PRO MILITIA

ORATIO IN DESOLATIONE SPIRITVALI

Prayer in Spiritual Desolation

This prayer for times of spiritual darkness acknowledges that nothing happens without divine providence. Its phrase 'I choose to believe' (eligo credere) emphasizes that faith is an act of will, not merely feeling. The final lines echo the prayer taught by the Angel of Fatima (1916). This prayer is ideal for combating acedia, the 'noonday devil' of Cassian's desert tradition.

LATINE
Deus meus, nescio quid mihi hodie eventurum sit.
Certum tamen est nihil mihi accidere posse
quod non praevideris, decreveris et ordinaveris ab aeterno.
Hoc mihi sufficit.
Adoro imperscrutabilia et aeterna consilia tua,
quibus me toto corde submitto.
Ea desidero, accepto omnia,
et sacrificium meum sacrificio Iesu Christi, Salvatoris mei divini, unio.
Peto, in nomine eius et per merita eius infinita,
patientiam in doloribus meis,
et submissionem perfectam et integram
omnibus quae mihi per beneplacitum tuum eveniunt.
In hoc tempore tenebrarum,
quando nihil sentio, quando nihil video,
quando ad desperationem tentor:
eligo credere amori tuo.
Eligo sperare in misericordia tua.
Eligo exspectare lucem tuam.
Deus meus, credo, adoro, spero et amo te.
Veniam peto pro iis qui non credunt, non adorant, non sperant et non amant te. Amen.
ENGLISH
O my God, I know not what must come to me today.
But I am certain that nothing can happen to me
which Thou hast not foreseen, decreed, and ordained from all eternity.
That is sufficient for me.
I adore Thy impenetrable and eternal designs,
to which I submit with all my heart.
I desire, I accept them all,
and I unite my sacrifice to that of Jesus Christ, my divine Savior.
I ask, in His name and through His infinite merits,
patience in my sufferings,
and perfect and entire submission
to all that comes to me by Thy good pleasure.
In this time of darkness,
when I feel nothing, when I see nothing,
when I am tempted to despair:
I choose to believe in Thy love.
I choose to hope in Thy mercy.
I choose to wait for Thy light.
My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee.
I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love Thee. Amen.
NOTA
FONS
Traditional prayer (adapted), Preces in tribulatione; Angel of Fatima
USUS
Times of spiritual darkness, desolation, despair
CONTEXT
The final lines echo the prayer taught by the Angel of Fatima. The phrase 'I choose' (eligo) emphasizes that faith is an act of will, not merely feeling.