I know, it’s not exactly cold outside yet, but temperatures are surely cooling down here in the Midwest (especially with some storms in the area here) and with the windows open and the attic fan on, there is a cool breeze coming through the house that, while refreshing, started making me a little chilly. I’m not a regular coffee drinker and I don’t drink a lot of hot beverages in the warmer months, so I decided to take this opportunity to break out my favorite coffee mug (which does get a lot of use in the Winter) and enjoy a nice cup of (raspberry) cocoa while saying Evening Prayer tonight:

And it ended up complimenting today’s evening prayer quite nicely. This was the reading, responsory and final prayer:

Reading:
My brothers and sisters, count it pure joy when you are involved in every sort of trial. Realize that when your faith is tested this makes for endurance. Let endurance come to its perfection so that you may be fully mature and lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).

Responsory:
Christ loved us and washed away our sins, in his own blood.
–Christ loved us and washed away our sins, in his own blood.

He made us a nation of kings and priests,
– in his own blood.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
–Christ loved us and washed away our sins, in his own blood.

Prayer:
Father, in your loving plan Christ your Son became the price of our salvation. May we be united with him in his suffering so that we may experience the power of his resurrection in the kingdom where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

Then I was reminded of today’s Morning Prayer reading:

I willingly boast of my weakness, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I am content with weakness, with mistreatment, with distress, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ; for when I am powerless, it is then that I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9b-10).

And from the intercessions:
You have given the sick and the suffering a share in your cross,
give them patience and strength.
– Save those you have redeemed by your blood, Lord.

It was a very edifying cup of cocoa, to say the least!

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Take Up Your Cross
St. Gianna on Suffering