Our Morning Offering – 10 September – Prayer for the Virtue of Love By St Anselm

Our Morning Offering – 10 September – Thursday of the Twenty Third week in Ordinary Time, Readings: 1 Corinthians 8:1b-7, 11-13, Psalms 139:1-3, 13-14, 23-24, Luke 6:27-38

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?
For even sinners love those who love them.” … Luke 6:32

Prayer for the Virtue of Love
By St Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109)
Doctor magnificus (Magnificent Doctor);
Doctor Marianus (Marian Doctor)

We love You, O God
and desire to love You more and more.
Grant that we may love You
as we wish to love You and as we should love You.
O dearest Friend, who has loved us so deeply and redeemed us;
come and take Your place in our hearts.
Watch over our lips, our steps and our deeds
so we no longer need fear for our soul and body.
Yes, give us love, most precious of gifts,
which knows no enemies.
Give our hearts that pure love borne of Your love for us,
that we may love others as You love us.
O most loving Father of Jesus Christ
from whom all love flows,
grant that our hearts,
frozen in sin and grown cold toward You,
may be warmed in the divine glow.
Help and bless us in Your Son.
O blessed Lord, You have commanded us to love one another,
give us the grace that,
as we have received your unmerited favours,
we may love all persons in You and for You.
We implore Your clemency for all people
but particularly for our friends, whom You have given us.
Love them, Source of Love
and instil in them a thorough love of Yourself,
that they may seek, utter
and do nothing save what is pleasing to You.
Amen