merciful injunction, "Go and tell My brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me."e If then the woman so wept and persevered in weeping, who was seeking the living among the dead, who touched Thee with the hand of faith; how ought my soul to mourn and persevere in mourning, which believeth in heart and with mouth confesseth, that Thou its Redeemer now rulest in Heaven, and reignest everywhere? how ought such a soul to groan and weep, which with its whole heart loveth Thee, and with its entire longing desireth to see Thee?

O only Refuge and sole Hope of the miserable, LORD, to Whom never is supplication made without hope of mercy, grant me this grace for Thine own sake and for Thy Holy Name's sake, that as often as I think of Thee, speak of Thee, write of Thee, read of Thee, discourse of Thee, often as I remember Thee, stand before Thee, offer Thee praises and prayers and sacrifice, so often with gushing tears I may weep before Thy Sight abundantly and sweetly, so that my tears may be made my meat day and night. Thou verily, O King of Glory, and Teacher of all virtues, both by word and example hast taught us to mourn and weep, saying, "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Thou didst weep for Thy departed friend, and didst shed many tears over Thy country, destined to perish. I beseech Thee, O Good Jesu, by those Thy most precious Tears, and by all Thy Compassions whereby Thou didst deign wonderfully to help the lost, give me the grace of tears, which my soul much longeth and craveth after: for without Thy gift I cannot have it, but by Thy Holy Spirit, Who softeneth the hard hearts of sinners, and pierceth them unto weeping. Give me the grace of tears, as Thou gavest unto our fathers, whose steps I ought to imitate, that e Matt. xxviii. 7.

f Matt. v. 4.

I may mourn myself all my life long, as they mourned themselves night and day. Remembering the good deeds and the prayers of those who pleased Thee, and served Thee most devotedly, have mercy on me, Thy most miserable and unworthy servant, and give me the grace of tears. Give me the upper springs and the nether springs, that my tears may be my meat day and night, and that I may be made in Thy Sight, my God, by the fire of compunction, a whole burnt offering, fat and full of marrow: that I may be offered whole upon the altar of my heart, and so, as a most rich whole burnt offering, may be accepted by Thee for an odour of sweetness. Give me, O most sweet LORD, give me a fountain ever flowing, a fountain clear, in which that polluted whole burnt offering may be perpetually washed. For although by the help of Thy Grace I offer myself wholly to Thee, yet in many things I daily offend through my exceeding frailty. Give me then the grace of tears, O blessed and lovely GoD; specially for the great sweetness of Thy Love, and the remembrance of Thy Loving-kindnesses. Prepare Thou this table for Thy servant in Thy Sight, and give me the power that as often as I will I may be filled therewith. Grant, for Thy Love and Goodness sake, that that Thine inebriating and excellent cup may quench my thirst; that my soul may gasp unto Thee, and my mind may burn with love of Thee, forgetting vanity and misery. Hear, O my GoD, hear, O Light of mine eyes, hear what I ask; and grant that I may ask what Thou wilt hear. O loving Lord, and easy to be entreated, be not Thou made hard to be entreated through my sins, but for Thy Goodness sake receive Thou the prayers of Thy servant, and grant the performance of my petitions and of my desires, for Thy tender mercy's sake.

g Joshua xv. 19.

R

Prayers of S. Anselm.

PRAYER XVII.

PRAYER TO CHRIST, WITH ARDENT LONGING TO LOVE CHRIST ALONE.

JESU, our Redemption, our Love and Longing, GOD of GOD, be Thou present with me, Thy servant. Thee I invoke, to Thee I cry with great crying in my whole heart. Thee I invite into my soul; enter Thou into it, and fit it to Thyself; that Thou mayest possess it without wrinkle and without spot. For to the LORD of Purity, a pure abiding-place is due. Sanctify therefore me, Thy vessel, which Thou hast made; empty me of wickedness; fill me with Grace, and keep me full; that I may be made a temple worthy of Thine indwelling here and for ever. most Sweet, most Kind, most Loving, most Dear, most Powerful, most Longed-for, most Precious, most Lovely, most Beautiful, O Sweeter than honey, Whiter than milk and snow, more Precious than gems and gold, and Dearer to me than all the riches and honours of the world!

