Fresco of Saint Columbanus, Italy, by Davide Papalini [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)%5D
O Lord God, destroy and root out
whatever the Adversary plants in me,
that with my sins destroyed
you may sow understanding and good work
in my mouth and heart;
so that in act and in truth I may serve only you
and know how to fulfill the commandments of Christ
and to seek yourself.
Give me memory, give me love, give me chastity,
give me faith, give me all things which you know
belong to the profit of my soul.
O Lord, work good in me,
and provide me with what you know that I need.
Amen.
Columbanus, c. 550-615, Irish missionary, founded monasteries in France and Italy
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For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
waiting for our blessed hope,
the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ
prayer & verse 
