Pain, holy pain. Why do I flee from you?

Pain, holy pain. Why do I flee from you? What utopian madness do I idealize in which I must exclude something so valuable from my life? Come in, pain. My soul burns, for your force pierces the armor I recklessly build to avoid you. Come, angel who burns. Your bitter medicine sweetens the sourness of my nausea.

Healing, blessed healing. Why do I delay you? I know that someday I will loosen my claws. How much longer will I go on suffering? Heal, temple of God. Temper my God, healing. Transform my guilt, lighten my baggage. Evaporate the stones that stew me and melt the lead that drags me down. Make me, beloved healing, an expanding fruit of your light.

Joy, silent joy. Why do I oppress you? Open my heart, infinite divine grace. Here your faithful servant commands you with authority. Shine through me, joy of my being. Remind me, above all things, that all things pass and you remain, pure, unchanging joy.