This prayer is commonly attributed to Cardinal Désiré-Joseph Mercier, the Belgian Archbishop of Malines who died in 1926. Cardinal Mercier presented it as a five-minute daily practice and called surrender to the Holy Spirit the secret of sanctity and happiness. It begins with a brief withdrawal from distractions and an attentive return to the sanctuary of the baptized soul. The prayer then entrusts every decision, desire, and permitted trial to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Catholics pray it daily to grow in docility, courage, and peaceful acceptance of God’s will. Its simple petitions make it especially suitable for morning prayer or quiet recollection.
I am going to reveal to you the secret of sanctity and happiness.
Every day for five minutes, control your imagination and close your eyes to the things of sense and your ears to all the noises of the world in order to enter into yourself.
Then, in the sanctuary of your baptized soul, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, speak to that Divine Spirit, saying to Him:
O Holy Spirit, beloved of my soul, I adore You.
Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me.
Tell me what I should do; give me Your orders.
I promise to submit myself to all that You desire of me
and to accept all that You permit to happen to me.
Let me only know Your Will.
If you do this, your life will flow along happily, serenely, and full of consolation, even in the midst of trials.
Grace will be proportioned to the trial, giving you the strength to carry it, and you will arrive at the gate of Paradise laden with merit.
This submission to the Holy Spirit is the secret of sanctity.
When to pray it: Pray it for five minutes each day, especially during morning prayer or before making an important decision.
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