Thursday, November 20, 2008

A Lover's Prayer

O Lord, Thou who hast made all things,
And by the mighty majesty
Which all creation sweetly sings
Hast cleansed all mankind's infamy,
And given joy for woe;
O Thou that lovest me so,
Teach me to love Thee as Thou lovest me.

O Thou who by Thy word alone
Didst calm the storm in Galilee,
Thou Who art Trinity and One,
Who ever is and so shall be,
Thy wonder none can tell!
O Thou that lovest me well,
Teach me to love Thee as Thou lovest me.

O Master, at whose word divine
All things that are have come to be,
And by Whose mercy all-benign
We were redeemed from misery,
Thou knowest I am frail;
O Thou who canst not fail,
Teach me to love Thee as Thou lovest me.

O jewel far above all price,
Above the worth of all the world,
Set up as Priest and Sacrifice,
Thy conquering Cross our flag unfurled,
To set all hearts afire;
O Thou, the World's Desire,
Teach me to love Thee as Thou lovest me.

O Thou Who once, unspotted Lamb,
Didst deign to shed Thy Blood for me,
Help me, all worthless as I am,
To do Thy Will, and worthily
Offer Thee all I do.
O Thou, my Lover true,
Teach me to love Thee as Thou lovest me.

O Thou that in the darkest night
Dost give Thy light that I may see,
Who on the Altar, in the white
Round Host disguised dost safeguard me
From all the fiends of Hell;
O Thou that lovest me well,
Teach me to love Thee as Thou lovest me.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

For Our Lady...

this one is in Latin! The accenting in a couple of places is not perfect but I tried to keep it even.

STELLA MARIS, O MARIA

Stella maris, O Maria,
Virgo clemens, virgo pia,
Tua filia vocat te;
Virgo dulcis, audi me.

Sum indigna peccatrix;
Bona Dei genitrix,
Da misericordiam,
Salva tuam servulam.

Ne cadam subrige me,
Caelicis militiae
Domina pulcherrima,
Dei plena gratia!

O Maria, stella maris,
Magna, mitis, singularis,
Virinescia materque,
Miserere - Salva me!

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

For the Holy Souls

I know this is a day late, but we have a whole week to get indulgences for them, so why not poems? 
  FOR THE HOLY SOULS 

Let light eternal on them shine
With all the holy Saints benign; 
Hear Thou our prayer, O Lord divine: 
Dona eis requiem. 

Let Thy dear souls, who burn in fire 
Of sorrow and of great desire 
 Be freed from pain and grief so dire! 
Dona eis requiem. 

O Lord, their love and longing see 
And from their suffering set them free, 
In heaven's joy to join with Thee. 
Dona eis requiem.

They suffer for their debt of sin 
The purgatorial flames within, 
And strive Thy light at last to win. 
Dona eis requiem. 

 They love Thee, Lord - Thou knowest this!
O bring them home from sin's abyss, 
And grant to them Thy peace and bliss!
Dona eis requiem. 

           —InĂ©s de Erausquin