Lord God, You are the greatest and holiest mystery. Be all of my love, all my hope, all my striving; let my thoughts and words flow from you, my daily life be in you, and every breath I take be of you. – St John Cassian 360-435AD. Also known as John the Ascetic, or John Cassian the Roman. He learned…
My Master and God, teach me to hold myself in silence before you, to love you in the depths of my being, to wait upon you always, and never to ask anything of you but the fulfilment of my life. Teach me to let you act in my soul, and form in it the simple prayer that says little but…
Late, have I loved you, Beauty so ancient so new! Late have I loved you! You were within me, but I was outside you and there I searched for you. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created. You were with me, but I was not with you. Created things kept me from you; yet if they…
Help Lord, I am in dry land, all dried up and cracked by the violence of the wind and the cold. But I trust you. Send me both dew and warmth when it pleases you. Amen. – St Jane De Chantal 1571-1641AD (A reflection on Psalm 42).
Lord, it seems you have taken away all the blessings that I once had from you. In your grace, please give me now that one gift which every dog seems to have by nature— that of being faithful to you in my distress, faithful even when all comfort is gone. This I desire more passionately than anything else there is.…
O Lord, you have searched my heart And you know me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead and show me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I speak.…
Holy Spirit, giver of life to life, moving in All. You are the source of all things living, washing away all impurity, scouring guilt, and anointing wounds. You are luminous and praiseworthy, Spirit of Life, awakening and re-awakening all that is. Amen. – Hildegard of Bingen 1098–1179AD