Brother Gabriel was a man of prayer. His relationship with God was strong, intense and permanent. He loved the liturgy and the common prayer of the Church. He practised meditation and personal prayer assiduously. In his books and writings there is much advice on prayer. He selected and wrote many prayers for the prayer book of the Congregation and for the books for the families and pupils of the Brothers’ schools. But Brother Gabriel also allowed himself to be moulded in prayer. Those who knew him closely (Bro. Amadeo, Bro. Federico) affirm that the invocation to the Holy Trinity “Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” was his strongest prayerful expression. These prayer formulas have been collected in the writings of Brother Gabriel among many others.

Prayer for humility

Eternal Son of God, who are equal to the Father
and who humbled yourself by taking on human nature
and the condition of a servant, humbling yourself even
obedient to the point of death on the cross, teach me to be humble.
Make me learn from you
that you are meek and humble of heart:
teach me this great lesson,
in which all the knowledge of man consists:
that I am nothing of myself, and that if I possess anything,
I have received it from you,
I have received it from you, and that I must give it back to you.
Place me under your almighty hand to make me know
and feel my nothingness, my weakness and my sins.
(The angel leading the pilgrims of Ars)

Act of offering

What can I give back to the Lord
for all the benefits I have received from him?
Can I refuse to give my total surrender
to the one who has given himself entirely to me?
I offer you, Lord, all that I am:
I offer you my body, my soul, my heart, my life, my health,
all that I have that is good, and all that I hold dearest,
that all may be consecrated to your glory alone. (New Guide)

Hear from the Word of God

Speak, O Lord, your servant is listening:
What do you want of me?
that I may be meek and humble of heart,
that I deny myself,
to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and you assure me that the rest will be given to me as well;
that I forgive from my heart all those who have offended me,
that I may do violence to myself in order to enter
into the kingdom of heaven:
behold what I believe.
Give me, O my God, the strength to practice what I believe:
And thine, O Lord, shall be all the glory. (New Guide)

Love of God

My God,
Thou hast not only loved me first, but hast loved me to the uttermost….
After this, can I not love You?
And what measure can my love have,
if not that of loving You without measure?
Yes, my God, I love you more than all things,
for nothing in the world is comparable to you;
and I declare that henceforth, helped by your grace,
nothing will be able to separate me from your love. (New Guide)
O God, whose wisdom is the standard of all things,
and whose Providence gives to each the place that is proper to him/her,
I thank Thee, and am content with the state of life
and the condition to which Thou hast willed to call me.
Grant that I may know my duties,
and give me the grace to fulfil them.
Grant that, loving my vocation, I may remain faithful to it,
and behave in a manner worthy of it, and of you who have called me to it.
(The Angel Leader of the Pilgrims of Ars)

Prayer for Peace

O God, from whom come holy desires,
right counsels and works of righteousness!
Grant to your servants this peace which the world cannot give,
so that, freed from the fear of our enemies,
we may devote ourselves wholeheartedly
to the practice of thy commandments
and may we enjoy the tranquility of the times
under your protection,
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
(The angel leading the pilgrims of Ars)