Not knowledge, but God.
Not efficiency, but God.
Not good impressions, but God.
Not pleasures, but God.
Not comforts, but God.
Not possessions, but God.
Not "worship", but God.
Not sacrifice, but God.
Not punctuality, but God.
Not praises, but God.
Not corrections, but God.
Not theologies, but God.
Not ecumenicalism, but God.
Not traditions, but God.
Not rebuttals, but God.
Not entertainment, but God.
Not one thing that might distract me from your way,
your righteousness, your will and your Spirit.
May all I do be done by your doing.
-Based on a prayer by Vincent Pallotti
HAVE MERCY
O God, I am entrapped--
I cannot do your will
I am sick-- I must care for my body;
I am blind-- I must be led, not lead;
I am judged-- I cannot meet with others;
I am poor-- I have no resources to sacrifice;
I am depressed-- I cannot leave my house.
All that has happened tears me from You--
. but I must have You
Where can you be found?
O God, I am entrapped
I cannot do your will.
I am married- I must love first my wife;
I am a parent-- I must support my children;
I have debts-- I must repay all;
I am a prisoner-- I must serve out my term;
I am a leader-- I must create new paths;
I am a politician-- I must obey my constituency;
I am a servant-- I must obey my boss.
Can I ask you to free me from your will?
I cannot- I love you too much
Even as I love righteousness.
O God, I am entrapped--
I cannot do your will.
I am angry--I am blind with my rage;
I am drunk--yet I need the next bottle;
I am lustful-- my flesh has its control
I am controlling--puppet strings tied to my hands
I am greedy-- advertisements point the way;
I am lazy, hypocritical, lying, cheating;
Horror of horrors, but I cannot stop
It's who I am
You cannot help a one so steeped in self-interest and self-lothing
can you?
can you?
I need you
This isn't just a request
or a longing
or a hope.
I need you
I need you to do what you did in the beginning.
I need a re-creation.
Dear Lord, if you want me--
Really want me--
Make me anew.
In my weakness…
Let me never deny you by my actions
But allow me to be pure
Let me never speak in hostile wrath
But allow me to gently grant courage
Let me never ignore or reject the difficult
But allow me to welcome and make whole
Let me never isolate or hide my love
But allow me to join your people in heart, mind and body.
Let me never rely only on myself and my resources
But allow me to be strengthened by your love.
But even thus, allow me to gain rest
Allow me to cease striving
Allow me to gain peace
Allow me to be flooded with your Spirit
…if only for a moment.
"Lord I ask for your mercy. Chastise me for my sins and purge me of all evil, that I may be saved from everlasting damnation."
-Margary Kempe
"I want to love you, O my God, with a love that is patient, with a love that abandons itself wholly to you, with a love that acts, and, most important of all, with a love that perseveres."
-Theresa Margret
"O tender Father, you give me more, much more than I ever thought to ask for. I realize that our human desires can never really match what you long to give us. Thanks and thanks again, O Father, for having granted my petitions, and that which I never realized I needed or petitioned."
-Catherine of Siena
"I vow obedience to you because Your Fatherly charity allures me, your loving kindness and gentleness attract me. In observing your will, I tie myself to you because clinging to you is lovable above everything."
-Gertrude the Great
"Grant to me, O merciful God, that I might
ardently love
prudently ponder
rightfully acknowledge
and perfectly fulfill all that is pleasing to you
for the praise and glory of your name."
-Thomas Aquinas
"Govern all by Your wisdom, O Lord, so my soul may always be serving you as you will and not as I choose. Do not punish me, I beseech, by granting that which I wish or ask, if it offend your love which would always live in me. Let me die to myself that I may serve you. Let me live to you who in yourself are the true life."
-Teresa of Avila
O Lord, the great desire of my heart
My fondest dream and truest wish
Is that I love you more.
May your love swallow my whole being
Crushing my life of this age to dust
Squeezing it out like juice from pulp
Renewing my ways and strengthening my resolve
To be like You.
Have mercy on me, O Lord, a sinner
I am not worthy
Lord, make me blind
Pierce my eyes with your flaming sword
May my eyes be cast down in humility
May by eyes be cast down in prayer
May my eyes be cast down in shame
for what my mind reveals
Eyes: I make a covenant with you
See my Lord alone or see nothing
Look to glory or look not.
O God,
Deliver me from evil
Deliver me from sin
Deliver me from lies
Deliver me from myself
Deliver me from fear
Deliver me from anxieties
Deliver me from attachments
Deliver me from possessions
Deliver me from denials
Draw me into You.
O God, set me free
Free to reject
Free to give
Free to sell
Free to surrender
Free to trust
Free to love and love and love
without end.
