A prayer from St Benedict

A statue of St. Benedict in the Basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura, Rome.

Today is the feast day of Saint Benedict, the father of the Monastic Movement. I came across this beautiful prayer written by St Benedict, and here it is for your reflection and meditation:

Father, in Your goodness, grant me
- the intellect to comprehend You, the perception to discern You, the reason to appreciate You. 

In Your kindness, endow me with
- the diligence to look for You,  the wisdom to discover You, and the spirit to apprehend You.      

                                                                                                      

In Your graciousness, bestow on me
- a heart to contemplate You, ears to hear You,  eyes to see You, a tongue to speak of You. 

In Your mercy confer on me

- a conversation pleasing to You, the patience to wait for You,  the perseverance to long for You. Grant me a perfect end, and Your holy presence. Amen.