This beautiful “Act of Love (A Prayer to Love God)” by St. John Vianney is a powerful Catholic devotion for daily spiritual growth and divine intimacy. Attributed to the beloved Curé of Ars and patron saint of parish priests (1786–1859), this prayer reflects a life of extraordinary holiness and pastoral dedication. By entering into his profound love for Christ, you can experience the same radiant, intimate relationship with our Lord that fueled his miraculous ministry.
Act of Love (A Prayer to Love God)
Video — Act of Love (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.