17th Century Nun's Prayer

A Seventeenth-Century Nun’s Prayer

Lord, Thou knowest better than I myself

Know that I am growing older and

Will some day be, old.

Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking

I must say something on every subject

and on every occasion. .

Release me from the craving to straighten

out everybody’s affairs.

Make me thoughtful, but not moody;

helpful, but not bossy.

With my vast store of wisdom it seems

a pity not to use it all, but Thou

knowest, 0 Lord, that I want a

few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital

of endless details; give me wings to

get to the point.

Seal my lips on my aches and pains. They are

increasing, and love of rehearsing them is

becoming sweeter as the days go by.

I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the

tales of others’ pains, but help me to

endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for an improved memory,

but for a growing humility and a lessening

cocksureness when my memory seems to

clash with the memories of others.

Teach me the glorious lesson that

occasionally I may be mistaken,

Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not

want to be a saint – some of them

are so hard to live with – but a sour

old person is one of the crowning

works of the devil.

Give me the ability to see good things in

unexpected places, and talents in

unexpected people.

And give me, 0 Lord, the grace to tell them so,

Amen

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