Sunday, September 21 : Saint Nerses Chnorhali

Thanks to your creative nature A house was built for rational being; The first man was established as steward Of this earthly house here below. And his descendants, who came into being Receive from You various stewardships: Some for the most glorious bodily works, And others to distribute spiritual goods. (…) You have also placed as faithful steward Of body and soul, the incorporeal Spirit To give to each what he needs With care, according to his rank: Nourishing the soul with the Word And caring for the body with moderation; And between the two, acting as arbiter He maintains their rank in rectitude. The body must be ordered as a servant Following your order of creation, And the soul, like a sovereign princess, Following the image of your Archetype. But I, unfaithful to both, Toward my soul and that of others, I have become like the unfaithful steward, Who is the example of cowardice. For, at the end of my life here below I can neither do good, Nor beg from those who possess it, For I am ashamed because they will not give me. But You, liberal in all things, Give remorse to my impenitent soul, To return to You completely, Before I am called to the Judgment Court, For the judgment of my sins; To forgive me at least part of the debt: To my soul, the fifty measures of oil, To my body, the twenty measures of wheat. Grant me, too, the grace, like the steward To be worthy of Your praise; Although I am a child of the world, Give me the wisdom to convert from sin!

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team