Stay with me, Lord — St Pio of Pietrelcina

A prayer of thanksgiving after Communion, recited by St Pio of Pietrelcina and passed on by his spiritual children. The text is found in his Epistolario and in the Eucharistic adoration of the Padre Pio Prayer Groups. Inspired by the Emmaus episode (Lk 24:29): Mane nobiscum, Domine.

Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have you present so that I do not forget you.
You know how easily I abandon you.

Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need your strength, that I may not fall so often.

Stay with me, Lord, for you are my life, and without you I have no fervour.

Stay with me, Lord, for you are my light, and without you I am in darkness.

Stay with me, Lord, to show me your will.

Stay with me, Lord, that I may hear your voice and follow you.

Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love you very much, and to be always in your company.

Stay with me, Lord, if you wish me to be faithful to you.

Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I want it to be a place of consolation for you, a nest of love.

Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close — life passes, death and judgement and eternity draw near. I must renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way; and for that, I need you. It is getting late and death approaches. I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dangers. How I need you, my Jesus, in this night of exile! Amen.