Most Gracious God, Preserve Us From the Cares of This Life

Most gracious God, preserve us from the cares of this life, lest we should be too much entangled therein; also from the many necessities of the body, lest we should be ensnared by pleasure; and from whatever is an obstacle to the soul, lest, being broken with troubles, we should be overthrown. Give us strength to resist, patience to endure, and constancy to persevere; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.



Thomas a Kempis

With Greates Devotion and Ardent Love

With greatest devotion and ardent love, with all affection and fervor of heart I wish to receive you, O Lord, as many saints and devout persons, most pleasing to you in their holiness of life and most fervent in devotion, desired you in holy communion. O my God, everlasting love, my final good, my happiness unending, I long to receive you with as strong a desire and as worthy a reverence as any of the saints ever had or could have felt, and though I am not worthy to have all these sentiments of devotion, still I offer you the full affection of my heart as if I alone had all those most pleasing and ardent desires.





Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471) from The Imitation of Christ

Thomas was born near Cologne and spent his life in the Netherlands. His classic book The Imitation of Christ comes from a monastic background, yet has been popular with all sorts of Christians because it teaches that it is possible for anyone to model their life on that of Jesus.

O Most Gracious God, From Whom Comes Every Good and Perfect Gift

O most gracious God, from whom comes every good and perfect gift, work in us both to will and to do according to your good pleasure. Enlighten our minds that we may know you, and let us not be unfruitful in that knowledge. Lord, work in our hearts a true faith, a purifying hope, and an unfeigned love for you. Give us a full trust in you, zeal for you, reverence of all things that relate to you. Make us fearful to offend you, thankful for your mercies, humble under your corrections, devout in your service, and sorrowful for our sins.



Thomas a Kempis from The Imitation of Christ

Lord, I Make You a Present of Myself

Lord, I make you a present of myself. I do not know what to do with myself. So let me make this exchange: I will place myself entirely in your hands, if you will cover my ugliness with your beauty, and tame my unruliness with your love. Put out the flames of false passion in my heart, since these flames destroy all that is true within me. Make me always busy in your service. Lord, I want no special signs from you, nor am I looking for intense emotions in response to your love. I would rather be free of all emotion, than to run the danger of falling victim once again to false passion. Let my love for you be naked, without any emotional clothing.



Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510)

After ten years of unhappy marriage, Catherine, who came from a noble family of Genoa, had a religious conversion and began two practices which she continued for the rest of her life: daily communion, and nursing the sick in the city’s hospital. Her husband was then converted and worked with her until he died.

Geometry As Yet Cannot Define

Geometry as yet cannot define
A circle’s area as a square, we know
These are two systems which will not combine.


Nor does our language words enough bestow
With which the truths of heaven can be shown
In human terms created here below.


I could not fly so high, till from your throne
A flash of light showed what no words can prove:
What cannot be described may yet be known.


My fancy fails – you, God, are far above
My mind, which human weakness mars
Yet heart and will may still be turned by love –
The love that moves the sun and all the stars.



From Paradiso by Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)

Lord Jesus, as God's Spirit Came Down

Lord Jesus, as God’s Spirit came down and rested upon you, may the same Spirit rest upon us, bestowing his sevenfold gifts.

First, grant us the gift of understanding, by which your precepts may enlighten our minds.

Second, grant us counsel, by which we may follow in your footsteps on the path of righteousness.

Third, grant us courage, by which we may ward off the enemy’s attacks.

Fourth, grant us knowledge, by which we can distinguish good from evil.

Fifth, grant us piety, by which we may acquire compassionate hearts.

Sixth, grant us fear, by which we may draw back from evil and submit to what is good.

Seventh, grant us wisdom, that we may taste fully the life-giving sweetness of your love.

Bonaventura (1217-74)

O Lord, Holy Father, Show Us What Kind of Man

O Lord, holy Father, show us what kind of man it is who is hanging for our sakes on the cross, whose suffering causes the rocks themselves to crack and crumble with compassion, whose death brings the dead back to life. Let my heart crack and crumble at the sight of him. Let my soul break apart with compassion for his suffering. Let it be shattered with grief at my sins for which he dies. And finally let it be softened with devoted love for him.



Bonaventura (1217-74)

Give Us, O Lord, A Steadfast Heart

Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no selfish desires may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no troubles can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy ambitions may tempt aside. Give us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, perseverance to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.



Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-74)