Chapter CLXVII. A prayer of the Saint's companions to him

221. Behold, our blessed father, we have in our simplicity zealously striven in some sort to praise thy splendid deeds, and, for thy glory's sake, to publish some few of the countless acts of power wrought by thy holiness. We know that our words, unequal as they are to record the mighty acts of such perfection, have deprived thy exploits of much of their splendour. We beseech thee and our readers to balance our affection against our attempt and to rejoice that human pens are surpassed by the loftiness of thy wondrous character. For who, O thou pre-eminent among the Saints, might frame within himself or impress on others an idea of the ardour of thy spirit? Who should be able to conceive of those unspeakable emotions which flowed without intermission from thee to God? But we have written these things delighting in the sweet memory of thee, which so long as we live we endeavour to set forth to others even though with stammering lips. Thou, erstwhile famished, now feedest on the fatness of corn; thou, formerly athirst, now drinkest of the torrent of pleasure. But we believe that thou art not so inebriated by the abundance of the House of God as to have forgotten thy children, since even He, of whom thou drinkest, is mindful of us. Draw us therefore to thee, O worthy father, that we may "run after the odour of thine ointments "¹ — we whom thou seest lukewarm in sloth, languid in idleness, half-alive in negligence. The "little flock "is following thee now with faltering steps; the dazzled sight of their weak eyes cannot bear the beams of thy perfection. Renew our days ?s at the beginning, O mirror and pattern of the perfect, and suffer not those who resemble thee by their profession to be unlike thee in their life.

222. Lo now we lay our humble prayers before the clemency of the Eternal Majesty on behalf of Christ's servant our Minister, thy successor in holy humility, thy emulator in true poverty, who for thy Christ's sake is taking zealous care of thy sheep with tender affection. And do thou, O holy one, so advance and encompass him that he may ever cleave to thy footsteps and obtain for ever the praise and glory which thou hast gotten.

223. We beseech thee also, O kindest father, with all our heart's affection, for this thy son who now and before has devoutly written thy praises. He, together with us, offers and dedicates to thee this little work which he has put together not indeed in a manner worthy of thy merits, but with dutiful affection in the measure of his strength. Deign to keep and to deliver him from all evil, increase in him holy merits, and, by thy prayers join him for ever to the fellowship of the Saints.

224. Remember, father, the whole congregation of thy sons, who, harassed by inexpressible perils are following thy footsteps — at how great a distance thou O most holy one knowest perfectly. Give them strength to resist. Purify them, that they may shine. Cheer them, that they may enjoy. Obtain that "the spirit of grace and supplications "may be poured upon them; that they may have the true humility thou hadst, that they may keep the poverty thou heldest, that they may win the charity wherewith thou didst ever love Christ crucified; Who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.

Footnotes

1. See Canticles, i. 3. ↩