A prayer from St. Theresa of Avila for the Church

A prayer from St. Theresa of Avila in response to the crisis in the Church from her time. The Way of Perfection, Chapter 35.

“O my God, if only I could indeed importune Thee! If only I had served Thee well so that I might be able to beg of Thee this great favor as a reward for my services, for Thou leavest no service unrewarded! But I have not served Thee, Lord; indeed it may perhaps be for my sins, and because I have so greatly offended Thee, that so many evils come. What then can I do, my Creator, but present to Thee this most Holy Bread, which, though Thou gavest to us, I return to Thee, beseeching Thee, by the merits of Thy Son, to grant me this favor, calm this sea, and no longer allow this ship, which is Thy Church, to endure so great a tempest, Save us, my Lord, for we perish.”