Don't Let Me Go
In the newness of having grown closer to God, I began to worry this feeling would end. My past passions have come and gone like a fire that burned too hot and quickly reduced to ash. I have a great tendency to dive into new endeavors with all my enthusiasm only to have it fade as quickly as it came. The the love and gratitude I felt for Jesus and His word felt at this same intensity. I wondered if this too would fade away. I brought these fears to God in church one day. The following played out in my head:
God please don't let me go
I know you won't ever let me go but I don't want to fall away from you again.
If you do I’ll still be here. You know how to come back to me now
Lord, I am a child wriggling to pull my hand out of yours because I think I can do it on my own. But then I fall and get hurt. Yet, you are always there when I come back crying. You pick me up and comfort me. And lead me on my way again. Someday I hope to learn how to walk alongside you.
Occasionally, I dare to wonder if I would stay so faithful if I would be put through worse trials. But Peter’s words come to mind:
“Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.”
John 6:68 NLT
Stay with me, Lord
Prayer of St. Pio
Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have You present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You.
Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak
and I need Your strength,
that I may not fall so often.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life,
and without You, I am without fervor.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light,
and without You, I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice
and follow You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You
very much, and always be in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is,
I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close, and life passes;
death, judgment, eternity approaches. It is necessary to renew my strength,
so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You.
It is getting late and death approaches,
I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows.
O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all it’s dangers. I need You.
Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread,
so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness,
the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You,
if not by communion, at least by grace and love.
Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolation, because I do not merit it,
but the gift of Your Presence, oh yes, I ask this of You!
Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.
With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth
and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen
Saint Padre Pio pray for us