The God Gap

Sociologists call the discrepancy between professed allegiance to a Church and actual practice “the God gap”.

Let us take a moment and say a prayer for those in “the gap”, including the indifference and slothfulness in our own hearts.

O my God, I know well that so negligent a life as mine cannot please Thee. I know that by my lukewarmness I have closed the door to the graces which Thou dost desire to bestow on me. O my God, do not reject me, as I deserve, but continue to be merciful toward me, and I will make great efforts to amend and to arise from this miserable state. In the future, I will be more careful to overcome my passions and to follow Your inspirations; and never through slothfulness will I omit my duties, but will strive to fulfill them with greater diligence and fidelity. In short, I will from this time forward do all I can to please Thee, and will neglect nothing which I know to be pleasing to Thee.

Since Thou, O my Jesus, hast been so liberal with Thy graces toward me and have deigned to give Thy Blood and Thy Life for me, I am sorry for having acted with so little generosity toward Thee, Who are worthy of all honor and all love. But, O my Jesus, Thou knowest my weakness. Help me with Your powerful grace; in Thee I confide. O Immaculate Virgin Mary, help me to overcome myself and to become a saint. Amen.