Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24
Ita, who died in about 570, was abbess of a women’s community at Killeedy, County of Limerick in Ireland. She ran a school for boys where she taught:
Faith in God
with purity of heart;
simplicity of life
with religion;
generosity
with love
Among those schooled by Ita was Brendan, who honored her as a foster-mother and advisor. The Ita Compline that follows is named after her because of its emphasis on examination of the heart, and the prayers of care and protection for each soul who crosses our path.
“The Sacred Three
to save
to shield
to surround
the hearth
the home
this night
and every night
Search me, O God, and know my heart.
Test me and know my thoughts.
See if there is any wicked way in me
and lead me in the way everlasting.
O Father, O Son, O Holy Spirit,
Forgive me my sins,
O only-begotten Son of the heavenly Father
Forgive.
O God who is one,
O God who is true,
O God who is first,
O God who is one substance,
O God only mighty,
in three Persons, truly merciful,
Forgive.
O God of life, this night,
O darken not to me Thy light.
O God of life, this night,
close not Thy gladness to my sight.
Keep Your people, Lord.
in the arms of Your embrace.
Shelter them under Your wings.
Be their light in darkness.
Be their hope in distress.
Be their calm in anxiety.
Be strength in their weakness.
Be their comfort in pain.
Be their song in the night.
In peace will I lie down for it is You, O Lord, You alone who makes me to rest secure.
Be it on Your own beloved arm,
O God of grace, that I in peace shall awake.
Be the peace of the Spirit mine this night.
Be the peace of the Son mine this night.
Be the peace of the Father mine this night.
The peace of all peace be mine this night
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Ita in “The Ita Compline” in Celtic Daily Prayer (New York: Harper Collins, 2002) 27-29.
This compline (which is a daily office spiritual exercise designed to be practiced at the end of a day), points the way to exhibit, as Ita put it “generosity with love.” This blessed Brendan and touches us today.
How do we have “faith in God with purity of heart?” Where can we locate “simplicity of life with religion?” What paves the way for “generosity with love?” It requires the soul to surrender to the Sacred Three who is the only one who can save, shield, surround, and forgive. There is the only place of light, hope, calm, and peace.
At GTP we have started a new fiscal year. I’ve encouraged the staff to start the year with rest and reflection, to ask God to restore our souls. A way to do this is to say a compline at the end of each day.
As I reflect I see that “faith in God with purity of heart” is, in a word “confession.” It is seeking forgiveness and asking God to bring light. I discern that “simplicity of life with religion” is fasting, which is setting aside my desires and wanting only what God desires. Then, “generosity with love” comes into view as my prayer. Only after receiving richly from God can I give, and give with love.
Make it so, Sacred Three.