That we must rest in God above all goods and gifts
1. Above all things and in all things you shall rest alway in the Lord, O my soul, for he himself is the eternal rest of the saints. Grant me, most sweet and loving Jesus, to rest in You above every creature, above all health and beauty, above all glory and honor, above all power and dignity, above all knowledge and skillfulness, above all riches and arts, above all joy and exultation, above all fame and praise, above all sweetness and consolation, above all hope and promise, above all merit and desire, above all gifts and rewards which You can give and pour forth, above all joy and jubilation which the mind is able to receive and feel; in a word, above Angels and Archangels and all the army of heaven, above all things visible and invisible, and above everything which You, O my God, are not.
2. For You, O Lord, my God, art best above all things; You only art the Most High, You only the Almighty, You only the All-sufficient, and the Fullness of all things; You only the All-delightsome and the All-comforting; You alone the altogether lovely and altogether loving; You alone the Most Exalted and Most Glorious above all things; in Whom all things are, and were, and ever shall be, altogether and all-perfect. And thus it falls short and is insufficient whatsoever You gives to me without Yourself or whatsoever You reveal or do promise concerning Yourself, while You art not seen or fully possessed: since verily my heart cannot truly rest nor be entirely content, except it rest in You, and go beyond all gifts and every creature.
3. O my most beloved Spouse, Jesus Christ, most holy lover of my soul, Ruler of this whole Creation, who shall give me the wings of true liberty, that I may flee to You and find rest? Oh when shall it be given me to be open to receive You to the full, and to see how sweet You are, O Lord my God? When shall I collect myself altogether in You, that because of Your love I may not feel myself at all, but may know You only above every sense and measure, in measure not known to others. But now I ofttimes groan, and bear my sad estate with sorrow; because many evils befall me in this vale of miseries which continually disturb and fill me with sorrow, and encloud me, continually hinder and fill me with care, allure and entangle me, that I cannot have free access to You, nor enjoy that sweet intercourse which is always near at hand to the blessed spirits. Let my deep sighing come before You, and my manifold desolation on the earth.
4. O Jesus, Light of Eternal Glory, solace of the wandering soul, before You my mouth is without speech, and my silence speaks to You. How long will my Lord delay to come unto me? Let Him come unto me, His poor and humble one, and make me glad. Let Him put forth His hand, and deliver His holy one from every snare. Come, Oh come; for without You shall be no joyful day or hour, for You are my joy, and without You is my table empty. I am miserable, and in a manner imprisoned and loaded with fetters, until You refresh me by the light of Your presence, and give me liberty, and show Your loving countenance.
5. Let others seek some other thing instead of You, whatsoever it shall please them; but for my part nothing else pleases or shall please, save You, my God, my hope, my eternal salvation. I will not hold my peace, nor cease to implore, until Your grace returns, and until You speak to me within.
6. "Behold, here I am! Behold, I come to you, for you did call Me.Your tears and the longing of your soul, your humbleness and contrition of heart have inclined Me, and brought Me to you."
7. And I said Lord, I have called upon You, and I have longed to enjoy You, being ready to reject everything for Your sake. For You did first move me to seek You. Therefore, blessed be You, O Lord, who has wrought this good work upon Your servant, according to the multitude of Your mercy. What then has Your servant to say in Your presence, save to humble himself greatly before You, being always mindful of his own iniquity and vileness. For there is none like unto You in all marvels of heaven and earth. Excellent are Your works, true are Your judgments, and by Your Providence are all things governed. Therefore praise and glory be unto You, O Wisdom of the Father, let my mouth and my soul and all created things praise and bless You together.
IMAGE: Federico Zuccaro, The Seven Archangels in Adoration of the Trinity (1600)
No comments:
Post a Comment