Let me love and not be requited

Let me love and not be requited.

Let me serve and not be rewarded.

Let me labor and not be remembered.

Let me suffer and not be regarded.

Let me pour wine

while I drink not.

Let me break bread

while I keep not

Pour my life out that others be blessèd

Be in suff’ring that they be contented.

None to pity me or care for me

None to praise me or to console me.

I would rather be desolate

wretched

Lonely

friendless

and wrongly treated.

With my blood and tears pay the price to gain the crown

Suffer loss that I might a pilgrim’s life live out

For

Lord

this is how You lived Your life

when You walked on this earthly sphere

Gladly bore all loss that those who drew near

Could be freed from all suffering and fear.

I know not how far the future lies ahead.

On this path of no retreating I am led.

So

Lord

let me now learn from Your perfect pattern

Suff’ring wrong

no resentment in return.

May You in this difficult

tedious day

All my tears shed in secret wipe away;

Learning You are my only solacement

And let my life for others’ joy be spent.