THE UNIVERSAL PRAYER
Lord, I believe in You; increase my faith.
I trust in You; strengthen my trust.
I love You; let me love You more and more.
I am sorry for my sins; deepen my sorrow.
Guide me by Your wisdom,
Comfort me with Your mercy,
Protect me with Your power.
I offer You, Lord, my thoughts, to be fixed on You;
My words, to have You for their theme;
My actions, to reflect my love for You.
I want to do what You ask of me,
In the way You ask,
For as long as You ask,
Because You ask it.
Help me to repent of my past sins
And to resist temptation in the future.
Help me to rise above my human weaknesses
And to grow stronger as a Christian.
Let me love You my Lord and my God,
And see myself as I really am – a pilgrim in this world,
A Christian called to respect and love all whose lives I touch.
Help me to conquer anger with gentleness,
Greed by generosity,
Apathy by fervor.
Help me to forget myself and reach out to others.
Let my conscience be clear,
My conduct without fault,
My speech blameless,
My life well-ordered.
Put me on guard against human weaknesses.
Teach me to realize that this world is passing,
That my true future is the happiness of heaven,
That life on earth is short, and the life to come eternal.
Help me to prepare for death with a proper fear of judgment,
But a greater trust in your goodness.
Lead me safely through death to the endless joy of heaven.
Grant this through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.

Very Rev. Canon Tom