DAY 8

(Friday, 7th Week of Easter)

Bend the stubborn heart and will, melt the frozen warm the chill. Guide the steps that go astray!

The Gift of Wisdom

Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all the other virtues, wisdom is the most perfect of the gifts. Of wisdom it is written "all good things came to me with her, and innumerable riches through her hands." It is the gift of wisdom that strengthens our faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes the practice of virtue in the highest degree. Wisdom enlightens the mind to discern and relish things divine, in the appreciation of which earthly joys lose their savor, while the cross of Christ yields a divine sweetness according to the words of the Savior: "Take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Prayer 

Come, o spirit of wisdom, and reveal to my soul the mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them above and beyond all the passing joys and satisfactions of earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for ever. Amen.

• Our Father and Hail Mary (once). 

• Glory be to the Father (seven times). 

• Ending Prayers: Act of Consecration, Prayer for the Seven Gifts

Come down, O Love divine  

Ralph Vaughan Williams. Sung by Elora Festival Singers

Today's musical selection was written by Ralph Vaughan Williams, a fantastic English composer (1872-1958). For the hymn's publication in The English Hymnal of 1906, Vaughan Williams, the hymnal's editor composed a tune, "Down Ampney", which he named after the Gloucestershire village of his birth. This publication established the hymn's widespread popularity. The text originated as an Italian poem, "Discendi amor santo" by the medieval mystic poet Bianco da Siena (1350-1399). (Source)

Come down, O Love divine,

seek thou this soul of mine,

and visit it with thine own ardor glowing;

O Comforter, draw near,

within my heart appear,

and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn

till earthly passions turn

to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;

and let thy glorious light

shine ever on my sight,

and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

Let holy charity

mine outward vesture be,

and lowliness become my inner clothing;

true lowliness of heart

which takes the humbler part,

and o'er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

And so the yearning strong

with which the soul will long

shall far surpass the power of human telling;

for none can guess its grace

till we become the place

wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.