Biboboy
posted on Jul 16, 2005 - 08:59 PM
(Beginning verses for Watos days):
We worship the Father and the Son,
And the Holy Spirit,
The Holy Trinity,
The consubstantial.
Hail to the Church,
The house of the angels,
Hail to the Virgin,
Who gave birth to our Saviour.
Look at the heavens and in wonder behold the setting of the sun, the rising of the moon, the movement of the clouds, the quite breeze, the birds chirping and flying back to their nests to rest, the lights of stars beginning to display their power... This heavenly scene at the end of this blessed day and the beginning of the new day humbles us, O God, the consubstantial Trinity. "All this," exclaimed David the Prophet in his praise, "is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes!" (Ps. 118:23). How true are your words, O David, you whose heart was closest to the Lord's, who saw His wisdom and glory in creation, and witnessed the obedience of the creation to His commandments! He set their laws, and they cannot be passed (Ps. 148:6).
How great is this obedience to Your Law, O God! For not only does nature abide by the Law you set, but your saints have showed us how even we, humans created with free will, can freely choose to be obedient to Your Law.
What greater example of obedience and purity is there, but your example, O Virgin Mary, who in all humility served God in the Temple, and in all simplicity served our Lord Jesus Christ throughout His life among us?
What about you, O my mother the Church, the bride of Christ? You are the house in whom all the holy stand in praise of God, for they are all obedient to the Law of God. You, the Church, are the house in which all men and women are invited to bless the Lord and welcome Him who comes to us from heaven - and He comes not alone, but with all the angels of heaven and the saints, who were obedient to the Law of God! You, the Church, are truly the house of God, in which the heavenly and the earthly meet, and for this reason we call you the house of the angels! You, the Church, are filled with the righteous saints and martyrs; we imitate their virtues and look at the end of their life here on earth, to learn from them, the Church Victorious, the true life of obedience and virtue.
Hail to you, O Church, supported by the seven pillars, for giving us salvation, a meeting place with God and all the heavenly, and for teaching us obedience. Hail to you, O Virgin, for your pure life of obedience to the Word of God.
We worship You in Truth, O God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, who created everything and taught us obedience through them, and who established us in Yourself, and gave us the light.
"You are my God, and I will give thanks to You; You are my God, I will extol you. O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever" (Ps. 118:28, 29).
_________________
"Our hearts are restless until they find rest in You, Lord" (St. Augustine, Confessions, I, 1).
"Pray gently and calmly,
Chant hymns with understanding and rhythm;
Then you will soar like a young eagle
High in the heavens"
+ St. Evagrius the Solitary, On Prayer, 82.
In Christ,
Bishoy
HCOC Member
+ To Protect and Preserve +
HCOC: Sing it! Live it! Love it!
Questions or comments on the copticheritage.org website? E-mail me!
Joined: Sep 28, 2004 | Posts: 722