, 
offer Him your heart
from time to time
in the midst of your busyness,
even every moment if you can.
Do not always scrupulously
confine yourself to certain rules,
or particular forms of devotion,
but act with a general confidence
in GOD,
with love and humility."  
                         - Brother Lawrence

Thee I Praise...

A word jumped out at me this morning, from a simple text.  The word was "worship."

I have thought about it all day.  What does it mean to worship, and why does the mere word capture my heart?  I went in search of an adequate definition... and then I realized.... 

I can't define worship.  The dictionary can't define worship.  Like poetry, worship "shows," it does not "tell."  It praises, thanks, sings, adores, celebrates, exalts, surrenders, prostrates, loves.  So I will not waste attempts at the telling.  I will let a handful of worshipers show...

"Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights.  Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His hosts."  (Psalm 148:1-2)

"Throughout the long hours I adore You, oh living Bread, amidst the great drought in my soul.  O Jesus, pure Love, I do not need consolations; I am nourished by Your will."  (St. Faustina, Diary #195)

"Thee I praise, O God my delight, for upon Thy Cross I have made my bed."  (Blessed Angela of Foligno)

"O my Jesus, I love You, and I want to worship You with my very weakness, submitting myself entirely to Your holy will."  (St. Faustina, Diary #782)

"In the fire, Azariah stood up and prayed aloud:  'Blessed are You, and praiseworthy, O Lord, the God of our fathers, and glorious forever is Your Name.  For you are just in all you have done; all your deeds are faultless, all your ways right, and all your judgements proper...'"  (Daniel 3:25-27)

"I recall that I received most light during adoration.... During that time, I came to know myself and God more profoundly."  (St. Faustina, Diary #147)

"To the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!"  (Revelation 5:13)

Text not in quotes © 2012 Nancy Shuman.  All Rights Reserved.
thecloisteredheart.org