Favorite prayers.. poetry.. hymns for Lent..
Let's relate them. . .
"REMEMBER THE HOLY CROSS"
ST. BONAVENTURE
THOU on perfect way befalling,
And the sacred cross recalling,
Livest in supreme delight;
On the cross forever thinking.
Be its lessons ever sinking
In thy heart from morn till night!
When thou toilest or reclinest,
Laughest or in sorrow pinest,
Whether thou hast bliss or pain,
When thou walkest, when thou runnest,
Solace seekest, or pain shunnest,
On thy heart the cross retain!
In all trials sore surrounding,
And in miseries abounding,
Find the cross a perfect cure!
When we faint in pain and anguish,
When with weariness we languish.
Stands the cross a refuge sure!
Stands the cross, of heaven the portal,
Through which pass the saints immortal
Who have conquered all below.
The cross is th' elixir precious
Through which God supreme and gracious
Makes his healing mercies flow.
Find the cross the soul's salvation,
True and clear illumination,
It is sweetness, it is light;
Life it is with benediction,
Treasury of all perfection.
Honor, glory, and delight.
In the cross see virtue's mirror,
In the cross safe guide from error,
Without which would hope expire.
Ye distrustful of salvation,
In the cross find consolation.
The fulfilment of desire.
See the cross, the tree embellished,
Which by blood of Christ is cherished;
Full of every fruit it stands
With which hungry souls are nourished.
And in heavenly soil has flourished.
Food for the celestial bands.
Crucified! make me enduring,
For thy death my grief assuring;
Make me weep till I expire!
That with thee I may be wounded,
By thy presence be surrounded.
Through the cross is my desire.
BE THERE GIVEN
Be there given,
Gracious Heaven,
Wings of dove unto my soul!
Let the holy
Palm of glory,
The cross, ever, be its goal!
Through which Jesus,
Slain to save us,
Openeth a refuge sure;
Freely giving
For all living
The five wounds he suffering bore.
Love excelling,
Christ indwelling,
Melt with fire this icy heart!
Forge consuming,
Heaven illuming,
Incremate my carnal part!
With thee, make me
Live completely.
Make me thee supremely love!
Living with thee,
Dying with thee,
With thee let me live above!
By thy wounding.
Sore abounding,
By thy prayers, and by thy blood,
By thy paining.
Death sustaining.
Bring me to thy fellowhood!
And as token,
Ne'er unbroken,
Fix me on thy heart alone!
Like dove moaning,
Grief intoning
In her cavity of stone.
This cell ever.
Quitted never.
Be the mansion of my heart!
Here reposing
Through years closing.
May I stay till life depart!
Of supernal
And paternal
Bliss may I a consort be!
The beloved
By wounds proved
At his side forever see!