Enlighten me, 0 Jesus, with the brightness of internal light, and cast all darkness from the dwelling of my heart. Restrain all my wandering thoughts and suppress all of the temptations that violently assault me. Fight for me, and overcome these wicked beasts; I mean these alluring concupiscences; that peace may be made in Thy power, and the abundance of Thy praise may resound in Thy holy court, which is a clean conscience. Command the winds and storms; say to the sea, `Be still”; and to the north wind, “Blow not”; and a great calm shall ensue. Send forth Thy light and Thy truth, that they may shine upon the earth; for I am like the earth that is empty and void, until Thou enlighten me.
Pour forth Thy grace from above. Water my heart with the dew of Heaven. Send down the waters of devotion to wash the face of the earth, to bring forth good and perfect fruit. Lift up my mind, oppressed with the load of sins, and raise my whole desire toward heavenly things, that, having tasted the sweetness of the happiness above, I may have no pleasure in thinking of the things of the earth. Draw me away, and deliver me from all unstable comfort of creatures; for no created thing can fully quiet and satisfy my desires. Join me to Thyself by an inseparable bond of love; for Thou alone can satisfy the lover, and without Thee all things are frivolous.
A Prayer Against Evil Thoughts: O Lord, my God, depart not from me. 0 my God, have regard to help me; for diverse evil thoughts and great fears have risen up against me, afflicting my soul. How shall I pass them without hurt? How shall I break through them? “And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the Lord’s land as male and female slaves; they will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them” (Isa. 14:2). Do, Lord, as Thou sayest, and let all these wicked thoughts flee from before Thy face. This is my hope and my only comfort, to fly to Thee in all tribulations, to confide in Thee, to call on Thee from my heart, and patiently to look for Thy consolation.
A Prayer To Follow The Example of Jesus Christ: Son, I came down from heaven for your salvation; I took upon me your miseries, not of necessity, but moved thereto by charity, that you might learn patience and might bear, without repining, the miseries of this life. For, from the hour of my birth until my expiring on the cross, I was never without suffering. Lord, because You were patient in Your lifetime, in thus chiefly fulfilling the commandment of Your Father, it is fitting that I, a wretched sinner, should, according to Your will, take all with patience and, as long as You please, support the burden of this corruptible life, in order to gain my salvation.
Oh! How great thanks am I obliged to return to You, for having vouchsafed to show me and all the faithful a right and good way to an everlasting kingdom. If You had not gone before us and also instructed us, who would have cared to have followed? Behold, we are still tepid, notwithstanding all of the miracles and instructions we have heard: what, then, would it be, if we had not this great light whereby to follow? – Imitation of Christ, Book III
