天主啊,祢比我更了解我自己…… 求祢让我远离那必死的恶习,以为自己凡事都必须加点意见,每个场合都必须说些话。 求祢释放我脱离好为人师的欲念,使我设想周到而不唠唠叨叨,乐意助人而不指指点点。我虽以为若不尽用我丰富的智慧,似乎有点可惜;但是,主啊,祢知道,到头来,我还是希望身边有几个朋友。 让我不要只顾啰嗦繁琐细节,而能快快把握重点。 我不敢求记忆力有所增递,但当与别人的记忆相抵触时,让我有多一点谦卑和少一点自恃。教导我那宝贵的功课:偶尔我也会记错。 求祢赐我在意想不到的地方,能看见美好的事物;在意想不到的人身上,能看见才华。还有,主啊,赐我恩典去告诉他们我在他们身上所看见的。阿门。
A Seventeenth-century Nun’s Prayer God you know me better than I know myself…… Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from 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 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 years 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 improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessing 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, O Lord, the grace to tell them so. AMEN |