Daily
Radiating Christ (St. John Henry Newman)
Radiating Christ is an adaptation of a meditation by St. John Henry Newman on Jesus as the light of the soul. Its familiar opening about spreading Christ’s fragrance was joined to Newman’s petition that Christ shine through the believer’s life. St. Teresa of Calcutta cherished this prayer, and the Missionaries of Charity pray it daily after Holy Communion. Catholics use it to ask for deep union with Jesus and for the grace to make His presence known through humble example, loving action, and personal holiness. It is especially fitting after Mass, during thanksgiving after Communion, or at the beginning of a day of service.
Dear Jesus, help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I go.
Flood my soul with Thy Spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly
that my life may only be a radiance of Thine.
Shine through me, and be so in me
that every soul I come in contact with
may feel Thy presence in my soul.
Let them look up and see no longer me,
but only Jesus.
Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as Thou shinest,
so to shine as to be a light to others.
The light, O Jesus, will be all from Thee;
none of it will be mine.
It will be Thou shining on others through me.
Let me thus praise Thee in the way Thou dost love best,
by shining on those around me.
Let me preach Thee without preaching,
not by words, but by my example,
by the catching force,
the sympathetic influence of what I do,
the evident fullness of the love my heart bears to Thee.
Amen.
When to pray it: Pray it after Holy Communion or at the beginning of the day, especially before serving others.
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