“To live by flesh is to live within the limits of our own potential, within the limits of our own perception, our own understanding, according to how things seem and feel, according to our natural experience. It is instinctive for us to live thus, taking for granted that our conscious experience is to be trusted, that it is the way things really are, the way we are, the way God is —that this is our life. We want to remain on this level because it is within our grasp, it is ‘ours’ and affords a sort of security and assurance. This is so natural to us . . . that we are unaware of how much of our life is lived from self, relying on self and not on faith in the Son of Man. We cannot rid ourselves of this deeply rooted pride and self possession by our own strength. Only the Holy Spirit of the Crucified and Risen One can effect it and this He is always trying to do. But we must begin to recognize His work and respond ‘Amen’” ~Sr. Ruth Burrows, OCD, Essence of Prayer

In every work of the artist, St. Francis of Assisi praised the divine Artist. Whatever he found in the things made, he referred to the Maker. He rejoiced in all the works of the hands of the Lord, and in beautiful things, he saw divine beauty itself.

Father of might and power, every good and perfect gift comes down to us from you. Implant in our hearts the love of your name, increase our zeal for your service, nourish what is good in us and tend it with watchful care. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

“Faith is not a thing of the mind; it is not an intellectual certainty or a felt conviction of the heart. It is a sustained decision to take God with utter seriousness as the God of my life. It is to live out each hour in a practical affirmation that God is Father and that He is ‘in heaven.’ It is a decision to shift the center of our lives from ourselves to Him, to forego self-interest and to make His interests, His will our sole concern.” ~Sr. Ruth Burrows, OCD, The Essence of Prayer

Lord, infinitely Holy and Glorified in Your Saints, You inspired Giles to lead the life of a hermit. We thank You for granting him the blessing and the strength to detach himself from the world so that the heroism of the evangelical virtues of poverty, obedience, and chastity, could triumph in his hermitage. We beseech You to grant us the grace of loving and serving You, following his example. Almighty God, Who has manifested Your power through the intercessions of St. Giles, grant us our petitions through his intercession. Amen

St. Giles, pray for us.