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Sometimes, Lord, I’m so disappointed in myself. I read the lives of the saints and look at the people around me, and I just don’t seem to measure up. Even without comparing myself to other people — which I know you don’t want me to do — I fall short of my own expectations.

The person I want to be is…

But I have so many weaknesses. I fall into the same things over and over again, and it’s not just about the things I do wrong: there are also so many good things I fail to do out of fear or laziness or simply not caring enough. Are you really calling me to holiness?

Why is it so hard? Sometimes I think there’s something wrong with me, but no, you don’t make mistakes, and you chose me. Help me look at myself courageously and honestly. What temptations pull at me most often? Where do I tend to fall?

Is there one fault that’s more deeply rooted in me than the others? I want to identify it in order to face it with you.

Let’s break that fault down into pieces. Is there some concrete way I can struggle against it over the next few weeks?

Now that I have a resolution for my struggle, I want to go back and straighten out my intention. I don’t want to compare myself to other people or even my own expectations. You don’t measure me by the things I do, but by my love. When I fall short, do I say sorry and turn back to you, or do I focus on judging myself? Am I really trying to grow in love for you? Do I know that you love me?

I’m going to make a second resolution, Lord: next time I have a chance, I’m going to go to confession, because I want to let you love me and forgive me.