A number of historical prayers are known as the ‘Universal Prayer’, including the following. It is one of many memorable prayers written by popes, and this one is the work of Clement XI (1649–1721). As well as being spiritually profound it is also incredibly long, so much so that I chose to reproduce it in excerpts in my book A Calendar of Classic Prayer. This section asks for wisdom and guidance in daily life.
Make me prudent in planning,
courageous in taking risks.
Make me patient in suffering,
unassuming in prosperity.
Keep me, Lord, attentive in prayer,
temperate in food and drink,
diligent in my work,
firm in my good intentions.
Let my conscience be clear,
my conduct without fault,
my speech blameless,
my life well-ordered.
Put me on guard against my human weaknesses.
Let me cherish your love for me,
keep your law,
and come at last to your salvation.
Amen.