Religion

Great High-priest, who deign'dst to be

by Angelus Silesius (Johann Scheffler) 1624–1677

Translated by Catherine Winkworth (1855) · From Lyra Germanica (1855); German: Höchster Priester, der du dich (1657)

Religion

Great High-priest, who deign'dst to be
Once the sacrifice for me,
Take this living heart of mine,
Lay it on Thy holy shrine.

Love I know accepteth nought,
Save what Thou, O Love, hast wrought;
Offer Thou my sacrifice,
Else to God it cannot rise.

Slay in me the wayward will,
Earthly sense and passions kill,
Tear self-love from out my heart,
Though it cost me bitter smart.

Kindle, Mighty Love, the pyre,
Quick consume me in Thy fire,
Fain were I of self bereft,
Nought but Thee within me left.

So may God, the Righteous, brook
On my sacrifice to look;
In whose sight no gift has worth
Save a Christ-like life on earth.

MLA

Angelus Silesius (Johann Scheffler). “Great High-priest, who deign'dst to be.” Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/angelus-silesius/0/.

Chicago

Angelus Silesius (Johann Scheffler). “Great High-priest, who deign'dst to be.” Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/angelus-silesius/0/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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