Spiritual Corner - Lord, God of Hosts—A Prayer Inspired by a Portrait of Saint Joan of Arc

LORD, God of Hosts, in the Gospel, you tell us ,“I do not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Please arm me for war, I urgently want to fight for your glory, but please increase my courage so that I can, together with David, joyfully shout, “LORD, only you are my sword, train my arms to fight…”

My beloved LORD, I know you want me to fight within my heart, not at the battlefield.

I am a prisoner of your love. I am willing to be bound to you by chain and part with the world you cursed… My sword is not anything but love. I want to drive the enemies out of your kingdom. I want you to be king of all the souls who refuse to submit to you.

LORD, undoubtedly, you do not want someone weak as me. But Saint Joan, your chaste and courageous spouse has said, “We need to fight, but victory comes from God.” O my Jesus! I have to fight for your holy love, till the end of my life. Since you are unwilling to rest on earth, I want to follow your example. I want you to fulfill your words, “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me and wherever I am there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”

To be with you and in you is my only hope…You promise my wish be fulfilled…In looking forward to be with you face to face helps me to endure my exile!…

Yours,
Fr. Matthew Wang
(Excerpted from the 21 prayers from St Thérèse of Lisieux)