I can do nothing alone; my own will,
however hard I exert it, does not suffice;
my own plans, however astutely and systematically devised, all fail.

So, there is nothing for it
but to hand myself over to God, truly and wholly,
so that He may use, or, for that matter,
in His wisdom not use,
whatever capacity I possess to serve Him.

And, since I cannot see or converse with Him,
I turn to Jesus Christ, the Mediator, for guidance and support.
Behold, O Lord, my poor heart which through your goodness
has conceived many great desires but is too weak
and wretched to put them into practice
unless You grant Your heavenly grace.

This I beg, O Merciful Father, through the Passion of Thy Son
to whose honor I consecrate this and all my days.

St Francis de Sales (1567-16223) was a Bishop of Geneva and is honored as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church noted for his deep faith and gentle approach. During his years as bishop, Sales acquired a reputation as a spellbinding preacher and something of an ascetic. He was equally known as a friend of the poor, a man of almost supernatural affability and understanding, counseling charity over penance as a means of progressing in the spiritual life. In 1923, Pope Pius XI proclaimed him a patron of writers and journalists. Because he developed a sign language in order to teach a deaf man about God he is also the patron saint of the deaf.

I find this poem/prayer very touching, not only for the humility it expresses but for the trust St. Francis shows in placing himself in God’s hands. I particularly like the phrase, “so that He may use, or, for that matter, in His wisdom not use, whatever capacity I possess to serve Him.” We are often told we are unique and God has a special mission for us in this life. Here, St. Francis even surrenders to God the desire to use the gifts he was given. Later on I will post a prayer by Thomas Merton that echoes this one of St. Francis.