St. Anselm of Canterbury, the 11th-century theologian and archbishop, wrote this prayer for Christians longing to abide in Christ’s friendship. Pray it today when you need to remember that God does not hold himself at a distance—he desires intimacy, covenant, the joining of hearts.
O Lord Jesus Christ, draw thou our hearts unto thee; join them together in inseparable love, that we may abide in thee, and thou in us, and that the everlasting covenant between us may stand sure forever. O Lord, kindle our hearts with the fire of thy love, that we may daily increase in love toward thee, and toward each other for thy sake; that being rooted and grounded in love, we may be strong to apprehend with all saints the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge. Amen.
St. Anselm of Canterbury, c. 1100
How this prayer works
Anselm asks Christ to “draw” our hearts—not because God is reluctant, but because we are distracted. The prayer names what we truly want: not just to admire Jesus from a safe distance, but to abide in him, as a friend abides with a friend. The language of “inseparable love” and “everlasting covenant” borrows from both marriage vows and the Johannine promise: “Abide in me, and I in you” (John 15:4, RSV-CE).
Anselm, who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093 to 1109, wrote this prayer during a century of theological flowering in the Benedictine tradition. His works blend rigorous intellect with warm personal devotion—a rare combination then and now. This prayer reflects his belief that the mind’s ascent to God must always travel through the heart.
Pray it slowly when you sit down to morning prayer, or before opening Scripture. Let the final clause settle: “to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge.” Anselm is not asking for information. He is asking for union.
Carry it through this day.
