What prayer does not dare to ask?

[hazcompat]

Concluding Prayer

Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. — Amen.

• See more at: divineoffice.org/ord-w27-sun-mp/?title=Oct+04%2C+Morning+Prayer++for+Sunday+in+the+27th+week+of+Ordinary+Time&date=20151004#sthash.E817got8.dpuf

This is our concluding prayer in the LOTH for today. I recall a thread on this last year, but can’t find it.

what does conscience dread?

what does prayer not dare to ask?

thoughts.

Peace

 

[DBT]

what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask.

That line from today’s concluding prayer certainly caught my attention too. I interpreted it as the Church meaning it in a highly personal and individual way … that any given person may have certain things they dread and certain things they’re afraid to ask for. The hope: we will overcome our dread and learn to ask with trust and confidence.

Prior to that line the prayer states God “surpasses the desires of those who entreat you.” Conversely, I would suppose that’s another way of saying He is greater than our fears which are likely the cause of dread. The prayer continues by asking for mercy and pardon for those times we give into dread. And we then entreat the Lord “to give” what we need in those times we’re to weak to ask.

But of course I could be totally wrong in that!

Dave