![\"\"](\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/_-GKMR8mFGBs\/S2BlMQbvS1I\/AAAAAAAAAOc\/dP7syTVMMtY\/s1600-h\/image1289.gif\")
<\/a><\/p>\nAs the disciples asked Our Lord, \u201cteach us to pray,\u201d so we ask as well. As I have learned from the Desert Fathers\u00a0and Mothers<\/a>, simple prayer is often best\u2014done anytime and anywhere, as well as by the devotion of the Rosary (I\u2019m a neophyte admittedly!) and by reading the Liturgy of the Hours. But at other times, while doing spiritual reading for example, I have found prayers such as the one I found today in the Treasury of the Catholic Church. O Judge, whose judgment is righteous, and to Whom is known all that is concealed: condemn me not at Thy righteous judgment, when all secrets will be exposed!<\/em> Do not leave me in the hands of the malefactor, and give him authority over me; for Thou hast prepared Thy flesh and blood as food for me, and Thy Cross in imprinted on my brow.<\/em> May Thy light shine in my thoughts; may they be illumined by Thy rays, and may Thy magnificent radiance gladden them, for Thou art the sun that irradiates all.<\/em><\/p>\n Cleanse our stains with Thy hyssop, wash our sores with Thy blood, and sanctify the secret workings of our thought with Thy body.<\/em><\/p>\n Praise be to Thee, Who hast redeemed the human race which had perished, lifted it upon Thy shoulders and carried it into the house of Thy Father.<\/em><\/p>\n As the disciples asked Our Lord, \u201cteach us to pray,\u201d so we ask as well. As I have learned from the Desert Fathers\u00a0and Mothers, simple prayer is often best\u2014done anytime and anywhere, as well as by the devotion of the Rosary (I\u2019m a neophyte admittedly!) and by reading the Liturgy of the Hours. But at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/a>
\nThe prayer below is attributed to St. Ephrem the Syrian, whose feast day is celebrated tomorrow by our Orthodox brethren and on June 9 by the Catholic Church. I wrote once on the pleasure of discovery in our faith<\/a>. Finding prayers such as these, and sharing them with you, is a pleasure too. Find a quiet place and meditate on the pictures these words paint.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/em>
\nWith the tears that she brought to Thee, the harlot destroyed the record of her transgressions. Behold, I too bring Thee a gift of tears. Accept them from me, O Lord, as Thou didst accept them from her.<\/em>
\n
\n<\/em>
\nThe evil one has deceived me with his caresses and has taken my mind captive with his seductions. Drive him away from me, who am miserable, O our Lord; snatch me from his hands, that he might not tear me to shreds.<\/em>
\n
\n<\/em>
\nJudge me, O Lord, and settle my dispute with the merciless enemy. He has made me a target for his arrows. According to Thy compassion, may those arrows gore him instead.<\/em>
\n
\n<\/em>
\nBe my helper, O Lord, for I am miserable and have no other helper. And do not let the enemy see me vanquished and mock me, as he mocked our foremother.<\/em>
\n
\n<\/em>
\nWoe is me if all my secrets are revealed and subjected to scrutiny then, when no justification will be considered. My spirit shudders, O Lord, for I hear that fire will consume the lawless, and I am straw and hay. And if Thou O Lord wilt regard my sins, I shall perish.<\/em>
\n
\n<\/em>
\nMay Thy goodness, O Lord, that once lifted Thee onto the Cross for the redemption of our race, forestall me who am miserable, that I might be vouchsafed forgiveness of my sins.<\/em>
\n
\n<\/em>
\nThou, O Jesus, hast redeemed all with Thy blood; and by Thy death hast Thou bound the powerful adversary. Release me from the fetters of the evil one; break his shackles and bonds.<\/em>
\n
\n<\/em>
\nRebuke him so that he will withdraw from me, who am miserable, that his will might not be realized in me. Bring my will into accord with Thine, O Lord, Who blottest out my sins by Thy loving-kindness.<\/em><\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/em>
\nStrengthen me, O Lord, for I am infirm. Blot out my transgressions, for greatly have I sinned. Make chaste my senses, that they might submissively and unwaveringly follow Thy royal path.<\/em><\/p>\n