Daily Primer — July 5, Tromsø — Norway

Beauty is the source of all things . . . It is the great creating cause which bestirs the world and holds all things in existence by the longing inside them to have beauty . . . It is the longing for beauty which actually brings them into being.
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The Starlight Night
Look at the stars!  Look, look up at the skies!
   O look at all the fire-folk sitting in the air!
         The bright boroughs, the circle-citadels there!
Down in dim woods the diamond delves! the elves’-eyes!
The grey lawns cold where gold, where quick gold lies!
   Wind-beat white beam! airy abeles set on a flare!
   Flake-doves sent floating forth at a farmyard scare!
Ah well! it is all a purchase, all is a prize.
Buy then! bid then! - What? - Prayer, patience, alms, vows.
Look, look: a May-mess, like on orchard boughs!
   Look! March-bloom, like a mealed-with-yellow sallows!
These are indeed the barn; withindoors house
The shocks.  This piece-bright paling shuts the spouse
   Christ home, Christ and his mother and all his hallows.

Florilegium is the Medieval Latin word for bouquet, or more literally flowers (flos, flor-) which are gathered (legere). The word florilegium was used to refer to a compilation of writings, often religious or philosophical. These florilegium are literary flowers—beautiful words/prayers/thoughts I have gathered.  During my sabbatical they will give me something to ponder each day. — PHL.

Lord Jesus, our real sun and true day, now at the start of our day we stop what we are doing to turn our attention to you.  We will do the same again at the close of this day.  Help us as we seek to stay oriented to you — that our journey in this life might bring us evermore into closer communion with you.  Amen.

King of peace, guide the actions of those who govern:
Help them to defend the poor and needy.
Make us true heralds of the gospel:
Fill our hearts with the joy of your peace.
Christ, firstborn from the dead:
Hear the prayers of all who call upon you.

God our Father,
when Jesus was dying for us
Mary his mother stood by his side,
in the darkness which covered the earth.
In the unending dawn of the resurrection,
may she stand as a sign of our sure hope,
that we will one day be with you,
that Light will shine for ever and ever.

Through the prayers of your most pure mother and of all your saints, Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on us and save us.

May God be merciful to us and bless us.
May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.