A Prayer of Repentance

A beautiful prayer by John of Dalyatha, from the 8th century, as quoted in The Name of Jesus, by Irénée Hausherr (pages 103-4). This can be a prayer of repentance that brings someone back to the fellowship that is called Church.

O Lord Jesus Christ our God, as you wept over Lazarus and shed tears of sadness and compassion for him, accept these bitter tears of mine.

By your passion heal my passions, by your wounds comfort my wounds, by your blood purify my blood, and spread over my body the life-giving perfume of your body.

The gall which your enemies offered you brings sweetness to my soul so it loses the bitterness which the enemy poured upon it.

May your body stretched on the wood of the cross make my mind fly toward you when the demon tries to drag it down below.

May your head which had to rest on the cross lift up my head when I am insulted by enemies.

May your sacred hands nailed to the cross by unbelievers draw me up toward you from the abyss of perdition, as you promised.

May your face which was so often struck by cruel men make my face shine again after it has been disfigured by sin.

May your spirit which you gave back to your Father on the cross lead me to you by your grace.

I am without a heart that mourns and looks for you; I lack the spirit of penance and compunction that brings children back to their heritage.

I cannot weep, O Lord.

My mind is clouded with earthly concerns and cannot direct its attention in sorrow.

My heart has grown cold from a multitude of temptations and can no longer warm itself with tears of love for you.

But may you, O Lord Jesus Christ, treasury of blessings, grant me perfect repentance and a sorrowful heart that I may set myself to follow you with all my strength.

Without you I can do nothing good.

Give me your grace, O generous one!

May the Father who from all eternity engendered you from his bosom renew in me the features of your image.

I have abandoned you, but do not abandon me.

I have strayed away from your flock, but come and look for me and lead me back to your pasture; give me a place among the sheep of your chosen flock and feed me, and them, with the delights of your divine mysteries.