|
This Universal Prayer has been attributed
to Pope Clement XI from the 18th century.
This prayer provides a good outline of
what we need to do when we strive for
sanctity and Eternal Life, as
'citizens-in-training' for Heaven!
My God, I believe in You;
strengthen my faith.
All my hopes are in You;
secure them. I love You;
teach me to love you daily
more and more. I am sorry
that I have offended You;
increase my sorrow.
I adore you as the
Author of my first beginning.
I aspire after you as my last end.
I give you thanks as my constant Benefactor,
I call upon you as my sovereign Protector.
My God, be pleased to conduct me
by your wisdom; to restrain me by
the thought of Your justice; to
comfort me by Your mercy;
to defend me by Your power.
To You I desire to consecrate
all my thoughts, words, deeds,
and suffering, that henceforth
I may think of you, speak of you,
refer all my actions to Your
greater glory, and suffer willingly
whatever You shall appoint.
Lord, I desire that in all things
Your Will be done, because it is Your Will,
and I desire that all things be done
in the manner that You will them.
Grant that I may always esteem
whatsoever is pleasing to You,
despise what You abhor, avoid
what You forbid, and do what you command.
I beg You to enlighten my understanding,
to inflame my will, to purify my body,
and to sanctify my soul.
My God, give me strength to
atone for my sins, to overcome
my temptations, to subdue my passions,
and to acquire the virtues proper
to my state of life.
Fill my heart with tender affection
for Your goodness, hatred of my faults,
love of my neighbor, and contempt of the world.
May Your grace help me to be obedient
to my superiors, kind and courteous to my inferiors,
faithful to my friends, and charitable to my enemies.
Assist me to overcome sensuality
by self-sacrifice, avarice by almsdeeds,
anger by meekness, and carelessness
by devotion. My God, make me prudent
in my undertakings, courageous in danger,
patient in trials, and humble in success.
Grant that I may be ever attentive
at my prayers, temperate at my meals,
diligent in my work, and faithful in
my good resolutions.
Let my conscience be ever upright and pure,
my behavior modest, my conversation kind,
and my actions edifying.
Assist me that I may continually strive
to overcome the evil inclinations of my nature,
to cooperate with Your grace,
to keep Your commandments, and to
work out my salvation.
My God, make me realize the
nothingness of this world,
the greatness of heaven, the
shortness of time, and the length of eternity.
Grant that I may prepare for death;
that I may fear Your judgment;
that I may escape hell and in
the end obtain heaven.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
|
