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m a t t e s a t

d r a p e r



Mystics at Prayer

V V V



First Edition, March 1931

Secon d Edition, M ay 1932

Third Edition. September, 1936

Printed in U .S . A.

The Rosicrvcian Press, Ltd.

San Jose, California



C O M P ILER ’S DED IC A T IO N

I dedicate this book with the deepest

and most respectful esteem

to

Mrs. Gladys R. Lewis,

wife of the Supreme Secretary of

A M O R C

of North and South

America



M Y S T I C S A T P R A Y E R

T HE R O S I C R U C I A N L IB R AR Y

Volume

I. Roslcrucian Que stions and Answers with Com plete

History of the Order.

II. Rosicruc ian Principles for the Hom e and Business.

III. The Mys tical Life of Jesus.

IV. The Secret Doc trines of Jesus. (In preparation.)

V. "U nt o Thee I Gra nt." (Secret Teachings of Tibet.)

VI. A Thousand Years of Yesterdays. (A Revelation

of Reincarnation.)

VII. Self Mastery and Fate with the Cycles of Life.

VIII. Rosicrucian Manual.

IX. Mystic s at Prayer.

X. Rosicrucian Healing. (In preparation.)

XI. Ma nsions o f the Soul. (The Co sm ic Conce ption.)

XI I. Lemuria— The Lost Contine nt of the Pacific.

XI II. The Technique of the Master.

XIV . The Symb olic Prophecy of the Great Pyramid.

XV. The Book of Jasher.

XV I. The Techn ique of the Disciple.

(Other volumes will be added from time to time.

Write for complete catalogue.)

^ ........



JflpStics at draperV

Compiled by

FR. M ANY CIHLAR, F. R. C.

V IENNA. AUSTR IA

With Introduction by

DR. H. SPE NCE R LEW IS, F. R. C.

R O S IC R U C I A N L IB R A RY

V O L U M E I X .

S UP RE ME G R A N D L O D G E O F A M O R C

Printing and Publishing Department

San Jose. California



This unique book contains a carefully

selected group of prayers found in the

personal and private writings of many well-

known characters and in the liturgy of

various religious movements.

They have been selected by Mr. Cihlar

after a careful study of the prayers of

all peoples and all nations in relation to

the processes of mystical attunement and

spiritual development.

Mr. Cihlar is a Rosicrucian, a high officer

in this time-honored and beautiful body

of Mystics, adhering to and promulgating

the divine principles of earthly life.From his sanctum in Vienna, Austria, his

manuscript was sent to America that it

might be published by the Western World

branch of the Rosicrucian Brotherhood and

given to the people of this new world with

the hope that it may lead to a greater

desire to pray and a greater efficiency in

the manner of praying.

W e trust that this hope will be fulfilled

by the wide-spread distribution of thisbook and the daily reference to the prayers

contained in it.THE PUBL I SHERS .



I N T R O D U C T I O N

V

H O W T O PR AY

An examination of the prayers which appear on the

following pages reveals the fact that the great mystics

of all ages understood the real processes of prayer and

knew how to pray.

Christians have the beautiful example of the prayergiven to them by Jesus, the Christ, as a standard; and

it is a most beautiful standard. But, long before the

Christian era, the Mystics, the Avatars, and those through

whom the Light of G od shone among men, knew by

divine inspiration how to pray. Examples of their prayers

contained in these pages prove this fact.

The Mystic and those who were touched with the

Light of Cosmic Consciousness had a very definite under

standing of the processes of prayer. In the Western

W orld today millions of persons have digressed very

greatly from these processes, and, making their prayers

long and filled with personal petitions, are often dis

appointed with the seeming lack of efficacy in their

prayers or the inefficacy of praying. It may be permis

sible, therefore, briefly to outline or review true processes

of prayer as understood by the Mystics.

According to the mystical view-point, praying to God

is based upon the conviction that Go d is omnipotent in

power, present everywhere, and willing to listen to oursincere petitions. This is all that we should have in mind

when praying. The ave rage person in praying, however,

has in mind some assumptions which mislead him in

wording his prayers, and in approaching the very attitude

of prayer. H e assumes that G o d is not only omn ipotent

in power, omnipresent, and merciful, but that with all of

His power, with all of His intelligence, with all of His

mastership and control throughout the world, and with all



His attunement with the beings which H e created, He is,

nevertheless, ignorant of our wants and needs, and com-

pletely unacquainted with what we require in life in

order to live abundantly and secure our every day

necessities. Very often, the prayerful petitioner also

assumes that God has given no thought to the outcome

of certain contests in life or struggles between various

factions of human beings, and is incapable of justly

deciding such contests or awarding the victory to the

right side. These false assumptions are responsible for

the mistakes that are made in prayer and for the failure

of prayers to be highly efficacious.To go into prayer with the idea or belief that God

does not know what we need or even what we want, or

what is best for us, and that we must advise Him, argue

with Him, stress our view-point and convince Him, or at

least urge Him, to adopt our ideas and decisions and

grant what we plead for, is to make the most serious

mistake in the process of praying.

In the first place, the process of prayer is a transcen

dent method of communion with God. If is the most

intimate, personal contact that human beings can make

with their Father, the Cre ator o f all beings. This sublime

period of communion should be approached with clean

thoughts, but most of all with a clear understanding of

our privileges and a total absence of any feeling that

we have any right to petition G o d to gran t our wishes.

The Mystics know, also, that true prayer is based upon

a Cosm ic and Sp iritual law. That law is this: "Se ek and

ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you."

The ancient mystical injunction was that you must ask in

order to receive, that you must proffer your hand in

order to have the token given unto you, that you mustexpress your desire before it will be answered. In all

mystical processes, the expression of a sincere wish or

desire, opens wide the doorway to the reception of

spiritual blessings. The asking in sincerity and the rev-



erenlfal expression of such wishes attunes the person with

the one who has the power to give and, unless there is

a meeting of the minds and a meeting of the conscious

ness of both persons, there can neither be attunement

nor the passing from one to the other of the spiritual

things desired. To the Mystic, therefore, prayer is a

meeting of the minds. it is not an occasion for personal

petitioning, but for spiritual communion. It is a time

when the soul within us and the deepest and most inner

parts of our being sacredly, sincerely, and quietly speak

to G o d and express the deepest wishes of our hearts and

minds. The belief, therefore, that our human conception

of our needs must be outlined in minutest detail and

expressed in great elaboration is also a misconception,

since the thoughts moving us to prayer are easily trans

mitted to the divine consciousness during this communion,

and the lips need only speak the fewest words of appre

ciation and thankfulness.

Prayers should not consist of a categorical representation of details or a long list of the things that we feel

we want, but merely an expression of a desire for divine

blessings. Have we any right to come before Go d in

this privileged period of communion and demand, or

even plead, that long life be given to us because we

desire it and have come to the conclusion that it is the

thing we shoufd have ? Is that not an indication that we

have concluded that God may not have thought about

our lives or may have ordained otherwise, or differently,

and that we hope to change His mind or set aside Hiswise decree because of our petition? Hav e we any right

to come before the Creator of all, and say that we want

this, that, or the other thing in a manner which intimates

that we have outlined and decided upon such things as

being our judgment of what is best for us?

if we lived in a great kingdom under a most fust and

merciful king, and were enjoying every benediction and

blessing that the king could bestow upon the multitudes



who fived under him, and we were notified that we hadthe extraordinary privilege of coming before this king in

personal communion, and during this communion we

might express our great desires in some form of prayerful

petition, would we not hesitate for a long time in formu

lating our desires and arranging the expressions we would

use? Undoubtedly, when the mom ent came to face the

Icing and be permitted to open our lips and speak any

words at all, we would first utter some words of pro

found thankfulness for the blessings we had enjoyed,

and humbly add that if it pleased the king, we would behappy to continue enjoying the same blessings or possibly

a few more. Not one of us would think of attempting

to petition this king to grant us a long list of material

things, nor ask him to give us victory over others, or to

make any exception in the universal standard of living,

that we might rise above all our fellow men in the king

dom; nor would we ask for many of the things that

were most desired. W e would be so happy in the fact

that the king had granted us the privilege of communion

that we would be moved to an attitude of thankfulnessand an expression of appreciation for what we had,

rather than entering into a demand for many other things.

