A Lenten Prayer
April 15, 2008
O Lord, who am I that Thou shouldst feed me
On Thy precious and life-giving body,
Or give me to drink from Thine own holy veins?
I, deadened and hardened by the mire of my sins,
I, who have no repentance, nor still less any humility,
Even I, O Lord, Thou hast willed to be saved,
Through Thy life-creating passion, by Thy perfect humility.
Despise me not, Thou only Lover of Mankind, despise me not,
Though in my unworthiness I am but as the beast of the field,
Driven to and fro, hither and thither, by the ebbs and flows
Of the tides of lust and the winds of my haughty corruption.
Turn not away from me, My Savior and Redeemer, though I am afflicted
With such leprous spiritual disease! Save me, O Savior!
Humble me with the love of Thine own Holy Spirit,
And make known unto me the wisdom of Thy ways!
Forgive me, who am in no wise worthy of Thy forgiveness.
By the prayers of Thy most pure mother,
The Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary,
May I be delivered from the pains of my many transgressions;
May the prayers of her who gave birth to Thee beyond mortal understanding
Deliver me from the dark damnation of Hell;
O Thou, Christ Jesus, Lord and master of all,
Have mercy on me, Thy unworthy servant, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.