Prayer to a Guardian Angel

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom his love  commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide, Amen.

Francis Thompson: Motto and Invocation

I thought of Francis Thompson's little known "Motto and Invocation" as the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls were celebrated this weekend. Thompson was a nineteenth century author and poet whose most famous poem is the "Hound of Heaven."

                MOTTO & INVOCATION

OMNIA PER IPSUM, ET SINE IPSO NIHIL

St. John’s Gospel, chap. I, v. 3, abbreviated

Pardon, O Saint John Divine,

That I change a word of thee—

None the less, aid thou me!

And Siena’s Catharine !

Lofty Doctor, Augustine,

Glorious penitent ! And be

Assisi’s Francis also mine !

Mine be Padua’s Anthony ;

And that other Francis, he

Called of Sales ! Let all combine

To counsel (of great charity)

What I write ! Thy wings incline,

Ah my Angel, o’er the line !

Last and first, O Queen Mary,

Of thy white Immaculacy,

If my work may profit aught,

Fill with lilies every thought !

I surmise

What is white will then be wise.

To which I add : Thomas More,

Teach (thereof my need is sore)

What thou showed well on earth—

Good writ, good wit, make goodly mirth !

                                                                                      F.T.

Holbein: Thomas More