[Prayers] on a Bed of Sickness, by Basil Lucas Quixano Henriques (1916)

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=49449

open_content_license: Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication date_src_start: 1916-00-00 date_src_end: 1916-00-00 languages_meta: [{"name":"English","code":"eng","standard":"ISO 639-3"}] scripts_meta: [{"name":"Latin","code":"Latn","standard":"ISO 15924"}]

Date: 2023-04-06

Last Updated: 2025-04-25

Categories: Well-being, health, and caregiving

Tags: 20th century C.E., 57th century A.M., British Jewry, English vernacular prayer, Liberal Movement for Progressive Judaism in Britain, teḥinot in English

Excerpt: Basil L.Q. Henriques's prayer "On a Bed of Sickness." was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George's Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George's Settlement Synagogue (1929), "Special Prayers" section, pages 96-97. . . .

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On a Bed of Sickness.
Ⅰ.

Thou, O Lord,
knowest my sufferings
and my afflictions,
and how much I need Thee now
to fortify me
so that I may bear my pain
courageously
and without fear.

Let me not lose my faith in Thee.
Teach me to be patient
and help me at all times
to show a cheerful countenance.
If ever I am downcast,
make me to remember how grateful I should be
that I can still serve Thee,
for I know that by my courage
and by my cheerfulness,
by the thoughtfulness that I show for others
and by the patience and faith that I maintain,
I have an opportunity of proving
that those who trust in Thee
are contented and at peace.
Through my pain and sickness
have I learned
to have a more pitiful heart
for those who suffer.
In my weakness
hast Thou taught me
to be more gentle
towards those who have fallen
and are oppressed.
May it be Thy will
to restore me to health once more;
and thus, more fitted for my task,
may I give thanks unto Thee,
not merely with the words of my mouth,
but in the service I render unto others for Thy sake,
O Lord
my Guardian
and my Redeemer.
Amen.
Ⅱ.

To Thee, Father in Heaven,
I commend my spirit
and the spirits of all those dear to me.
May Thy light shine upon them
at all times,
and may they rejoice
in the glory of Thy love.
May they know
that the greatest joy in life
is to serve Thee,
and may Thy presence help them
to be Thy faithful servants and children.

As for me, I thank Thee
for all the joys of my life.
I accept its sorrows
as Thine all-wise judgment.
I am sorry
for my sins and shortcomings,
but I do not fear Thee,
for Thou art a merciful Judge.
Grant that I may be
calm and fearless,
strong and tenacious,
faithful and cheerful.
In Thee, O Lord,
I put my trust.
Thy will be done.
Amen.

Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “On a Bed of Sickness.” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 96-97.

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Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)

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