Prayer of Abandonment to God the Father of Brother Charles de Foucault

Prayer of Abandonment

Father, I abandon myself into Your hands; do with me what You will.

Whatever You may do, I thank You: I am ready for all, I accept all.

Let only Your will be done in me, and in all Your creatures— I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into Your hands I commend my soul: I offer it to You with all the love of my heart, for I love You, Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into Your hands, without reserve and with boundless confidence, for You are my Father. Amen.

The "Prayer of Abandonment" is a well-known Christian prayer attributed to Blessed Charles de Foucauld (also known as Saint Charles de Foucauld since his canonization in 2022). This prayer expresses a profound surrender and trust in God's will, reflecting a core tenet of Christian spirituality: the abandonment of one's own desires and plans into the hands of God.

The prayer begins with the invocation, "Father, I abandon myself into Your hands; do with me what You will." This opening line immediately sets the tone for complete submission and acceptance of divine providence. It continues by stating, "Whatever You may do, I thank You. I am ready for all; I accept all." This demonstrates a willingness to embrace all circumstances, whether perceived as good or bad, as part of God's plan. The central plea of the prayer is, "Let only Your will be done in me and in all Your creatures. I wish no more than this, O Lord." This highlights the desire for God's will to be paramount in one's life and throughout creation. The prayer concludes with a heartfelt offering: "Into Your hands I commend my soul. I offer it to You with all the love of my heart, for I love You, Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into Your hands without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for You are my Father. Amen." This final section emphasizes love for God, complete self-giving, and unwavering confidence in God's paternal care.

Charles de Foucauld, a French Catholic priest and martyr, wrote this prayer in 1896 as part of a larger meditation, seeking to unite himself with Jesus' prayer on the cross, "Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46). He lived a life of deep faith and service, particularly among the poor in Algeria, after rediscovering his faith and discerning a calling to follow Jesus in His hidden life at Nazareth. His life exemplified the spirit of abandonment and trust in God that his prayer articulated. The prayer has since been translated into many languages and is widely shared among those who identify with Charles de Foucauld's spiritual legacy.