Thursday, July 31, 2008

Eucharistic Prayer of St. Catherine of Siena

O boundless charity!
Just as you gave us yourself,
wholly God and wholly man,
so you left us all of yourself as food
so that while we are pilgrims in this life
we might not collapse in our weariness
but be strengthened by you, heavenly food.
O mercenary people!
And what has you God left you?

He has left you himself,
wholly God and wholly man,
hidden under the whiteness of this bread.
O fire of love!
Was it not enough to gift us
with creation in your image and likeness,
and to create us anew to grace in your Son’s blood,
without giving us yourself as food
the whole of divine being,
the whole of God?
What drove you?
Nothing but your charity,
mad with love as you are!


St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Third Order Dominican and Doctor of the Church

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