This prayer to Jesus Christ is a petition for the grace to be open to the holy love of God so that we can do His will in our lives. Here St. Alphonsus Liguori teaches that those who refuse to bow to the will of God only double their afflictions. This prayer is a petition asking for the grace to love God more, so as to fear hell and desire to do His will. To learn more about St. Alphonsus Liguori’s Rule of Life, click here.
Prayer to Jesus Christ to Obtain His Holy Love
This prayer to Jesus Christ to obtain His holy love was written by St. Alphonsus Liguori, a doctor of the Church who served the Lord throughout his life in his thoughts, actions, and words. He directed his life toward the will of God in all things. His attention to God was constant.
He is a wonderful roll model for growing in virtue and holiness. St. Alphonsus was always in action for the faith and he never idly wasted time. He was very devoted to helping his neighbors. He assisted the sick who were in the hospital, and he heard confession after confession for hours on end, sometimes all night long.
About St. Alphonsus Liguori
St. Alphonsus gave long and powerful sermons that changed the people’s hearts and minds from coldness to sorrow, and from sinfulness to repentance and weeping. Alphonsus was such a model of all the virtues that he changed entire communities. He brought forth deep brotherly love and unity. He also received prophecies and even performed miracles. St. Alphonsus died in 1787, just 2 months after his 91st birthday.
“He who trusts himself is lost. He who trusts God can do all things.”
Prayer to Jesus Christ
by Saint Alphonsus Liguori
My crucified Love, my dear Jesus!
I believe in Thee and confess Thee to be the true Son of God and my Savior. I adore Thee from the abyss of my own nothingness, and I thank Thee for the death Thou didst suffer for me, that I might obtain the life of divine grace.
My beloved Redeemer, to Thee I owe all my salvation. Through Thee I have hitherto escaped hell; through Thee have I received the pardon of my sins. But I am so ungrateful, that, instead of loving Thee, I have repeated my offenses against Thee. I deserve to be condemned, so as not to be able to love Thee anymore: but no, my Jesus, punish me in any other way, but not in this.
If I have not loved Thee in time past, I love Thee now; and I desire nothing but to love Thee with all my heart. But without Thy help I can do nothing.
Since Thou dost command me to love Thee, give me also the strength to fulfil this Thy sweet and loving precept. Thou hast promised to grant all that we ask of Thee: You shall ask whatever you will and it shall be done unto you. Confiding, then, in this promise, my dear Jesus, I ask, first of all, pardon of all my sins; and I repent, above all things, because I have offended Thee, O Infinite Goodness!
I ask for holy perseverance in Thy grace till my death. But, above all, I ask for the gift of Thy holy love. Ah, my Jesus, my Hope, my Love, my All, inflame me with that love which Thou didst come on earth to enkindle! For this end, make me always live in conformity with Thy holy will.
Enlighten me, that I may understand more and more how worthy Thou art of our love, and that I may know the immense love Thou hast borne me, especially in giving Thy life for me. Grant, then, that I may love Thee with all my heart, and may love Thee always, and never cease to beg of Thee the grace to love Thee in this life; that, living always and dying in Thy love, I may come one day to love Thee with all my strength in heaven, never to leave off loving Thee for all eternity.
O Mother of beautiful love, my advocate and refuge, Mary, who art of all creatures the most beautiful, the most loving, and the most beloved of God, and whose only desire it is to see him loved! Ah, by the love thou bearest to Jesus Christ, pray for me, and obtain for me the grace to love him always, and with all my heart! This I ask and hope for from thee.
Amen.
More from St. Alphonsus Liguori
“Reflect, Christian, that if God had bestowed the same graces upon an infidel which he has upon you, that infidel would now most probably be a saint, and Divine Love Victorious over God Himself. What have you done? God has multiplied his graces, and you have multiplied your offenses against him. If you continue in your sins, how will it be possible for God to bear longer with you and not to abandon you?” – Saint Alphonsus Liguori
The Prayer Book of St. Alphonsus Liguori
Click to view the Prayer book of St. Alphonsus Liguori in PDF format.