5. Oh! what do I suffer interiorly, whilst in my mind I consider heavenly things, and presently a crowd of carnal thoughts offers to interrupt my prayer? O my God, remove not thyself far from me, and depart not in thy wrath from thy servant.
Dart forth thy lightning, and disperse them: shoot thy arrows, and let all the phantoms of the enemy be put to flight.
Gather my senses together to thee; make me forget all worldly things; give me the grace speedily to cast away and to despise all wicked imaginations.
Come to my aid, O eternal truth, that no vanity may move me.
Come, heavenly sweetness, and let all impurity fly before thy face.
Pardon me also, and mercifully forgive me the times that I have thought of any thing else in prayer besides thee.
For I confess truly, that I am accustomed to be very much distracted:
For oftentimes I am not there, where I am bodily standing or sitting, but am rather there where my thoughts carry me.