Courage
10 prayers
PRAYER OF ST. CLARE OF ASSISI, 1194-1253
Place your mind before the mirror of eternity! Place your soul in the brilliance of glory! Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance! And transform your whole being into the image of the Godhead Itself through contemplation! So that you too may feel what His friends feel as they taste the hidden sweetness which God Himself has reserved from the beginning for those who love Him. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS, 1181-1226
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX, 1090-1153
Jesus, the very thought of you with sweetness fills the breast; But sweeter far your face to see, And in your presence rest. Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame, Nor can the memory find a sweeter sound than your blessed Name, O Savior of mankind! O hope of every contrite heart, O joy of all the meek, To those who fall, how kind you are! How good to those who seek! o Jesus, light of all below, fount of living fire, surpassing all the joys we know, and all we can desire. Abide with us, and let your light shine, Lord, on every heart; Dispel the darkness of our night; And joy to all impart. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. THOMAS À KEMPIS, 1380-1470
Lord, You know what is best; let this be done or that be done as You please. Give what You will, as much as You will, when You will. Do with me as You know best, as will most please You, and will be for Your greater honor. Place me where You will and deal with me freely in all things. I am in Your hand; turn me about whichever way You will. Behold, I am Your servant, ready to obey in all things. Not for myself do I desire to live, but for You-would that I could do this worthily and perfectly! Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. ALCUIN, 735-804
Eternal Light, shine into our hearts; Eternal Goodness, deliver us from evil; Eternal Power, be our support; Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance: That we may seek Your face with all our heart and mind and soul and strength. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. AIDAN, ?-651
Leave me alone with God as much as may be. As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore, make me an island, set apart, alone with you, God, holy to you. Then with the turning of the tide prepare me to carry your presence to the busy world beyond, the world that rushes in on me till the waters come again and fold me back to you. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. COLUMBA, 521-597
Alone with none but you, my God, I journey on my way. What need I fear, when you are near, 0 king of night and day? More safe am I within your hand than if a host did round me stand. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. BENEDICT, 480-547
Gracious and holy Father, give me wisdom to perceive you, intelligence to fathom you, patience to wait for you, eyes to behold you, a heart to meditate upon you, and a life to proclaim you, through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. AMBROSE OF MILAN, 339-397
O Lord, who hast mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of thy Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore you, a heart to delight in you, to follow and to enjoy you, for Christ's sake. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. PATRICK, 387-493
May the strength of God pilot me, the power of God uphold me, the wisdom of God guide me. May the eye of God look before me, the ear of God hear me, the Word of God speak for me. May the hand of God protect me, the way of God lie before me, the shield of God defend me, the host of God save me. May Christ shield me today. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit, Christ when I stand, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me. Amen.