Monastic prayer of the 12th century
teach me, Lord, to use the time you give me to work ...
Teach me to unite the haste and slowness, serenity and fervor, zeal and peace. Help me at the start of the book. Help me at the heart of the work ... and above all fill the voids of my work yourself: Lord, in all work of my hands leave a grace of you to talk to others and a defect of me to talk to myself.

Keep the hope of perfection in me, otherwise I would lose heart. Keep me in the helplessness of perfection, otherwise I would get lost in pride ...

Lord, never let me forget that all work is empty except where there is love ...

Lord, teach me to pray with my hands, my arms and all my strength. Remind me that the work of my hands belongs to you and that it belongs to me to give it back to you by giving it ... that if I do to please others, like the flower of the grass I will fad in the evening. But if I do for the love of good, I will remain in good. And the time to do well and your glory is immediately.

Amen