Old Prayer – New Year

The sun rises, the sun sets; some things just never change.  Our prayers whether they are from this generation or the next often reflect the same things; the same desires; all from the same God.

An unnamed seventeenth century nun wrote the following prayer.  As I read and meditate on her words I think of how easily it could have been written today instead of centuries past.  The thirteen points seemed to jump off the page into my lap giving me a stable prayer foundation perfect for the start of a New Year.

Here is her prayer; in her own words:

Dear God:

1. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and every occasion.
2. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs.
3. Make me thoughtful but not moody.
4. Helpful but not bossy.
5. Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details.
6. Give me wings to get to the point.
7. Seal my lips on my aches and pains.
8. Give me patience to endure the tales of others’ pains.
9. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.
10. Keep me reasonably sweet; not a saint – not a sour old person.
11. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places.
12. To see talents in unexpected people.
13. And give me O Lord, the grace to tell them so.

A prayer from the seventeenth century that seems fitting for us twenty first century dwellers; thirteen prayers directed towards living a better life with less complaining and gaining more favorable characteristics.

O Lord, as we start the New Year bless us with the gift of answered prayer from an unnamed seventeenth century nun.