Dr. Tom Grassano

From Beethoven’s Diary

The following words were found handwritten in Ludvig van Beethoven’s diary, copied from Sturm’s book Observations concerning the Works of God in Nature:

“In praise of Thy goodness, I must confess that Thou didst try with all Thy means to draw me to Thee. Sometimes it pleased Thee to let me feel the heavy hand of Thy displeasure and to humiliate my proud heart by manifold castigations. Sickness and misfortune didst Thou send upon me to turn my thoughts to my errantries.”

Then this prayer appears, one which all of us can pray from our hearts to our Maker:

“One thing, only, O Father, do I ask: Cease not to labor for my betterment. In whatsoever manner it be, let me turn to Thee and become fruitful in good works.”