Sweet seemed to me the taste of the fruit of knowledge in Eden when I
took
my fill of eating, but the end of it was gall. Woe to thee, O wretched
soul! See how uncontrolled desire has made thee an exile from Paradise!
O
God of all, Lord of mercy, look down compassionately upon my lowliness
and
do not send me far away from Eden; but may I perceive the glory from
which
I have fallen, and hasten with lamentations to regain what I have lost.
I
lament, I groan, I weep as I look at the cherubim with the sword of fire
set to guard the gate of Eden against all transgressors. Woe is me! I
cannot enter unless Thou, O Savior, dost grant me free approach. O
Christ
my Savior, boldly I put my trust in the abundance of Thy mercies and in
the
Blood that flowed from Thy divine side; for through Thy Blood Thou hast
sanctified the nature of mortal man, O loving Lord, and hast opened unto
those that worship Thee the gates of Paradise that of old were closed to
Adam.
Canticle Nine from Matins of the Sunday of Forgiveness
Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you.
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