Stay with us, O Lord. Let us experience your love in our poor, bewildered human lives. Let us find strength in the presence of that love, the grace and strength that make us free to open up and give ourselves. May we discover the fulfillment of our freedom in this gift.
Lord, let us especially know your mercy, for we are awkward in the giving of ourselves, and sometimes we fall into doubt and fear because we forget that we are loved by you. Let us be rooted in your mercy, and find there the courage to ask for and receive forgiveness.
Enable us by your grace to offer ourselves each day, and not succumb to the great temptation to give up in the face of our failures and sins. Have mercy on us, forgive us, raise us up, strengthen us to continue on the path of loving you and loving our brothers and sisters.
Save us from our clumsiness, our ignorance, our foolishness, and our weakness; do not let the narrowness of our own egotistical selves be a scandal to us. Let it rather be an occasion for greater trust in your Merciful Love, which is the Source of all that we are and have and do. Change us and carry us beyond ourselves into the immeasurable spaces of your goodness and your glory.
You who have given us our freedom — and who sustain its vitality within us — Lord, you want so ardently to bring our freedom to fulfillment through your wisdom and love, so that we might freely love you and be transformed in you and come to dwell with you for all eternity.
Preserve us from turning away from you. Draw our hearts to you, convert us and bring us your healing. Give us trust in you. Stay with us, O Lord. Never permit us to be separated from you.
Jesus, have mercy on us. Come, Holy Spirit.
