My God, as I enter into a time of great stress, give peace to my soul. Help me not to be anxious but to commit myself to you, to your will. May my faith not be in myself. O God, you are the giver of all that is good; who can interfere with your will. O God, may I rest in you — even as I get physical sleep — may my senses be relaxed and my mind fully dedicated to you.
Prayer Journal, December 15, 2014
Isaac wrote this during final exams for the fall term of his sophomore year of high school. Isaac had committed himself to getting top grades in classes that were all at the honors and AP level, so this was a time of great pressure. Many journal entries reflect Isaac’s effort to surrender his personal ambitions to God’s will.
Read previous offerings
Drapery and contours of creation
What could approach Iconography?
Peace that is not of this world
The permanence of God’s beauty
Journal entries written on hearts
“If you give me anything, let me love Jesus.”
“I am your servant” — painting the Baptism of Christ
Help me to withhold nothing (“Teach me to be a great saint”)
Ready to receive you (an Advent prayer)
“An intense desire.” A longing to depart from this fallen world.
“Why are you afraid?” Isaac’s final journal entry
“Moved to tears: the meaning behind Isaac’s gravestone”
“The reward of distracted prayer” (November 27th)
“The end of all beauties” (November 21s
“Memento mori” (November 18th)
“Root out my sin” (November 15th)
“Let me suffer” (November 12th)
Why the title? About the Offerings of Isaac