To see thee is the end and the beginning.
Thou carriest us, and thou dost go before.
Thou art the journey and the journey’s end.
Boethius (480–524)
My whole heart I lay upon the altar of thy praise, an
whole burnt-offering of praise I offer to thee.
Let the flame of thy love set on fire my whole heart,
let nought in me be left to myself,
nought wherein I may look to myself,
but may I wholly burn towards thee,
wholly be on fire towards thee,
wholly love thee,
as though set on fire by thee.
St Augustine (354–430)
Let all the world in every corner sing,
My God and King!
The heavens are not too high,
His praise may thither fly;
The earth is not too low,
His praises there may grow.
Let all the world in every corner sing,
My God and King!
George Herbert (1593–1632)
God, great and wonderful,
who hast created the heavens,
dwelling in the light and beauty thereof,
who hast made the earth,
revealing thyself in every flower that opens;
let not mine eyes be blind to thee,
neither let mine heart be dead,
but teach me to praise thee,
even as the lark which offereth her song at daybreak.
St Isidore of Seville (560–636)
The almighty Truth of the Trinity is our Father,
for He made and sustains us;
the deep Wisdom of the Trinity is our Mother,
in whom we are all enfolded;
the great Goodness of the Trinity is our Lord;
in Him we are enfolded and He in us.
We are enfolded in the Father,
and we are enfolded in the Son
and we are enfolded in the Holy Spirit.
The Father is enfolded in us,
and the Son is enfolded in us,
and the Holy Spirit is enfolded in us:
All-mighty, All-wisdom, All-goodness:
one God, one Lord.
Julian of Norwich (1342–1413)
CONFESSION
If we claim to be sinless, we are self-deceived and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is just and may be trusted to for give our sins and cleanse us from every kind of wrongdoing. 1 John 1.8-9
O Lamb of God
that takest away the sins of the world
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God
that takest away the sins of the world
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God
that takest away the sins of the world
grant us thy peace.
Lord have mercy upon us.
Christ have mercy upon us.
Lord have mercy upon us.
Almighty and most merciful Father;
We have erred, and strayed from thy ways
like lost sheep.
We have followed too much
the devices and desires of our own hearts.
We have offended against thy holy laws.
We have left undone
those things which we ought to have done;
And we have done those things
which we ought not to have done;
And there is no health in us.
But thou, O Lord,
have mercy upon us, miserable offenders.
Spare thou them, O God,
