Tuesday, July 26 : Julian of Norwich

And in that same time our customary manner of praying was brought to my mind-how, because of unknowing of love, we employ many means. Then I saw truly that it is greater worship to God, and truly more delightful to him, if we pray to himself and of his goodness… For to use all these means is too little, and not full worship to God. For in his goodness is all the whole, and therein faileth nothing at all… For the highest prayer is to the goodness of God which cometh down to us, to the lowest part of our need. It quickeneth our soul, and maketh it to live; it maketh it to grow in grace and in virtue; it is nearest to our poor nature and readiest to it in grace. It is, indeed, the very grace for which the soul seeketh and ever shall, until we know our God truly – he that hath us all beclosed in himself… Our soul is so preciously loved by him that is highest that it passeth beyond the knowing of all creatures. That is to say, there is no creature made that can know how much and how sweetly and how tenderly our Maker loveth us. Therefore we may, with his grace and his help, stand in ghostly beholding with everlasting marvelling in this high, overpassing, immeasurable love that our Lord hath towards us, of his goodness. And therefore we may ask of our Lover all that we will ; for our kindly will is to have God, and the good will of God is to have us. Nor may we ever cease willing or loving, until we have him in fullness of joy.

maronite readings – rosary,team