Praise is central to the life of the Fresh Anointing.  The Lord has blessed our community with His presence and activity in a particular way when we praise Him.  The Fresh Anointing's prayer meetings include praise and worship, during which we glorify God for who He is and for what He has done, is doing, and will do.  We thank Him for His love, mercy, compassion, blessings, healing, and all that He means to us.  We praise God because He is good, holy, worthy and wise.  We praise God in tongues because He is beyond description, and His glory is beyond our understanding.  We praise God because He is our Father, our Savior, and our Sanctifier; He is the Holy Trinity and therefore is worthy of all praise.  We do what the Church teaches in the Catechism, "Prayer of praise is entirely disinterested and rises to God, lauds him, and gives him glory for his own sake, quite beyond what he has done, but simply because HE IS" (Catechism #2649)."

The Fresh Anointing encourages praise to be a part of daily life as the Bible says, “Rejoice in the Lord always” - Philippians 4:4

As we praise God, our relationship with Him grows, and in that relationship He speaks back to us.  During times of praise and worship, we experience the Holy Spirit speaking to us in prophetic words or visions which may be shared, as appropriate, with the group. People may also sing with the gift of tongues.

 We love to praise God! Come praise Him with us!

Psalm 150
Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy sanctuary; give praise in the mighty dome of heaven.
Give praise for his mighty deeds, praise him for his great majesty.
Give praise with blasts upon the horn, praise him with harp and lyre.
Give praise with tambourines and dance, praise him with flutes and strings.
Give praise with crashing cymbals, praise him with sounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath give praise to the LORD! Hallelujah!

Psalm 134:2 - Lift up your hands toward the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

Psalm 149
Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song, a hymn in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker, the people of Zion rejoice in their king.
Let them praise his name in festive dance, make music with tambourine and lyre.
For the LORD takes delight in his people, honors the poor with victory.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory, cry out for joy at their banquet,
With the praise of God in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hands,
To bring retribution on the nations, punishment on the peoples,
To bind their kings with chains, shackle their nobles with irons,
To execute the judgments decreed for them-- such is the glory of all God's faithful. Hallelujah!

1 Timothy 2:1, 8 - I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone ... It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

Revelation 5: 11-13 - "I looked again and heard the voices of many angels who surrounded the throne and the living creatures and the elders. They were countless in number, and they cried out in a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing." Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, everything in the universe, cry out: "To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might, forever and ever."

Tobit 12:6 - The Archangel Raphael said, "Thank God! Give Him the praise and the glory. Before all the living, acknowledge the many good things He has done for you, by blessing and extolling His name in song. Before all men, honor and proclaim God's deeds, and do not be slack in praising him."

Second Vatican Council - "The holy people of God shares also in Christ's prophetic office; it spreads abroad a living witness to Him, especially by means of a life of faith and charity and by offering to God a sacrifice of praise, the tribute of lips which give praise to His name." - Vatican II, Lumen Gentium, section 12

Come Holy Spirit, Creator Blest

On January 1, 1901, Pope Leo XIII prayed this 9th century hymn for Christians to grow in greater devotion to the Holy Spirit. The same day, the charismatic renewal began, starting with a small group in Kansas and spreading worldwide.

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God's hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father, Thou
Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven.
Amen.

Canticle of the Creatures is a song of praise by St. Francis of Assisi.  It is one of the first written works in the Italian language, 800 years ago.  These illustrations of this prayer are painted on the ceiling of the church where Padre Pio ministered in San Giovanni Rotundo, Italy.

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord!
All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing.

To you, alone, Most High, do they belong.
No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures,
especially through my lord Brother Sun,
who brings the day; and you give light through him.

And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor!
Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
and clouds and storms, and all the weather,
through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water;
she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night.  He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth,
who feeds us and rules us,
and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you;
through those who endure sickness and trial.

Happy those who endure in peace,
for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whose embrace no living person can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!

Happy those she finds doing your most holy will.
The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks,
and serve him with great humility.

The Fresh Anointing is sponsored by the Franciscan TOR's
of Washington, DC, and St. Anthony’s parish. Website by Messenger's Voice. Admin Login