De laude sanctorum angelorum in caelo
Longing for the Angelic Choir
The author expresses a profound yearning to join the angels in their eternal praise, finding all earthly joys and sounds empty by comparison.
In the presence of the angels, I will sing your praise. O most high King, God most worthy of praise, Creator of all things—both angels and humans—how long must I linger on earth, kept far from you and from all your holy angels in heaven? Woe to me, poor and unhappy, how long must I eat with men the bread of earth, the bread of labor and sorrow, and be deprived of the bread of angels that contains the sweetness of every flavor? O Lord, when will I hear the voice of your praise from the mouths of your angels in heaven, just as the blessed apostle John, while in exile, heard the voice of many angels singing as one? Holy, holy, holy. If only I could be one with them and have such a voice; how gladly I would praise you with them, and above all the highest songs of heaven, sing and magnify your holy name forever. O Cherubim and Seraphim, how sweetly, how beautifully, how fervently and excellently you sing and rejoice before God, without any weariness, without fatigue, without ceasing, in eternal happiness. Therefore, every human voice is hoarse to me; every song is discordant, every psalm is dry; all music is heavy, every harp is deaf; every instrument is mute, all the world's joy is great sadness; every game is a wail, every food and drink is tasteless; all flesh is grass, every wine is gall and vinegar; every melody is poison, every pleasure is harsh; all beauty is a stench, all finery is dung; all honor and glory is vanity and smoke, everything precious and noble is vile and deformed; indeed, all things are nothing in comparison to eternal life, eternal glory, and eternal joy in the presence of God and the angels, who most highly praise the holy and glorious Trinity, day and night, without end.
Humility Before the Divine Mystery
Acknowledging his own limitations, the author humbles himself before God's mercy and marvels at the unfathomable depth of divine wisdom.
But because I cannot reach those sublime songs of the heavens, nor do I have the capacity to fully grasp them, I lament and deeply despise myself; before God and all people, I bend my knees and humbly ask for mercy. For my works are truly nothing without your grace and mercy, Lord, which you show so abundantly. You created every creature without number and measure. O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How profound are your judgments, and how true from the beginning of time to the end of the ages, over the good and the bad, over the grateful and the ungrateful, over the pious and the impious; so that no one can fully investigate your works, nor should anyone justly complain about any sudden event. Blessed, therefore, be my God forever.
Read the original Latin
In conspectu angelorum psallam tibi. O rex altissime Deus summe laudabilis, creator omnium rerum angelorum et hominum quamdiu morabor in terris; et elongabor a te et ab omnibus sanctis angelis tuis in caelis? Heu me pauperem et infelicem quamdiu manducabo cum hominibus panem terrenum panem laboris et doloris et privabor pane angelorum continente omnis saporis suavitatem? O Domine quando audiam vocem laudis tuae ex ore angelorum tuorum in caelo; sicut beatus Iohannes apostolus religatus in exilio audivit vocem multorum angelorum psallentium in unum. sanctus sanctus sanctus. O utinam essem unus cum ipsis et talem vocem haberem; quam libenter vellem te laudare cum eis et super omnia altissima caeli cantica cantare et magnificare nomen sanctum tuum in aeternum. O cherubin et seraphin quam dulciter quam pulchriter quam ferventer et excellenter cantatis et iubilatis coram Deo: sine omni taedio, sine fatigatione sine cessatione in aeterna felicitate. Ideo omnis vox humana est mihi rauca; omnis cantus dissonus, omnis psalmus aridus: omnis musica gravis omnia cithara surda; omne organum mutum, omnis mundi laetitia grandis tristitia: omnis ludus ululatus, omnis cibus et potus insipidus; omnis caro faenum, omne vinum fel et acetum: omne melos venenum, omne iucundum asperum; omnis decor foetor, omnis ornatus stercus: omnis honor et gloria vanitas et fumus, omne pretiosum et nobile vile et deforme; immo omnia nulla comparatione aeternae vitae aeternae gloriae, aeternae laetitiae in conspectu Dei et angelorum: qui altissime collaudant sanctam et gloriosam Trinitatem die ac nocte sine fine.
Sed quia ad ista sublimia caelorum cantica sascendere nequeo nec plene ea comprehendere sufficio; ideo me ipsum plango et valde despicio et coram Deo et omnibus hominibus flecto genua mea: et humiliter veniam peto. Nam opera mea vere nulla sunt sine gratia et misericordia tua Domine: quam maxime ostendis super. omnem creaturam tuam sine numero et mensura. O altitudo divitiarum sapientiae et scientiae Dei; quam profunda sunt isiudicia tua et vera a saeculo usque in finem saeculorum, super bonos et malos, super gratos et ingratos, super pios et impios: ita quod nemo possit plene investigare opera tua, nec debeat iuste conqueri in aliquo facto improviso. Benedictus ergo semper Deus meus.
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