The Universal Prayer

Lord,

I believe in you;
grant me stronger faith.

I trust in you;
give me a more confident hope.

I love you;
may I love you more ardently.

I am sorry for my sins;
may I have a deeper sorrow.

I worship you as my first beginning;
I long for you as my last end.

I…
praise you as my constant helper
invoke you as my gracious protector.

Guide me - by your wisdom,
correct me - with your justice,
comfort me - with your kindness,
protect me - with your power.

I offer you, (Lord),
my thoughts - that they may - rise to you;
my words - that they may - speak of you;
my actions - that they may - follow your will;
my sufferings - that they may - be borne for you.

I will - whatever you will:
I will - all - because you will it;
I will - all things to be - as you wish them;
I will - them (all things) - as long as you will them.

Lord,
enlighten - my understanding,
inflame - my will,
purify - my heart,
sanctify - my soul.

Help me…
repent of my past sins
put to flight future temptations.

Make me…
conquer my evil inclinations
cultivate the virtues I should have.

Grant that I may…
love you, (O good God),
despise myself.

May I have…
zeal for my neighbor
contempt for the world.

May I strive…
to obey my superiors
to assist those dependent on me;

make me…
solicitous* of my friends,
happy to spare my enemies.

[concerned, watchful, caring, ready to help]

Help me to master…
pleasure-seeking - by austerity,
greed - by generosity,
anger - by gentleness,
apathy - by fervor.

Make me…
prudent - in my plans,
courageous - in times of danger,
patient - in suffering,
unassuming - in prosperity.

Keep me, (Lord),
attentive - at prayer,
temperate - in food and drink,
diligent - in my work,
firm - in my good intentions.

Let…
my inner life be innocent
my outer behavior modest.

Let…
my speech be blameless
my life well-ordered.

May I take care to master my natural impulses;
let me cherish growth in grace.

May I…
keep your law,
come (at last) to win salvation.

Teach me to realize…
how slight are earthly things
how great is that which is divine,
how swiftly things of time pass,
how enduring are eternal realities.

Help me…
prepare for death
have a right fear of judgment;

may I…
escape hell
and take possession of heaven.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.