Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Chapter 6: Psalms 102–119:32

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Psalm 113 with Gertrude the Great – A Humble Heart He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap (v. 7). First, then, come to the face of your God in the spirit of humility in order that he may show you the grace of his countenance. And say: I speak to my Lord, although I am dust and ashes. O my God, exalted and sublime, look upon that which is humble far below (v. 7); my soul and spirit grow faint at the limitless good you have done. Open to me the treasure of your most gracious heart, where the sum of my desires is stored. Open the grace of your mellifluous 1 countenance for me that I may pour out my soul under your gaze (Ps 142:2). Open to me that most dulcet 2 favor of my peace in you, which will exhilarate my soul and loosen my tongue in your praise. Ah! O love, enter for me before the gaze of the great God and there announce the clamoring 3 of my desire because, in thirsting for God, all of my own virtue has already dried up. Ah, drag and draw my spirit upwards to you because already my flesh and my heart are growing faint for God, my salvation. Ah! Present me to the Lord, my king, because my soul has already melted with loving and waiting for my spouse. O love, now very quickly fulfill my desire; if you delay I, already growing faint, will die for love.

1 Mellifluous – soothing 2 Dulcet – sweet 3 Clamoring – crying out