How many go into prayer or come before the con

sciousness of G o d in Ho ly Com munion in this attitude?

How many cleanse their hands of debt by first thanking

G od for each individual blessing throughout the da y?

How many approach God in prayer in an attitude of

profound appreciation for the very life and consciousness

which animates their beings ? A fter all, is not the gift

of life the greatest blessing that G o d can give, and if

we have it, have we not that which is greater than

anything else we may de sire ? To ask for other things

than life or to petition for anything other than the

consciousness of G o d in our be ings is to lift lesser things

and insignificant things above the greatest.



From the mystical point of view, our prayers should be

expressions of desires for a continuation of the bene

dictions G od has already granted, and which He, in His

supreme wisdom, has seen fit to bestow upon us. Ever

uppermost in our minds should be the thought that, "Thy

will, not mine be done ." The simple expression of, "M a y

it please the Father of us all that health m ay return to

my body," is a more concise, honest, and worthy pe

tition than one that dem ands or suggests that God

change the law now in operation in our bodies, and setaside certain specific conditions and establish others,

simply because this is the conclusion that we have

reached, and is our grea test desire at the moment. A

prayer for victory should not be asked by the vainglorious

one who has reached the conclusion that he, above all

others, should be the victorious one in a contest, and

that G od has made no decision and is waiting for man

to present his conclusion.

By examining the prayers we will find that the Mystics

always assumed that whatever might be their lot in life,

and however the state of their health or the condition

of the circumstances surrounding them, be they ill or

fortunate, all things proceeded from G od and were or

dained by Him and, therefore, were fust and in accord

ance with some law or some principle, merciful, and

necessary to human experience. The fac t that man in his

finite and undeveloped understanding could not com

prehend the reason for these experiences, or believe

them to be wrong, unnecessary, or undesirable, does

not warrant man in coming before G o d in the Holy

Communion of prayer with the conclusion that his finite

and undeveloped understanding is correct, and that G o d

is in error or in ignorance of the conditions and needs to

be advised and petitioned to make certain changes or to

recall or undo His decrees.

A s we shall see in the following pages the Mystics

approached G od with the attitude that whatever was



their lot in life would be gladly and silently accepted,

and all pains and sufferings endured, if it be the will of

Go d. W e find in many of these prayers the thought

expressed that even the sufferings and trials, and the

tribulations in life, were appreciated since they were

unquestionably the result of G o d 's plan being worked

out in the individual for some ultimate purpose unques

tionably good and profitable.

The fact that we are not surrounded by any restrictions

in regard to prayer and that G o d has given us the

consciousness and ability, as well as the privilege, of approaching Him in Holy Communion and of attuning

ourselves with Him at any hour of the day or any moment

in our lives, is in itself a divine gift or concession that

the My stics valued above all things. Therefore, prayer

was approached with thankfulness in every sense, and

the first expression uttered by the lips was words of

appreciation and thanks.

Learn how to pray, and make prayer the real pleasure

of your life, for it brings you in closer contact with

the great Ruler of the universe than you can ever approach Him while living on this earthly plane of existence.

Make your Ho ly Com munions frequent. Thank G o d for

the breath of life and the return of consciousness when

you arise in the morning. Silently thank Him for every

morsel of food at meal-time. Express your appreciation

for every pleasure, every worldly gift, every moment of

happiness, and every rich reward of your efforts or the

efforts of others. A t the close of day, enter into Ho ly

Communion of prayer and express your faith and trust

in His divine guidance of your soul and consciousnessthroughout the night, and again be thankful for the

day and all the opportunities it contained to carry out

your desires and ambitions, and to enjoy the divine

blessings. Make prayer the transcendental and sublime

pleasure of your inner self— more important, more en



joyable, more uplifting and benefiting to your entire

being than any other of your earthly experiences.

You will find many of the prayers on the following

pages useful either in their precise wording, or as a

guide and help in learning how to express the thoughts

of your soul. The more you p ray in the prope r attitude,

the more spiritually attuned you will become, and the

richer will be the influx of the blessings from the Cosmic

through the great love and mercy of God.

H. SP EN C ER LEW IS, F. R. C.

Temple of Alden

Rosicrucian Park

San Jose, California.



The Book

of the Dead

A

Babylonian

Prayer

Psalm

19: 14

Syrian

Clementine

Liturgy

O TH O T H , let, I pray, T H Y face be

towards me. Make TH O U my word to beM aa t* against my enemies, as T H O U

didst make the word of Osiris to be Maat

against his enemies.

O LO RD , do not cast TH Y servant off!

In the deep watery morass he lies— take

hold of his hand!

The sin that I have committed, change

to grace!The transgressions that I have committed,

let the wind carry off!

Let the words of my mouth and the

meditation of my heart be acceptable in

T H Y sight, O LO RD , my strength and my

redeemer.

O G O D , W H O art the unsearchable

abyss of peace, the ineffable sea of love,

the fountain of blessings and the bestower

of affection, W ho sendest peace to those

that receive it. O pen to us the sea of

T H Y love and water us with the plenteous

streams from the riches of TH Y grace.

Make us children of quietness and heirs of

peace. Enkindle in us the fire of TH Y love;sow in us T H Y fear; strengthen our weak

ness by TH Y power; and b ind us closely

to THEE and to each in one firm bond

of unity.

*M a a t is the Egyptian w ord for truth.



Prayer of

Manasses

Pericles

Emperor

Julian

O LO RD A LM IG H T Y , which art in

heaven,

T H O U G O D of our fathers,

O f Abraham and Isaac and Jacob

And of their righteous seed;

T H O U who hast made the heaven and

the earth,

W ith all the array thereof,

W h o hast bound the sea by the word

of THY command;W ho hast shut up the Deep, and sealed it

With THY terrible and glorious Nam e.

Infinite and unsearchable in T H Y merciful

promise.

For TH O U art the LOR D M O ST H IG H ,

of great compassion, long-suffering and

abundant in mercy, and repentest THEE

for the evils of men.

TH OU , O LORD , according to TH Y

great goodness hast promised repentanceand forgiveness to them that have sinned

aga inst THEE, and in the multitude of T H Y

mercies hast appointed repentance unto

sinners, that they may be saved.

Grant that no word may fall from me

against my will unfit for the present need.

Point me the way that leadeth upward

to THEE. For yonde r regions where T H O U

dwellest are incomparably beautiful, if (

may divine their beauty that is at T H Y

side from the pleasantness of the Path

which I have already traveled.



Zoroaster

Zoroaster

Socrates

Jacobite

Liturgy

W ith bended knees, with hand out

stretched, I pray to THEE, my LO RD,O INVISIBLE BEN EVO LENT SP IR IT!

Vouchsafe to me in this hour of joy,

All righteousness of action, all wisdom

of the good mind,

That I may thereby bring joy to the

Soul of Creation.

All that I ought to have thought and

have not thought;All that I ought to have said and have

not said;

All that I ought to have done and have

not done;

All that I ought not to have thought and

yet have thought;

All that I ought not to have spoken and

yet have spoken;

All that I ought not to have done and

yet have done;For thoughts, words and works, pray I for

forgiveness, and repent of with penance.

Grant me to be beautiful within, and

all I have of outward things to be at

peace with those within.

O G O D , the FA THER, OR IG IN of

DIVINITY , G O O D beyond all that is good,

FA IR beyond all that is fair, in W H O M is

calmness, peace and concord; bring us all

back into an unity of love, which may bear

some likeness to TH Y sublime nature.



