With Spring in full swing and the Easter season upon us the minds of many country folk are inevitably drawn to the seasonal rebirth of the land as it awakens from its winter dormancy. I know some of you will already have your gardens and crops in full production mode, but we’re not so lucky up north here! We’re still a month or so out from planting time (for the most cold tolerant and hardy crops), but the mind does wander to these things. Now is the time for final preparations to be made for the season to come… seed stocks are accounted for, garden plans are made, the orders are in! Let’s not forget to ask the Lord for His blessings as part of our annual growing season preparations. We should never forget the miracle that is life in all of its forms that God has bestowed on this planet, and trusted us with the stewardship of. With this in mind I’ll share with you all another gem from the Rural Life Prayerbook….
A Prayer in Planting Time
“Dear Lord, You wonderful in everything You do. In marvelous ways You take the full, rich life of the plant and carefully fold it into tiny seeds. You form the seeds according to many different shapes and sizes and colors, so that man can know what kind of growth will come of them .
When they are placed in the earth they may look dry and dead, but when they are watered by the life-giving rain and nourished by the warm sun, they lose all their lifeless look and grow in an almost miraculous manner. By the power You gave them, they take the dead minerals of the earth and build up the nourishing, tasty foods that men need to sustain life.
This week, dear Lord, we will plant the seeds of (wheat, corn, or whatever it may be) that You have given us. Bless them, watch over them, and bring them to the full growth and rich harvest that You wish to bless us with.
But, should You not allow them to come to full harvest, we accept Your will humbly. We trust that You will nevertheless watch over us and make the seeds of grace that You have given us grow to flower and fruit in the full Christian life that You intend for us here and hereafter. Amen.”
*The Rural Life Prayerbook, Alban J. Dachauer, S.J., 1956
TAN Books (www.TANBooks.com)
Our family has this wonderful prayer book. Thank you for the reminder to say this prayer over our garden. God bless you and your family and may He bless you with an abundant harvest!
Thank you, and God bless!
Thanks for this anticipated post! Perfect timing!
Look at this gem! Are you familiar with it?
http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius12/POPRURAL.HTM
I was so lucky and was able to find an old but unused copy of this book on eBay. Can’t wait to receive it! Thanks!
That’s awesome PB! I’m sure you’ll love it as much as we do….
Hola! Somos Felipe y Lorena, vivimos en el campo en Ecuador y nos gusto mucho conocer su vida, estamos empezando una granja, hacemos homeschooling y somos católicos! Que linda oración para entregar las siembras a nuestro Señor! Dios les bendiga!