Christian Art | George Herbert | Sepulchre | The Church | Even-song (1)
George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | Even-song (1)
Blest be the God of love,
Who gave me eyes, and light, and power this day,
Both to be busie, and to play.
But much more blest be God above,
Who gave me sight alone,
Which to himself he did denie:
For when he sees my waies, I dy:
But I have got his sonne, and he hath none.
What have I brought thee home
For this thy love? have I discharg’d the debt,
Which this dayes favour did beget?
I ranne; but all I brought, was fonie.
Thy diet, care, and cost
Do end in bubbles, balls of winde;
Of winde to thee whom I have crost,
But balls of wilde-fire to my troubled minde.
Yet still thou goest on,
And now with darknesse closest wearie eyes,
Saying to man, It doth suffice:
Henceforth repose; your work is done.
Thus in thy Ebony box
Thou dost inclose us, till the day
Put our amendment in our way,
And give new wheels to our disorder’d clocks.
I muse, which shows more love,
The day or night: that is the gale, this th’ harbour;
That is the walk, and this the arbour;
Or that the garden, this the grove.
My God, thou art all love.
Not one poore minute scapes thy breast,
But brings a favour from above;
And in this love, more then in bed, I rest
George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | Even-song (1)
This poem is a meditation on gratitude and divine love, exploring relationship between human activity and God’s continuous care. George Herbert reflects on the gifts of life, sight, and the ability to engage in both labour and leisure, attributing them to God’s love. Yet, the central focus is the greater blessing of spiritual vision, symbolized by sight, which God withheld from himself—we may understand reference to Christ’s sacrifice—so that humanity might see its own paths and be redeemed.
The poem juxtaposes God’s gifts with the poet’s own inadequate response. Despite profound favours of the day, Herbert admits that his efforts, symbolized by his running, are filled with folly, producing only ‘bubbles’ and ‘balls of wind’. This imagery suggests the fleeting and insubstantial nature of human attempts to repay divine generosity. Herbert contrasts his flawed contributions with God’s enduring care, which he depicts as constant and unconditional, even when humanity fails or rebels.
Night, personified as a period of rest and reflection, is described as an act of love from God. Herbert sees it as a form of closure, where God grants repose to weary eyes and says, ‘It does suffice.’ This suggests divine understanding of human limitations, offering an opportunity for renewal rather than punishment. The ‘ebony box’ symbolizes the night as a protective enclosure, allowing time for self-amendment and spiritual reorientation. Herbert likens this renewal to repairing ‘disordered clocks’, a metaphor for alignment of human lives with divine will.
The poem considers the comparative blessings of day and night, using metaphors such as and including ‘gale’ and ‘harbour’, ‘walk’ and ‘arbour’, ‘garden’ and ‘grove’. These pairings emphasize complementarity of activity and rest, illustrating how both are imbued with divine love. Day represents the opportunities for work and engagement, while night offers sanctuary and reflection. Together, day and night form a cycle of grace through which Herbert perceives God’s continual presence and care.
Herbert proclaims that God is ‘all love’, emphasizing constancy and omnipresence of divine affection. Every moment, even the smallest, carries a blessing from God, reinforcing Herbert’s sense of unworthiness and gratitude. The concluding statement, ‘And in this love, more than in bed, I rest,’ highlights spiritual rest that surpasses physical repose. It suggests that true peace lies in the awareness and acceptance of God’s all-encompassing love.
This poem emphasizes reciprocal relationship between God’s gifts and human response, even as it acknowledges insufficiency of human efforts fully to reciprocate divine love. Herbert’s reflections culminate in an acknowledgment of God’s all-encompassing presence, which brings both comfort and a call to greater devotion.
