Page:The Catholic prayer book.djvu/525



LORD, I beseech  thee  to  grant  me  thy  divine  light that I may  know  the  designs  of  thy  providence concerning me,  and  that,  filled  with  a sincere  desire for my  soul’s  salvation,  I may  say  with  the  young man in  the  Gospel: “ What  must  I do  to  be  saved? ” All states  of  life  are  before  me;  but,  still  undecided what to  do,  I await  thy  commands,  I offer  myself  to thee  without  restriction,  without  reserve,  with  a most  perfect  submission.

Far be  it  from  me,  O Lord,  to  oppose  the  order  of thy  wisdom,  and,  unfaithful  to  the  inspiration  of  thy grace, to  strive  to  subject  the  will  of  the  Creator  to the  caprice  of  the  creature. It is  not  for  the  servant to choose  the  way  in  which  he  will  serve  his  master: do thou  lay  upon  me  what  commands  thou  pleasest. “ My lot  is  in  thine  hands.”  I make  no  exception, lest perchance  that  which  I except,  be  that  which thou wiliest,  and  because  I am  too  short-sighted to discover  in  the  future  the  different  obstacles I shall meet  with,  if,  without  thy  guidance,  I make myself the  arbiter  of  my  own  conduct. Speak, Lord, to my  soul; speak  to  me  as  thou  didst  to  the  youthful Samuel:  “Speak  to  me,  Lord;  for  thy  servant heareth.” I cast  myself  at  thy  feet,  and  I am  ready, if it  be  thy  will,  to  sacrifice  myself  as  a victim  to  thee for the  remainder  of  my  days,  in  such  manner  as thou  shalt  deem  most  worthy  of  thy  greatness.

O my God,  overrule  the  affections  of  my  parents, and guide  their  projects  according  to  the  counsels  of thy  eternal  wisdom. Lord, I desire  to  consult  thee  as the  oracle  of  truth,  sincerely  and  without  preference; grant that  they  also  may  submit  themselves  to  its decrees faithfully  and  without  reserve.