At the Time of Prayer
O Christ who are covered with light as though with garment, who for my sake stood naked in front of Pilate, clothe me with that might which you caused to overshadow the saints, whereby they conquered...
View ArticleThe Work of God
A particularly wonderful and challenging (and much needed on my part) post by Rachel Fulton (ie Fencing Bear at Prayer): ‘The first thing to realize about praying the Hours is that it is not about me...
View ArticleWho Is Like Unto You
Who is like unto You, for whom the depths are luminous, You who is surrounded by whispered praises, source of miracles! Suddenly He transformed nothing into something; He drew near to hearts, and His...
View ArticleNothing But You Have I
ردوا علينا ليالينا التي سلفت و امحوا الذي قد جرا منا Return to us the nights that have been lost to us, And erase, by Your favour, that which has been issued from us. فكم زللنا و انتم تصفحوا كرمآ و كم...
View ArticleYou Draw Up Everyone From Endless Evils
‘I prostrate myself, Lord, at the throne of Your majesty, I who am dust and ashes and the dregs of humanity. A thousand upon thousands of angels and countless legions of seraphim offer You, the holy...
View ArticleTo Speak, To Think, To Remember
In secular usage, meditari means, in a general way, to think, to reflect, as does cogitare or considerare; but, more than these, it often implies an affinity with the practical or even moral order. It...
View ArticleWe Name You a Paradise
Blessed Virgin, Elected One, We name you a Paradise in which the perfumed tree is planted. We name you the Fountain, from which gushes forth the water of life. We name you the Land, which bore the...
View ArticleDrip the Oil of Your Grace, My God
_____________ I have removed to a distance, Benevolent One, I dwelt in the desert and I was hidden from You, the sweet Master. I came under the night of life’s worry, and there I sustained many stings...
View ArticleThe Irish Hermit’s Wish
I wish, O Son of the living God, old eternal King, a hidden hut in the wilderness that it may be my dwelling, A bright blue narrow stream to be beside it, a clear pool for washing sins away through the...
View ArticleTranslating Dhikr
The following is an excerpt from a letter sent by ‘Abd al-Ghanī al-Nābulusī (on whom and his letter writing see a previous post) to a friend of his living in the Ottoman town of Hayrabolu (in...
View Article
