I was thumbing through a book today that I read for my Master's program. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A. Kempis is a 15th century classic book on living the life of a dedicated disciple of Jesus. When Thomas wrote the Imitation, he saw a world in deep conflict, a world whose foundation seemed to be cracking and crumbling. The church was in the middle of a the Great Schism that shattered the church for two generations. One third of the European population was dead in less than a three year time frame from the Black Death. The skeptic could find much to despair over. Yet Thomas choose a different way. His writings have been a great help to me and today I found great peace in the following prayer.
Most Kind Jesus, grant me your grace so that it may be with me and remain with me to the end. Grant me this: always to desire and to want what is most acceptable and pleasing to you. Let your will be mine, and let my will always follow yours and be in perfect accord with it. Let what I want always be what you want, and let me not want anything that you do not want.
Grant that nothing in the world might be as important to me as you are, and for your sake grant that I may serve you with deep humility and love, caring little for recognition or honor. Grant above all else, that I may rest in you and that my heart may find peace in you. You are the heart's true peace; you are its only rest. Apart from you everything is hard and uneasy. Only in this peace tha tis in you, highest and eternal Good, do I find sleep and take rest. AMEN
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