WHAT IS THE FRIENDS OF ST. ANTHONY?
Friends of St. Anthony (FOSA) is for anyone who desires to participate in a daily rhythm of prayer, or “office.” This is not an attempt to replace your current prayer practice, but rather augment and supplement the practices in which you are already engaged.
Joining the Friends of St. Anthony is the first step toward a more ordered life by participating in this ancient pattern of daily prayer. For an example of this pattern, see the office below.
Interested in joining the Friends of St. Anthony? Fill out the following contact form:
A Liturgy for Morning Prayer
BECOME AWARE OF GOD’S PRESENCE…
Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Bible says you are the one who “holds our souls in life (ps. 66:8), which means I am alive now because because you chose me to be alive. Jesus, you said, “Behold I stand at the door and knock…” (Rev. 3:20).
I’m here because I hear your knock and I come to you.
You always pursue us because you love us.
FIRST PRAYERS
O Lord, open our lips.
And our mouths shall proclaim your praise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. amen.
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
JESUS PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the living God,
have mercy on me (a sinner).
CONFESSION OF IMPERFECTION
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name.
Amen.
PSALM OF THE DAY
GOSPEL READING
APOSTLE’S CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth;
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
JESUS PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the Living God,
have mercy on me (a sinner).
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
JESUS PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the Living God,
have mercy on me (a sinner).
THE LORD’S PRAYER
SHIFT TO MISSION
A PRAYER FOR MISSION:
Lord Jesus Christ,
you stretched out your arms of love on
the hard wood of the cross
that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace:
So clothe us in your Spirit that we,
reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those
who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
PRAYER FOR RENEWAL OF LIFE
O God, the King eternal,
Whose light divides the day from the night
And turns the shadow of death into the morning:
Drive far from us all wrong desires,
Incline our hearts to keep your law,
And guide our feet into the way of peace;
That, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day,
We may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
We your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
For all your goodness and loving-kindness
To us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
And all the blessings of this life;
But above all for your immeasurable love
In the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
For the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
That with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
Not only with our lips, but in our lives,
By giving up our selves to your service,
And by walking before you
In holiness and righteousness all our days;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
To whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
Be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
JESUS PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the Living God,
have mercy on me (a sinner).