Liturgy

of the

Greek

Church

Liturgy of

St. Mark

St. Ephrem

the Syrian

St. Chrysostom.

St. Basil

O ur Father, W H O art in heaven, hal

lowed be T H Y name, T H Y kingdom come,

T H Y will be done on earth as it is done

in heaven. G iv e us this day our daily

bread, and forgive us our trespasses as

we ought to forgive those that trespass

against us. Lead us when in temptation,

but deliver us from evil. Am en.

That which we know not, do T H O U re

veal; that which is wanting in us do T H O U

fill up; in that which we know, do T H O U

strengthen us.

W e give TH EE thanks — yea, more than

thanks — O LO RD our G O D , for all TH Y

goodness at all times and in all places.

T H O U hast quieted those which were in

confusion. Praise to TH Y calmness, praise

to TH Y reconciliation, O LO R D G O D .

Thanks be to THEE, O G O D , for everything.

Steer T H O U the vessel of our life

towards TH YSEL F, T H O U tranquil Haven

of all storm-tossed souls. Show us the

course wherein we should go.



18 M Y S T I C S A T P R A Y E R

St. Chry

sostom

Into T H Y guidance and care, O LO RD ,

T H O U LO V ER of Man, we entrust all ourlife and hope.

St. Patrick M ay the Strength of G od pilot us. M ay

the Power of G O D preserve us. M ay the

W isdom o f G O D instruct us. M ay the

W ay of G od direct us.

Synesius O UN ITY, TH EE 1 sing by voices or by

silence; for both are alike significant to

THEE.

St. Biasius M ay G O D , the uncreated ABY SS, vouch

safe to call unto H IM S E L F our Spirit, the

created abyss, and make it one with H IM ,

that our spirit, plunged in the deep sea

of the G O D H E A D , may happily lose itself

in the Spirit of G O D .

Synesius 1 hymn THEE, O BLESSED ON E, by

means of voice, and 1 hymn THEE, O

BLESSED ONE, by means of silence; for

T H O U perceivest as much from silence

spiritual as from voice.

Sarum

Breviary

A LM IG H T Y G O D, we invoke THEE,

the fountain of everlasting Light, and

entreat TH EE to send forth T H Y truth into

our hearts, and to pour upon us the glory

of T H Y Brightness.



Synesius Behold TH Y suppliant attempting tomount; enlighten me, enable my wings,

relax my fetters. M ay 1 escape from the

body to THY bosom whence flows the

Sou l's source. Restore me to the Spr ing

whence 1 was poured forth. Gran t that

beneath the ordering o f my SIRE, 1 may

sing in union with the R O Y A L C H O IR .

Let me mingle with the Light, and never

more sink to earth.

Gelasian

Sacramen-

tary

O G O D of unchangeable Power, let

the whole world feel and see that things

which were cast down are being raised up,

that those which had grown old are being

made new and that all things are returning

to perfection.

LeonineSacramen-

tary

Gran t us, O LO RD, not to mind earthlythings but to love things heavenly; and

even now while we are placed among things

that are passing away, to cleave to those

that shall abide.

Mohammed O LO RD , grant us to love THEE; grant

that we may love those that love THEE;

grant that we may do the deeds that win

T H Y love. Ma ke the love of TH EE to bedearer than ourselves, our families, than

wealth, and even than cool water.

St. Augustine Com e, L O R D and work. Arouse us and

incite. Kindle us, sweep us onwards. Be

fragrant as flowers, sweet as honey. Teach




St. Augustine Grant us to know THEE and love THEE

and, rejoice in TH EE. And if we cannot

do these perfectly in this life, let us at

least advance to higher degrees every

day till we can come to do them to per

fection.

St. Augustine LORD, teach me to know THEE, and

to know myself.

St. Augustine W e seek T H Y face, turn TH Y face unto

us, and show us T H Y glory. Then shall our

longing be satisfied, and our peace shall

be perfect.

St. Augustine LORD, when 1 look upon mine own life

it seems TH O U hast led me so carefully,

so tenderly, T H O U canst have attended to

none else; but when 1 see how wonderfully

T H O U hast led the world and art leading

it, 1 am amazed that T H O U hast had time

to attend to such as 1.

St. Augustine Take T H O U possession of us. W e give

our whole selves to THEE, make known

to us what T H O U requirest of us, and we

will accomplish it.

St. Augustine O G O D , where was 1 wandering to

seek T H EE ? O most infinite Beauty, 1

sought TH EE without, and T H O U wast in

the midst of my heart.



St. Augustine

Coptic

Apocrypha

St. Anselm

O G O D , W H O dost grant us what we

ask, if only when we ask we live a better

life.

Glory be to THEE, PROPITIATOR.

G lo ry be to THEE, U N D Y IN G ON E.

Glory be to THEE, K IN G of PEACE.

Glory be to THEE, W H O was not born.

Glory be to THEE, the INCORRUPTIBLE.

Glory be to THEE, K IN G of G LO R Y .

Glory be to THEE, the H E A D of the

UNIVERSE.

Glory be to THEE, H O L Y and PERFECT

O N E .

G lory be to THEE, T H O U TR EA SU RY

o f G L O R Y .

Glory be to THEE, T H O U true Light.

Glory be to THEE, DELIVERER of the

UNIVERSE.

G lory be to THEE, TH O U W H O art in

deed the G O O D O N E .

Glory be to THEE, A L P H A of the

UNIVERSE.

Glory be to THEE, LIFE of the UNIVERSE.

O S W EE T N A M E .

O TH OU , W H O art at the head of the

Universe.

O T H O U Beginning and End of everyth ing. A M E N .

O T H O U plenteous Source of every

good and perfect gift, shed abroad the

cheering light of TH Y sevenfold grace

over our hearts.




Collect -from

the sixth century

of the night to clothe us in the glory of the day, chase from our hearts all gloomy

thoughts, and make us glad with the

brightness of hope that we may effectively

aspire to unknown virtues.

Alcuin O ET ER N A L LIG HT , shine into our

hearts. O ET ERN AL G O O D N E SS , deliver

us from evil. O ET ER N A L PO W ER , be

TH O U our support. ETERNA L W I SD O M ,scatter the darkness of our ignorance.

ETERNAL PITY, have mercy upon us.

John Scotus

Erigena

O TH OU , W H O art the everlast ing

essence of things beyond space and time

and yet within them; T H O U W H O tran-

scendest yet pervadest all things; manifest

THYSELF to us, feeling after THEE, seeking

THEE in the shades of ignorance, yet

seeking nothing beside THEE.

St. Ansefm Pierce with the arrows of T H Y love the

secret chambers of the inner man. Let the

entrance of TH Y healthful flames set the

sluggish heart alight; and the burning fire

of TH Y sacred inspiration enlighten it.

St. Hilde-

garde

O M N IPO TE NT FATHER , out of THEE

flows a fountain in fiery heat; lead TH Y

sons by a favourable wind through the

mystic waters.



M Y S T I C S AT P R A Y E R 23

St. Bernard 1 love TH EE because 1 love; 1 love that1 may love.

St. Bernard In what blaze of Glory dost TH O U

rise, O SU N R IG H TE O U SN ES S, f rom the

heart of the earth, after TH Y setting!

In what resplendent Vesture, O K IN G

of G LO RY , dost T H O U enter again the

highest heaven!

A t the s ight o f all these marvels, how

can 1 do otherwise than cry: "A ll my bones

shall say, LO RD , who is like unto T H E E ? "

St. Bernard IF THOU, LORD, art so good to those

who seek, what shall T H Y goodne ss be to

those who find?

St. Thomas

Aquinas

G ive me, O LO RD, a steadfast heart,

which no unworthy affection may drag

downwards; give me an unconquered heart,

which no tribulation can wear out; give me

an upright heart, which no unworthy pur

pose may tempt aside.

Bestow upon me also, O LO RD , my

G O D , understanding to know THEE , dili

gence to seek THEE, wisdom to find THEE,

and a faithfulness that may finally em

brace THEE.

