Act of Hope #4

For Your mercies’ sake, O Lord my God,
tell me what You are to me.

Say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”
So speak that I may hear, O Lord;
my heart is listening;
open it that it may hear You,
and say to my soul: “I am your salvation.”

After hearing this word,
may I come in haste to take hold of you.

Hide not Your face from me.

Let me see Your face even if I die,
lest I die with longing to see it.

The house of my soul is too small to receive You;
let it be enlarged by You.

It is all in ruins;
do You repair it.

There are thing in it,
I confess and I know,
that must offend Your sight.

But who shall cleanse it?
Or to what others besides You shall I cry out?

From my secret sins cleanse me, O Lord,
and from those of others spare your servant.

Amen.

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Deeper understanding of Act of Hope #4

The Act of Hope #4 is a traditional Catholic prayer that emphasizes the importance of placing one’s trust in God’s providence and the ultimate reward of eternal life.

The prayer reflects the fundamental beliefs of the Catholic faith in the power of God’s love to sustain and guide the faithful.

The prayer can be traced back to the Scriptures, where various passages express the hope and trust that the faithful place in God.

Over time, the prayer has been elaborated upon and developed by various theologians and saints, including St. Augustine, who wrote extensively on the virtue of hope.

During the Middle Ages, the prayer became a standard part of Catholic liturgy, reflecting the importance of hope in Christian spirituality.

Today, the Act of Hope #4 remains a beloved prayer among Catholics, offering comfort and strength in times of need, and reminding the faithful of the ultimate reward of eternal life in heaven.