De laude divina
The Unworthy Singer
The author confesses his unworthiness to praise God and resolves to offer his entire life as a perpetual hymn.
But what can I say? I know, Lord, that I am unworthy to praise You; so I pray that at least other creatures, so noble and glorious, might deign to make up for my imperfection. I desire and long with all my heart for the orbits of the planets, and the starry heavens, radiant with the clearest light; the flowering buds, conspicuous in their spring beauty and adorned with lovely colors; and indeed all the desires of burning love, coming from the hearts of those who love You with the most intense affection, to praise and bless You forever. I would even wish from the depths of my heart that, if my youth had quickly reached the age of Methuselah, every year of that long time, every month of those years, every week of those months, every day of those weeks, and every hour of those days might, at Your nod, be offered by me as a person so devoted and affectionate, for every moment of that time, as much as any of the saints has ever praised You in the full duration of their lives. And as if I had fulfilled all these things in my own person, and as if the frequency of this praise exceeded the number of all things. What more is there to say? Do with me what You will, for as long as there is breath in my nostrils, I will not cease from proclaiming Your praise.
Praise Beyond the Grave
The author extends his vow of praise beyond death and reflects on God's fatherly mercy throughout his life.
But even when the power of speech fails at the hour of death, and when I am no longer able to speak the name of my Jesus because of my weakness, I ask that even the blinking of my eyes or the movement of my fingers may be an offering and a confirmation of all the desires, words, and works—past and future—that I would have offered to you with devout service until the final day of judgment, if I could live that long. Furthermore, my Beloved, I add this, considering it with an affectionate heart: that when my body has been reduced to the finest dust and locked away in stone, every tiny particle may still reach out, transcend the heights of the heavens, and lift up a living hymn of praise to you until the final day of judgment, until in the blessed resurrection, body and soul are united once more and joined together eternally in the glorification of your praise. Truly, as long as I am still in this prison of the body, I won't stop praising you. We see, of course, that among the sweetest birds of the woods, the trilling nightingales and the chirping ones alike are present, serving their Creator in the same simple way they have received. It's the same with me; though I am a sinner, I have only the song of a sinner at hand, and just as I have received it, I praise and glorify my God through it forever. For I know no other song to sing of God that is sweeter than this: that the Lord is gracious to all, and his mercy is over all his works. O God, my soul is exhilarated, and all my bones are refreshed. In this age, among the spiritual songs of the birds, the heart sings with a sweet melody, and the beauty of God's praise brings joy. For whenever I reflect on what I was once like, what dangers I faced, from how many perils you have rescued me, and from what evils you have delivered me—how you broke my chains, healed my festering wounds, crushed the dangerous snares, and freed me so gently and fatherly—when I reflect on these and similar good things you have shown me, it is a wonder that I can even stand before you for love. You have patiently endured me, my God, for as long as I was a sinner rebelling against you.
The Prodigal's Gratitude
A personal meditation on God's patient pursuit of the author, the prodigal son, leading to an outburst of praise.
How often and how fatherly you've warned me—sometimes gently, sometimes with a firm hand—and how you anticipated me, even when I was unaware, with the blessings of your sweetness! To me, a prodigal son weighed down by sin and stripped of grace, you came running and met me with a father's love; you didn't turn your merciful face away from me as I wandered down crooked paths, but were always and everywhere a kind and merciful God. And that I, who have been so ungrateful for all these good things, should be—oh, supreme goodness! You persisted until at last... In many ways, you've gently drawn me to yourself. Ah! Supreme and inestimable mercy, could I possibly hold myself back from praising you in all of this? Not at all, my God. You are my God, my mercy.
A Torch of Morning Praise
The author prays that his praise may mirror the joy of the saints and rise like a fragrant morning offering.
