Monday, June 14, 2010

Friday, June 4, 2010

Simply Augustine

GOD'S GIFT OF SLEEP

A poem by St. Ambrose (337-397) Bishop of MIlan quoted by Augustine (Confessions, Book IX, Chapt. XIII) in his account of grieving the death of his mother Monica and the night's rest he took following her burial.

"O God, the world's great architect
Clothing the day with beauteous light
And with sweet slumber silent night
When wearied limbs new vigor gain
From rest new labors to sustain;
When hearts oppressed do meet relief
And anxious minds forget their grief."

-- Freely translated from the Latin by
John Cook, 1660.



"He gives his beloved sleep." - Psalm 127:2