The way the day begins is the way it unfolds. That is why all spiritual traditions place morning prayer before the phone, the news and worries. Five minutes of prayer upon waking work throughout the day: they calm thoughts, order priorities and place the day under a blessing.
The short morning prayer rule
1. Rising
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glory to You, Christ our God,
for granting me to see the light of this day.
2. Thanksgiving for the night
I thank You, Lord,
for watching over me through the night that has passed
and awakening me in peace.
3. Blessing the day
Lord, bless this day:
my words, my deeds, my encounters.
Give me an enlightened mind, a gentle heart
and strength for everything that awaits me.
What I cannot do, do Yourself through Your grace. Amen.
4. For loved ones
I entrust to You, Lord, my family,
my children, my parents and everyone I carry in my soul.
Watch over them all throughout the day. Amen.
5. The ending
An Our Father, the Guardian Angel Prayer (“Little angel, go before me!”) and, for those who wish, Psalm 90 before going out of the door.
The shortest morning prayer
Lord, this day is Yours. May Your care be upon me!
Even this much — spoken sincerely — changes the tone of the whole day. Those who have a long commute turn the car or underground into a chapel: the prayer of the heart (“Lord Jesus Christ…”) repeated slowly, with the breath.
Why the morning
- The mind is clear before it is invaded by news and worries;
- The first movement of the soul sets the day's course: fear or trust — prayer chooses trust;
- The habit becomes an anchor: on difficult days, a morning spent in prayer keeps the course straight;
- It is the simplest way to “inherit” the day, rather than merely survive it.
Frequently asked questions
Must morning prayer be long? No. Better short and every day than long and once a week. Consistency overcomes intensity.
Can I combine it with a cup of coffee? Of course — God does not ask for an empty stomach, but an awake heart.
Read also
Psalms for the morning
Morning psalms: Psalm 5 (a psalm of Matins), Psalm 100 and Psalm 102 (“Bless, O my soul”). All the psalms, in full: The Psalter — the complete list.
