Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you:
you are gentle with us like a mother with her children.


Often you weep over our sins and our pride:
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgment.


You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds:
in sickness you nurse us and with pure milk you feed us.


Jesus by your dying we are born to new life:
by your anguish and labor we come forth in joy.


Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness:
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.


Your warmth gives life to the dead:
your touch makes sinners righteous.


In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness:
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.


Jesus, in your love and tenderness, remake us.



-Saint Anselm (1033-1109)