A Contrite and Humble Spirit

January 27.

For thus saith the high and lofty One
that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy;
I dwell in the high and holy place,
with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble,
and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

ISAIAH 57, verse. 15.


Without an end or bound
Thy life lies all outspread in light;
Our lives feel Thy life all around,
Making our weakness strong, our darkness bright;
Yet is it neither wilderness nor sea,
But the calm gladness of a full eternity.

F. W. FABER.


O truth who art Eternity! And Love who art Truth!
And Eternity who art Love! Thou art my God,
to Thee do I sigh night and day. When I first knew Thee,
Thou liftedst me up, that I might see there was
somewhat for me to see, and that I was not yet
such as to see. And Thou streaming forth Thy beams
of light upon me most strongly, didst beat back
the weakness of my sight, and I trembled
with love and awe: and I perceived myself to be
far off from Thee in the region of unlikeness.

ST. AUGUSTINE.