Christian Art | George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | The Temper (2)
George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | The Temper (2)
It cannot be. Where is that mightie joy,
Which just now took up all my heart?
Lord, if thou must needs use thy dart,
Save that, and me; or sin for both destroy.
The grosser world stands to thy word and art;
But thy diviner world of grace
Thou suddenly dost raise and race,
And ev’ry day a new Creatour art.
O fix thy chair of grace, that all my powers
May also fix their reverence:
For when thou dost depart from hence,
They grow unruly, and sit in thy bowers.
Scatter, or binde them all to bend to thee:
Though elements change, and heaven move,
Let not thy higher Court remove,
But keep a standing Majestie in me
George Herbert | The Temple | The Church | The Temper (2)
The poem explores themes of divine presence, spiritual longing, and human instability. The poem opens with a stark reflection on the transient nature of spiritual joy and the sudden void that follows when such joy is absent. Herbert questions the disappearance of an overwhelming sense of divine joy that had recently consumed his heart, seeking an explanation or resolution from God. This inquiry sets the stage for a meditation on the balance between divine grace and human imperfection.
Herbert acknowledges the constancy of the material world, which aligns with God’s creative word and art. In contrast, the ‘diviner world of grace’ is described as subject to sudden change, as God continually renews and reconstructs it, portraying God as an active, daily Creator. This duality highlights tension between the enduring, visible world and a more fluid, spiritual realm, suggesting that while physical existence remains steady, spiritual experiences fluctuate.
The poem shifts to a plea for stability, Herbert asking God to ‘fix [His] chair of grace’, a metaphor for establishing a constant divine presence. The poet desires his faculties—emotions, thoughts, and actions—to be anchored in reverence for God. An absence of divine stability leads to disorder, where these faculties become unruly, indulging in their own pursuits without divine guidance. The metaphor of these powers ‘sitting in [God’s] bowers’ suggests complacency or distraction, emphasizing need for divine authority to keep Herbert’s inner world ordered and devoted.
The final stanza calls for a divine intervention to unify Herbert’s scattered energies and align them with God’s will. The use of the words ‘scatter’ and ‘bind’ reflects the push and pull between chaos and discipline. The poet notes that while natural elements and even the heavens may change or move, they implore God’s ‘higher Court’—a symbol of divine judgment and grace—not to shift or withdraw. The desire is for God’s majesty to remain constant within, ensuring a stable source of spiritual grounding.
The poem’s structure underscores a progression of themes from a question of lost spiritual joy to a petition for divine steadiness. Juxtaposition of divine permanence and human variability is reinforced throughout, suggesting that only God’s enduring presence can mitigate the unpredictability of human experience. Imagery of God as Creator and sustainer reflects the theological idea of continual divine involvement in both the physical and spiritual realms.
The poem is a meditation on the speaker’s dependence on divine grace for spiritual stability and fulfilment. It underscores the human experience of fluctuating spiritual states and longing for constant divine presence that binds and unifies the self. Herbert’s appeal for God to maintain an unchanging presence within him points to an understanding of faith as needing continual divine reinforcement to counteract human frailty and inconsistency.
Jesus returns with Peter and James and John from the mountain of the transfiguration. He finds a scene which is crowded and confused. The scribes are present, arguing with Jesus’ disciples. They are surrounded by many people, who now catch sight of Jesus and rush to greet him. Jesus asks what has happened to create such a hubbub, and we learn that at its focal point there is sickness, in the form of possession, and inability on the part of the disciples to cast the evil out of the child [ … ]
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 […]
Matthew Arnold’s ‘Dover Beach’, written in the mid-19th century, reflects religious uncertainty of the Victorian era. The poem captures the emotional and spiritual turmoil of a time when traditional Christian beliefs were being questioned by the rise of scientific discoveries and changing social attitudes. Arnold’s work has been read as a lament for the loss of faith; it is a valuable text for exploring Christian response to modernity [ … ]