For all these and countless other blessings, I hope and desire that my praise for you might be as joyful as the praise of the blessed spirits was when, at the first sight of your most divine majesty, they rejoiced that they were eternally confirmed in your praise, while the wicked were cast out by you forever. Likewise, may that praise be as great and as joyful as the praise of the holy souls when, rescued from the prison of purgatory, they behold the face of your glory. They are presented first, so that they may gaze upon your joyful face; and how great will the praise be in the streets of the heavenly Jerusalem after the final resurrection of all, when the elect, separated from the wicked, will praise God with a joyful heart and eternally glory in their salvation. O most loving Wisdom, O immense Goodness, I pray that every morning at dawn, when I rise to you and open my eyes, my heart may also be opened in your praise, and that a great torch of your praise may rise from it, with a certain morning splendor and a fiery ardor. And I ask that this praise may resound as gently and sweetly in your fatherly heart as the sweet melody of all harpists and musical instruments is accustomed to sound in a joyful heart, in the flourishing state of youth. And in this torch of praise, may a fragrant wisp of smoke of your praise rise up—as graceful as if it were composed of all the spices of myrrh and incense and all the powders of the apothecary; as beautiful as when, in the spring, the flowers of the fields sprout in lovely colors and the trees stand with leaves adorned in pleasant scents. May the torch of this praise be so loving and delightful that your eyes may gaze upon it with pleasure, and the whole heavenly court may resound with it. May it rise up constantly, without intermission, with the most fervent heat and the most rapid warmth of your love: from the heart, through devout meditation; from the lips, through fervent speech; and from all my works, through a holy and heavenly way of life. And may this torch of praise, by its own power, repel all enemies, increase grace, obtain a blessed end, and acquire the glory of eternal beatitude, so that the end of this temporal praise may be the beginning of the eternal praise of the heavenly homeland. That God and...
Ascending to the Heavenly Court
The author exhorts his soul to detach from earthly things and join the heavenly citizens in their adoration of the ascended Christ.
N. J. C. He should be praised more fully; we must turn our minds away from earthly things and illuminate ourselves with the heavenly court. To be stirred toward the praise of God, I ask you to pull your mind away from earthly things and lift it toward heavenly ones with all the effort you can muster. Consider how the citizens of that heavenly court delight, rejoice, and exult in God continually. Remember the joy of each one, and then, as you are able and permitted, throw yourself into their midst and join in their rejoicing and jubilation. Cry out, then, with your whole heart, and say from your depths with Anselm: 'My God, what have I valued more, what have I loved more than you on this earth, that I should draw my heart away from you to desire anything in the world apart from you?' Why did I love? Why have I desired anything in all my life apart from you, Jesus, my God? Why did I delay? Why have I let any time pass without keeping you, Jesus, in my heart, without embracing you with my whole mind, and without finding delight in your sweetness? Why haven't I turned all my desires toward you? Where have the inner depths of my spirit gone, since they didn't go to you alone? Where was I when I wasn't with you in my mind? Because they have flowed away, I’ve had no desires when I should have had all my desires burning for you, Lord Jesus; for you have lingered too long; hurry, where you are going; seek the one you are looking for: you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified one; he has ascended into heaven, he is not here. The most loving Lord dwells in confidence, and no scourge has approached his tabernacle. Above the height of the heavens, above every excellence of the angels, he has ascended by his own power; above the throne of singular glory, at the right hand of God the Father, coeternal and consubstantial, he sits, clothed in divine light, crowned with glory and honor, as befits the Only-Begotten of God, serene in his majesty, full of all power, Lord in heaven and on earth. There all the angels of the Lord adore him, and the multitude of the heavenly citizens, and the eyes of all the saints look upon his desirable face. They feed on his face; in him the longings of all rejoice, to him they applaud, to him the whole heavenly city is glorious, in every way in his splendors: be glad and praise. The dwelling place of Zion, because the Holy One of Israel is great in your midst. Through him, ten thousand times ten thousand stand in the sanctuary of the heavenly temple, gazing upon the face of his majesty with a clear and unspeakable vision, and sounding forth an unending hymn to the glory of the Trinity and the simple divinity. Through him, thousands of thousands move constantly between heaven and earth to fulfill the Father's mysteries, like bees busy between the hives and the flowers, arranging all things gently—a people prepared, without stain or disobedience. Through them, indeed, the highest matters are administered. In this, the kingdoms and empires of the world consist, hidden from the sight of mortals. Among them is the chief, Michael, the standard-bearer, a noble citizen of heaven. He who stands for the whole living God, brandishing his sword. For defense, and thundering with a terrifying voice: 'Who is like God?' over those who are against him. Rejoice in your noble Son, you illustrious Fathers.
