Poem: When Lauds Ended

This morning I really enjoyed the blessing of returning to the Apostles' prayer room for Morning Prayer.  The Apostles' prayer room is a lovely sacred space with beautifully handwritten icons of Christ and four apostles. This semester I haven't been able to attend Morning Prayer in the Prayer Room due to our family schedule, but I was refreshed by this prayer service, which takes its form from the "Lauds" service in Liturgy of the Divine Hours.  What happened after Lauds ended was an even greater surprise I was appointed to receive.

When Lauds Ended

The final ‘amen’ spoken at Lauds

I depart this sacred room.  Snuffed

candles lift the fragrant sacrifice of

vows kept and praises offered.  Lights

dim to darkness, save the corridor’s

fluorescent noise just beyond the

threshold.  The sanctum is now

Tenebrae. 

‘My books,’ I remember, ‘are left

in that place.’ Crossing the shadowy

portal I sense this return is

appointed.  I see a reserved seat, a new

vantage from moments ago. This place,

somewhere between Gethsemane and Tabor, shines

a light in the young darkness.  Where is that sun

in this tenebrous place?  A trace

gleam illumines the gold leaf crowns of

S. Peter, Paul, James, and John.  Their glory

refracted from Light Himself, the Son radiates this

Universe. 

This dark alone recedes now with a singular

glimpse of Communion; Images glimmer the

Promise of changed glory and unceasing

intercession for sojourners longing for

Home. 

When Your Light shone and Your Host

appeared, my claustrophobic soul surrendered

in the glorious crowding of your agapic

embrace. This sanctum became thronged with Presences

believed, yet unseen.  These faint eyes

cannot number the host of attending

Angels.  These ears cannot hear the

Patriarchs’ prayers.  Your Spirit translates

my inaccessible depths with groanings

inexpressible. 

With Lauds ended, You whisper the reason for this

summons:  “You have prayed to me this day.  Now I AM

                        and My host of heaven will pray for you."