A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom [60]
Thine. Lord, quench in me all thirst after bodily things; make me
thirst after spiritual goods. Sweet Lord, let Thy bitter drink change all my
afflictions into sweetness. Grant me to persevere in perfect thoughts and in
good works until death, and that I may never swerve from Thy obedience.
Eternal Wisdom, let my spirit be transferred from this day forth into Thy
hands, so that at its final departure it may be joyfully received by Thee.
Lord, grant me a life pleasing in Thy sight; a death well prepared for; an
end made sure by Thee. Lord, let Thy bitter death make amends for, and
complete my insufficient works, so that at my last hours, guilt and
punishment may be wholly effeced.
ON FRIDAY, OR AT VESPERS
Ah, my Lord, remember, 1. How the sharp spear was thrust into Thy
divine side; 2. How the purple blood ran out; 3. How the living water gushed
forth; 4. And with what bitter toil Thou didst garner me up; 5. And how
generously Thou didst ransom me; Loving Lord! may Thy deep wounds shelter me
from all my enemies; Thy living water cleanse me from all my sins; Thy
rose-coloured blood adorn me with all graces and virtues. Tender Lord! May
the praise Thou didst so bitterly win bind me to Thee! The ransom Thou didst
so freely pay unite me eternally with Thee. Oh, thou chosen consolation of
all sinners, Ho, thou sweet Queen, remember today. 1. How thou didst stand
under the cross, and how, as thy Son hung dead above thee, thou didst cast
on Him many a look of misery; 2. How affectionately His arms were received
by thee; 3. With what fidelity pressed to thy blood-stained face; 4. His
bleeding wounds, His dead and ghastly features, were by thee kissed again
and again; 5. How many a death-wound thy heart then received; 6. How many a
fervent unfathomable sigh burst from thee; 7. How many scalding tears thou
didst shed; 8. Thy miserable words were so full of sorrow; 9. Thy most
gracious figure was so steeped in affliction; 10. Thy woeful heart was
without consolation from all mankind. Oh, pure Lady, on this account forget
not to be a constant protectress of my whole life, and my faithful guide.
Turn thy eyes, thy mild eyes, at all times, with compassion on me. Watch
over me like a mother in every temptation. Protect me faithfully against my
enemies, protect me beneath thy tender arms. Let thy faithful kissing of His
wounds be to me as a tender reconciliation with Him; Let the wounds of thy
heart obtain for me a cordial repentance of my sins; Thy fervent sighing
procure for me a constant yearning; And let thy bitter tears soften my hard
heart; Be thy lamentable words even as a renunciation to me of all
voluptuous speeches; Thy weeping form as a casting away of all dissolute
conduct; Thy disconsolate heart as a despising of all perishable affections.
ON SATURDAY, OR AT COMPLINE
1. O, Thou ravishing brightness of eternal light, how art Thou at this
moment, when my soul embraces Thee under the cross as dead in Thy sorrowful
mother's lap, with lamentations and thanksgiving, how art Thou utterly
extinguished! Extinguish in me the burning desire of all vice. 2. O, Thou
pure clear mirror of the Divine Majesty, how art Thou defiled for very love
of me! Wash out the great stains of my evil deeds. 3. O, fair and shining
Image of the Fatherly goodness, how grievously disfigured Thou art! Restore
the disfigured image of my soul. 4. O, innocent Lamb, how piteously art Thou
abased! Atone and reform for me my guilty sinful life. 5. O, King of all
kings, O, Lord of all lords, vouchsafe me, since my soul embraces Thee with
sorrow and lamentation in Thy abasement, that it may be embraced by Thee
with joy in Thy eternal glory. O, pure Mother, worthy of all love, remember
today, 1. The forlorn condition in which thou foundest thyself when they
tore thy murdered Son from thy breast; 2. Remember thy separation from Him;
3. Thy faltering steps; 4. Thy heart sighing again for His body; 5. The
constant fidelity which thou alone didst evince
thirst after spiritual goods. Sweet Lord, let Thy bitter drink change all my
afflictions into sweetness. Grant me to persevere in perfect thoughts and in
good works until death, and that I may never swerve from Thy obedience.
