On the morning of July 27, 1942, André Zirnheld, a French soldier fighting against the Germans in Africa, was killed in the Libyan desert in a Nazi air strike. Among his remains was found a prayer that implored God not to send him peace and safety, but the tempest and suffering.
In a time when so many people pray to God begging for peace, health, wealth, tranquility and ease, this prayer asks God for what the others do not want to receive: suffering and trials, as well as the Faith to overcome them in His name. With its emphasis on the glory of the fight and the renunciation of earthly satisfactions, this prayer strikes at the center of Catholic opposition to the self-indulgent spirit of the world.
André Zirnheld is quoted to have feared the comfortable stagnation of peace
more
than the dangers and hardships of war. With St. Michael the Archangel as its emblem, La Prière du Para has been adopted as the official poem of all French paratrooper units, as well as many other French military units around the world.
It is here performed by l'Armée Française, the French Army.
Lyrics:
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, donne-moi la tourmente,
Donne-moi la souffrance,
Donne-moi l'ardeur au combat.
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, donne-moi la tourmente,
Donne-moi la souffrance,
Et puis la gloire au combat,
Et puis la gloire au combat.
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, donne-moi la tourmente,
Donne-moi la souffrance,
Donne-moi l'ardeur au combat.
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, donne-moi la tourmente,
Donne-moi la souffrance,
Et puis la gloire au combat,
Et puis la gloire au combat.
Ce dont les autres ne veulent pas,
Ce que l'on te refuse,
Donne-moi tout cela, oui, tout cela.
Je ne veux ni repos, ni même la santé,
Tout ça, mon Dieu, t'est assez demandé.
Mais donnes-moi, mais donnes-moi,
Mais donnes-moi la Foi,
Donne-moi force et courage,
Mais donnes-moi la Foi,
Donne moi force et courage,
Mais donnes-moi la Foi,
Pour que je sois sur de moi.
Donne-moi la tourmente,
Donne-moi la souffrance,
Donne-moi l'ardeur au combat.
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, donne-moi la tourmente,
Donne-moi la souffrance,
Et puis la gloire au combat,
Et puis la gloire au combat.
English translation:
My God, my God, give me the tempest,
Give me suffering,
Give me ardor in combat.
My God, my God, give me the tempest,
Give me suffering,
And then glory in battle,
And then glory in battle.
My God, my God, give me the tempest,
Give me suffering,
Give me ardor in combat.
My God, my God, give me the tempest,
Give me suffering,
And then glory in battle,
And then glory in battle.
What others do not want,
What others refuse from You,
Give me all this, yes, all of it.
I do not want rest. nor even health,
All of that, my God, You are asked for enough.
But give me, but give me,
But give me Faith,
Give me strength and courage,
But give me Faith,
Give me strength and courage,
But give me Faith,
So that I am sure of myself.
My God, my God, give me the tempest,
Give me suffering,
Give me ardor in combat.
My God, my God, give me the tempest,
Give me suffering,
And then glory in battle,
And then glory in battle.
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