St. Thomas

AquinasGrant me fervently to desire, wisely to

search out, and perfectly to fulfill all that

is well-pleasing unto THEE.




St. Richard M ay we know THEE more clearly, love

THEE more dearly, and follow THEE more

nearly.

Dame

Gertrude

More

O my G O D , let me walk in the way of

love which knoweth not how to seek self in

anything whatsoever. Let this love wholly

possess my soul and heart, which, ! beseech

THEE may live and move only in, and out

of, a pure and sincere love to THEE. Let

me love THEE for THYSELF, and nothingelse but in THEE and for THEE. Let me

love nothing instead of THEE; for to give

all for love is a most sweet bargain.

Kashf

Al-Mahjup

T H Y will be done, O my LO R D and

MA STER .

O T H O U who art my Spirit's treasure

M E A N I N G .O ESSEN CE o f my being, O G O A L

of my desire,

O my SPE EC H and HIN TS and my

GESTURES.

O all of my all, O my H E A R IN G and

my S IGHT.

O my W H O L E and my ELEMENT and

my PARTICLES.

Mozarabic

Liturgy

Do T H O U meet us while we walk in the

W a y and long to reach the Country; so

that following T H Y light we may keep the

W a y of righteousness and never wander

away into the darkness of this world's nigbt.



Jalalud-

Din-Rumi

O T H O U who art my Soul 's comfort inthe season of sorrow,

O T H O U who art my Spirit 's treasure in

the bitterness of death,

That which the imagination hath not

conceived;

That which the understanding hath not

seen;

Visited my Soul from THEE.

Hence, in worship, I turn towards THEE.

O G O D , T H Y grace is the proper object

of our desire;

To couple others with THEE is not proper.

Nothing is bitterer than severance fromTHEE,

Without THY shelter there is naught but

perplexity.

Our worldly goods rob us of our heavenly

goods,

Our body rends the garment of our soul.

O ur hands, as it were, p rey on our feet;

Without reliance on THEE how can we

live?

And if the soul escapes these great perils,

It is made captive as a victim of mis

fortunes and fears

Inasmuch as when the soul lacks union with

the Beloved,

It abides for ever blind and darkened

by itself.



Dante

Sufi

Invocation

Ruysbroeck

Ruysbroeck

Give us this day the daily manna, with

out which through this rough desert he

backward goes who toils most to go on.

Praise be to THEE, O H IDD EN O N E and

M AN IFES T ED O NE . Praise be to TH Y

Glory, to T H Y Might, to T H Y Power, and

to THY Great Skill.

O A L L A H , to THEE all greatness be

longs. O T H O U who possessest the Power

and Beauty and Perfection. T H O U artthe Spirit of All.

Praise to THEE, O SO V ER E IG N of all

Monarchs; to THEE, O M A ST E R of all

affairs; to THEE, O C O N T R O L L E R of all

things; to THEE, RULER of all BEINGS.

T H O U art free from death, free from

birth and free from all limitations. O T H O U

ETERNAL ONE, THOU art free from al l

conditions, pure from all things. O A L L A H ,

T H O U art the G O D of Souls on earth;

THOU art the LORD of HOSTS in the

Heavens.

O LO RD, I ga sp in my desire for THEE,

yet can I not consume THEE. The more

I eat— the fiercer is my hunger; the more

1 drink— the greater is my thirst. I follow

after that which flieth from me, and as

I follow, my desire groweth greater.

O LO RD , T H O U desirest my spirit in

the inward parts, that 1 may see TH EE as

T H O U seest me, and love THEE as T H O U

lovest me.



M Y S T I C S A T P R A Y E R 27

Tauler A s the sun-flower ever turningTo the mighty sun,

With the faithfulness of fealty

Following only one—

So make me, LORD, to THEE.

Tauler W e honour and glorify TH Y unspeakable

mystery with holy reverence and silence.

Angela of

Foligno

O S U P R E M E G O O D , T H O U has d e

signed to make us know that T H O U art

Love, and makest us in love with that love;

wherefore they who come before THY face

shall be rewarded according unto their

love, and there is nothing which leadeth

the contemplative unto contemplation sav

ing true love alone.

Suso T H O U hast granted my heart's desire—

Most blest of the blessed is he

W h o findeth no rest and no sweetness

Till he rests, O LO RD , in TH EE.

Suso It is meet that 1 should be enamoured

of THEE, and whatever 1 shall know to be

T H Y dearest will that 1 will always do.

Suso Gentle LORD, cause some sweet fruit

of good instruction to issue forth from our

sharp thorns of sufferings, that we may

suffer more patiently, and be better able

to offer up our sufferings to T H Y praise

and glory.

. .




Andrewes Unto all men everywhere give TH Y g race

and THY blessing.

St. Catherine

of Sienna

O LO RD , 1 pray for all those whom

T H O U hast given me, whom 1 love with a

special love and whom T H O U hast made

one thing with me. For they are my con

solation and for T H Y sake 1 desire to see

them running in the sweet and narrow

way dead to self and pure from all judg

ment and murmuring against their neigh

bour. M ay they all attain to THEE, O

ETERNAL FATHER, to THEE who art their

final end.

St. Catherine

of SiennaPunish me for my sins in this finite Life.

St. Bernardine O G O D , acknowledge what is T H IN E

in us, and take away from us all that is

not TH INE , for TH Y honour and glory.

Lady Julian

of Norwich

G O D , of TH Y Goodness , give me T H Y

SELF, for T H O U art enough to me, and

may 1 nothing ask that is less, that may

be full worship to THEE ; and if 1 ask

anything that is less, ever me wanteth,—

but only in THEE 1 have all.

Thomas

a Kempls

Praised be TH Y name, not mine; m ag

nified be T H Y work, not mine; blessed

be T H Y Ho ly Name, but to me let no

part of man's praise be given.




Thomas a Kempis

Thomas

a Kempis

Savonarola

St. Ignatius

Loyola

G ran t me, O LO RD , heavenly wisdom,that I may learn above all things to seek

and to find THEE; above all things to relish

and to love THEE; and to think of all other

things as being what indeed they are, at

the disposal of THY wisdom.

O LO RD , T H O U knowest what is the

better Way , let this or that be done, as

T H O U shalt please. Give what T H O U

wilt, and how much T H O U wilt, and when

T H O U wilt. Deal with me as T H O U

knowest, and as best pleaseth THEE, and is

most for T H Y honour. Set me where

T H O U wilt, and deal with me in all things

just as T H O U wilt. I am in T H Y hand;

turn me round and turn me back again,

even as a wheel. Behold I am TH Y servant,

prepared for all things; for I desire not to

live unto myself, but unto THEE; and oh

that I could do it worthy and perfectly.

LORD, we pray not for tranquillity, nor

that our tribulations may cease; we pray

for THY Spir it and THY love that THOU

grant us strength and grace to overcome

adversity.

Teach us, good LORD, to serve THEE

as T H O U deservest; to give and not to

count the cost; to fight and not to heed the

wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to

labour and not to ask for any reward, save

that of knowing that we do T H Y will.




Thomas

a Kempis

O LO RD, if only my will may remain

right and firm towards THEE, do with me

whatsoever it shall please THEE. For itcannot be anything but good whatsoever

T H O U shalt do with me.

IF T H O U wiliest me to be in darkness,

be TH O U blessed; and if T H O U wiliest me

to be in light be T H O U again blessed.

If T H O U vouchsafe to comfort me, be

T H O U blessed; and if T H O U wiliest me to

be afflicted, be T H O U ever equally blessed.

The Friend

of God

O LO RD , 1 wish for the love of TH EE

to keep from all sin to-day. Help me this

day to do all 1 do to T H Y glory and

acco rding to TH Y dea r will, whether my

nature likes it or not.

Theologica

Germanica

1would fain be to the ET ER NA L G O O D

N ESS what his own hand is to a man.

