a good day for singing

today is the feast of st. ephrem of edessa, sometimes known as ephrem of syria, a fourth century deacon who is responsible in large part for the beginnings of hymnody in the church. he is also patron of spiritual directors.

as i have been adjusting to life in bellingham again, i have realized that the most consistant part of my practice lately has been drinking coffee. therefore i find this prayer of blessed ephrem, used especially during lent in the eastern church, to be particularly helpful to me:

(making a prostration)

"o lord, master of my life, grant that i may not be infected with the spirit of slothfulness and inquisitiveness, with the spirit of ambition and vain talking.

(making a prostration)

"grant instead to me, your servant, the spirit of purity and of humility, the spirit of patience and neighborly love.

(making a prostration)

"o lord and king, grant me the grace of being aware of my sins and of not thinking evil of those of my brethren.

"for you are blessed, now and ever, and forever. amen.

"lord jesus christ, king of kings, you have power over life and death. you know what is secret and hidden, and neither our thoughts nor our feelings are concealed from you. cure me of duplicity; i have done evil before you.

"now my life declines from day to day and my sins increase. o lord, god of souls and bodies, you know the extreme frailty of my soul and my flesh. grant me strength in my weakness, o lord, and sustain me in my misery.

"give me a grateful soul that I may never cease to recall your benefits, o lord most bountiful. be not mindful of my many sins, but forgive me all my misdeeds.

"o lord, disdain not my prayer - the prayer of a wretched sinner; sustain me with your grace until the end, that it may protect me as it is your grace which has taught me wisdom; blessed are they who follow her ways, for they shall receive the crown of glory.

"in spite of my unworthiness, i praise you and i glorify you, o lord, for your mercy to me is without limit. you have been my help and my protection. may the name of your majesty be praised forever. to you, our god, be glory. amen."