Most merciful God,
descend into my soul,
which you prepared for your reception
by the desire you breathed into it.
Before ever I cried to you,
you, most Merciful,
you called and sought me,
that I might find you,
and finding you, love you.
Even so I sought and found you, Lord,
and desire to love you.
Increase my desire,
and grant me what I ask.
See, I love you, but too little.
Strengthen my love.
When my spirit aspires to you,
and meditates on your unspeakable goodness,
the burden of the flesh becomes less heavy,
the tumult of thought is stilled,
the weight of mortality is less oppressive.
Then my soul would find wings,
and my spirit rise in tireless flight
upwards to your glorious throne,
and there be filled with the refreshing solace
that belongs to the citizens of heaven. Amen.
Source: Augustine of Hippo
Source of this version: Freely modified from Prayers of the Early Church, edited by J. Manning Potts, 1953
A Collection of Prayers 