When From The Darkness

When from the darkness comes no light,
When from the weeping comes no laughter;
When in the day we hope for night
Nor any comfort coming after:
Grant us your peace.

When in our confidence our fears
Clutch at the heart and make us tremble;
When in our joy we weep cold tears,
And in our frankness, we dissemble:
Grant us your light.

When in our love there is no care,
And in our yearning we are dullness;
When what we know we cannot dare,
And we are nothing that is fullness:
Grant us your truth.

 Brendan Mclaughlin

Draw Near, O Lord

Draw near, O Lord, our God, graciously hear us,

Guilty fo sinning before you.

O King exalted, Savior of all nations, 
See how our grieving lifts our eyes to heaven; hear us,
Redeemer, as we beg forgiveness.

Might of the Father, Keystone of God's temple,
Way of salvation, Gate to heaven's glory;
Sin has enslaved us; free your sons from bondage.

We pray you, O God, throned in strength and splendor,
Hear from your kingdom  this, our song of sorrow;
Show us your mercy, pardon our offenses.

Humbly confessing countless sins committed,
Our hearts are broken, laying bare their secret;
Cleanse us, Redeemer, boundless in compassion.

Innocent captive, unressisting victim, 
Liars denounced you, sentenced for the guilty;
Once you redeemed us: now renew us Jesus.

Attende Domine
Translator: Melvin Farell, S.S.