Nicholas

de Cusa

Restless is my heart, O LO RD , because

T H Y love hath inflamed it with such a

desire that it cannot rest but in THEE alone.

St. Teresa Gove rn all by T H Y wisdom, O LOR D,

so that my soul may always be serving

TH EE as T H O U dost will and not as 1 may

choose. Let me die to myself, so that 1

may serve THEE; let me live to THEE,

who in T H Y SELF art the true life.




Erasmus Vouchsafe to bestow upon us some portion of T H Y heavenly Bread, day by day,

that the hunger and thirst for earthly

things may diminish in us continually.

St. Ignatius

Loyola

Take, O LO RD, and receive my entire

liberty, my memory, my understanding,

and my whole will. Al l that 1 am, all that

1 have, T H O U hast given me, and 1 give it

back again to TH EE to be disposed of

according to T H Y good pleasure. G ive

me only THY love and THY grace; with

TH EE 1 am rich enough, nor do 1 ask for

aught besides.

.:. .:.

St. Teresa Do not punish me by granting that which

1 wish or ask, if it offend T H Y love which

would always live in me.

St. John

of the Cross

O sweetest Love of G O D , too little

known; he who has found THEE is at rest.

Everywhere with THEE, O my G O D .

O my Love, all for THEE, nothing for me.

O my G O D , how sweet to me TH Y

presence, W ho art the SO V E R E IG N

G O O D . O LORD , 1 beseech THEE, leave

me not for a moment, because 1 know not

the value of my soul.

St. Francis

de Sales

O G O D , how admirable is that which

we see; but O G O D , how much more so is

that which we cannot see.



St. John

of the Cross

Book of

Christian Prayers

B.Whichcote

G O D of my life! nothing can make me

glad,

For all my gladness springs from sight

of THEE,

And faileth me because I have THEE

not.

If 'tis T H Y will, my G O D , I live forlorn,

I'll take my longings even for my

comfort

W hile dwelling in this world.

W he n shall there dawn that most

delicious day,

When, O my Glory, I may foy in TH EEDelivered from this body's heavy load?

Yet if my life can bring increase of

glory

To THINE ETERNAL BE ING,

In truth I do not wish that it should end.

O Light which does lighten every man

that cometh into the world, without whom

all is most dark darkness, by whom all things

are most splendent; Lighten our minds, that

we may only see those things that please

THEE and may be blinded to all other

things.

O G O D of the spirits of all flesh,

naturalize us to Heaven and reconcile us

to all the things of that high estate, thatso we may not drudge in the world, nor

act in a slavish spirit in ways of Religion,

but that we may serve THEE with ingenuity

of mind and with freedom of spirit, as those

that are set at liberty.



JohnNorden

W e are forced, O FATH ER , to seekTHEE daily, and THOU offerest THYSELF

daily to be found; whensoever we seek

THEE we find THEE, in the house, in the

fields, in the Temple, and in the highway.

Sir Thomas

BrowneDefend me, O G O D , from myself.

Jacob

Boehme

In THEE would we lose ourselves utterly;do in us what T H O U wilt.

Jacob

Boehme

O T H O U great incomprehensible G O D .

W h o fillest all, be T H O U indeed my

heaven. Let my spirit be indeed the music

and the joy of T H Y spirit. Do TH O U

make music in me and may 1 make harmony

in the Divine K ingdom of T H Y joy, in the

great love of GO D , in the wonders of THY glory and splendour, in the company

of TH Y holy angelic harmonies.

Jeremy

Taylor

Guid e me, O LO RD , in all the changes

and varieties of the world; that in all things

that shall happen, 1 may have an evenness

and tranquillity of spirit; that my soul may

be wholly resigned to T H Y divinest will and

pleasure, never murmuring at TH Y gentlechastisements and fatherly correction.

Jeremy

Taylor

TH O U , O LO RD , art our Defender,

T H O U art our Worship, and the Lifter-up

of our heads.



Richard O T H O U Spirit of Life, breathe upon

Baxter us T H Y graces in us, take us by the hand

and lift us from earth.

N. Culverwel

Thomas

Elwood

O my GO D , I'll bless THE E for those

eternal treasures that are in T H Y self,

though I should never taste of them.

O that mine eyes m ight closed be

To what concerns me not to see;

That deafness might possess mine ear

To what concerns me not to hear;

That truth my tongue might always tie

From ever speaking foolishly;

That no vain thing might ever rest,

O r be conceived within my breast;

That by each deed and word and

thought

Glory may to God be brought!

But what are wishes? LO RD , mine eye

On THEE is fixed, to THEE I cry;Wash, LORD, and purify my heart,

And make it clean in every part.

And when 'tis clean, LORD, keep it, too,

For that is more than I can do.

T. Traherne

Mao'am

Guyon

O give me grace to see T H Y face and

be a constant mirror of ETERNITY.

TH Y creatures wrong THEE, O T H O U

S O V 'R E IG N G O O D .

T H O U art not lov'd because not

understood.



Molinos

Fenelon

Pascal

Fenelon

Fenelon

Fenelon

G ive me leave, O LO RD , to lament ourblindness and ingratitude. W e all live

deceived, seeking the foolish world, and

forsaking THE E W ho art our G O D . W e for

sake THEE, the Fountain of Living Waters,

for the foul mire of the world.

All we ask is to die rather than live

unfaithful to THEE. G ive us not life, if we

shall love it too well.

LORD, I give THEE all.

G ive to us, T H Y children, that which

we ourselves know not to ask. W e would

have no other desire than to accomplish

T H Y will. Teach us to pray, pray T H O Uin us.

O my G O D , preserve me from the fatal

slavery that men madly call liberty. W ith

TH EE alone is freedom. It is T H Y truth

that makes us free. To serve TH EE is

true dominion.

LO RD, I know not what I ought to ask

of THEE; T H O U only knowest what I need;

T H O U lovest me better than 1 know how

to love myself. O FA TH ER , give to TH Y

child that which he himself knows not

how to ask.




Fenelon A L M I G H T Y G O D , grant me T H Y grace

to be faithful in action, and not anxious

about success. M y only concern is to do

T H Y will, and to lose myself in THEE when

engaged in duty. It is for TH EE to give

my weak efforts such fruits as T H O U seest

fit; none, if such be T H Y pleasure.

Brother

Lawrence

O LO RD , the sense of T H Y love well-

nigh overwhelms me. If it be T H Y will,

bestow these many tokens of TH Y loving

kindness on those who know THEE not, to draw them to THY service.

Brother

Lawrence

O Lov ing-K indness so old and still so

new, 1 have been too late in loving THEE.

O LO RD , enlarge the chambers of my

heart that 1 may find room for TH Y love.

Sustain me by T H Y Power, lest the fire

of THY love consume me.

Terstegen Draw near to my heart and inflame if.

Touch my uncircumcised lips with a burning

coal from T H IN E altar, that 1 may not

speak of T H IN E ardent love in a cold or

feeble manner.

Ters+egen Let TH Y love so warm our souls, O

LORD, that we may gladly surrender

ourselves with all we are and have unto

THEE. Let T H Y love fall as fire from

heaven upon the altar of our hearts, and

teach us to guard it heedfully by continual

devotion and quietness of mind.



M Y S T I C S AT P R A Y E R 37

BenjaminJenks

O LO RD , renew our souls and draw ourhearts unto THYSELF, that our work may

not be to us a burden but a delight, and

give us such a mighty love for THEE as

may sweeten all our obedience. O l let

us not serve THEE with the spirit of bond

age as slaves, but with the cheerfulness

and gladness of children, delighting our

selves in THEE and rejoicing in T H Y work.

Blaise

Palma

O A D M IRA BL E W I SD O M , t hat circlest

all eternity, receivest into THYSELF al l

immensity, and drawest to THYSELF all

infinity; from the inexhaustible fountain of

T H Y light, shed some ray into my soul that

1 may more and more love whatever tends

to THY glory and honour.

