Daily Primer — June 6, Athens Greece

There are souls that form great projects of doing excellent services for our Lord by eminent deeds and extraordinary sufferings, but deeds and sufferings of which there is no present opportunity, and perhaps never will be, and upon this imagine that they have done a great matter in love, in which they are very often deceived-in this way, that embracing in desire what seems to them great future crosses, they studiously avoid the burden of such as are present, which are less. Is it not a great temptation to be so valiant in imagination and so cowardly in execution? Ah, God keep us from these imaginary fervors which very often breed in the bottom of our hearts a vain and secret self-esteem!
Great works do not always lie in our way, but every moment we may do little ones excellently, that is, with great love. I beg you to remark the saint who gives a cup of water for God's sake to a poor thirsty traveller; he seems to do a small thing; but the intention, the sweetness, the love with which he animates his action, is so excellent that it turns this simple water into the water of life, and of eternal life. Bees gather honey from the lily, the iris, and the rose; but they get as much booty from the little minute rosemary flowers and thyme; they not only draw more honey from these, but even better honey, because in these little vessels the honey being more closely locked up is much better preserved. Truly in small and insignificant exercises of devotion charity is practiced not only more frequently, but also as a rule more humbly too, and consequently more holily and usefully. Those condescensions to the humors of others, that bearing with the troublesome actions and ways of our neighbor, those victories over our own tempers and passions; ... all this is more profitable to our souls than we can conceive, if heavenly love only have the management of them.

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.

You Lord, in choosing love over retaliation and crucifixion over conquest are a mystery — and more than a mystery, a wonder.  For ours is an age where “compassion is all out-of-fashion and anger is all the rage.”  No doubt this is why the apostle wrote:
“For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written,
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.  For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
   Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.  But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;  God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are,  so that no one might boast in the presence of God.  He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption,  in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Let us boast only in you and in the foolish wisdom of your love. Amen.

Prayer of St John of Damascus Before Sleep
For Remembrance of Death

To be said pointing at the bed:
O Lord, Lover of all, is this bed to be my coffin, or will you enlighten my wretched soul with another day? Here the coffin lies before me, and here death confronts me. I fear, O Lord, your Judgment and the endless torments, yet I cease not to do evil. My Lord God, I continually anger you, and your immaculate Mother, and all the Heavenly Powers, and my holy Guardian Angel. I know, O Lord, that I am unworthy of your love but deserve condemnation and every torment. But, whether I want it or not, save me, O Lord. For to save a good person is no great thing and to have mercy on the pure is nothing wonderful, for they are worthy of your mercy. But show the wonder of your mercy on me, a sinner. In this reveal your love for us, lest my wickedness prevail over your unutterable goodness and mercy. And order my life as you will.

(As sleep is the image of death, at night we pray for the departed.)

With the Saints give rest, O Christ, to the souls of your servants where there is no pain, no sorrow, no sighing, but life everlasting.

When about to lie down in bed, say:
Lighten my eyes, O Christ God, lest I sleep in death, and lest my enemy say: I have prevailed over him.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Be my soul's Defender, O God, for I step over many snares. Deliver me from them and save me, O Good One, in your love for all.
Now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Let us not silently hymn the most glorious Mother of God, holiest of holy Angels, but confess her with heart and mouth to be the Mother of God, for she truly bore God incarnate for us, and prays without ceasing for our souls. Amen.

Kiss your cross, and make the sign of the Cross from head to foot of the bed and from two sides, and then say:

Prayer to the Venerable Cross
Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered; and let those who hate Him flee from His presence. As smoke vanishes, let them vanish; and as wax melts from the presence of fire, so let the demons perish from the presence of those who love God and who sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross and say in gladness:
Rejoice, most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, for you drive away the demons by the power of our Lord Jesus Christ crucified upon you, who went down to hell and trampled on the power of the devil, and gave us you, his venerable Cross, for driving away all enemies. O most precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, help me with our holy Lady, the Virgin Mother of God, and with all the Saints throughout the ages. Amen.

Just before getting into bed, say:
Guard me, O Lord, by the power of your holy and life-giving Cross, and keep me from all evil.

Just before yielding yourself up to sleep, say:
Into your hands, O Lord Jesus Christ, my God, I surrender my spirit and body; bless me, save me, and grant me eternal life. Amen.

Before retiring (or if one prefers, before beginning prayers), go through all the points suggested below in your mind and memory.

1. Give thanks to Almighty God for granting you during the past day, by His grace, His gifts of life and health.



2. Examine your conscience by going through each hour of the day, beginning from the time you rose from your bed, and recall to memory: where you went, how you acted and reacted towards all persons and other creatures, and what you talked about. Recall and consider with all care your thoughts, words and deeds from morning till evening.



3. If you have done any good, do not ascribe it to yourself but to God Who gives us all the good things and thank Him. Pray that He may confirm you in this good and enable you to do other good things.



4. But if you have done anything evil, admit that this comes from yourself and your own weakness, from bad habits or weak will. Repent and pray to the Lover of men that He may forgive you, and promise Him firmly never to do this evil again.



5. Implore your Creator with tears to grant you a quiet, undisturbed, pure and sinless night, and to enable you on the coming day to devote yourself wholly to the glory of His holy Name.



6. If you find a soft pillow, leave it, and put a stone in its place for Christ's sake. If you sleep in winter, bear it, saying: Some did not sleep at all.