When it is said
A Russian prayer book prints it among St John’s prayers, under the heading “Prayer to the Lord”.
Since no service sets a time for it, you might pray it in the morning before you meet people who are hard to love, or after you have lost your temper with someone.
Where it comes from
Author known
Who was St John of Kronstadt?
St John of Kronstadt was a Russian priest who served at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Kronstadt from 1855. He often gave the poor his last few coins. More than once the people of the town saw him come home barefoot, because he had given his shoes away. He died in 1908 and was declared a saint by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1990.
OCA, the life of St John of Kronstadt; Wikipedia, John of Kronstadt
From his diary
This prayer is an entry in St John’s diary, which was printed in extracts as My Life in Christ and went through eight editions in his lifetime. E. E. Goulaeff’s English translation came out in 1897, made with the author’s approval.
Azbyka’s prayer book, the prayers of St John of Kronstadt, from My Life in Christ, vol. 1, no. 814 (in Russian); Azbyka, My Life in Christ, the 1893 edition (in Russian); E. E. Goulaeff, My Life in Christ (1897)
A love he asked for more than once
Other entries in the diary ask for the same love. In one he asks to love his enemies too, “and not only those who love me.” In another, dated 26 July 1864, 11 o’clock in the evening, he thanks Christ for hearing his prayer to love his neighbour, and for pouring a peaceful, sweet love into his heart.
E. E. Goulaeff, My Life in Christ (1897); Azbyka’s prayer book, the prayers of St John of Kronstadt (in Russian)
What the words mean
Where the diary goes on
In the prayer book the prayer ends at “So be it! So be it!” with an Amen added. In the diary St John goes on, speaking to his own soul. If God has given us Himself, he asks, what will He not give? He quotes “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1) and ends by telling his soul to “be perfectly at rest and know nothing but love.”
Azbyka’s prayer book, the prayers of St John of Kronstadt (in Russian); E. E. Goulaeff, My Life in Christ (1897)
The Scripture in it
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Bible text: Berean Standard Bible, public domain.
In Russian
Да́ждь ми́, Го́споди, люби́ти вся́каго бли́жняго моего́, ка́к себя́, всегда́, и ни из-за чего́ на него́ не озлоблятися и не рабо́тати диа́волу.
Да́ждь ми́ распя́ти мое́ самолю́бие, го́рдость, любостяжа́ние, малове́рие и про́чия стра́сти.
Да бу́дет на́м и́мя: взаимная любо́вь; да ве́руем и упова́ем, что́ для все́х на́с всё Госпо́дь; да не пече́мся, не беспокоимся ни о че́м; да будешь Ты́, Бо́же на́ш, еди́ным Бо́гом се́рдца на́шего, и, кроме́ Тебя́, ничто́.
Да бу́дем мы́ между́ собо́ю в едине́нии любви́, я́коже подоба́ет, и все́ разделяющее на́с дру́г от дру́га и от любви́ отлуча́ющее да бу́дет у на́с в презре́нии, ка́к пра́х, попираемый нога́ми. Бу́ди! Бу́ди! Ами́нь.
From St John of Kronstadt, My Life in Christ, vol. 1, no. 814, as Azbyka’s prayer book prints it.