[JMJ333]

O God, let me know you and love you so that I may find joy in you; and if I cannot do so fully in this life, let me at least make some progress every day, until at last that knowledge, love and joy come to me in all their plenitude. While I am here on earth let me know you fully; let my love for you grow deeper here, so that there I may love you fully. On earth then I shall have great joy in hope, and in heaven complete joy in the fulfillment of my hope.

O, Lord, through your Son you command us, no, you counsel us to ask, and you promise that you will hear us so that our joy may be complete. Give me then what you promise to give through your Truth. You, O God, are faithful; grant that I may receive my request, so that my joy may be complete.

- Saint Anselm

[livius]

There is a strange logic of fate in the fact that the same man, who had to defend Christian freedom against all the gloomy clouds of an unbiblical doctrine of foreknowledge, predestination and original sin, had to spend his best efforts in struggle for the freedom of the Church in the English investiture controversy.

St. Anselm is wonderful. The most exalted mysticism on one hand - and on the other, a full awareness of its ecclesial and even political implications. Thanks for posting more great readings from von Balthasar!

[Siobhan]

Bump for dear St. Anselm!

[EODGUY]

This prayer sounds like the formula for a truly Catholic lifestyle, and represents the reason we have been placed on earth by our Lord and Savior.

God Bless,

EODGUY