This new saint has been canonized and introduced to the liturgical calendar 13 years ago, but he was quoted often by Pope St John Paul II. I was curious to search for his writings, among them the Book of Lamentations (of course not the Old Testament book,) 95 chapters of beautiful, meaningful and well-constructed prayers by St Gregory of Narek, an Armenian saint born in 945 AD. He was ordained a priest in the year 977, exactly 1000 years before my own ordination in 1977. You will find these prayers all in the link at the end of this post, but I share with you just one chapter, just part of chapter 58. Reflect on it and then search for more prayers in this website indicated at the end.
Lord, you are goodness beyond telling,
wonder-filled human kindness,astonishing forgiveness, perplexing forbearance,
unending sweetness, glorious mildness.
You, over whom compassion prevails, but do not feel restrained.
You are overwhelmed by mercy, but are not blamed.
You are constrained by human kindness, but are not disdained.
You are compelled by goodness, but are not cursed.
You act out of love, but are not ridiculed.
You seek my return to you, but do not grow weary.
You run after me in my obstinacy, but do not give up.
You call out to me though I do not listen, but do not lose patience.
You rush after me in my sloth and are not stopped.
In the face of my evil, you are good.
In the face of my total indebtedness, you are forgiving.
In the face of my sinfulness, you are indulgent.
In the face of my darkness, you are light.
In the face of my mortality, you are life.
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