Vigils Reading

THE TABERNACLE

OF GOD’S GLORY

By St Gertrud the Great

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How wondrous is your temple, God, king of virtues. How glorious your

dwelling-place, where you, God most high, preside in your majesty over all

things. The virtue of my soul grows faint in its yearning to enter into your glory.

God, my God, love and jubilation of my heart, refuge and virtue, God, my glory

and my praise, oh when will my soul praise you in the church of the saints?

O when will my eyes see you, my God, God of gods? God of my heart, oh

when will you gladden me with the sight of your face? Oh when will you bestow

upon me the desire of my soul by manifesting your glory? Oh when will I enter

into your might to see your virtue and glory? Oh when will you clothe me with

the mantle of your praise instead of a spirit of sorrow so that, together with the

angels, all the parts of my body may render you praise?

God of my life, oh when will I enter into the tabernacle of your glory in

order that I, too, may proclaim to you the most splendid alleluia and that my

soul and my heart may confess to you in the presence of all your saints that you

have magnified your mercies toward me. My God, my very bright inheritance,

oh when, after the snares of this death have been destroyed, will I personally see

you without mediation, and praise you? Oh when will I dwell in your tabernacle

forever in order that I may assiduously praise your name and sing to your

magnificence a new hymn about your limitless mercies?