What say I, O my GOD? my only Hope is Thy so great mercy. What say I, O blessed and feardispelling Sweetness? What say I, while I say this? I say what I can; I say not what I ought. Would that I could say such things as those hymning choirs of Angels! Oh how gladly would I pour my whole self forth in Thy praises! Oh how with deepest devotion would I utter in the midst of the Church those songs of heavenly melody, to the praise and

glory of Thy Name. But, because I cannot do this, shall I therefore be silent? Woe to them that are silent about Thee, Who openest the mouths of the dumb and makest eloquent the tongues of infants. Woe to them that are silent about Thee, since those who speak most are dumb when they speak not Thy Praises. Who can worthily praise Thee, O ineffable Virtue and Wisdom of the Father? And since I find no words wherewith I may sufficiently avail to set forth the Almighty and Omniscient Word, I will say meanwhile what I can, till Thou bid me come to Thee, when I may be able to say what becometh Thee and is due from me. And therefore suppliantly I ask that Thou look not only to that which now I say, but to that which I desire to say. For with great longing I desire to speak forth of Thee what I ought, and what is fitting; for praise and songs become Thee, and to Thee all honour is due.

Thou knowest then, O GOD, Who knowest secrets, that Thou art not only dearer to me than earth and all that is in it, but more acceptable than Heaven itself and all that is in it. For I love Thee above Heaven and earth and all things else that are in them. Yea verily, except for love of Thy Name, transitory things undoubtedly are not to be loved. I love Thee, O my God, with great love, and I desire to love Thee more. Grant me ever to love Thee as greatly as I desire and as greatly as I ought, that Thou alone mayest be the whole object of my efforts, and all my meditation. May I meditate on Thee by day unceasingly; may I perceive Thee in my sleep in the night; may my spirit address Thee; my mind converse with Thee. With the light of the holy vision of Thee may my heart be enlightened, that with Thee for my Ruler and my Guide, I may 66 go from strength to strength, and at length see Thee, the God of gods in Sion ;"" now indeed through a

glass darkly, but then face to face;" where "I shall know Thee even as also I am known.” "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see GOD." "Blessed are they that dwell in Thy House, O LORD, they will be alway praising Thee."

a

Therefore I beseech Thee, O LORD, by all Thy Compassions, whereby we are freed from everlasting death, soften my heart, hard and stony, made of rock and iron, with Thy most sacred and powerful unction; and cause me by the fire of compunction to be made a living sacrifice before Thee every hour. Make me to have ever in Thy Sight a contrite and humble heart, with abundance of tears. Make me, through longing for Thee, to be utterly dead to this world, and for the greatness of Thy Fear and Love to forget all transitory things; so that for things of this world I may neither mourn nor rejoice; nor fear nor love ought temporal; nor be corrupted by smooth things, nor crushed by adversity. And, forasmuch as Thy "Love is strong as death," b may the burning and honied force of Thy Love absorb my mind from all things which are under Heaven; that to Thee alone I may cling, and on the sweetness of Thy Memory alone may feed. May there descend, Ö LORD, may there descend into my heart Thy most sweet odour, may Thy honied Love enter there. May the wondrous and ineffable fragrance of Thy Savour come to me, and excite in me unceasing desires, and draw forth from my heart streams of water flowing forth unto everlasting life.

Immeasurable art Thou, O LORD, and therefore without measure oughtest Thou to be loved and praised, by those whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious Blood. O most kind Lover of men, most merciful LORD, and most just Judge, to Whom

a Ps. lxxxiv. 7; 1 Cor. xiii. 12; Matt. v. 8; Ps. lxxxiv. 4. b Cant. viii. 6.