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St. Therese of Lisieux
PRAYER FOR COURAGE
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"O Lord God of Hosts, You have told us in Your Gospel:
'I am not come to bring you peace but a sword,' arm me
for the fight; I burn to battle for Your glory,
increase my courage, I beseech You... Thwen with holy
King David I shall cry: 'You alone are my buckler; it
is You, O lord, Who have taught my hands to war.' O my
Beloved! full well I know the combat which You have
reserved for me; it is not upon the field of battle
that I must fight. I am the prisoner of Your love, I
have freely riveted the chain which binds me to You,
and forever separates me from the world. My sword is
Love! With it I shall drive the invader from the
kingdom and have You proclaimed King of Souls. You
have no need, O Lord, it id true, of so feeble an
instrument as I, but Joan your virginal and valiant
bride has said: 'We must fight in order that God may
give us the victory' My Jesus, I will fight for Your
love till the evening of my life. Since you did not
will to enjoy rest upon earth, I would follow Your
example; then shall this promise which fell from Your
divine lips be fulfilled in me: 'If any man will
minister to Me, let him follow Me, and where I am
there also shall My servant be. . . . . him will My
Father honour.'
To be with You, to be in You, that is my sole desire;
the assurance which You give me that it shall be
realised upholds me in my exile while I await the
radiant day when I shald behold You face to face
everlastingly."
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