Melchior

Ritter

O G O D , in TH EE alone can our wearied

souls have full satisfaction and rest, ana1 inT H Y love is the highest joy. LO RD , if we

have THEE, we have enough.

John

Wesley

O LO RD , let us not live to be useless. ,

William

Blake

Pour upon us T H Y Spirit of meekness

and love. Annih ilate selfhood in us. Be

T H O U all our life.

Newman 1 am born to serve THEE, to be TH INE ,

to be T H Y instrument. Let me be T H Y

blind instrument. 1 ask not to see, ask

not to know; 1 ask simply to be used.



Collect

from the 18th

Century

Martineau

Holmes

Tagore

Grant us grace to rest from all sinful

deeds and thoughts, to surrender ourselveswholly unto THEE, and keep our souls still

be fore TH EE like a still lake, so that the

beams of THY grace may be mirrored

therein, and may kindle in our hearts the

glow of faith and love and prayer.

O G O D , W ho hast commanded that

no man should be idle, give us grace to

employ all our talents and faculties in theservice appointed for us; that, whatsoever

our hand findeth to do, we may do it with

our might. Cheerfully may we go on in the

road which T H O U nast marked out, not

des/r/ng too earnestly that it should be

either more smooth or more wide; but daily

seeking our way by T H Y light, m ay we trust

ourselves and the issue of our journey, to

THEE the Fountain of Joy, and sing songs

of praise as we go along.

LORD, what am I, that with unceasing

care T H O U didst seek after m e?

If T H O U speakest not, I will fill my

heart with T H Y silence and endure it. I

will keep still and wait like the night with

starry vigil and its head bent low with

patience. The morning will surely come, the

darkness will vanish, and THY voice pour

down in golden streams, breaking through

the sky.



Whittier Dear G O D and FA T H ER of us all, forgive our faith in cruel lies; forgive the

blindness that denies; forgive T H Y creature

when he takes, for the all-perfect Love

T H O U art, some grim creation of his heart.

Charles

Kingsley

Exalt us with THEE, O LO RD , to know

the mystery of life, that we may use the

earthly as the appointed expression andtype of the heavenly, and by using to THY

glory the natural body may befit it to be

exalted to the use of the spiritual body.

Chr. G.

Rossetti

O LO RD , make us we implore THEE,

so to love TH EE that T H O U mayest be to

us a Fire of Love, purifying and not

destroying.

Chr. G.

Rossetti

Love me in sinners and saints,

In each who needs or faints—

LO RD , 1 will love TH EE as 1 can

In every brother man.

Tagore Give me the strength lightly to bear

my joys and sorrows,

Give me the strength to make my love

fruitful in service.

Give me the strength to raise my mind

high above daily trifles,

And give me the strength to surrender

my strength to TH Y will with love.

_................... ...

.......................................... ...................



R. Kipling

I. W righ t

Beach

FATHER in heaven, who lovest all,

O help TH Y children when they call;

That they may build from age to age,An undefiled heritage.

Teach us to bear TH Y yoke in youth,

W ith steadiness and careful truth;

That, in our time, T H Y grace may give

The truth whereby the nations live.

Teach us to rule ourselves alway

Controlled and cleanly, night and

day,

That we may bring, if need arise,

No maimed or worthless sacrifice.

Teach us to look in all our ends

On THEE for judge, and not our

friends,

That we, with THEE, may walk uncowed

By fear or favor of the crowd.

Teach us the strength that cannot seek,

By deed or thought to hurt the

weak;

That under THEE, we may possess

T H Y strength, to succor man'sdistress.

Teach us delight in simple things,

And mirth that has no bitter stings;

Forgiveness free of evil done,

And love to all men 'neath the sun.

Heavenly FAT HER , TH O U hast healed

me through the sweet restoring influence

of divine love and I feel T H Y rich, new life

now coursing through my entire body.




K. Tingley O my DIV INITY! T H O U dost blend

with the earth and fashion for THYSELF

temples of mighty Power.

O my DIV INITY ! T H O U livest in the

heart-life of all things and dost radiate a

Go lden Light that shineth forever and doth

illumine even the darkest corners of the

earth.

O my DIVINITY ! Blend T H O U with

me that from the corruptible 1may become

Incorruptible; that from imperfection 1

may become Perfection, that from darkness

1 may go forth in Light.

N. H. D. Let not my dreams of Things 1 hold most

Golden dear

Words Tie me to earth, but with a vision clear,

He lp me to build this day, dear L O R D

with THEE,

The things which last through all eternity.

Attune my ears to hear THY message,

L O R D ;Inspire my lips to speak alone TH Y word.

Veil T H O U mine eyes from things 1

should not see,

Help me to leave my burdens all with

THEE.

Hindu They who never ask anything but simply

Prayer love, TH O U in their heart abidest for ever,

for this is T H Y very home.

Hindu O ut o f the unreal, lead me to the Real.Prayer O ut of the Darkness, lead me into the Light.

O ut of Death, lead me to Deathlessness.



Gorsedd

Prayer

Earl

Brihtnoth

Sister E. T.

Cawdry

Sister E. T.

Cawdry

Grant, G O D , protection

And in protection, strength

And in strength, understanding

And in understanding, knowledge

And in knowledge, the knowledge of the

just,

And in the knowledge of the just, the love

of it,

And in the love of it, the love of all

existences.

And in the love of all existences, the love

o f G O D ,

G O D and all G O O D N E S S .

O G O D , I thank THEE for all the joy

I have had in life.

O G O D , T H IN E is the kingdom, the

power and the Glory, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Let us go into the silence; Oh, G O D ,

our Heavenly FATHER, before THY altar

of love we come and in praise and ador

ation we lift up our voices unto THEE. Oh,

T H O U great living light of the universe,

we THY children ask THEE to grant unto us

THY richest blessing and to remove all

shadow of doubt from our minds as regards

the life that awaiteth each one of us when

we too shall pass through the gates calleddeath. But we thank THEE , O G O D , that

the light of heaven has illumined our

Pathway and that T H O U hast given unto

us this light that indeed is a living power

to sustain and to uphold us at all times.



John W. Chadwick

Beatrice

Colony

Dean

Colet

K. S.

Guthrie

I do not pray because I would,I pray because I must.

There's no beseeching in my prayer,

But thankfulness and trust.

And T H O U wilt hear the thought I mean

And not the word I say,

W ilt hear the thanks between the words

That only seem to pray.

For health, prosperity and happiness

To TH EE I pray,

But most of all a smile to greet

The newborn day.

Let not our sins be a cloud between

THEE and us.

O H E A V E N L Y W I S D O M , W h o art the

glorious fullness of the rays of Infinite Love

and Righteousness, Piety and Justice, Ten

derness and Stern Reproof, we supplicate

for T H Y control. W e would not willingly

continue stumbling on in our old way.

Our hearts are open to THY view; to the

utmost are we willing to do Thy will. Othat we might not be left unknowingly to

leave the Narrow W ay! No t because of

the suffering which we willingly accept from

THY dear Hand, but the withdrawing of

T H Y dear Face. W e will do our best; it

shall be only for lack of Guidance if we

fail to do TH Y Will. Amen.



*m *

U


Walter

Da Voe

In divinest self surrender,

0 my LORD, 1 come to THEE,

All my life to THEE 1 render;

1 will T H IN E almoner be.

Walter

De Voe

Sun of my Soul, T H O U SA V IO R DE AR I

It is not night if T H O U be near.

O may no earth-born cloud arise

To hide THEE from THY servant's eyes.

Charles

How

M ost great and glorious G O D , be gra

ciously pleased, 1 most humbly beseech

THEE, to make the stream of my will per

petually to flow a cheerful and impetuous

course, bearing down pleasure, interest,

afflictions, death, and all other obstacles

and impediments whatsoever, before it,

till it plunge itself joyfully into the un

fathomable ocean of T H Y D IVIN E W ILL.

