Flame and
Fire:
The Passion
Within Us
For
those
of us
who
have given
no voice
to it, and
blench before
the scandal
of the truth
within —
take heart
— the
flame within
the sinner
is the fire
within the
Saints:
“Woe
is me, to what judgment
will I be subject, and
of what disgrace I am
worthy! My inner self
is not like my outward
appearance, I talk about
how to free oneself
from the passions, but
day and night I myself
think about disgraceful
passions ...
Alas ! what trials await
me? The truth is that
I bear the image of
righteousness, but lack
its capacity.
What face shall I who
am guilty of such indecency
wear when I approach
the Lord God who knows
the secrets of my heart
...
What can I expect, I
who am weighed down
with such a heavy burden
of sins?
My heart is consumed
with fire, my mind is
clouded, righteous thoughts
have failed me ...
I have no boldness before
Him who will try my
heart and inner workings,
I have no clean thoughts,
no tears while praying
...
You know, O Lord, my
passions hidden in the
darkness, the sores
of my soul are known
to You. Heal me, O Lord
and I will be healed.
If You will not build
the house of my soul,
I labor in vain trying
to build it myself ...
O, Lord, enlighten the
eyes of my heart, that
I might rightly recognize
the deceit and malice
of the passions. May
Your grace shield me,
that I might be able
to stand firm and resist,
having girded my loins
with courage ...
No one is strong enough
to heal the passionate
temperament of my soul.
Condescend and save
me by Your kindness.”
St. Ephrem the Syrian
__________________________
Saint Ephrem died June, 373 A.D. He was an exegete and prolific writer of commentaries on Sacred Scripture as well as poems, hymns, and homilies. You may either listen to, or read his extraordinary hymn on the contention between Christ and the devil, and between sanctity and sin here.
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Totally Faithful to the Sacred Deposit of Faith entrusted to the Holy See in Rome
“Scio opera tua ... quia modicum habes virtutem, et servasti verbum Meum, nec non negasti Nomen Meum”
“I know your works ... that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My word, and have not denied My Name.” (Apocalypse 3.8)
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