At 10.00am, I was at the Cathedral Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity for Mass for the Consecrated Men and Women working in the archdiocese of Onitsha. We celebrated World Day of Consecrated Life - an opportunity to thank God for the gift of consecrated life and pray for men and women discerning a consecrated vocation. The Religious Men and Women gathered in large number. 
          We started the celebration with the blessing of candles in front of the basilica. A  solemn procession with lighted candles followed. Holy Mass. It was a good opportunity to thank the Religious for the good work they are doing in our archdiocese. In the homily, I recommended the following prayer and circulated it to all the Religious:
          O Lord, give me courage to do what is hard; courage to say no to sin; courage to hold off the quitter in me.
          Give me a clean mind and clean speech; clean eyes and clean hands. Let me cherish cleanness, and recognize that it brings happiness. Let me appreciate that in purity all good things grow.
          Give me a gift for kindness, so that I may never hurt another. Teach me to control my temper and my tongue, so that they do not become the instruments of cruelty. I know my own importance, Lord, but let me never fail to see that others have importance, too.
          Give me strength of spirit to defeat self-pity. If I am lonesome, lead me to the knowledge that to be loved I must be lovable; that I will have no real friends until I earn them.
          Give me that bigness I will need to be cheerfully obedient. Remove from my personality a sullen spirit. Teach me to take orders, so that some day I will know how to give them reasonably.
          Give me zest and drive to conquer laziness. Never let me feel that I can be served without serving, or get without giving. Instruct my heart in the love of work, so I may know the joy of rest.
          Give me that peace of mind which comes from knowing that I will never lead another to sin. By your grace, may no one be cheapened because he kept my company. Let all who love me, learn to love you more.
          Give me, finally, such brightness, laughter and grace, that you will find in me a temple which will please you as Mary pleased you. Amen.