“Father, Dear Good Father” (Prayer Hymn)

Father, dear good Father,
I plead with You from my heart:
You my God and You my All,
bend down to me!

In words I cannot express
all that fills my whole being.
Look and read in my heart
what You Yourself wrote there!

See how ardently I long
to love You deeply and faithfully,
to know but one concern:
that my life may please You!

That I may always clearly know
Your holy will,
and joyfully fulfill it,
may my heart be ever ready!

Father, bend down,
see how, with a child’s heart,
I spread out in prayer before You
the deepest depths of my being!

That Your kingdom may unfold here,
that peace may come to our time,
and that Your priests may reflect
the love and holiness of Christ!

Oh, how I long to burn and be consumed
for Your honor,
that all the children of men
may open themselves to Your love!

Father, dear good Father,
bend down from the heights of heaven.
Hear in the longing of my heart
the plea of Your own love!

See how often I still fail,
how I struggle, day after day,
and how the fidelity I so ardently desire
still will not succeed for me.

Come to the help of Your child,
give me what You desire of me!
Give it to me for Jesus’ sake,
I implore You through Mary!

See how gladly I would
stand in Your grace,
so that I might obtain for all people
the fullness of Your blessing!

You have given me the will,
now also grant the accomplishment.
Let me glow in love and longing
until my last breath of life!