Monday, June 8 : Saint Nerses Chnorhali

You went up to sit on a high mountain As before You came down to Sinai; In the cloud You had exposed the ancient Law; In your body, O Word, You taught the New. You opened your divine mouth, You have blessed the apostles; In exchange for the Tablets of the Ten Commandments, You gave the Nine Beatitudes of the New Law. You set a ladder from earth to heaven With nine steps Through it You have raised the human race; You placed her among the nine Choirs. But me, I stuck so closely to the earth Because of the vices of sin so heavy to bear, That I didn’t even climb a single one Among the nine degrees! (…) Now I beseech Thee, Lord, all in tears; I kiss, Lord, your feet; Lighten me, who am in one body, From the heavy burden of sins, So that it is possible for my soul here below To ascend to You in heaven, Following your Words like a ladder, By climbing one step after the other.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team