ORATIO XXI. AD CHRISTUM. Oratio servi Dei de se humiliter sentientis.
Unworthy Yet Loved
The servant confesses unworthiness before Christ, yet clings to Christ's worthiness and the dignity of serving him.
Lord Jesus Christ, I know — yes, I know and admit it — that I'm not worthy of your love; but then, you're not unworthy of mine. I'm indeed unworthy to serve you, but you're not unworthy of your creature's service.
Asking for Worthiness
The servant asks Christ to give his own worthiness so that the servant may receive the worthiness he lacks.
So give me, Lord, the worthiness that is yours, and I'll gain the worthiness I now lack.
Freedom to Serve
The servant prays to be freed from sin so that he may serve Christ as he ought.
Make me stop sinning in whatever way you choose, so that I may serve you as I ought to.
A Guarded Life and Gentle End
The servant asks Christ's mercy to guard, guide, and bring his life to a good end in peaceful rest.
Grant me, through your most merciful compassion, that I may so guard, guide, and bring my life to a good end, that I may fall asleep in peace and rest in you.
Rest, Fullness, and Eternity
The servant prays that his soul may find sleep with rest, rest with fullness, and fullness with eternity in Christ, and concludes with 'Amen.'
Grant me, Lord, that at the end my soul may receive sleep together with rest, rest together with fullness, and fullness together with eternity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Read the original Latin
Scio, Domine Jesu Christe, scio, et fateor quod non sum dignus quem tu diligas; sed certe tu non es indignus, quem ego diligam. Indignus quidem sum tibi servire, sed non es tu indignus servitio creaturae tuae. Da mihi ergo, Domine, unde tu es dignus, et ero dignus unde sum indignus. Fac me quo modo vis, a peccatis cessare, ut quo modo debeo, possim tibi servire. Concede mihi per tuam piissimam misericordiam sic custodire, regere et finire vitam meam, ut in pace dormiam, et requiescam in te. Praesta mihi, Domine, ut in fine recipiat anima mea somnum cum requie, requiem cum saturitate, saturitatem cum aeternitate, per Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
Orationes sive Meditationes — Collection for Princess Adeliza of Normandy companion
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