The Breviary is a liturgical book, the contents of which are derived from the early ages of Christianity, consisting of psalms, Scripture lessons, writings of the Church Fathers as well as hymns and prayers. It is used when following the canonical hours of prayer, called the Divine Office or the Liturgy of the Hours, which was, from the time of the early Church, a practice of seven fixed prayer times every day. Clergy and lay Christians, particularly those of the Catholic faith are encouraged to pray the Liturgy of the Hours because it is like an express elevator to God. Setting aside a certain amount of time to pray at fixed hours, permeates our day with a feeling of closeness to God and, when prayed with sincerity and love, sanctifies our lives. It’s not an easy thing in these busy times to devote this kind of time to God, but the rewards are immense, and imagine how it pleases our Lord for us to turn to him so frequently, so that communicating with him becomes part of the very fabric of our living.
In this post I’d like to share a hymn from the Breviary that really expresses desire for God. Often it is difficult to express in words how much we need God and how much we desire to draw close to him, and this beautiful hymn, which is a translation of an anonymous 11th century Irish poem, captures these feelings so touchingly. How we long to see and know the face of our Lord!
It Were My Soul’s Desire
It were my soul’s desire
To see the face of God;
It were my soul’s desire
To rest in His abode.
Grant, Lord, my soul’s desire,
Deep waves of cleansing sighs;
Grant, Lord, my soul’s desire
From earthly cares to rise.
It were my soul’s desire
To imitate my King,
It were my soul’s desire
His ceaseless praise to sing.
It were my soul’s desire
When heaven’s gate is won
To find my soul’s desire
Clear shining like the sun.
This still my soul’s desire
Whatever life afford,
To gain my soul’s desire
And see Thy face, O Lord.
Tell Out My Soul 
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