Nov 5 Tue
The introductory and final prayer for meditation, where from?
Many people wonder about the origin of the introductory and final prayer used by St. Josemaría and in all the centers of Opus Dei.
There are two quotations from St. Josemaría in which he briefly refers to an earlier prayer that he adapted and enriched. One of the texts appears thus: “My Lord and my God, I firmly believe that you are here, that you see me, that you hear me –you cannot imagine how I needed to add these last words to the preparatory prayer! – I adore you with profound reverence...”
We place ourselves in the presence of God and ask Him for forgiveness for our miseries. Then we also ask Him for graces to make this day’s prayer fruitful. To this end, we invoke the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph, and the Guardian Angels. You, with me, will do the meditation. I will put it into words on your behalf (October 27, 1963).
The other text is a memory of our Father from a get-together in La Estila, in 1961:
“Father, how did the preparatory prayer for meditation come about?”
- It is a very common text, that is used in many places. I modified it a little; above all, I added: that you see me, that you hear me. It was like a need of my soul at a time when I urgently needed to confirm myself in my faith.
What do you do when you repeat this prayer?
My Lord and my God: you place yourself in the presence of God.
I firmly believe that you are here, that you see me, that you hear me: you declare your faith with an affirmation born of your weakness.
I adore you with profound reverence: it is the greeting proper to the creature, adoration; everything is logical..., with a human and divine logic!
I beg your pardon for my sins: that is what I would say to you if I had offended you. If it is noble and reasonable to ask forgiveness from anyone, imagine with God!
And the grace to make this time of prayer fruitful: because we cannot accomplish anything worthwhile for eternal life if we lack the grace of Heaven. And we want our prayer to be supernatural, pleasing to God.
Then bring up the endorsements, which make up for our lack of titles:
My Immaculate Mother, St. Joseph, my father and lord – I have a great devotion to him –, my Guardian Angel, intercede for me.
How logical is all this!
And after the preparatory prayer, which is an act of faith, that is an act of love of God, and sorrow of love, which is an act of hope.... After this preparatory prayer, which is already mental prayer, we enter, like every morning, like every afternoon, in considerations that will lead us to be better.
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