... And today is mine!

Eden
by Thomas Traherne (1637 - 1674)

"A learned and a happy ignorance
Divided me
From all the vanity,
From all the sloth, care, pain, and sorrow that advance
The madness and the misery
Of men. No error, no distraction I
Saw soil the earth, or overcloud the sky.

I knew not that there was a serpent's sting,
Whose poison shed
On men, did overspread
The world; nor did I dream of such a thing
As sin, in which mankind lay dead.
They all were brisk and living wights to me,
Yea, pure and full of immortality.

Joy, pleasure, beauty, kindness, glory, love,
Sleep, day, life, light,
Peace, melody, my sight,
My ears and heart did fill and freely move.
All that I saw did me delight.
The Universe was then a world of treasure,
To me an universal world of pleasure.

Unwelcome penitence was then unknown,
Vain costly toys,
Swearing and roaring boys,
Shops, markets, taverns, coaches, were unshown;
So all things were that drown'd my joys:
No thorns chok'd up my path, nor hid the face
Of bliss and beauty, nor eclips'd the place.

Only what Adam in his first estate,
Did I behold;
Hard silver and dry gold
As yet lay under ground; my blessed fate
Was more acquainted with the old
And innocent delights which he did see
In his original simplicity.

Those things which first his Eden did adorn,
My infancy
Did crown. Simplicity
Was my protection when I first was born.
Mine eyes those treasures first did see
Which God first made. The first effects of love
My first enjoyments upon earth did prove;

And were so great, and so divine, so pure;
So fair and sweet,
So true; when I did meet
Them here at first, they did my soul allure,
And drew away my infant feet
Quite from the works of men; that I might see
The glorious wonders of the Deity."

* * * * *

Twenty-nine years have passed since first mine eyes saw the light of this world, and each passing year the God who first called me into being and loved me has revealed still more abundantly His love and tender mercy for me. From the first love of my parents and family to the love of friends, teachers and His sacred ministers, He has shown me just how rich is His gift of life; how grace-filled is every moment. From shore to shore, He has been with me, closer than I can ever comprehend; most intimate Friend, opening mine eyes to new discoveries and cultures, only to find He is already there awaiting me. Time and time again, with the patience and care only a Father has, He calls me back to Him each time I stray and in weakness err from the path of righteousness. What wondrous grace! Reborn in the womb of the font, He has given me a Mother, His Holy Church, the Spouse of the Bridegroom, and through her, He fills my mind and heart with the wonder of Himself, the beauty of holiness in His saints and He calls me to greater fidelity, inspiring me with His very Spirit, my Comforter and Advocate. And O! Most glorious, He comes to me and lightens the darkness of my mind with His Living Word and nourishes my unworthy soul with His very Flesh. And the precious Blood which He shed for me upon the Holy Rood, He sheds still, in remittance of my sins by the ministry of His priest. And yet even so, He never fails, with a Lover's inventive desire, to reveal even more the infinite broadness of His love: in this past year He has deigned to lead me into the family of His Friars Preachers, there with brothers and sisters to praise Him, to bless Him and to preach Him to all nations.

And so, on this anniversary of my birth, I thank you, O Lord, for the wonder of my being and for the life you have given me. I offer you my life, my very self, as a thanksgiving sacrifice. May it be acceptable in your sight.

May the Blessed Virgin, my Mother and yours, teach me and guide my every step, for I am still an unruly child, ungainly of gait and in need of direction. And by your grace, may my pilgrimage attain at last to that heavenly homeland, where I may see you face to face, my Creator God.

Amen.