Anxiety

“Free us from anxiety”
Proper of the Mass

I find that the supplication “free us from anxiety” taken from the proper of the mass is one of the most necessary and comforting prayers that we make. If there is one concept that I have of heaven, it is that is a place where we will be free from anxiety. I have faced things in life e.g. death, job loss, debt, rejection and a whole host of others. It is not those particular things that are the burden the burden is the anxiety from dealing with them. And then there is the basic anxiety that we face as humans- our death, which cannot be eliminated. It is part of the human condition (Paul Tillich). This basic anxiety that we have through life is one that we pray for relief from in each Mass that we attend. This prayer and other prayers can help settle the “restlessness of heart” or “anxiety”.