Saint Thomas Aquinas
Grant me, Lord my God,
that I may not fall away in prosperity or adversity;
that I may not become proud in one
or discouraged in the other.
May I rejoice or grieve over nothing
except what leads me to you or separates me from you.
May I desire to please no one
and fear displeasing no one but you.
May everything passing be of little value to me,
and may everything that is yours be dear to me.
May every joy without you become wearisome,
and may I desire nothing apart from you.
May work done for you delight me,
and may every rest without you become burdensome.
Grant me, Lord, a heart constantly directed toward you,
and when I fail, let me grieve with a firm purpose to change.
Make me, Lord my God,
obedient without contradiction,
poor without misery,
chaste without corruption,
patient without complaint.
Humble without pretense,
joyful without excess,
sorrowful without dejection,
mature without heaviness,
active without carelessness,
reverent without despair.
May I be sincere without hypocrisy,
do good without presumption,
correct my neighbor without arrogance,
and build others up through word and example.
Grant me, Lord, a heart
watchful, so that no curiosity may draw it away from you;
noble, so that no unworthy influence may degrade it;
upright, so that no dishonest intention may turn it aside;
firm, so that no tribulation may weaken it;
free, so that no violent attachment may claim it.
Grant me, Lord my God,
an understanding that knows you,
diligence that seeks you,
wisdom that finds you,
conduct that pleases you,
perseverance that confidently waits for you,
and confidence that one day I will embrace you at last.
Grant that I may accept your correction here as penance,
use your blessings through your grace,
and enjoy your joy in our heavenly homeland for your glory.
You who live and reign as God forever and ever. Amen.