Loving God, You who dwell in our hearts, 

make for us a cave there in which to hear your voice more distinctly, 

feel your care more tenderly, 

understand your will more clearly, 

and come to know your presence 

at every moment of our lives 

with new clarity and new courage, 

with new faith and new urgency.

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Enable us to grow in the Benedictine spirit 

in ways that make us compassionate co-creators of a world in process, 

creative keepers of the human community, 

loving listeners to the heartbeat of the world, 

caring sisters and brothers to its wounded 

and bringers of peace to a world in distress.

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Let us sink into your Word, 

let us nourish it to life, 

let it lead us beyond the burdens of the day 

so that we may become the people you desire us to be. 

Give us hearts where all may enter in, 

ears to hear your call, 

hands to do your will, 

voices to sing your praise 

and soul enough to recognize You in everything we do. 

This we ask through the intercession of all the faithful monastics 

who have gone before us and through the grace of the living God. 

Amen.

— Joan Chittister