Ancient Wisdom

For the past 6 weeks I have been participating in an online retreat offered by the Monastery of St Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho. The retreat was called “Now That We’re All Living LIke Monks : Lessons from St Benedict in a Time of Pandemic, Division and Reckoning.” I was really stretched and challenged by the retreat and particularly by the homework Sister Teresa assigned. But my favourite moment was the very last prayer/poem that she left us with as we finished up the retreat. The prayer was written by John of Dalyutha, a monk I had never heard of before. He lived from 690AD to 780AD, in Upper Mesopotamia. He lived in monasteries sometimes, but mostly he lived as a hermit in a cave. He was a prolific writer of sermons, treatises, maxims and letters. The letters have survived and have been translated into several languages in the centuries after his death. For a time they were banned, but then they were widely circulated throughout Asia, Africa and Europe. ( Wikipedia). You can order his works on Amazon today! It was a thrill to learn of this wonderful man.

Here is his beautiful prayer poem:

If you are tired and worn out by your labours for your Lord,

place your head upon his knee and rest awhile.

Recline upon his breast,

breathe in the fragrant spirit of life,

and allow life to permeate your being.

Rest upon him, for he is a table of refreshment

that will serve you the food of the divine Father.

What rest and refreshment John of Dalyutha provided for me today, and I hope for you too!