Lady

Margery

Kempe

of Lynn

LORD for THY great goodness, have

mercy on my wickedness, as certainly 1

was never so wicked as T H O U art good,

nor never may be though 1 would; for

T H O U art so good that T H O U mayest

no better be.

LouisLisener

Holy Spirit!Give me a clear mind,

A pure heart,

A contrite spirit,

And a healthy body. Amen.



Richard

Rolle

Grenville

Kleiser

Francis

Rous

When so it liketh THEE, love speaks send

T H O U me; make mine heart all hot to be,

burning in the love of THEE.

If I can do some good today,

If I can serve along life's way,

If I can something helpful say,

LORD, show me how!

If I can right a human wrong,

If I can help to make one strong,

If I can cheer with smile or song,

LORD, show me how!

If I can aid one in distress,

If I can make a burden less,

If I can spread more happiness,

LORD, show me how!

If I can do a kindly deed,

If I can help someone in need,

If I can sow a fruitful seed,

LORD, show me how!If I can feed a hungry heart,

If I can give a better start,

If I can fill a nobler part,

LORD, show me how!

Let my love rest in nothing short of

THEE, O G O D . Kindle and inflame and

enlarge my love. Enlarge the arteries andconduit-pipes by which THOU, the Head

and Fountain of Love, flowest in T H Y mem

bers, that being abundantly quickened and

watered with the Spirit I may abundantly

love THEE. Put T H IN E own image and

beauty more and more on my soul.




Van.

Cooper-Mathieson

O great FA TH ER — M O T H E R G O D .

T H Y eternal Life is my life.THY infinite Wisdom guides me.

THY wondrous Intelligence illumines my

mind.

THY glorious Substance feeds me.

THY perfect Health is revealed in me.

T H Y infinite Power upholds me.

TH Y almighty Strength is my support.

THY unchanging Love surrounds me.

T H Y eternal Truth has made me free.

THY perfect Peace broods over me.

Grace B.

Norris

DIV INE LOVE, PR INC IPLE , G O D o f

love, 1 pray;

Guide me in the way of Truth

Tenderly, today.

W e ed my heart of weariness, scatter

every care.

Teach me how to know the truth:

Love is everywhere.

F. W . Scott T H Y glory alone, O G O D , be the end of

all that we say;

Let it shine in every deed, let it kindle the

prayers that 1 pray;

Let it burn in my innermost soul till the

shadow of self pass away,

An d the light of TH Y glory, O G O D , be

unveiled in the dawning of day.

Scupoli Behold THY creature; do with me what

T H O U wilt. 1 have nothing, my G O D ,

that holds me back. 1 am T H IN E alone.



c.S.

Tirpenting

E. C. Wilson

A L M I G H T Y LIFE! T H O U F O R C E that

bides with all,

Awake my soul to see and use THY might,

And give me strength to heed THY daily

call,

To walk with THEE in paths of truth and

right.

Absolve me from all vain and useless

thought

That clouds the vision of my daily task,

And help me labor in the field I oughtTill I can do for self the things I ask.

T H O U art my harbor and my fortress too.

In THY strong arms support me on my

way.

If T H O U and I shall guard the things I do

I know I shall be safe by night and day.

Tomorrow

I am content to leave with him

W ho gives today

For today the sun smiles

And the earth responds,

And a twinkling, singing sea

Forms lacy patterns on the sand.

O , G O D ,

I am grateful

For this day!

M. S. F. Dear FATHER, we thank THEE for this

beautiful world.



Henry T H O U S U N o f R I G H T E O U S N E S S with

Vaughan healing under TH Y wings, arise in my heart;

make T H Y light there to shine in darkness,

and a perfect day in the dead of night.

Walter

De VoeThe Prayer of faith shall heal the sick.

Michael With in TH Y Heart, O H O LY O N E o f

Wood G O D ,

Make us to rest;

W ithin T H Y still and changeless Heart,

O L O R D ,

Not on THY Breast.

T H O U wiliest It shall tremble with our woes,

Renouncing peace.

Feeling our joys that we may find our home,

W he re dreams shall cease.

W ithin T H Y He art may we find earthly

shows

Close garner'd there by THEE;

The saints we honour'd, sinners whom welov'd

W e in T H Y Hea rt shall see.

Within the still and changeless Light of

Truth,

The Wisdom from above,

W e shall give honour where we lov'd and

wept,

An d to the honour'd— love.

Geibel Strecke die Hand nur empor im Gebet,

G O T T fasst sie von oben,

Und die Beruhrung durchstromt dich mit

geheiligter Kraft.



L. O. S.

Anonymous

Emerson

F AT HE R— M O T H E R — S O N in O NE ,From our inmost hearts we plead

For power to love unselfishly,

For wisdom to perceive aright,

For courage to pursue a righteous course,

For determination of purpose, and

For will to act according to THY will.

THY love provides for all

THY substance feeds allT H Y Purify clothes all

T H Y life preserves all

Thanksgiving, honor, praise, and glory

to THEE,

Evermore. Amen.

Universal G O D ,

Our Life,Our Light,

Our Power!

T H O U art in All beyond expression and

beyond conception.

0 Nature! T H O U something from

nothing

T H O U Symbol of Wisdom!

In myself I am nothing, In TH EE I am I.

1 live in TH EE ; 1, made of nothing;

Live T H O U in me and bring me out of

the region of self

Into the ETERNAL LIGHT.

Prayer is the contemplation of the facts

of Life from the highest Point of view.



150 M Y S T I C S AT P R A Y E R

Edward

RowlandSill

G O D be merciful to me, a fool.

Belle-May Prayer brings us into harmony with the

highest in nature.

f

Lamartine Prierel 0 voix surnaturelle

Qui nous precipite a genoux;

Instinct du ciel qui nous rappelle

Que la patrie est loin de nous.

Jehudah

HaleviIncline Thou mine heart

To do the service of Thy kingdom,

And my thought

Make pure for knowledge of Thy Godship.

R Solomon

ibn Gabirol

..............

In the flood of Thy love 1 have rapture

eternal

And prayer is but an occasion for

praise.

Talmud M ay it be Thy will, O Go d, that we

return to Thee in perfect penitance, so

that we may not be ashamed to meet our

fathers in the life to come.

V V V



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I N D E X

{ ‘ Indicates Rosicrucian authority )

Alcuin,* Archbishop, English Theologian.

735-804, A. D .................................. 22

Andrewes, Bishop of Frissli. 1302-1373, A. D — 28

Ange la of Foligno, Blessed Mystic. 1309, A. D. 27

Anselm, St., Archbishop of Canterbury,

1033-1109, A. D ................. 21-22

Augustine, St., Apostle of the English.

7-604, A. D.„...... 19-20-21

Babylonian Prayer. From the Religious Beliefs inBabylonia and Assyria.................................. 14

Basil, St., Christian Martyr. 316 A. D .............. 17

Baxter, Richard, English Nonconformistical Priest.

1615-1691, A. D ........... 34

Beach, I. Wright, Author of "Unity" ................. 40

Bernard, St., Fr. Ecclesiastic. 1091-I 153, A. D. 23

Bernardine, St., of Sienna, Franciscan Friar.

1380-1444, A. D— ............ 28

Blake,* William, English Artist, Poet, and Mystic.

1757-1827, A. D ................ 37

Blasius, St., Bishop of Sebaste and Martyr.

316, A. D ............................ 18

Boehme,* Jacob, German Mystic and Rosicru

cian. 1624, A. D.„........... 33

Book of the Dead. O ld Egyptian Book of

Mysteries............ 14

Brithnoth, Earl, Mystic. Data unknown.............. 42

Browne, Sir Thomas. English Philosopher.

1605-1682, A. D .„ ............. 33

Catherine of Sienna, Christian Mystic.