Eternal Wisdom, let my spirit be transferred from this day forth into Thy
hands, so that at its final departure it may be joyfully received by Thee.
Lord, grant me a life pleasing in Thy sight; a death well prepared for; an
end made sure by Thee. Lord, let Thy bitter death make amends for, and
complete my insufficient works, so that at my last hours, guilt and
punishment may be wholly effeced.
ON FRIDAY, OR AT VESPERS
Ah, my Lord, remember, 1. How the sharp spear was thrust into Thy
divine side; 2. How the purple blood ran out; 3. How the living water gushed
forth; 4. And with what bitter toil Thou didst garner me up; 5. And how
generously Thou didst ransom me; Loving Lord! may Thy deep wounds shelter me
from all my enemies; Thy living water cleanse me from all my sins; Thy
rose-coloured blood adorn me with all graces and virtues. Tender Lord! May
the praise Thou didst so bitterly win bind me to Thee! The ransom Thou didst
so freely pay unite me eternally with Thee. Oh, thou chosen consolation of
all sinners, Ho, thou sweet Queen, remember today. 1. How thou didst stand
under the cross, and how, as thy Son hung dead above thee, thou didst cast
on Him many a look of misery; 2. How affectionately His arms were received
by thee; 3. With what fidelity pressed to thy blood-stained face; 4. His
bleeding wounds, His dead and ghastly features, were by thee kissed again
and again; 5. How many a death-wound thy heart then received; 6. How many a
fervent unfathomable sigh burst from thee; 7. How many scalding tears thou
didst shed; 8. Thy miserable words were so full of sorrow; 9. Thy most
gracious figure was so steeped in affliction; 10. Thy woeful heart was
without consolation from all mankind. Oh, pure Lady, on this account forget
not to be a constant protectress of my whole life, and my faithful guide.
Turn thy eyes, thy mild eyes, at all times, with compassion on me. Watch
over me like a mother in every temptation. Protect me faithfully against my
enemies, protect me beneath thy tender arms. Let thy faithful kissing of His
wounds be to me as a tender reconciliation with Him; Let the wounds of thy
heart obtain for me a cordial repentance of my sins; Thy fervent sighing
procure for me a constant yearning; And let thy bitter tears soften my hard
heart; Be thy lamentable words even as a renunciation to me of all
voluptuous speeches; Thy weeping form as a casting away of all dissolute
conduct; Thy disconsolate heart as a despising of all perishable affections.
ON SATURDAY, OR AT COMPLINE
1. O, Thou ravishing brightness of eternal light, how art Thou at this
moment, when my soul embraces Thee under the cross as dead in Thy sorrowful
mother's lap, with lamentations and thanksgiving, how art Thou utterly
extinguished! Extinguish in me the burning desire of all vice. 2. O, Thou
pure clear mirror of the Divine Majesty, how art Thou defiled for very love
of me! Wash out the great stains of my evil deeds. 3. O, fair and shining
Image of the Fatherly goodness, how grievously disfigured Thou art! Restore
the disfigured image of my soul. 4. O, innocent Lamb, how piteously art Thou
abased! Atone and reform for me my guilty sinful life. 5. O, King of all
kings, O, Lord of all lords, vouchsafe me, since my soul embraces Thee with
sorrow and lamentation in Thy abasement, that it may be embraced by Thee
with joy in Thy eternal glory. O, pure Mother, worthy of all love, remember
today, 1. The forlorn condition in which thou foundest thyself when they
tore thy murdered Son from thy breast; 2. Remember thy separation from Him;
3. Thy faltering steps; 4. Thy heart sighing again for His body; 5. The
constant fidelity which thou alone didst evince