Daily Reading for July 24 • Thomas à Kempis, Priest, 1471
O Lord my God, I wish to praise Thee; for I know that to praise Thee was the end for which I was created. Open Thou my lips to praise Thee, that I may worthily magnify Thy name.
Lift up my heart to Thee; keep me from being weary; shed forth upon me Thy grace; kindle in my heart the fire of Thy love; that so I may be able to render to Thee the thanks that are Thy due.
Take Thou away the iniquity of thy servant; wash me from all uncleanness, whether of the flesh or of the spirit; that so I may be made worthy to open my lips to glorify Thy name. . . .
May all the fervent desires of the saints, all the sweet utterances of the Doctors of the Church, all the several virtues put forth, and all the most perfect actions wrought, in honour of Thy name, join the universal melody of all created things, in praising and in magnifying Thee to the utmost of their power, blessing the most Holy Name of the Lord their God for ever and ever!
And may all Thy saints, and all Thy elect, whose names are written in the Book of Life, laud and magnify Thee with never-ending praise; and may their prayers obtain for me the full remission of my sins, a good death, a happy end, deliverance from the pains of Hell, and an entry into Heavenly glory, there to have the bliss of dwelling with Thee for ever!
From Prayers and Meditations on the Life of Christ by Thomas à Kempis (Kessinger Publishing, 2007).