An Open Heart to Beauty
Asks to keep a fresh and receptive delight in creation and divine goodness throughout life and into old age.
Historical edition. Historical claims and instructions are preserved as historical context.
ALMIGHTY GOD, if our hearts be hard, and the songs of Thy Church be not gladsome to us, have pity on our dulness; and have patience with us, if the constancy of Thy mercifulness has dulled the feeling of Thy graciousness.
Almighty, we could almost lift up a reproach to Thee. Only threescore years and ten in which to know Thy goodness! Only threescore years and ten in which to marvel at the summer in its brightness and the winter in its majesty! Look where we will, the world teems with wonder. Everything is a mystery, marvellously and wonderfully made and Thou hast stooped in Thy tenderness over Thy works and kissed them because they are so lovely. Help us to love them because Thou lovest them. Make us to delight in all Thy ways, in the winter storm, in the summer sky, in the little flower come again. Let us preserve the freshness of these things when the brow is wrinkled and the back bent. Grant that ours may be the open soul through which all the beauty of the life Divine may enter in; may we glow with David’s fire and have the sweet and gentle spirit of him who leaned on Jesus’ breast.
Be near us in life and death, and by Thy Son and Spirit bring us to everlasting rest.—AMEN.