Prayer in Times of Trial

Father, I ask of You what is for me the hardest thing to do: give me the grace to see the Cross of Your Son in all the suffering of my life, the grace to worship Your holy and unfathomable will in this Cross, the grace to follow Your Son all along the Way of the Cross, for as long as it may please You.

Grant that I be concerned for Your honor, and not only for my wellbeing; then I will be able to carry my cross in atonement for my sins.

Do not let me grow bitter in my sufferings, but rather allow them to help me mature in patience, generosity, kindness, and the ardent desire one day to dwell there where there will be no more suffering. Then You will wipe away the tears of those who love You, and who in their pain, believed in Your love and Your light, even in the darkest of nights.

Father, we wish to share in all things with Your Son: in His life, His divine glory, therefore also in His suffering and death. But give us, along with the cross, the strength to carry it; give us the ability to see in this cross the blessing that it is; send us the cross that will best contribute toward our salvation, according to Your wisdom.

Christ Jesus, Son of the Father, live in us, pray in us, suffer in us. We ask for nothing else because in possessing You we are wealthy enough. Amen.