The Healing Journey

October 5, 2023

The religious order of the Sisters of Life created a litany that offers profound wisdom for those of us who don’t understand unconditional love, who feel unlovable, who think we can do it all ourselves, who suffer anxiety about the future, and who think our lives have no purpose. It is a prayer for those of us who are discouraged, who are suffering, who can’t forgive, and who don’t feel strong enough to face the challenges that life presents us.

It is called the Litany of Trust and borrows the words that Jesus gave Saint Faustina in his revelations to her — “Jesus, I trust in you.” It is a prayer all of us should say when we’re disheartened and despairing, when we feel our life has lost its meaning, when we don’t think we can face another day. Written by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia, SV, the Litany of Trust asks Jesus “to deliver us from things that bind us and to place our trust in his promises:

From the belief that
I have to earn Your love,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that I am unlovable,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the false security
that I have what it takes,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that trusting You
will leave me more destitute,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From all suspicion of
Your words and promises,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the rebellion against
childlike dependency on You,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From refusals and reluctances
in accepting Your will,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From anxiety about the future,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From resentment or excessive
preoccupation with the past,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From restless self-seeking
in the present moment,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From disbelief in Your love and presence,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being asked
to give more than I have,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the belief that my life
has no meaning or worth,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of what love demands,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From discouragement,
Deliver me, Jesus.
That You are continually holding me,
sustaining me, loving me,
Jesus, I trust in You.
That Your love goes deeper than my
sins and failings and transforms me,
Jesus, I trust in You.
That not knowing what tomorrow
brings is an invitation to lean on You,
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You are with me in my suffering,
Jesus, I trust in You.
That my suffering, united to Your own,
will bear fruit in this life and the next,
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You will not leave me orphan,
that You are present in Your Church,
Jesus, I trust in You.
That Your plan is better than anything else,
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You always hear me and in
Your goodness always respond to me,
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You give me the grace to
accept forgiveness and to forgive others,
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You give me all the strength
I need for what is asked,
Jesus, I trust in You.
That my life is a gift,
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You will teach me to trust You,
Jesus, I trust in You.
That You are my Lord and my God,
Jesus, I trust in You.
That I am Your beloved one.

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