Daily Meditation for April 13, 2026

“O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will proclaim Your praise.”

This is an opening prayer prayed daily by monastics as they begin their Liturgy of the Hours Morning Prayer. A powerful request asking none other than to have God direct one’s daily speech to give God honor and glory. Guided by this request, how else, besides prayer, will one direct daily words to “proclaim Your praise”? Without being specific in how one is to proclaim God’s praise verbally, the phrase leaves it open to each person as to how this is to be accomplished. In a way, it’s another manner of daily offering in St. Benedict’s words in his Rule:  That in all things, God may be glorified. Keeping this in mind, reflect for a moment on choosing some oral prayer that expresses God’s glory, having God’s help as you pray and act in such a way that “my mouth may proclaim Your praise.”

By Philip Zimmer, OSB