The Joy of the Saints
A call for all orders of saints—patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, and Mary—to rejoice in the victory of Jesus.
You patriarchs, rejoice, for all your hope is placed in him, and all people will be blessed in his true seed; for the divine word has promised this. Rejoice in Jesus, you prophets, you truthful men, for he has fulfilled wonderfully and gloriously everything you announced about him in the Holy Spirit. And you have been found faithful through him in all your words. Rejoice in the Lord Jesus, my Master and yours, you noble princes, you blessed Apostles; rejoice in Christ himself, and I say it again, rejoice with Christ, your familiar friend. Look at the one you saw in your midst—hungry, thirsty, weary, and enduring other human weaknesses, rejected by everyone and counted among the wicked. See how he has conquered, how he reigns, how all things are under his feet, how gloriously he shines in his divine light, and how he now has as his companions in his unspeakable glory those who were once his partners in his temptations. Adore now those sweet knees that bowed down to the ground for you; adore the hands that the King of kings deigned to wash and wipe clean. Rejoice in Jesus, the prince of your militia, you glorious Martyrs, for you possess him for whom you gave your lives to death—him, I say, Jesus the Son of God—as the reward for your struggle. Rejoice in Jesus, the supreme Teacher of truth, you venerable Confessors and Doctors, for the one you once confessed before men with sacred teachings and just works now confesses you before his Father and his Saints and Angels. Rejoice in Jesus, the virgin and the sanctifier of virgins, you virgins who dwell in paradise, you who are like the angels; for look, you now see the Son of the Most High King whom you loved, whom you cherished, whom you sought with burning desire, and for whose love you despised earthly suitors and all the finery of the world; you now hold him, you now rest in his chaste embraces, and no deceiver's fraud can tear you away from him. But truly, among all the inhabitants of heaven, may you have the most abundant joy, O Mary, unique Virgin of virgins, rose of heavenly sweetness, shining star among the first lights that receive the divine light; rejoice with great joy in Jesus, your most sweet Son, above all others: for you adore him whom you brought forth as a man and nursed at your own breasts, adoring him with the angels and all the citizens of heaven as the living and true God. Rejoice, happy Mother: for you see him reigning in heaven with great glory whom you saw hanging on the wood of the cross; you see him. Every height of those in heaven, on earth, and in the depths is bowed to his majesty, and all the strength of his enemies is crushed. May the joys of joys be yours, you who are the beauty of all the Saints. Blessed Jerusalem, our Mother who are above, celebrate a joyful and unending feast in the peaceful vision of your Jesus, the author of your freedom; and you, my soul, rise up again with all the effort you can, and offer yourself to the sacred thousands rejoicing in the Lord Jesus. Travel by the vehicle of faith and hope, and dwell there through the ardor of love where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God; fix the eye of your mind on the light of his face, and with joyful devotion, look upon and kiss each of the places of his blessed wounds, from which those precious streams of sacred blood flowed, by which the Only-Begotten of God valued us and sanctified us for eternal life: so says Anselm.
Final Thanksgiving
A formal prayer of thanksgiving for creation, redemption, and the grace of perseverance.
PRAYER: I give thanks and praise to you, Lord my God, my mercy, who have deigned to create me, to redeem me, and to lead me to the knowledge of you, and through the washing of holy Baptism, to gather me among the children of adoption. I praise You and glorify You, because You have often waited for me to change my life while I was falling into many vices, and You have freed me from many troubles and dangers. I thank You for the gifts of Your grace that You have begun in me, which I beg You to mercifully bring to completion, and to guide me along the path of eternal salvation and lead me happily to the vision of You. Amen.
