Prayers for contemplation on 3-25-06

Be praised, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
Especially Brother Sun,
By whom You bring us the day and who brings us the light;
Fair is he and shines with a very great splendor...
Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Moon and the stars, which you have set clear and lovely in heaven.
Be praised, my Lord, for Brother Wind, and for air and cloud, calms and all weather...
Be praised, my Lord, for Sister Water, who is very useful and humble and precious and clean.
Be praised my Lord for Brother Fire, through whom You give us light in darkness, and he is bright and pleasant and very mighty and strong.
Be praised, my Lord, for our Sister Mother Earth, who sustains us and keep us, and brings forth fruits and flowers of many colors and leaves...
Praise and bless my Lord, and thank Him,
And serve Him with great humility.

--St. Francis of Assisi


Earth teach me stillness
as the grasses are stilled with light.
Earth teach me suffering
as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility
as blossoms are humble with beginning.
Earth Teach me caring
as the mother who secures her young.
Earth teach me courage
as the tree which stands alone.
Earth teach me limitation
as the ant which crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom
as the eagle which soars in the sky.
Earth teach me resignation
as the leaves which die in the fall.
Earth teach me regeneration
as the seed which rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself
as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness
as dry fields weep in the rain.

--Native American (Ute) prayer

Courtesy of a website known as Interlude. Have a site to share that offers great inspiration quotes or prayers (particularly interfaith/universal material)?