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September 14, 2004
Prayer for Purity
I really enjoy a good, creative prayer. In its May/June 2004 issue, Lay Witness magazine printed an article by Dr Daniel Van Slyke ( a professor at the University of St Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL) describing how modern males are almost constantly bombarded by sexually provocative images in public places. He concludes his article with a “prayer, inspired by the De profundis (Psalm 130),” which he hopes “will prove a spiritual resource to husbands struggling with sexual purity:”
De Profundis for the Married Man
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord,
Lord, hear my prayer.
The enemy has hedged me in with fleshly temptation,
in the mail, in the stores, on electronic screens of all sorts.
Everywhere I turn, lo! I am confronted with wickedness,
and the weakness of my own flesh.
Wherever I flee he overtakes me,
that ancient serpent who strives
to put enmity between husband and wife,
between spouses and the Lord.
Why have you turned your back on me,
that even on my own bed
I am assailed with thoughts of selfish pleasures
that drag my soul into the pit,
and my sin is exposed before you.
My heart yearns for your saving help,
infuse it with manly virtue.
Send forth your holy angel to cast into the pit
that devil who lays snares for my life
and the life of my family.
Strengthen, I beseech you, my arms for battle,
set my feet on the path of righteousness,
for by your grace only can man prevail.
I trust in the Lord, who supplies aid to my weakness,
and I praise his name in the presence of the faithful.
Grant, Lord, that with clean hands and a pure heart
I may receive you in the assembly,
and render you due worship with all my life,
refreshed by your holy sacraments.
You can sign up for a free trial copy of Lay Witness magazine here.
Posted by Walter Babetski at September 14, 2004 11:44 AM
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Comments
Thats a really great prayer! Like it a whole lot!
I'm going to link it if you dont mind.
In this day and age it is very hard to get away from the allure of sex, isn't it? I know I've been flipping thru stations on my way over to Noggin for a little "123 Sesame" for my oldest son, and stumbled across Anna Nicole Smith...
Well, lets just say she and that other woman were having a good time together, and this was at 8:00 AM on a Sunday!!! Luckily my son was more interested in his train than the television and I was quick enough with my "TV trigger finger" to change stations before he turned his attention to that cr%p.
Posted by: Steve at September 14, 2004 1:41 PM