Oratio humilis et contriti spiritus
A Prayer of Contrite Heart
The author presents his frailty and sins before God, offering his contrition as a humble sacrifice.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul: you who dwell in the heavens. O Lord God, who provides for all things justly in heaven and on earth with angels and men and all your creatures: accept on my behalf all the tribulations and troubles of my heart in true contrition for my sins, as a worthy offering for your great praises and gifts. Turn all my evil into good, and good always into better, for the glory of your name and the eternal salvation of my soul. You know all my weaknesses and my great ignorance, as well as the daily instability of my memory: how quickly I wander here and there, far from you. Have mercy on me, Lord, according to the multitude of your mercies, and bring me back to you more quickly. Keep my heart close to you in devoted prayer and sacred meditation, day and night, as much as I can in this fragile body. I long to please your most gracious face with sacred gifts and prayers; and especially with the three oblations of the poor: with the contrition of my heart, the confession of my lips, and the humble satisfaction of my works. Lord my God, most lovable, remember me, a poor man: for I am a fragile human, not a holy angel; a great sinner, not an innocent lamb; a lukewarm orator, not a fervent contemplator.
Hope in Divine Mercy
Despite his unworthiness, the author persists in prayer and praise, finding hope in God's mercy rather than his own merit.
And so, I'm not worthy to be your servant, nor should I be counted, seen, or named among those who pray with devotion. My dearest Lord, I beg you: let my humble prayer and the bitter contrition for my sins be acceptable to you, in place of the sweet song and jubilation of the angels, and the harmonious praise of all the heavenly citizens above. Nevertheless, I don't despair, nor will I ever despair, of your mercy and forgiveness, even though I fall often and am weighed down within myself by my own weakness. I don't stop, nor will I stop, praising you in my life; rather, I will praise and magnify you until my soul reaches you, O God. For to praise you always and to love you above all things is the highest happiness of the angels and the blessed in their homeland.
Read the original Latin
Ad te Domine levavi animam meam: qui habitas in caelis. O Domine Deus qui omnia provide ac iuste disponis in caelo et in terra cum angelis et hominibus et omnibus creaturis tuis: accipe pro magnis laudibus et gratificationibus tibi debitis omnes tribulationes et angustias cordis mei in vera contritione peccatorum meorum tibi modos oblatas. Converte mihi omne malum in bonum, et bonum semper in melius: pro gloria nominis tui et animae meae aeterna salute. Tu scis omnem infirmitatem meam et magnam ignorantiam meam atque cotidianam instabilitatem memoriae meae: quam cito vagor hinc inde longius a te saepissime. Parce mihi Domine secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum: et reduc me citius ad te. Conserva cor meum apud te in devota oratione et sacra meditatione die ac nocte: quantum mihi est possibile in hoc fragili corpore. Cupio placare benignissimam faciem tuam muneribus sacris et precibus; et praecipue tribus pauperum obolis: contritione cordis confessione oris, et satisfactione humilis operis. Domine Deus meus summe amabilis, memento mei pauperis: quia homo sum fragilis, non angelus sanctus peccator magnus, non innocens agnus: tepidus orator, non fervidus contemplator.
Et ideo nec dignus servitor tuus: nec inter devotos oratores debeo computari nec videri, nec nominari. Domine mia carissime: accepta sit tibi obsecro humilis oratio mea et amara contritio peccatorum meorum; pro dulci cantu et iubilatione angelorum: et concordi laudatione omnium caelestium civium supernorum. Verumtamen non despero nec desperabo de venia et misericordia tua: quamvis saepius cado et gravor in me ipso ex infirmitate mea. Non cesso nec cessabo a laude tua in vita mea: sed laudabo et magnificabo te, donec ad te perveniat o Deus anima mea. Nam te semper laudare et super omnia amare; summa felicitas angelorum et beatorum in patria.
The Little Garden of Roses & The Valley of Lilies companion
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