Read the original Latin
Sed quid dicam ? Memetipsum , Domine , tua laude indignum esse cognosco, quamobrem precor, ut saltem ceterae creaturae nobilitate praeclarae, imperfectum meum dignentur supplere. Opto igitur, et ex toto corde desidero, ut orbes planetarum. , ac coelum sidereum, iimpidissimo liamine radiosum ; florifera quoque germina, vernaii decone oonspicua, pulchrisque coloribuB adomata ; nec non et omnia ignitse caritatis desideria, de cordibus te vehemeniissimo amore diiigentium procedentia, te laudent et benedicant in secula. Optarem etiam ex intimis praecordiis meis, ut si iuventus celerius consummaca, annositatem Mathusalem coaequasset, quod unusquisque dnnus« tam longaevi temporis prsedicti, et unusquisque mensis annorum eorumdem , et unaquaeque hebdomada horum mensium, et quilibet dies hebdomadanmi^ et quaelibet hora r nutum horarum pncc te ot persona mea tam devole et afleciu quodlibet miicli lemporis ose, quantum unquam aliqu Sanctorum te I de lauda numoro beaspUndoribus e iu tola duralione poluis . el; ac si hiEc omnia in propria persona et quod hujua laudia omplevissem frequena inaxcederet species numerorum. Quid plura? Fac de me hoc quod tibi placuerit, quia quandiu est halilUE in naribus meis, a tus laudis prteconiis non cessabo.
Sed et cum virlus loquendi mortis hora defecerit. et meum Jesum amplius pras debilitate proferre non valebo ; peto ut saltem nutus oculorum, vel exlensio digicorum sit Innovatio et confirmatio omnium desiderabilium affectuum et verborum atque operum prasteritomm et futurorum, quK usque ad extremum judicii diem tibi cum devoto famulatu oHisrre vellem, ai tandiu vivere posBera, Insuper, Dilecte, hoc adiicio, considerans corde afTectuoso, ut quando corpus meum fuerit in pulveres minutisaimos redactum, et lapide clausum, qtiod de quatibet particula minutissima voi penclrans , co;lorum alliludinem transcenJat, el usque ad exTremam judicii diem viviB laudis pra^conium eitoUat ; donec in resurrectione beala, corpus et anima pariter unila , in tuse laudis glorilicalione eclernaliter copulentur. Sane quandiu adhuc sum in hoc corporis ergasiulo, a laude tua non lacebo. Nimirum videmus quod plerumque inter dulcissimas nemaris aviculas, et tintinnantes philomenas, quoque crocliantes adsunt, I eodem modico quod acceperunt Crealori suo subservientes. Sic et ego peccator cum sim, cantum ad manus habeo pec^atorum, et prout passum, Deum meum per ipsum laudo et glorifico in ajternum, Siquidem aliud de Deo dulciua ca,nere neEcio , nisl hoc videlicet , quoniam suavis eac Dominu» u»iversis, et quod miseralioms ejus, super omnia opera ejus. O Deui ]a:iaiur anima mea, exhilaratur irrigantur omnia ossa mea. Hoc in aeculum, inter spiriluale genua avium cum Ixlo corde dulci canit 4 MElioRIA BESEFIClORtia AO LAUDEH DeI UULTUa JUVAT. — QUOtiescunque ecenim mente revolvo, qualis aliquando fui, qualia discrimina evaal, a quancis periculis me procexisti, et a quibus malis me eripuisii, dirupisli vincula mea, sanasii vulnera putrida, et taqueos periculosos concrivisti, et me dulciler ac paterne liberasti; dbm basc, inquam, et similia bona a te (nihi exhibiia perlracto, mirum est quod in horum omnium alfectuosa re-^ cordatione meipsum pra; amore ponare valeo : ardentiisimis siquiDeus meus , quandiu peccatorcmj llbi recalcitraniera, patienter eupectasti '.
