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 A PRAYER FOR THE COUNTRY FAMILY
WE BELIEVE that:
Farming is a noble Christian occupation.
The farm home is a most suitable place to rear a Christian family.
The good earth is the greatest material gift of God to man.
WE KNOW that:
In this vocation we country people work closely with God in producing
the essential elements of life.
By making ourselves aware of the special graces and opportunities of this
way of life, and by cooperating with them, we and our families can most
readily give glory to God and grow in holiness and happiness.
The earth returns greatest honor to God when through our care and labor,
it brings forth an abundance for our family's needs and those of society, for
this generation and for those to come.
WE PROCLAIM that:
We will strive always to appreciate and hold fast to the spiritual values of
our vocation and to prevent the materialism of this age from blinding us to
them.
We will model our homes on that of Nazareth; by working, learning,
playing, and especially praying together we will strengthen our faith in
God and our mutual love and unity; we will fulfill our obligation to be good
neighbors, faithful parishioners, loyal and active citizens.
We will regard our land as God's land; as stewards of His bounty we will
conserve and improve it so that it will increasingly continue to give glory
to Him.
WE PRAY that:
Through God's grace we may have wisdom and strength to grow
constantly in the virtues necessary for holy rural living:
Faith, Hope firmly founded in knowledge of God's wisdom and
providence, Love, Patience with the slow deliberate cycle of seasons
and years, Fortitude, Temperance, Compassion, Mercy, Zeal.
Amen.
WE GIVE THANKS
O GOD, source and giver of all things,
who manifests Your infinite majesty, power and goodness
in the earth about us,
we give You honor and glory.
For the sun and rain,
for the manifold fruits of our fields,
for the increase of our herds and flocks,
we thank You.
For the enrichment of our souls with divine grace,
we are grateful.
Supreme Lord of the harvest,
graciously accept us and the fruits of our toil,
in union with Christ Your Son,
as atonement for our sins,
for the growth of Your Church,
for peace and charity in our homes,
for salvation to all.
Amen.
PRAYER IN HONOR OF SAINT ISIDORE
O GOD,
who taught Adam the simple art of tilling the soil,
and who through Jesus Christ, the true vine,
revealed yourself the husbandman of our souls,
deign, we pray, through the merits of blessed Isidore,
to instill into our hearts a horror of sin and a love of prayer,
so that, working the soil in the sweat of our brow,
we may enjoy eternal happiness in heaven,
through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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