Prayer of an Irish hermit
Shame on my thoughts, how they
stray from me! I fear great danger from this on the day of eternal
judgement. During the psalms they wander on a path that is not right:
they run, they distract, they misbehave before the eyes of the great
God. Through eager assemblies, through companies of lewd women, through
woods, through cities - swifter they are than the wind. One moment they
follow ways of loveliness, and the next ways of riotous shame - no lie!
O
beloved, truly chaste Christ, to whom every eye is clear, may the grace
of the sevenfold spirit come to keep them, to hold them in check. Rule
this heart of mine, O swift God of the elements, that you may be my
love, and that I may do your will! That I may reach Christ with his
chosen companions, that we may be together: they are neither fickle nor
inconstant - they are not as I am. (Irish, ninth century)
No comments:
Post a Comment