Quoiies el quam paterne; nunc quidem dulciier, nunc veta dure me admQnuisii , nescicntem in benediciionibus dulcedinis prxvenisti ; lilio prodigo el peccatii pricgravato, ac gratiia nudato, La accursum veniens paterne occurristi, ab ilerante vias pravas misericorJem faciem non averliati, aed semper et ubique pius et misericoi» fuisti '! Et quod his oranibUs majufi ', quod his umnibus bonis tam bus ingratus semper ex~ II, summa bonitas. prodestitisti, donec tandem . liiplici pter hoc me dulciter ad te traxisti. Ah! summa et inaestimabilis pietas, numquid in his omnibus meipsum a laude continere potero ? Nequaquam , Dsu? meus , misericordia mea.
Pro his omnibus et aliis innumeris beneficiis opto et desidero, ut talis tanquam jucunda laudatio sit tibi ex me, qualis fuit beatorum spirituum laus, tunc cum in primo aspectu tuae divinissimae majestatis gaudebant se seternaliter in tua laude confirmatos; malos vero a te sine fine detrusos. Itemque, tam magna tamque jucunda sit illa laudatio, quanta est animarum sanctarum , cum a carcere purgatorii ereptae vultu gloriae tuae. primo praesentantur, ut tuam jucundam faciem intueantur; et quanta erit laus in plateis coelestis Jerusalem, post finalem omnium Resurrectionem , quando electi a malis segregati Deum jucundo corde iaudabunt, ac de sua salvatione aeternaliter gloriabuntur. O amantissima sapientia, bonitas immensa^ te precor, iit omni mane diluculo cum ad te surrexero, et oculos aperuero, simul quoque cor meum in tua laude aperiatur, ac quodam lucifero splendore, et fiammeo ardore laudis tuae facula immensa ex eo simul exsurgat. Et peto ut haec laus tam blande et suaviter resonet in corde tuo paterno, sicut sonare consuevit suo modo omnium citharaedorum, ac musicalium instrumentorum suavis moduiatio in corde jucundo, statu juventutis florido. £t in hac laudis facula simul ascendat tuae laudis tam odorifera fumi virgula : tam gratiosa, ac si esset composita ex omnibus aromatibus myrrhae et thuris, et universi pulveris pigmentarii ; tam speciosa, sicut cum vernali tempore fiores herbarum pullulant in campis, ""coloribus pulchris, et «rbores stant frondibus orhatis, gratis odoribus; sitque laudis hujus facula, tam amorosa et deliciosa, ut in ea oculi tui delectabiliter ferantur, totaque coelestis aula resultet ; et haec jugiter , sine intermissione , fervidissimo aestu , et rapidissimo calore tui amoris exsurgat : ex corde, per devotam meditationem ; ex labiis, per fervidam locutionem; et ex omnibus operibus meis, per sanctam ac ccelestem conversationem. £t haec laudis facula sua virtute omnes inimicos repellat , gratiamv augeat, finem beatum obtineat, et gloriam aeternae beatitudinis acquirat, ut finis hujus temporalis laudis, sit initium aeternae laudis patriae coelestis. 5 Ut Deus et D.
N. J. C. melius laudetur, mentek a terrenis abstrahere et nos curiie coslesti lUMiscERE DEBEMUs. — Ut autem ad Dei laudem provoceris, abstrahe, quaeso, mentem tuam a terrenis, et leva eam ad coelestia, toto conatu quo poteris; ac considera quomodo iilius coelestis curiae cives delectantur, jubilant, et exsultant in Deo^ continue ; singulorumque gaudia rememoranS; tandem prout poteris, et permitteris, ipsis laetantibus et jubilantibus te ingere, et immisce. Exclama ergo corde toto, et dic ex intimis cum Anselmo : « Deus meus, quid melius, quid amabilius te aestimavi super terram, ut abstraherem cor meum a te, ad concupiscendum quidquam in mundo absque te ? Cur amavi ? Quare concupivi in omni vita mea quidquam, praeter te Jesum Deum meum '{ Quare distuli?
