Victory over Sin/Temptation
9 prayers
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. ANSELM, 1033-1109
Lord, because you have made me, I owe you the whole of my love; because you have redeemed me, I owe you the whole of myself; because you have promised so much, I owe you my whole being. Moreover, I owe you as much more love than myself as you are greater than I, for whom you gave yourself and to whom you promised yourself. I pray you, Lord, make me taste by love what I taste by knowledge; let me know by love what I know by understanding. I owe you more than my whole self, but I have no more, and by myself I cannot render the whole of it to you. Draw me to you, Lord, in the fullness of your love. I am wholly yours by creation; make me all yours, too, in love. 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. JEROME, 342-420
O good shepherd, seek me out, and bring me home to your fold again. Deal favorably with me according to thy good pleasure, till I may dwell in your house all the days of my life, and praise you forever and ever with them that are there. 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.
PRAYER OF ST. AUGUSTINE, 354-430
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen.
PRAYER OF ST. EPHREM OF SYRIA, 306-373
O Lord of my life, take away from me the spirit of laziness, faint-heartedness, lust for power and idle talk. Instead grant me, your servant, the spirit of purity, humility, patience and love. Yes, O Lord and King! Grant me to see my own sins and faults and not to judge my neighbor, for you are truly blessed forever. Amen.