Sometimes we might feel that we don't have the "right words" for prayer. We may want to pray, but our heart is not in it, or we feel uncertain how to get started, or how to keep going.
To help us overcome this obstacle, the Church in her wisdom has a large treasury of prayers, composed by saints, Apostles, popes, and other holy people. First among them is the Psalms. The Holy Spirit is the teacher of prayer, and using one of these prayers can be helpful and inspire in us a greater desire for living the virtuous life.
One particular prayer that may be helpful is a prayer attributed to Pope Clement XI in 1721. It is usually titled, "A Universal Prayer for All Things Necessary to Salvation," and presents a great summary of the Christian life. If you need more inspiration to start your day, try this prayer.
Lord, I believe in you: increase my faith.
I trust in you: strengthen my trust.
I love you: let me love you more and more.
I am sorry for my sins: deepen my sorrow.I worship you as my first beginning,
I long for you as my last end,
I praise you as my constant helper,
And call on you as my loving protector.Guide me by your wisdom,
Correct me with your justice,
Comfort me with your mercy,
Protect me with your power.I offer you, Lord, my thoughts: to be fixed on you;
My words: to have you for their theme;
My actions: to reflect my love for you;
My sufferings: to be endured for your greater glory.I want to do what you ask of me:
In the way you ask,
For as long as you ask,
Because you ask it.Lord, enlighten my understanding,
Strengthen my will,
Purify my heart,
and make me holy.Help me to repent of my past sins
And to resist temptation in the future.
Help me to rise above my human weaknesses
And to grow stronger as a Christian.Let me love you, my Lord and my God,
And see myself as I really am:
A pilgrim in this world,
A Christian called to respect and love
All whose lives I touch,
Those under my authority,
My friends and my enemies.Help me to conquer anger with gentleness,
Greed by generosity,
Apathy by fervor.
Help me to forget myself
And reach out toward others.Make me prudent in planning,
Courageous in taking risks.
Make me patient in suffering, unassuming in prosperity.Keep me, Lord, attentive at prayer,
Temperate in food and drink,
Diligent in my work,
Firm in my good intentions.Let my conscience be clear,
My conduct without fault,
My speech blameless,
My life well-ordered.
Put me on guard against my human weaknesses.
Let me cherish your love for me,
Keep your law,
And come at last to your salvation.Teach me to realize that this world is passing,
That my true future is the happiness of heaven,
That life on earth is short,
And the life to come eternal.Help me to prepare for death
With a proper fear of judgment,
But a greater trust in your goodness.
Lead me safely through death
To the endless joy of heaven.Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
