Prayer of St Thomas Aquinas for grace to lead a holy life
O MERCIFUL GOD, grant that I may eagerly desire, carefully search out, truthfully acknowledge, and ever perfectly fulfil all things which are pleasing to Thee. Order, O my GOD, all my state and grant me to know what Thou dost require me to do, and give me to do it as is fitting and profitable to my soul. Grant, O LORD my GOD, that I may not fail either in prosperity or adversity, that I be not lifted up by the one or cast down by the other. Let me joy in nothing but what leads to Thee, nor grieve for anything but what leads away from Thee; let men either seek to please, nor fear to displease any but Thee alone. May all transitory things grow vile in my eyes, O LORD, and may all that is eternal be dear to me. May all joy be irksome to me that is without Thee, nor may I desire anything that is apart from Thee. May all labour and toil delight me which is for Thee, and all rest be weariness which is not in Thee. Grant me, O LORD, continually to lift up my heart towards Thee, and to bring sorrowfully to mind my many short comings with full purpose of amendment. Make me, O LORD, obedient without demur, poor without repining, chaste without stain, patient
Sine præsumptione,proximum corripere sine elatione, ipsum ædificare verbo et exemplo sine simulatione. Da mihi, DOMINE DEUS, cor pervigil, quod nulla abducat a te curiosa cogitatio: da nobile, quod nulla deorsum trahat indigna affectio: da rectum, quod nulla seorsum obliquet sinistra intentio: da firmum, quod nulla fran quod nulla sibi vindicet gat tribulatio: da liberum, violenta affectio.
Largire mihi, DOMINE DEUS meus, intellectum te cognoscentem, diligenti am te quærentem, sapientiam te invenientem, conversationem tibi placentem, perseverantiam fidenter te expectantem, et fiduciam te finaliter amplectentem. Da tuis pœnis hie affligi per pœnitentiam, tuis beneficiis in via uti per gratiam, tuis gaudiis in patria perfrui per gloriam. Qui vivis et regnas DEUS per omnia sæcula sæculorum. Amen,
without murmur, humble without pretence, joyous without frivolity, fearful without abjectness, truthful without disguise, given to good works without presumption, faithful to rebuke my neighbour without arrogance, and ever careful to edify him by word and example without pretension. Give me, O LORD, an ever watchful heart, which no subtle speculation may lure from Thee. Give me a noble heart, which no unworthy affection can draw downwards to the earth, Give me an upright heart, which no insincere intention can warp aside. Give me a firm heart, which no tribulation can crush or quell. Give me a free heart, which no perverted or impetuous affection can claim for its own. Bestow on me, O LORD, my GOD, understanding to know Thee, diligence to seek Thee, wisdom to find Thee, a life and conversation which may please Thee, perseverance in waiting patiently for Thee, and a hope which may embrace Thee at the last. Grant me to be pierced with compunction by thy sorrows through true repentance, to improve all thy gifts and benefits during this my pilgrimage through thy grace, and so in glory to rejoice together with Thee in the heavenly country. Who livest and reignest GOD, for ever and ever. Amen.