A Poem, a Prayer, and a Passage, #3

A Poem: “He is king of all”

He is king of all.
Therefore the world of minerals
Offered the rock of Golgotha,
The iron of the nails,
The tomb of frigid stone.
Therefore the world of plant
Offered the plaited thorns,
The splintering wood,
The sour wine on lifted sponge,
Linen for the temple veil, rent like a wound.
Therefore the world of breathing beasts
Offered leather thongs for whips,
Bones for dice,
Men for cruelty and mockery.
“Hail, king of the Jews,” they cried,
When all the time they hailed the Lord
Who made the weapons turned against Him,
Made the world to crucify Him,
And overcame its worst assaults
To save the wretched slave
Who spilled His blood abroad,
Yet, splattered with it,
Opened eyes and heart
To groan in late remorse:
“Truly this was the Son of God.”

Two Prayers

A Prayer of St. Nicholas von Flüe

Domine meus ac Deus meus,
aufer a me quidquid ad Te me impedit!
Domine meus ac Deus meus,
da mihi quidquid ad Te me adducit!
Domine meus ac Deus meus,
solve me a me et da me totum Tibi esse proprium!

My Lord and my God,
take from me everything that keeps me from Thee.
My Lord and my God,
give me everything that brings me to Thee.
My Lord and my God,
take me from myself and make me wholly Thine.