Anselm's words

words by Anselm

Come now, little man,
turn aside for a while from your daily employment,
escape for a moment from the tumult of your thoughts.
Put aside your weighty cares,
let your burdensome distractions wait,
free yourself awhile for God
and rest awhile in him.
[Your servant] longs to see you,
but your countenance is too far away....
How retched is the fate of man
when he lost that for which he was created....
Adam [before the fall] was so full he belched, we are so hungry
we sigh;
he had abundance, and we go begging....

Alas, I am indeed wretched,
one of those wretched sons of Eve,
separated from God!...
Lord, I am so bent I can only look downwards,
raise me, that I may look upwards.
My iniquities have gone over my head,
they cover me and weigh me down like a heavy burden...

Ah, from what a generous love and loving generosity
compassion follows out to us!

Ah, what feelings of love should we sinners have
towards the unbounded goodness of God!...
I was seeking God,
and I have found that he is above all things,
and that than which nothing greater can be thought.