The Mingy Prayer Book

[andybrennan]

I was just having a browse through mine and wondered how many of you still have theirs.

A small prayer I would like to share from it

THE SERENITY PRAYER.

Lord, grant me the strength to accept
the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Andy

[maurakearney]

Hi Andy i do not have mine but i have my Childrens Prayer Books.

[maryfarrell6]

Hi Andy,
Now I know that certain words or phrases are censored on site and some for very good reason!
But at the risk of sounding stupid for the life of me I can't figure out exactly what the correct title of this thread should be . Now I know you have the know how to overcome these problems by adding full stops or spaces to avoid or override the censorship so I'll be eternally grateful if you could do that in this case
I've tried communion,prayer and holy book but none of them are censored so pray tell me what word does 'mingy' represent in this title??? I'm confused totally!!!
MaryF

[andybrennan]

Oops sorry Mary,

The word mingy is familiar to military personnal who were forever buying mingy's , in the mingy shops or from the mingy man, when overseas.

Lads would be heard saying " did you get any mingy's ".

A very small prayer book was published with that titlle.

Andy

[carmelkearney]

Mornin Andy, That serenity prayer is still in full swing today, i also have my childrens prayer books but not my own.

carmel kearney

[Helena]

Hi MaryF,

if you google "The Mingy Prayer Book," you will see the origin of this wonderful little prayer book. I have a copy of it and there are some wonderful prayers in it.

Helena

[maryfarrell6]

Andy, Helena,
Jaysus Andy I feel a right eejit, honest to god I'd never heard of it before. Thats a bit obvious says yourself after my 'query' a little bit of that 'wisdom' in the serenity prayer wouldn't have gone amiss with me eh
Helena thanks for the nudge in the right direction I did look it and now it (the title)makes sense to me I enjoyed finding out about the origin of the name and the book. I really do feel stupid. But there you go you learn something new every day.
So thanks once again for your help.
MaryF

[rose5mcdonaghtce]

Hi Mary,

Its a new one on me too, never heard of it, do remember Mam's prayer book though, about three inches thick and stuffed with holy pictures and memorial cards. Also remember the prayer books brought back from Cyprus, they had a leather cover on a very basic pamphlet, also the prayer books with the wooden cover another Cyprus gift, Mam had one of those too, think Mon still has it. Back in the day everyone had a prayer book, even Bridal Missals with Mother of Pearl covers were very popular, don't have a prayer book, but the ones the kids had are still in the house. The word Mingy and prayer book don't seem to bond somehow.

Well we learn something new everyday.

Rose.

[andybrennan]

An eejit Mary F, not you, you would have to work very hard for that title.

Twas my fault thinking that all curragh folk were familiar with the title of the prayer book in question.

and Rose it actually does bond with prayer the one already mentioned, another about the jar another about being chowned, I think that it has encompassed the language and thinking of the soldier with prayer.
Well My thoughts on it any rate

Andy

[maryfarrell6]

Hi Rose,
Yes my ma had and (still does)a similiar prayer book/missal.
No wonder the handbags were so big! You never see anyone at mass with a prayer book nowadays do you? Church bulletins/newsletters have replaced them.
The communion prayer books were miniature versions, white covers with the picture of an angelic boy/girl on the front. But shur I suppose at that particular time and age we felt that we were or at least we would be as soon as we made our first confession and communion we'd be miraculously transformed into little angels
I remember mine it had a mother of pearl cover and was my pride and joy along with the rosary beads. Felt really grown-up and important owning my very own. Used to parade to mass with it carried in my lovely new communion bag and wearing the little white gloves to add the finishing touches. Even though I knew the words of the mass off by heart(as we all did)the book would be held up face high to make sure it was seen by everyone ;D. Bit like a badge of honour showing off I was a big girl and could take my place with the adults at the altar. A big milestone in our young lives
MaryF

[Matt McNamara]

Hi All

Inspired by Andy’s resurrection of the good old Mingy Prayer Book as given to Irish soldiers going overseas. I was given a copy when going to Somalia in 1993 and still have it to this day. It is a nice little publication and when I say little, it’s tiny. It was designed and compiled by the Defence Forces Chaplaincy Service and Printed by the by the Defence Forces Printing Press in 1992 and I will imagine over the years it has given many a soldier peace and solace during difficult times at home and overseas.

It is a copyright publication of the Defence Forces, so I hope they don’t mind me reproducing it here for your use.

Matt

[andybrennan]

Matt,

I doubt that the Chaplaincy would mind you putting those wonderful prayers that sustained so many in the Forces into the minds of so many who have never had the benefit of them.

Andy

[maryfarrell6]

Hi Andy and Matt,
After my first total confusion regarding the name of this unique little prayer book, thank you both for sharing it with the rest of us.
Reading the prayers , they cover absolutely every type of misfortune that could befall any one of us at any time. Its an amazing book. I can see how it must have brought a lot of comfort and reassurance to all our troops on your many missions keeping the peace in the trouble-spots around the world down through the years.
I hope the lads and lassies heading off to the Leb will be issued with the same. Because even though people might lapse from going to church or praying, when the chips are really downand in our hour of need we always turn to prayer, and use it like a comfort blanket, and wheres the harm in that?
MaryF