(not the) Benedicite Dominum

The Benedicite is a canticle from the Hebrew bible from the book of Daniel. It’s traditionally recited as part of the Matins service of the Divine Office. It’s a hymn to the whole of creation and it’s quite lovely, but I get a little tetchy with the language and so for fun I’ve taken a crack at a more neo-Platonic version. So, with apologies to Daniel (and St Francis, I think), here it is.

Bless the Highest all you emanations of the Highest:
sing praise and exalt the Fullness for ever.

Bless the Fullness you Aeons:
sing praise and exalt the Fullness for ever.

Bless the Fullness you angels of the Fullness:
bless the Source all you hosts;

bless the Fullness you waters above the heavens:
sing praise and exalt the Depth for ever.

Bless the Fullness sun and moon:
bless the Fullness you stars of heaven;

bless the Fullness all rain and dew:
sing praise and exalt the Source for ever.

Bless the Fullness all winds that blow:
bless the Fullness you fire and heat;

bless the Fullness scorching wind and bitter cold:
sing praise and exalt the Highest for ever.

Bless the Fullness dews and falling snows:
bless the Fullness you nights and days;

bless the Fullness light and darkness:
sing praise and exalt the Highest for ever.

Bless the Fullness frost and cold:
bless the Fullness you ice and snow;

bless the Fullness lightnings and clouds:
sing praise and exalt the Highest for ever.

O let the earth bless the Fullness:
bless the Source you mountains and hills;

bless the Fullness all that grows in the ground:
sing praise and exalt the Highest for ever.

Bless the Fullness you springs:
bless the Source you seas and rivers;

bless the Fullness you whales and all the swim in the waters:
sing praise and exalt the Depth for ever.

Bless the Fullness all birds of the air:
bless the Fullness you beasts and cattle;

bless the Fullness all people on earth:
sing praise and exalt the Highest for ever.

O people of God bless the Fullness:
bless the Source you priests of the One-in-Three;

bless the Fullness you servants of the Lord:
sing praise and exalt the Highest for ever.

Bless the Fullness all you of upright spirit:
bless the Source you that are holy and humble in heart.

Blessed be God, Mother, Father and Son.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God, Pleroma, Logos, Pneuma Hagion.
Blessed be God, Source, Word and Wisdom.
Blessed be God.
Blessed be.

Toward Him

Beholding Him
I am unclothed
Naked, without raiment
No sword, no armor

He runs toward me
And I toward Him
With a cry, we collide
Chest to chest
Heart to heart

I block His entry to the bridal chamber
I do not allow Him to be brought in
We grapple with each other at the entry
In the street we attack each other
On the public square of the land
The doorposts tremble and the wall shakes

Then He turns His chest from me
And I say
“Your mother, The Queen of Heaven
bore you, ever unique
Your head is elevated over men
You are destined for the Kingship over the people”

And then He turns toward me
And kisses me on the mouth
And I receive conception
from the Grace which is in Him
And he says, “When the light comes,
then he who sees will see the light”

I sit down and weep
my eyes fill with tears
my arms feel limp and my strength weakens
We take each other by the hand
And I lay my head upon His chest
And listen to the beating of His great heart

I am His Wild Man
And He my King.

Ruth and Naomi

“Ruth and Naomi” The Brothers Dalziel

But Ruth said,
‘Do not press me to leave you
or to turn back from following you!
Where you go, I will go;
where you lodge, I will lodge;
your people shall be my people,
and your God my God.

Where you die, I will die—
there will I be buried.
May the Lord do thus and so to me,
and more as well,
if even death parts me from you!’

When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.

— Ruth 1:16-17