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Suscipe

2 min
Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In nómine Patris, et Fílii, et Spíritus Sancti. Amen.

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,

my memory, my understanding,

and my entire will,

all I have and call my own.

You have given all to me.

To you, Lord, I return it.

Everything is yours; do with it what you will.

Give me only your love and your grace,

that is enough for me. Amen.

Suscipe, Domine, universam meam libertatem.

Accipe memoriam, intellectum, atque voluntatem omnem.

Quidquid habeo vel possideo mihi largitus es;

id tibi totum restituo,

ac tuae prorsus voluntati trado gubernandum.

Amorem tui solum cum gratia tua mihi dones,

et dives sum satis,

nec aliud quidquam ultra posco. Amen.

About this prayer

The Suscipe is St. Ignatius of Loyola's prayer of total surrender — offering to God one's liberty, memory, understanding, and will. It is the summit of the Spiritual Exercises and one of the most profound acts of abandonment in Catholic tradition.

History

St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) composed the Suscipe as the final contemplation of his Spiritual Exercises — the 'Contemplation to Attain Love.' It represents the complete gift of self to God, the response to recognizing that all one has has been received from God.

How to pray it

Pray this slowly, pausing on each gift you offer — liberty, memory, understanding, will. Let each line be a real act of surrender, not just words. It is especially powerful after a period of meditation.

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