Prayer of the Elderly

Dear Lord,
as my life declines
and my energies decrease,
more than ever hold me by Your Power,
that I may not offend You,
but daily increase in Your Love.
Give me strength to work in Your Service
till the last day of my life.
Help me to ever have
an increasing dread of venial sin,
or whatever would cause
the slightest withdrawal of Your love,
all day long,
and at night keep me close to Your Heart;
and should I die, ere the morning breaks,
may I go rejoicing in that vision
of Your entrancing beauty,
never to be separated from You.

Amen.