Spit in my face, you Jews (Holy Sonnet 11) by John DonneSpit in my face you Jews, and pierce my side, Buffet, and scoff, scourge, and crucify me, For I have sinned, and sinned, and only he Who could do no iniquity hath died: But by my death can not be satisfied My...
The Canticle of the Sun Saint Francis of AssisiMost High, all-powerful, good Lord, Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessings. To You alone, Most High, do they belong, and no man is worthy to mention Your name. Praised be You, my...
The Dark Night of the Soul By Saint John of the Cross I. In a dark night, With anxious love inflamed, O, happy lot! Forth unobserved I went, My house being now at rest.II. In darkness and in safety, By the secret ladder, disguised, O, happy lot! In darkness and...
Hymns on the Samaritan Woman by Saint Ephraim the Syrian (303-373 AD)Blessed are you, o woman,drawer of ordinary water,who turned out to be a drawer of living water.You found the treasure,the Source from whom a flood of mercies flows. The spring had dried up,but it...
An Irish poemThen, as she plucked her son from herbreast for the executioner, one of thewomen said: ‘Why do you tear from me my darling son,The fruit of my womb?It was I who bore him, he drank my breast.My womb carried him about,...