Cur intermisi ullo tempore te, Jesu, versare in corde, te tota mente amplecti, et delectari in tua dulcedine ? Cur non omnia desideria mea ad^e converti ? Quo abierunt , quando tc solum non adierunt, omnia interiora spiritus mei ? Ubi eram, quando tecum mente^non eram ? Quod efluxerunt, : EOlui habuemnc quando i desideria raca ( lam ej: h< omnin desideria incaleaciie te in Domrnum Jesum; quia SHtis hactenus lardistis; propcrate , quo pergitis ; quKrite quem qujeriiia : Jetum qiM^ritis Najarenum, crucijtxiem ; ascendil m cielum, noH esi hic. Amantissimus Domini habilat confidencer, et fiagtllam non approprnquavit tabfrnaculo ejns. Super aJtimdinem «Elorum, super omnein eicellencjam Angelorn™, propria virtute Mcendit, snper solium singukris gloriae, a dexlris Dei Rltrii sui, coaiternus ct coQsubtaniiailE sedcr, et divino amietus Jumine, coronalus gloria et honore, ut decet Uitigeniium D», seremis ia Istiiia, plenus omni potentalu, Dominus in cibIo et in lerni. Ibi adorant eum omnes Angeli Domini, et unimultitudo civium ttclesti nimiler iKIanli n ejut desiderabili mnium oculi beaundique conduunt n Sanctorum.
Ipsi facie psscuntur tomm; in ipsun desidcria omniu iubilat,ipsiapplaiidit, ipsui Healtota uranica civilas glorio°a,per Omnem modum insplendoribusejus: Exstdta et lauda. habitatio Sion, quia ma^us in mcJio tui Sanctus Israel. Per ipsum centena decies millies millena assistunt in sancluorio uranici lempli, inlendentes vultum majestatis claro el inOeiibili visu, ac personantes hannoniara incessabilis hTmai, in gloriam trinE et simplKdiviniiatis. Per ipsum millia millium ad complenda Patris mysieria alacri discursu jugiter mcant inter codum et lerram, ({uasi apes negutiosee inter alvcaria el fiorcs, disponantes omnia suaviter , populus accinctus , labem , vel inobedientite m Per hos quippe somma nosti lotiE administranmr negotia. lates mortalium procrcaolu hoG consistmit regna, et imiperia mundi. Inter quos prxcipaum aa~ vimui Michaalem signiferum nobi— lem casli civem. qtii slat pro ttcic Dei viveoiis, exicndeQs romphKan. propugnaiionis, ac voce terrificB intonans : Quis ut Deus, super eos qni ei adverso sunt, Eisultate ia nnbili Filio vcstro vos illuatres Pa.
triarchaE ; quia im;' eo omnis eispectatio v sublimis est vaJde, et benedicentur in ipso veitro videlicef semine otnncs GeDlei ; aic enim poilicitus esl senno divinus. Gaudete in Jesu Piiophera ntagno , voa Prophetr viri veraces : quia mirifice et glcxriose implela videlis omnia, qum de ipso annuntiaatis in Spiritu Soncta,. et fiddet iaventi estis per ipBum in oinciis sermonibus veslris. Gaildete in Domino Jesu meo, Msgistro vesiro, vos inclTli proc«res axli beali Apostoii , gaitdete ia Cbrislo ipso, et iterum dico gaUrdete cum Christo familiari lalilia. Ecce enim quem vidistis in raedio vestri esuricntem , el sitieQlem , ratigattim, et his similia carnis inrtiniia lolerancem, ab omnibira reprobari, et cum sccleralis repuBri; quomodo vicit, quomodo r^nat, quomodo ei omnia sub pcdiboa sunt, quam gloriosus in suo divino lumine fulget, et sui gMidii suicquc inelFabilis glorise nanc WM socios habct, qui olim peniMD~ sistia cum ipso in lentatioDibui suis, ei vciationum ejus consortac fuistis. Adorate nunc dulcia Jlla genua, qus se curvavenint «nte vo^ usque ad terram, sedentiblu Adorate manus quibus pulverem pcdutB veeirorum Rex regum lavare , et citergere dignalus csi. Gaudete in Jesu principe militiae vestrae , vos Martyres gloriosi : quia ipsum pro quo tradidistis in mortem animas vestras, ipsum, inquam, Jesum Filium Dei possidetis , praemium certaminis vestri. Gau~ dete in Jesu summo Doctore veritatis, o venerandi Confessores ct Doctores : quia quem olim doctrinis sacris, et operibus justis confessi estis coram hominibus , nunc confitetur vos coram Patre suo , et Sanctis et Angelis ejus.
