Beneath Your Holy Veil

Most Holy Theotokos,

Mother of God and Mother of mercy,

spread your holy veil over me.

Not that I may be spared every sorrow,

but that no sorrow may separate me from your Son.

Not that the path before me may become clear,

but that I may have the courage

to walk the small part of it

that God reveals today.

Cover those whom I love.

Cover those entrusted to my care.

Cover the weary and the frightened,

the forgotten and the dying,

those who have no one to defend them,

and those who have grown tired of defending themselves.

Cover my home with your peace.

When I am tempted to grasp at tomorrow,

teach me to remain.

When I seek answers that have not yet been given,

teach me silence.

When I fear losing what has given shape to my life,

remind me that nothing surrendered to Christ is lost.

When every human word has become too small,

remain beside me

and teach my heart again the Name of Jesus.

O Lady,

you stood beneath the Cross

when there was nothing to change,

nothing to repair,

nothing to explain.

You remained.

Teach me this holy remaining.

Let me receive the person before me

as the place where God asks for my love.

Let obedience to the present moment

become my hidden cell,

and love my rule of prayer.

I ask neither to know what I shall become

nor where I shall be led.

Only keep me beneath your protection

until everything false falls away

and there remains only Christ.

Most Holy Theotokos,

shelter me beneath your veil.

Guard my mind.

Quiet my heart.

Strengthen me in obedience.

Keep me faithful in love.

And when I can no longer see the road,

stand beside me in the darkness

and whisper what you have always taught the Church:

Do whatever He tells you.

For He is our refuge.

He is our peace.

He is our life.

And beneath your holy veil,

may I learn to desire nothing

but to belong entirely to Him.

Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

Amen.