Asking of God

Prayer is a raising of mind and heart to God—to adore, praise, thank, and ask for our needs. Asking is the first spontaneous movement of a soul that recognizes God as Father and Creator. As children of God, we need to ask him humbly for everything without restriction.

Often, however, we do not obtain what we ask because:

— we ask aut mali —as people whose dispositions are bad, or

— we ask aut male—praying badly, asking without humility, perseverance, or faith, or

— we ask aut mala—for bad things that will harm us or are not good for us. (—St. Augustine)

Therefore prayer that is infallible in itself has to be true prayer.

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we shall pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26)

Lord, let me stand resolute in you before all the batteries of this world, doing whatever I am given to do with dignity.

Lord, I plead...

the grace to control my

—imagination
—memory
—senses
—temper
—tongue

the grace of

— recollection
— patience
— abandonment

the grace of

— contrition
— insight
— charity
— sanctity

the grace of

— generosity
— temperance
— chastity

Lord, I plead the grace...

to — pray well
— maintain my daily resolution
— overcome temptation
— care for myself in this life

to — wait on you, my God
— refer myself always to you
— receive all things at your hand
— suffer confidently according to your will

to — unite myself daily more closely with Christ
— make myself the servant of God
— learn to transcend myself
— offer the gift no man can invent for himself

Prayer for Patience

O MOST GENTLE JESUS, Prince of Peace, who, when thou was reviled, reviled not in return, and on the Cross didst pray for thy murderers, implant in my heart the virtues of gentleness and patience, that restraining the fierceness of anger, impatience, and resentment, I may overcome evil with good, for thy sake love my enemies, and as a child of my heavenly Father, seek thy peace and evermore rejoice in thy love. Amen