praying deeply

My God, I pray that I may so know you and love you that I may rejoice in you.  And if I may not do so fully in this life, let me go steadily on to the day when I come to that fullness.  Let the knowledge of you increase in me here, and there let it come to its fullness.  Let your love grow in me here, and there let it be fulfilled, so that here my joy may be in a great hope, and there in full reality…

… I ask that I may receive, so that my joy may be full.  Meanshile, let my mind meditate on it, let my tongue speak of it, let my heart love it, let my mouth preach it, let my soul hunger for it, my flesh thirst for it, and my whole being desire it, until I enter into the joy of my Lord, who is God one and triune, blessed forever.  Amen

                    – Anselm, Proslogion, lines 791-825, c. 1100 A.D.