Sunday, March 21, 2010

Lethargy and Life-Giving Prayer

Aelred of Rievaulx was known as the "The Bernard of the North." His writings include On Spiritual Friendship. The following is from Pastoral Prayer:

Lord, look at my soul's wounds.

Your living and effective eye sees everything.
It pierces like a sword, even to part asunder soul and spirit.
Assuredly, my Lord, you see in my soul and spirit
the traces of my former sins, my present sins, my present perils,
and also motives and occasions for others yet to be.

You see these things, Lord,
and I would have you see them.
You know well, O searcher of my heart,
that there is nothing in my soul that I would hide from you,
even had I the power to escape your eyes.
Woe to souls that want to hide themselves from you.
They cannot make themselves not to be seen by you,
but only miss your healing and incur punishment.

So see me, sweet Lord, see me.

My hope, most merciful, is in your loving kindness;
for you will see me, either as a good physician sees,
intent upon my healing,
or else as a kind master, anxious to correct,
or a forbearing parent, longing to forgive.

This, then, is what I ask, O font of pity,
trusting in your mighty mercy and merciful might:

I ask you, by the power of your most sweet name,
and by the mystery of your holy humanity,
to put away my sins and heal the languors of my soul,
mindful only of your goodness,
not of my ingratitude.

It's possible that the meaning of "languor" here is indifference or lack of enthusiasm, other options are sluggishness, lack of energy, or weariness.









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Oldies but Goodies