Vigils Reading – All Saints

FOLLOWING CHRIST

From the writing of St Gertrud the Great4

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O consuming fire, my God… Devouring me, a speck of dust, in the fiery vigor of your love, consume me utterly and absorb me into yourself. Behold, I am approaching you… Let your face light up over me so that my darkness may become like noonday in your presence… Make me… to be listed and numbered in the generation of those who know you, God of Israel; among the generation of those who seek your face, God of Jacob; in the generation of those who cherish you, God of hosts.

Holy Trinity, one God: grant that my heart may fear you, cherish you, follow you because you are my true love. Holy Mary, paradise of holiness, lily of purity, be the guide and guardian of my chastity, for in you is all the grace of life and truth… Saint John the Baptist, obtain for me enlightenment through that true light to whom you came to bear witness. O my Father Abraham, obtain for me that faith and obedience which led you to friendship with the living God. O Moses, dear to God, obtain for me that spirit of mildness, peace, and charity which made you worthy to hold discourse face to face with the Lord of majesty. O David, venerable king and prophet, obtain for me the wholeness of fidelity, promptitude, and humility that made you a man after God’s own heart, to be truly pleasing and dear to God the king… Saint Peter, first of the apostles, by your authority deliver me from the bonds of all my sins. Saint Paul, chosen vessel, obtain for me that gift of true cherishing-love… Saint Mary Magdalene, most fervent lover of Jesus Christ, obtain for me the most diligent observance of holy religion. All saints and chosen ones of God, obtain for me such observance of holy religion that thereby I may come with you to that homeland of eternal life which knows nothing but joys, where God is all in all.

My beloved Jesus Christ, I desire to enter with you into a beloved rule so that I may renew and remake my life in you… Place my life in the guardianship of your Holy Spirit so that I may keep your commandments at all times… Flood my sense with the light of your love so that you alone may teach and guide me, and convert me within. Sink my spirit so firmly into your Spirit – quickly down into its ground – that I may be truly buried in you. And let me be so fully transported out of myself into union with you that nobody may know of my grave in you except your living love alone, which may place its seal on it.

Therefore, by the cooperation of your grace and through the spotless law of your love, turn my soul from the frailty of the human condition toward you in such a way that I may untiringly run the way of your commandments and cling to you. Be with me, my Lord, aiding me always and making me strong in the work that I have taken up for the love of your love… And grant me then to see you, to have you, to enjoy you eternally in the greatest happiness, for my soul has yearned for you, O Jesus, dearest of all dear ones