Vigils Reading – All Saints

A reading from

ST GERTRUDE THE GREAT

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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… 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.