Gaudete in Jesu virgine et virginum sanctificatore, vos paradisicolae Virgines, vos Angelis similes-: quia ecce quem amastis» quem c^stastis, quem ardentibus desideriis expetistis, pro cujus amore terrenos sponsos, et omnem ornatum seculi contempsistis, summi Regis Filium nunc videtis, nunc tenetis, nunc in ejus castis amplexibus quiescitis, et divelli a vohis nulla insidiatoris fraudulentia potest. Verum autem inter omnes coelicolas uberrimum tibi gaudium sit, o Maria, virginum Virgo singularis, rosa coslicae amoenitatis^ praelucidum sidus, inter primaevas lucernas divini luminis susceptivas, in Jesu tuo dulcissimo Filio^ sola prae omiLibus gaude gaudio magno : quiaquem ut hominem peperisti, et propriis uberibus enutristi, ipsum cum Angelis et universis civibus coeli adoras, ut Deum vivum et verum. Gaude, felix Mater : quia quem vidisti m ligno crucis pendentem, vides in ccelo regnantem cum gloria magna ; vides . omnem altitudinem ccelestium, terrestrium, et infernorum majestati ejus inclinatam, et omne robur inimicorum ejus attritum. Gaudia gaudiorum sint tibi, omnis pulchritudo Sanctorum. Beata Jerusalem Mater nostra^ quai sursum eS;^ festivitatem age laetabundam, et indeficientem in visione pacifica tui Jesu, libertatis tui auctoris l £t tu nunc rursum elevare, anima mea, quali potes conatu, et sacris te ingere millibus laetantiiun in Domino Jesu. , lUuc fidei et spei vehiculo perge» ibi per carltatis ardorem conversare, ubi Christus est in dextera Dei sedens, Intende mentis ocuium in lumine vultus ejus, lustra ac deosculare gjratulabunda devotione singula loca felicium plagarum ejus, de quibus egressi sunt pretiosi illi liquores sanguinis sacri, quo Vt appretiavit Unigenitus Dei^ et sanctificavit in vitam aeternam : » hec Ansdmus. ORATIO Gratias et laudes tibc agov Domine Deus meos, nxisericordia mea^ qui me dignatus es cresTe, et redimere, atque ad tui agxutionem perducere, et per sacri Baptismatis ablutionem inter fifios adoptioms aggregare.
T« laudo, te glori^o, qui me saepe per molta defluentem vitia ad emendationem exspectasti, ac de tribulationibus et periculis mukis liberasti ; tibi gratias ago pro inceptis in me gratiae tuae donis, quae depirecor, ut misericorditer perficias, meque in viam salutia aeterns dirigas, et ad tuam visionem feliciter perducas. Amea.
The Life of Christ (Vita Christi) companion
A prayer for every moment, already on your phone
Chosen Portion puts a curated historic prayer in front of you each day — so the words are there before the moment arrives.
Chosen Portion is the digital descendant of the carried prayer book: the short daily prayers this collection preserves, delivered one a day to your pocket.
- One short, memorable prayer delivered daily — build your repertoire a card at a time
- Prayers matched to real situations: fear, gratitude, decisions, grief, sleep
- Save favourites into your personal pocket collection you can open anywhere