{"id":12507,"date":"2019-06-13T11:42:41","date_gmt":"2019-06-13T15:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/evetushnet\/?p=12507"},"modified":"2019-06-13T11:42:41","modified_gmt":"2019-06-13T15:42:41","slug":"ecstasy-in-celibacy-postscript-a-prayer-from-gertrude-the-great","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/evetushnet\/2019\/06\/ecstasy-in-celibacy-postscript-a-prayer-from-gertrude-the-great.html","title":{"rendered":"Ecstasy in Celibacy Postscript: A Prayer from Gertrude the Great"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

I\u2019m reading Caroline Walker Bynum\u2019s excellent Jesus as Mother: Studies in the Spirituality of the High Middle Ages<\/em>, and I threw a little bit of it into my Revoice presentation<\/a>. But I didn\u2019t quote this prayer, since I hadn\u2019t gotten that far in the book yet! It\u2019s from St. Gertrude the Great<\/a> (Gertrude of Helfta) and what I find so striking here\u2013and so necessary for gay Christians, and Catholics in these times\u2013is the combination of Christ as good Lover and good Ruler. He responds to our needs for love, intimacy, tenderness, authority, and governance with equal care; He cherishes us and orders our hearts. He is, if I can put the sharpest point on it, the opposite of an abuser or a cover-up man. His wise counsel is His caress; His rule is His love.<\/p>\n

You are the overflowing abyss of divinity,
\nOh king of all kings most worthy,
\nSupreme emperor,
\nIllustrious prince,
\nRuler of infinite sweetness,
\nFaithful protector.
\nYou are the vivifying gem of humanity\u2019s nobility.
\nCraftsman of great skill,
\nTeacher of infinite patience,
\nCounselor of great wisdom,
\nMost kind guardian,
\nMost faithful friend.
\nYou are the delicate taste of intimate sweetness.
\nOh most delicate caresser,
\nGentlest passion,
\nMost ardent lover,
\nSweetest spouse,
\nMost pure pursuer.
\nYou are the burgeoning blossom of natural beauty.
\nOh most lovable brother,
\nMost beautiful youth,
\nHappiest companion,
\nMost munificent host,
\nMost courteous administrator.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m reading Caroline Walker Bynum\u2019s excellent Jesus as Mother: Studies in the Spirituality of the High Middle Ages, and I threw a little bit of it into my Revoice presentation. But I didn\u2019t quote this prayer, since I hadn\u2019t gotten that far in the book yet! It\u2019s from St. Gertrude the Great (Gertrude of Helfta) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1071,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[171,263,11,69],"class_list":["post-12507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mackerel-snapping","tag-abuse-of-power-comes-as-no-surprise","tag-brass-monkery-that-funky-monkery","tag-his-banner-over-me-was-love","tag-weird-saints"],"yoast_head":"\nEcstasy in Celibacy Postscript: A Prayer from Gertrude the Great<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I'm reading Caroline Walker Bynum's excellent Jesus as Mother: Studies in the Spirituality of the High Middle Ages, and I threw a little bit of it into my\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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