Day 3: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

6th century mosaic from Basilica di San Apollinare Nuovo

 

 

 

 

 

Psalms 139:1-12: “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me”
John 4:16-19: “I have no husband”

We pray:
O you who are beyond all things,
how could we call you by any other name?
What song could be sung for you?
No word can express you.
What Spirit can perceive you?
No intelligence can comprehend you.
You alone are inexpressible;
all that is said has come from you.
You alone are unknowable;
all that is thought has come from you.
All creatures proclaim you,
those who speak and those who are dumb.
Every one desires you, everyone sighs and aspires after you.
All that exists prays to you,
and every being that can contemplate your universe raises to you a silent hymn.
Have pity on us, you who are beyond all things.
How could we call you by any other name?
Amen.

                       (Attributed to Gregory of Nazianzus)