Friday, June 20, 2014

A Prayer for Graduates

All of our Marianist schools have completed the academic year and now are enjoying their summer recess.

It is only appropriate that we offer a prayer for those who have graduated. This prayer by Thomas Merton I received years ago when I graduated from high school. It's a great prayer for graduates - and for anyone else as well. Pray it slowly... each line deserves reflection...

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know my self.
And the fact that I think am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that, if I do this,
you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I will trust you always
though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will not leave me to face my perils alone.

-Thomas Merton