Prayer of St. Francis Xavier
This hymn-prayer is traditionally attributed to Saint Francis Xavier, the sixteenth-century Jesuit missionary, though its precise authorship has long been discussed. The Latin text, O Deus, ego amo te, expresses love of God for His own sake rather than from hope of heaven or fear of hell. Edward Caswall gave it this familiar English form in the nineteenth century. Catholics pray it as an act of pure love, especially after meditating on Christ’s Passion, before a crucifix, or during thanksgiving after Communion. Its central desire reflects the Church’s teaching that charity loves God above all things for His own sake (CCC 1822).
In Latin
O Deus, ego amo te, Nec amo te ut salves me, Aut quia non amantes te Aeterno punis igne. Tu, tu, mi Jesu, totum me Amplexus es in cruce; Tulisti clavos, lanceam, Multamque ignominiam, Innumeros dolores, Sudores et angustias, Ac mortem; et haec propter me, Ac pro me peccatore. Cur igitur non amem te, O Jesu amantissime? Non ut in caelo salves me, Aut ne aeternum damnes me; Nec praemii ullius spe; Sed sicut tu amasti me, Sic amo et amabo te, Solum quia Rex meus es, Et solum quia Deus es.
When to pray it: Pray it before a crucifix, after meditating on the Passion, or during thanksgiving after Holy Communion.