Padre Pio, also known as Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, was an Italian Capuchin friar who lived from 1887 to 1968. He is renowned for his piety, his stigmata, and his gift of healing, and has become a beloved figure in the Christian world. Born into a devout Catholic family in Pietrelcina, Italy, Padre Pio felt a calling to the priesthood from a young age. He entered the Capuchin order in 1903 and was ordained a priest in 1910. He spent much of his life as a humble friar, dedicated to prayer, the sacraments, and the service of others. Padre Pio’s most famous spiritual gift was the stigmata, the visible wounds of Christ that he bore on his hands, feet, and side. He experienced this phenomenon for over 50 years, from 1918 until his death in 1968. While some were skeptical of his wounds, many believed them to be a sign of his profound union with Christ and his participation in the suffering of the crucified Christ. In addition to his stigmata, Padre Pio was also known for his gift of healing. Many people came to him seeking physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, and he prayed over them, sometimes prescribing special devotions or treatments. While some were healed miraculously, others did not experience a physical cure, but nonetheless found comfort and peace through his intercession. Padre Pio’s life was marked by his devotion to God and his love for others. He spent long hours in prayer, often in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, and had a deep appreciation for the power of the Eucharist. He also had a special love for the Virgin Mary, whom he called his ‘Heavenly Mother’, and encouraged others to pray the Rosary. Today, Padre Pio is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church, and his influence has spread far beyond Italy. He is remembered for his holiness, his humility, and his profound union with Christ, as well as for his compassion and concern for the sick and suffering. Christians of all denominations continue to look to him as a model of faith and devotion to God. Prayer To Saint Padre Pio | A Prayer For Healing Saint Padre Pio is renowned for his gift of healing, which he used to help countless people throughout his life. He believed in the power of prayer and the importance of placing our trust in God, even in the face of illness and suffering. In James 5:16, we are reminded that ‘the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective’. Padre Pio’s life was a testament to the truth of this verse, as he interceded for those who came to him seeking physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. One of the most striking examples of Padre Pio’s healing ministry was the case of Gemma Di Giorgi, a young girl who had been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Her parents brought her to Padre Pio, who prayed over her and blessed her with the sign of the cross. To the amazement of her doctors, Gemma’s condition began to improve, and she was eventually healed completely. In addition to physical healing, Padre Pio also believed in the importance of emotional and spiritual healing. He often spoke of the need for repentance and conversion, and encouraged his followers to turn to God with contrite hearts. In Luke 5:31-32, Jesus tells the Pharisees, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’ Padre Pio understood that true healing involves not only the body, but also the soul. For those who are in need of healing, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, Saint Padre Pio can serve as a powerful intercessor. He believed in the importance of prayer and the power of God’s grace to heal even the most difficult of cases. Through his intercession, we can ask God for the strength and courage to face our illnesses and our struggles, knowing that we are never alone and that God’s healing love is always with us. So let us pray: ‘Saint Padre Pio, you who had a deep faith in God and a profound love for your fellow human beings, we turn to you in our time of need. We ask for your intercession on behalf of all those who are sick and suffering, that they may be healed in body, mind, and spirit. We ask that you pray for us, that we may have the strength and courage to face our illnesses and our struggles with faith and hope, knowing that God is with us always. We trust in God’s love and mercy, and in the power of prayer to bring healing and wholeness to all who seek it. Saint Padre Pio, pray for us, and lead us to the healing grace of God. Amen.’ Prayer To Saint Padre Pio | A Prayer For Peace Saint Padre Pio was a man of peace, who lived his life in the service of God and his fellow human beings. He believed that peace was not merely the absence of conflict, but a state of inner harmony that could only be achieved through a deep and abiding relationship with God. In John 14:27, Jesus tells his disciples, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’ Padre Pio understood the importance of this peace, and dedicated his life to helping others find it. One of the ways that Padre Pio fostered peace was through his ministry of reconciliation. He encouraged those who came to him to confess their sins and seek God’s forgiveness, knowing that this was the first step towards inner peace. In Matthew 5:9, Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.’ Padre Pio believed that this was not just a call to be a mediator in conflicts between […]
Psalm 58 explores themes of justice, righteousness, and the repercussions of wickedness. This psalm is an impassioned plea for divine intervention or retribution, which may be perceived as a call for vengeance.
From Sin to Salvation | The Significance of Ash Wednesday and Lent | Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lent, the Lenten season, and falls 46 days before Easter – which is to say 40 days plus Sundays. A day of fasting and penitence, Christians are called to acknowledge their sinfulness and repent. On Ash Wednesday, ashes are placed on the forehead of each person in the sign of the Cross as a symbol of mortality and penitence [ … ]
