The prayer of a prudent soul

The Prayer of a Prudent Soul

O Lord God, who wisely and justly orders all things in heaven and on earth—angels, men, and all creatures—I ask you, in place of the praise and thanksgiving that I owe you, to accept the trials and anxieties of my heart, which I now offer in true contrition for my sins. Turn all that is evil in me to good, and what is good to better, and this for the glory of your Name and the eternal salvation of my soul.

You know my every weakness and my frightful ignorance as well as how, because of my wandering mind and erratic memory, I often stray from you, going here and there and at times some distance away from you. According to your great mercy, Lord, pardon me and delay not in bringing me back to you. Night and day, keep my heart close to you in fervent prayer and holy meditation, as much as is possible for me in this frail body of mine.

My desire is to please your most loving face with sacred gifts and prayers, especially with the three mites of the poor, namely: contrition of heart, confession on the lips, and satisfaction through humble works. My Lord God, supremely lovable, remember your poor servant, for I am a weak-willed man and not a holy angel, a great sinner and not an innocent lamb, one who is lukewarm in prayer and far from fervent in contemplation….

My dear Lord, in place of the joyful song and jubilation of the angels and the melodious praise of all dwelling in heaven, I ask you to accept my humble prayer and heartfelt contrition for my sins. For my part, I do not despair nor will I despair of ever receiving your mercy and pardon, though in my frailty I am weighed down and often fall. Neither do I cease now nor will I throughout my life cease praising you; I will praise and magnify you, my God, until my soul finally attains to you. Always to praise you and to love you above all things is the supreme joy of the angels and of the blessed in the eternal homeland.

Venerable Thomas à Kempis

Thomas à Kempis († 1471) was a German priest and monk who wrote many spiritual works. [From Bountiful Goodness: A Little Garden of Roses & The Valley of Lilies, Joseph N. Tylenda, s.j., Tr. © 2013, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA. www.ignatius.com. Used with permission.]