Morning Prayer

AS WAR was erupting in Korea in 1950, Capt. Maurice Sheehy, a chaplain in the Naval Reserve Chaplain Corps and head of religious education at Catholic University, wrote a poem to give daily encouragement to soldiers, sailors, and Marines going into harm’s way:

A Morning Prayer

O Jesus, help me face today
With joy and hope. And help me pray. If there are hours of dark despair May I remember You are there.

By Thy strong hands please strengthen me The splendor of God’s will to see.
The light that gladdened childhood’s hours Must now bring forth Thy choicest flowers.

The crimson clouds at sunlit morn Inspire my soul. New peace is born. When love becomes the soul’s sweet diet Within my heart all else is quiet.

From hasty words deliver me (They echo in eternity).
No riches of this world I seek
But Thy glad word in spirit meek.

Teach me the uses of the stars
And friendship’s fine uplifting spars. Rabboni, guide my faltering feet. Into Thy arms and joy complete.

AMEN