Ave Maria Meditations
When, oh Lord, will you occupy all my thoughts so that I find a new my full measure of joy? When should I live in true liberty, free of the impediments of mind and body? Above all, when will be that peace so desired by all human beings: firm and undisturbed within and without, secure on all sides?
O dear Jesus, when should I behold You face-to-face, to stand and contemplate the glory of Your kingdom? When will You be all in all to me?
Oh, when will I be in Your kingdom which from all eternity You are prepared for those who love You? For now I am bereft, poor and exiled in the enemy’s country, faced with the battles of daily life which threatened to make me fail You.
Comfort me and my exile is my sorrow, for to You I cry out with longing. The comforts of this world could only be a burden to me, since all I long to enjoy is an intimate possession of You, even though now this is unattainable.
Although my desire is to cling to heavenly things, I am drag down by my unmodified passions. My mind wishes to rise above these things, but the weakness of my flesh drags me down against my will. Unhappy person that I am, I fight with myself and am a burden to myself, while at one and the same time, my spirit tends upward but my flesh ever seeks the things below.
What inward suffering is mine, while my mind would think of heavenly things, my prayers are interrupted by a host of carnal thoughts! O dear God, do not remain far from me and a part not from Your servant in anger. Send the light of Your grace and dispel all carnal thoughts from me.
Let the lightning of Your love come with all speed to put to flight the strategy of the enemy. Grant that my senses may be recollected in You, so that I may forget all worldly desires. Help me, O divine Truth, and purify all my motives. When You send Your heavenly sweetness, every impurity will flee before Your face.
From the Imitation of Christ
