The Pastor's Prayer, Part 4 & 5

The Prayer of the Venerable Aelred, Abbot of Rielvaux. Meant for Prelates and Especially Abbots

Composed and Used by Him

IV.

But in whatever wisdom you have put me, unworthy and a sinner, into this position, or have allowed me to be put into it, nevertheless, as long as you let me be in charge of them, you bid me to be careful for them and to pray more attentively for them. Therefore, Lord, I pour my prayers in your presence, not based on my own justifications, but on your many compassions. Where my own worth is silent, my duty cries out. Let your eyes therefore be upon me, and your ears open to my prayers. [1] But since, as divine law confirms, the duty of priests is to pray for themselves first, and then to offer sacrifice for the people, [2] I first offer this sacrifice of prayer to your majesty for my own sins.

V.

Behold the wounds of my spirit, Lord. Your living and powerful eye sees all things, seeing right down to the division of soul from spirit. [3] Surely you see, my Lord, you see both the wreckage of my past sins, the dangers of my present ones, and even the causes and sources of those yet to come. You see them, O Lord, and I want you to see them. For you know, O examiner of my heart, that there is nothing in my spirit that I would want to hide from your eyes, even if I could avoid their sight.

Woe to those who try to hide from you! [4] For they do not make themselves unseen to you, but instead unhealed and rather, punished by you. See me, sweet Lord, see me. For I trust in your faithfulness, O most merciful, because you will see me, either to heal me as a faithful physician, or to correct me as the kindest teacher, or to forgive me as the most indulgent father.

And so this is what I ask for, O fount of faithfulness, trusting in your most omnipotent mercy and your most merciful omnipotence: that in the power of your most sweet name and of the mystery of your most holy humanity, you would forgive my sins, and heal my weaknesses. I ask this, mindful of your goodness, and not mindful of my ingratitude. I ask as well that you would grant me strength and power, by your sweet grace, against the faults and evil passions that have assaulted my soul until now, whether from my worst former habits, from my daily and infinite negligences, from the weakness of my corrupt and sinful nature, or from the hidden temptation of spiteful spirits. May I not give way to them, nor may they rule over my mortal body, nor may I expose my members as tools of those wicked purposes, [5] for as long as it takes you to completely heal my weaknesses, cure my wounds, and reform my deformities.

May your good and sweet Spirit

descend into my heart,

and prepare within it a dwelling-place for himself,

cleansing it from all that contaminates flesh and spirit, [6]

and pouring into it the increase

of faith, hope, and charity, [7]

and an attitude of penitence,

of reverence, and of gentleness.

May he extinguish with the dew of his blessing

the fever of desire,

and mortify with his power

the arousals that seek pleasure for its own sake

and the fondness for what is purely physical.

In my toils and sleepless nights and self-denial

may he furnish me with passion and discernment

to love you, to praise you,

to pray to you and meditate upon you;

with dedication and capability

to turn all my thoughts and actions toward you;

and steadfastness in these gifts

until the end of my life.

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Notes:

1. Psalm 34.15 (BCP): ‘The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, / and his ears are open unto their prayers.’

2. Leviticus 9.7: ‘Then Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar and sacrifice your sin-offering and your burnt-offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people; and sacrifice the offering of the people, and make atonement for them; as the Lord has commanded.”’ Hebrews 5.3: “...and because of this [the high priest] must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people.’

3. Hebrews 4.12: ‘Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.’

4. Isaiah 29.15 (KJV): ‘Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?’

5. Romans 6.12–13a (NTE): ‘So don’t allow sin to rule in your mortal body, to make you obey its desires. Nor should you present your limbs and organs to sin to be used for its wicked purposes.’

6. 2 Corinthians 7.1 (KJV): ‘Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.’

7. 1 Corinthians 13.13 (KJV): ‘And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.’