1314-1380, A. D ............ 28

Cawdry, Sister E. T. An African Mystic 42

Chadwick, John W., American Author............. 43

Christian Prayers, Book of, 1566, A. D ............ 32

Chrysostom, St., Greek Father of the Church,

born in Syria, 347-409, A. D ................ 17-18



Colet, Dean, Mystic. Data unknown.................

Collect, from the 6th and 18th Centuries........

Colony, Beatrice, Author .......................

Coptic Apocrypha. The Book of the Resurrec

tion of Jesus Christ, by Bartholomew —

Culverwel, R.t Cam brid ge Platonist.

16)8-1651, A. D .........................................

Cusa, Nicholas de, Cardina l, 1401-1464, A. D.

Dante,* Mystica l Poet. 1265-1321, A. D..........

DeVoe, Walter, American Mystic, Founder of

the Eloist Ministry.....................................

Elwood, Thomas, English Mystic about 1639,

A. D...... .......................................

Ephrem, St., The Syrian Teacher of the Church

and Hymndfst. 306378, A. D .....................

Erasmus, Dutch Scholar. 1466-1536, A. D .......

Erigena, John Scotus, Scot Philosopher in

France. 875, A. D .........................

Fenelon, Francois de Salignac, Archbishop of

Cambrai. Author. I 651-17 15, A. D ..........

Francis, St. of Sales, Christian Saint.

1567-1665, A. D ........................................

Friend of G O D ,* from the "O berland.” The un

known chief of a religious union from the

14th Century.............................................

Gelasian Sacramentary. Gelasius, Bishop of

Caesarea, about 476, A. D .........................

Gabirol, Solomon ibn, Poet and Philosopher

1020-1070 A. D ................................- .......

Golden W ord of N. H. D ..............................

Gorsedd Prayer ............................................

Guthrie, Kenneth Sylvan, Modern American

Author and Mystic .................................

Guyon, Madam Jeanna Maria de la Motte,

Mystic, one of the Founders of the Quietism.

1648-1717, A. D .........................................

Halevi, Jehudah, Hebrew Poet, 1085-1 140 A. D.

Hildegarde, St., German Mystic, died I 179, A. D.

Hindu Prayers................................................



Holmes, Oliver, American Physician and Author.

1809-1894, A. D .................. _ ..... 38

How, Charles, American Author ................ 44

Ignatius, St. Loyola. Founder of the Society of

Jesus. 1491-1556, A. D ........................ 29-31

Jacobite Liturgy. 3rd century. The Jacobites, a

name of the Monophysites. Monophysites

were those who maintain that there was but

a single nature in Christ.......................— 16

Jalalud din Rumi, an Arabian Poet and Mystic.

Born 1270, A. D .......................................... 25

Jenks, Benjamin, Mystic from the 17th century. 37Jesus Christ, The Messiah, The Saviour.......... 17

John, St., of the Cross. Spanish Mystic.

1542-1591, A. D .............................. 31-32

Julian, Roman Emperor, called "The Apostate."

Neoplatonist. 31 1-363, A. D ........................ 15

Julian, Lady of Norwich. Mystic.

1342-1442, A. D ..................................... 28

Kashf-Al-Mahjup. The oldest Persian treatise on

Sufism.............. 24

Kempe of Lynn, Lady Margery . Data unknown. 44

Kingsley, Charles, English Clergyman and Novel

ist. 1819-1875, A. D ................. 39

Kipling, Rudyard, English Author.

1865-1936 ............................................. 40

Kleiser, Grenville, Teacher of Oratory............. 45

Lawrence, Brother, Christian Mystic.

1666-1691, A. D ............... 36

Leonine Sacramentary. 5th Century. Citta

Leonina, a part of the ancient Roma ........... 19

Lisener, Louis, American Author..................

44Liturgy of the Greek Church, 3rd Century 17

Liturgy of St. Mark, 2nd Century ..................... 17

Manasses, King of Juda. He reigned 697-642,

B.C . (The Apocrypha of the O ld Testament.) 15

Martineau, James, Unitarian Divine and Meta

physician. 1805-1900, A. D ................ 38



Mathiesen,* Veni Cooper, Australian Author.... 46

Mohammed. Arabian Founder of Islam.

570-632, A. D ........... 19

Molinos.* Spanish Christian Mystic.

1640-1697, A. D .................................. 35

More, Dame Gertrude, Christian Mystic.

"The Nun." 1256-1291, A. D ............................ 24

Mozarabic Liturgy. Mozarab, a member of cer

tain ancient congregations of Spanish Chris

tians which existed under the Moors and had

a liturgy of their own .............................. 24

Newman, John Henry, English Cardinal and

Author. 1801-1890, A. D.......................... 37

Norden, John, Mystic of the 16th Century 33

Norris, Grace B., Author ...................... 46

Palma, Blaise, Mystic of the 17th Century 37

Pascal, Blaise, French Philosopher and Mathe

matician. 1623-1662, A. D ..................... 35

Patrick, St., Christian Saint, Apostle of Ireland. 18

Pericles, Athenian Statesman. 495-429, B. C 15

Psalm. One of the O ld Testament Hymns 14

Richard, St., Bishop of Chichester. Died 1253. 24Ritter, Melchoir, Mystic of the 17th Century 37

Rolle, Richard, Hermit of Hampole..................... 45

Rossetti, Christiana Georgina, Sister of Dei

Grata. English Poet. 1830-1894, A. D 39

Rous,* Francis, a Cromwellian Mystic.............. 45

Ruysbroeck,* Jan van., Dutch Mystic.

1293-1381, A. D .... 26

Sarum Breviary, 4th Century. O ld Sarum (Sor-

diodunum) near Salisbury, was the residence

of the Saxon Kings ....................................... 18

Savonarola.* Christian Martyr. 1452-1498, A. D. 29

Scott, F, W., English Author............................ 46

Scupoli, Mystic, Da fa unknown.................... 46

Socrates. Athenian Philosopher, 469-399 B .C . 16

Sill, Edward Rowland, American Poet and

Author, 1841-1887, A. D ................ 50



Sufi. Sufism, a system of Mohamm edan mys

ticism, developed especially in Persia 26

Synesius, Bishop, Christo Neoplatonist, Friendof Hypatia. 370-415, A. D ........................ 18-19

Syrian Clementine Liturgy. 1st Century.......... 14

Tagore, Rabindranath, Bengali Poet and Mystic.

Born 1861, A. D .......................................... 38-39

Talmud, Selection from.................................... 50

Tauler,* John, Christian Mystic. 1290-1361, A. D. 27

Taylor, Jeremy, Bishop and Author.

1613-1667, A. D ......................................... 33

Teresa, St., Christian Mystic. 1515-1 582, A. D. 30-31 Terstegen, Gerhard, Poet and Ascet.

1697-1769, A. D .............................. _......... 36

Theoiogia Germanfca,* a tractatus in 54 chap

ters containing the teachings of the Friends

of G O D ..................................................... 30

Thomas,* St. Aquinas, Christian Priest and Mys

tic, called "The Angelical Doctor."

1225-1274, A. D - ......... 23

Thomas a Kempis,* Christian Mystic.

1380-1471, A. D ........................................ 28-29-30

Tingley, Katherine, President of the American

Theosophical Society. 1930, A. D 41

Tirpenting. C. S., Author - ....................... 47

Traherne, T., Cam bridge Platonist.

1637-1674, A. D ......................................... 34

Vaughan,* Henry, Mystic ................... 48

Wesley, John, Divine and Founder of

Methodism. 1703-1791, A. D ..................... 37

Whichcote, Benjamin, Ca m br idge Platonist.1609-1683, A. D ................. 32

Whittier, John Greenleaf, American Poet 39

Wilson, E. C., American Writer and Philosopher. 47

W oo d, Michael, English Poet and Writer 48

Zoroaster, Founder of Ancient Persian Religion,

about 732, B. C .......................................... 16



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