The Pastor's Prayer, Part 6 & 7

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

Composed and Used by Him

VI.

Indeed, O my hope, these things are necessary to me on my own account. But there are other things that I need not only on my account, but on account of those whom you have bidden me to lead— or, rather, those whom you have bidden me to benefit. Long ago, one of the ancients asked that he might be granted wisdom to know how to rule your people, for he was a king. [1] His words were pleasing in your sight, and you heard his voice. You had not yet gone to the cross, and had not yet displayed that wondrous love to your people.

Behold, O sweet Lord, behold in your sight your own people, who have your cross before their eyes and the sign of your passion upon themselves. You have entrusted them to be led by this sinful servant of yours. My God, you know my foolishness, and my weakness is not hidden from you. [2] And so I pray, sweet Lord, not for you to give me gold, nor silver, nor precious stones, but for wisdom to know how to lead your people. Pour it forth, O fount of wisdom, [3] from the seat of your greatness, that it may be with me, toil with me, labour with me, and speak through me. [4] May it order my thoughts and words, my plans and all my work, according to your gracious purpose, to the honour of your name, for their success and my salvation.

VII.

Lord, you know my heart. My wish is that whatever you have given to your servant, might be entirely devoted to your people and expended entirely for them. [5] More than that, that I myself might be willingly devoted to them. So be it, my Lord, so be it. May my speech and perception, my work and leisure, my thoughts and deeds, my prosperity and adversity, my life and death, my sickness and health, every single thing that I am, that I am live, that I perceive, that I discern, may it all be entirely devoted to them, and expended entirely for them: for those whom you yourself did not refuse to be expended.

And so teach me, your servant, Lord, teach me, I pray, through your Holy Spirit, how to devote myself to them and to expend myself for them. Grant me, Lord, through your unspeakable grace, to bear patiently with their weaknesses, to be faithfully compassionate to them, to wisely support them. With your Spirit as my teacher, may I learn how to console the brokenhearted, to strengthen the fainthearted, to lift up the fallen, to be weak alongside those who are weak [6] to burn indignantly alongside those who are scandalized, [7] and to be all things to all people in order to win them all. [8] Put into my mouth words that are right and true and eloquent and that may build them up in faith, hope, and charity, in self-control and humility, in patience and obedience, in fervour of spirit [9] and devotion of mind.

And since you have given them this blind guide, [10] this unlearned teacher, this ignorant ruler, if not for my sake, at least for theirs, teach the one you have made a teacher, lead the one you have instructed to lead others, rule the one you have established as a ruler. Teach me, therefore, sweet Lord, how to restrain the restless, to console the fearful, to support the weak, [11] and to match myself to each one of them according to their nature and character, their ability or simplicity, according to time and place, as you see fit.

And since, on account of the weakness of my flesh [12]

or perhaps the fearfulness of my spirit,

or perhaps the corruption of my heart,

they might barely (or even not at all) be built up by

my efforts, my lost sleep or lost meals,

I ask of your bountiful mercy

that they might be build up

by my humility, and charity,

my patience and mercy.

May my words and teaching build them up,

and may my prayers always assist them.

---

Notes:

1. 1 Kings 3.9: ‘Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’

2. Psalm 69.5 (BCP): ‘I paid them the things that I never took: / God, thou knowest my foolishness, and my faults are not hid from thee.’

3. Proverbs 18.4: ‘The words of the mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream.’

4. Wisdom 9.10: ‘Send [Wisdom] forth from the holy heavens, and from the throne of your glory send her, that she may labour at my side, and that I may learn what is pleasing to you.’

5. 2 Corinthians 12.15: ‘I will most gladly spend and be spent for you. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?’ 2 Timothy 4.6 (NTE): ‘For I am already being poured out as a drink-offering; my departure time has arrived.’

6. 1 Corinthians 9.22a: ‘To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak.’

7. 2 Corinthians 11.29: ‘Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant?’

8. 1 Corinthians 9.22b: ‘I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some.’

9. Romans 12.11 (KJV): ‘Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;’

10. Matthew 15.14 (NTE): ‘Let them be. They are blind guides. But if one blind person guides another, both of them will fall into a pit.’

11. 1 Thessalonians 5.14: ‘And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.’

12. Romans 6.19 (KJV): ‘I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh:’