Vigils Reading

THE GLORY OF

THE SAINTS IN HEAVEN

By Stephen of Sawley

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After you have cleared the battle-line of your mind, consider next the

glory and happiness of the heavenly city of Jerusalem. Consider, for instance,

wherein consists the glory of its saints, or how great is its joy where Beauty itself

reigns supreme, where dwells Virtue, Power, Magnificence, Majesty and

Supreme Goodness—in a word, the triune God who is all in all, who enlightens

all with knowledge and inflames all with love. Here are all the holy angels, more

glittering than bright stars, and the patriarchs, rejoicing in their victorious faith;

here is the stately group of jubilant prophets, and the glorious choir of the

Apostles. Here are the countless rows of martyrs who were victorious in combat

and have received their crowns. Here are all the confessors rewarded for their

fortitude, and the multitude of virgins crowned with lilies. Here are all the

blessed who observed God’s commandments and transformed their earthly

assets into heavenly treasures.

How eagerly must we long for their happy and holy company! How

severely must we censure ourselves for being sluggish, lukewarm, and obdurate

in the very sight of such majesty! How we must blush that we did not fear their

holy glances, but sinned before their very eyes and continue to do so up to this

very day. Confess your shortcomings, therefore, and say: ‘Father, I have sinned

against heaven and against you’. I did not fear your holy angels and saints. I am

not worthy to be called your son. Treat me, therefore, as one of your hired men

so that, at least by fearing punishment and hoping for reward, I may stay away

from sin and fear you, my Lord, as your servant, unworthy as I am to love you in

the way a son does.

All you angels, archangels, virtues, powers, principalities, dominations,

thrones, cherubs, and seraphs, all you saints and elect of God who are fellow

citizens of heaven and behold God directly in joyful contemplation, please keep

me in your prayers so that the enemy may never deceive me and that, through

your intercession, my prayer may ascend to your holy temple where glory is

given to God the Father, the Son, and to the Holy Spirit now and for all ages to

come.