Liberation of St. Peter by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo c 1660’s, via Wikimedia Commons
My strength fails;
I feel only weakness, irritation and depression.
I am tempted to complain and to despair.
What has become of the courage I was so proud of
and that gave me so much self-confidence?
In addition to my pain, I have to bear the shame of my fretful feebleness.
Lord, destroy my pride; leave it no resource.
How happy I shall be if you can teach me
by these terrible trials that I am nothing,
that I can do nothing
and that you are all!
François Fénelon, 1651-1715, Archbishop of Cabrai, France
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Praise our God, all peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.
For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.
prayer & verse 
