Although I can't honestly call myself an intellectual fan of Thomism, I keep on my keyring at all times (in fact it can't easily come off, it's so small) a medallion with a cast image of St. Thomas Aquinas on one side and the words "Pray for us" on the other (as I say, it's very small). I don't even remember where I got it, now that I think about it, though I was able to find this image of the same one at eBay.Anyway, St. Thomas had a famous chastity-preservation story that ends with angels protecting him for life. There's a specific prayer for chastity, that's attributed to the Angelic Doctor, so-called because he observed chastity as if he were an angel. Here it is:
Dearest Jesus!
I know well that every perfect gift, and above all others that of chastity, depends upon the most powerful assistance of your providence, and that without you a creature can do nothing.
Therefore, I pray that you defend, with your grace, the gift of chastity and purity in my soul as well as my body. And if I have ever received through my senses any impression that could stain my chastity and purity, I ask you, who are the supreme Lord of all my powers, to take it from me, so that I may with a clean heart advance in your love and service, offering myself chaste all the days of my life on the most pure altar of your divinity.
Amen.
4 comments:
This is just what I needed right now in my journey of faith. Thank you and God bless you.
Geoff
Likewise, this is "just what I needed." It's always a little awkward to say you've been struggling with this sort of thing. Anyway, cheers.
As with the other previous posters, this is so great. Sometimes the desires of the flesh can be so strong, and this is just the type of prayer needed to overcome them.
I'm going through my discernment and have been celibate and chaste for some time now but I feel the urges of self sin and it's something that hard to talk to father about - i'm ashamed of it. Thank you so very much for this prayer. I will carry it around me. Blessings.
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