Prayer Of St. Ignatius

The song we're uploading today, Prayer Of St. Ignatius, is actually not all that new.  Inspired by St. Ignatius of Loyola's Prayer for Generosity, I wrote this piece before Michael and I began our songwriting collaborations.  I've always thought that St. Ignatius authored some of the most beautiful prayers.  His Suscipe is probably my favorite, but it already has a wonderful musical setting written for it by John Foley called Take, Lord, Receive (if you are not familiar with this classic, check it out here).

The Prayer for Generosity, on the other hand, is certainly a close second and has been a cherished prayer of mine since first hearing it used in a homily during Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in San Francisco many years ago.  I find that this simple and succinct plea for guidance and grace to live out the two greatest commandments is useful in all aspects of my life: as a Christian and neighbor to my fellow man, as a husband and father, and even as a professional.  Here is the original prayer:

Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to ask for reward,
save that of knowing that I do your will.

Looking back on the piece I wrote, I don't think I would be quite brave (or foolhardy) enough today to muddle as much with St. Ignatius' words as I did then.  But that being said, I do think it still holds together pretty well and remains in keeping with the sentiments of the original prayer.  We've used this piece a number of times over the years at IHM both during our capital campaign to raise funds for the new church as well as for stewardship Sundays.

This recording of Prayer of St. Ignatius, which you can hear by clicking on either of the music players on this blog, was a solo effort on my part.  What time Michael and I have had to collaborate this summer has gone into a different project that we hope to be making an announcement about soon.  In the meantime, I recorded this song over the space of a couple months, and so in this very intentionally rare case, you have a chance to hear my piano playing.

My adapted lyrics are posted after the break.


Prayer Of St. Ignatius

Refrain
Lord, teach me to be generous,
Teach me to give as You gave.
Fill me with Your holiness,
And guide me all my days.

Verse1
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
To give and not to count the cost,
To fight and not to heed the wounds,
To toil, never seeking for rest.

Verse 2
Teach me to labor and ask no reward
Save that of knowing I do Your will.
Teach me, O Lord, Your ways.