A Prayer for My Enemies- By Saint Anselm

We know we're supposed to pray for them. A great theologian shows us how .

One of the most penetrating theological minds in history belonged to Anselm, a monk, pastor, and ultimately archbishop of Canterbury. Like most church leaders, he had several enemies. Here is his prayer for them.


A Prayer for My Enemies

Almighty and tender Lord Jesus Christ, I have asked You to be good to my friends,

and now I bring before You what I desire in my heart for my enemies. …

If what I ask for them at any time is outside the rule of charity,

whether through weakness, ignorance, or malice,

good Lord, do not give it to them and do not give it back to me.

You who are the light, lighten their darkness;

You who are the whole truth, correct their errors;

You who are the true life, give life to their souls.

Tender Lord Jesus, let me not be the cause of the death of my brothers,

let me not be to them a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.

Let them be reconciled to You and in concord with me,

according to Your will and for Your own sake.

Do this, my good Creator and my merciful Judge,

according to Your mercy that cannot be measured.

Forgive me all my debts as I before You forgive all those indebted to me.

Perhaps this may not be so because in Your sight I have not yet done this perfectly,

but my will is set to do it, and to that end I am doing all I can.

I have prayed as a weak man and a sinner; You who are mighty and merciful,

hear my prayer.

Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas

Grant to me, merciful God,
the things which please you,
to desire ardently,
to investigate prudently,
to acknowledge truthfully, and
to fulfill perfectly
for the praise and glory of your name.

Amen.

Eternal God, behold me prostrate before your immense majesty, humbly adoring you. I offer you all my thoughts, words, and actions of this day. I offer them all to be thought, spoken, and done entirely for love of you, for your glory, to fulfill your divine will, to serve you, to praise you, and bless you. I wish and intend to do everything in union with the most pure intentions of Jesus and Mary.

-- St. John Leonardi

Dear Lord, you know my weakness. Each morning I resolve to be humble, and in the evening I recognize that I have often been guilty of pride. The sight of these faults tempts me to discouragement. Yet I know that discouragement itself is a form of pride.

I wish, therefore, O my God, to build my trust upon you. As You can do all things, deign to implant in my soul this virtue which I desire.

----St. Therese of Lisieux