St. Anselm of Canterbury Novena Day 4 Prayers
O my God, teach my heart where and how to seek You, where and how to find You. You are my God and You are my all and I have never seen You. You have made me and remade me, You have bestowed on me all the good things I possess, Still I do not know You. I have not yet done that for which I was made. Teach me to seek You. I cannot seek You unless You teach me or find You unless You show Yourself to me. Let me seek You in my desire, let me desire You in my seeking. Let me find You by loving You, let me love You when I find You. Amen.
St. Anselm of Canterbury, pray for us.
(Mention your requests here…)
Say 1: Our Father… Say 1: Hail Mary… Say 1: Glory Be…
Day 4 — “Guide me, Lord, for without You I cannot seek You.”
Historical note: Anselm viewed prayer itself as a gift given by God before being practiced by the soul.
Reflection :
Here Saint Anselm affirms that grace precedes effort. We often assume spiritual progress depends entirely on our discipline, yet Saint Anselm insists that even our seeking depends on God. This prayer frees us from anxiety about “doing prayer right.” God instructs the heart quietly, often through patience and fidelity rather than clarity. Lay believers juggling responsibilities can take comfort in this truth: God guides sincere seekers gently.
Prayer/Resolution:
Guide me, Lord, for without You I cannot seek You. Amen.
