“A Prayer To Love God” is a beautiful prayer of divine love that is attributed to St. John Vianney (1786-1859), the beloved Curé of Ars and patron saint of parish priests. Known for his extraordinary holiness, pastoral dedication, and profound love for God, St. John Vianney spent countless hours in prayer and developed an intimate relationship with our Lord that radiated through his ministry.
A Prayer to Love God
(St. John Vianney)
Video — A Prayer to Love God
I love Thee, O my God.
My only desire is to love Thee,
until the last breath of my life.
I love Thee, O infinitely loveable God,
and I prefer to die loving Thee,
rather than to live for an instant without Thee.
I love Thee, O my God,
and I desire only to go to Heaven,
to have the happiness of loving Thee perfectly.
I love Thee, O my God,
and my only fear is to go to Hell,
because one will never have the sweet
solace of loving Thee there.
O my God, if my tongue cannot say
at all times that I love Thee,
at least I want my heart to repeat it to Thee!
as many times as I breathe.
Ah! Do me the grace
to suffer while loving Thee,
to love Thee while suffering,
and, that when I die:
I not only will love Thee,
but experience it in my heart.
I beg Thee that: the closer I come to my final end,
Thou wilt increase and perfect my love for Thee. Amen.