Contents Perenne Lumen in Templo Aeterni
Perpetual Light in the Eternal Temple
Pater


Written by St. Columban (c543-615), abbot. This prayer is found in his Instructio De Compunctione, 12, 2-3 and is used in the Office of the Readings for Tuesday, 28th week of Ordinary time.

DOMINE, da mihi, rogo te, in nomine Iesu Christi Filii tui, Dei mei, illam quae nescit cadere caritatem, ut mea lucerna accendi sciat, exstingui nesciat; mihi ardeat, aliis luceat. O LORD, in the name of Jesus Christ, Thy Son and my God, I ask Thee to give me the love that never fails so that my lantern may always be lighted, never failing, burning within me within me and giving light to others.
TU, Christe, lucernas nostras accendere digneris, dulcissime nobis salvator noster, quo perpetuae luceant in templo tuo, ac perenne lumen a te perenni lumine accipiant, ut tenebrae nostrae illuminentur, mundi autem tenebrae a nobis fugentur. THOU, O Christ, our sweetest Savior, deign to light our lamps so that they may burn forever in Thy temple, may they receive eternal light from Thee, the Eternal Light, and by it may our darkness be illuminated and the darkness of the world dispelled from us.
SIC lumen tuum meae largiaris, rogo, Iesu mi, lucernae, ut illius luce illa sancta sanctorum mihi appareant, quae te aeternum Pontificem aeternorum in antibus magni illius tui templi illic intrantem habeant, quo te iugiter tantummodo videam, aspiciam, desiderem; tantum te amans conspiciam ac coram te mea semper lucerna luceat, ardeat. O my Jesus, I beg Thee to give Thy light to my lantern, so that I may see by its light the Holy of Holies, which has Thee, the eternal High Priest, entering among the great columns of Thy temple. May I see Thee only, look upon Thee, desire Thee; may I gaze lovingly upon Thee alone and before Thee may my lamp always shine, always burn.
TUUM sit, quaeso, te nobis pulsantibus monstrare, amantissime Salvator, ut te intelligentes, tantum te amemus, te solum amemus, te solum desideremus, te solum meditemur die ac nocte, semper te cogitemus; et in tantum nobis tuum inspirare digneris amorem, quantum te amari Deum decet ac diligi; ut omnia interiora nostra tua occupet dilectio, totosque nos tuus possideat amor, totos nostros sensus tua impleat caritas, ut praeter te aliud amare nesciamus, qui sempiternus es; quo tanta caritas aquis multis huius aeris et huius terrae et huius maris exstingui in nobis nequeat iuxta illud: Et aquae multae non potuerunt extinguere caritatem. MOST Loving Savior, I beseech Thee, be pleased to show Thyself to us who knock, that in knowing Thee we may love Thee only, that we may love Thee alone, that we may desire Thee alone, that we may meditate day and night on Thee alone, and that we may always contemplate Thee alone. Deign to inspire in us as much of Thy love as is fitting to be received by Thee as God, so that our whole being may be occupied by Thy love, so that Thy love may possess us completely, so that it may fill our senses, and so that we may not know any other love but for Thee, Who art eternal. May so great a love in us be unable to be extinguished by the many waters of this earth, sea, and sky. Many waters have not been able to extinguish love.
QUOD in nobis quoque compleri vel ex parte possit, te donante Domino nostro Iesu Christo, cui gloria in saecula saeculorum. Amen. MAY this too be fulfilled in us or at least in part, by Thy gift, our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

From the Liturgia Horarum, Office of the Readings for Tuesday, 28th week of Ordinary time. By St. Columban, from his Instructio De Computctione, 12, 2-3. (tr MWM).


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