John Henry Newman
Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 18
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1916 edition. Excerpt: ... THE DREAM OF GERONTIUS i Gerontius JESU, MARIA--I am near to death, And Thou art calling me; I know it now Not by the token of this faltering breath, This chill at heart, this dampness on my brow, (Jesu, have mercy! Mary, pray for me!) 5 'Tis this new feeling, never felt before, (Be with me, Lord, in my extremity!) That I am going, that I am no more. 'Tis this strange innermost abandonment, (Lover of souls! great God! I look to Thee, ) 10 This emptying out of each constituent And natural force, by which I come to be. Pray for me, O my friends; a visitant Is knocking his dire summons at my door, The like of whom, to scare me and to daunt, 5 Has never, never come to me before; Tis death, --O loving friends, your prayers!--'tis he!... As though my very being had given way, As though I was no more a substance now, And could fall back on nought to be my stay, 20 (Help, loving Lord! Thou my sole Refuge, Thou, ) And turn no whither, but must needs decay And drop from out the universal frame Into that shapeless, scopeless, blank abyss, That utter nothingness, of which I came: 25 This is it that has come to pass in me; Oh horror! this it is, my dearest, this; So pray for me, my friends, who have not strength to pray. Assistants Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison. Holy Mary, pray for him. 3 All holy Angels, pray for him. Choirs of the righteous, pray for him. Holy Abraham, pray for him. St. John Baptist, St. Joseph, pray for him. St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Andrew, St. John, 35 All Apostles, all Evangelists, pray for him. All holy Disciples of the Lord, pray for him. All holy Innocents, pray for him. All holy Martyrs, all holy Confessors, All holy Hermits, all holy Virgins, 40 All ye Saints of God, pray for him. Gerontius Rouse thee, .