O Lord, Who knowest all by name, remember those who
have sought salvation in the monastic life.
Remember the blessed pastors with their spiritual children.
O Lord of unutterable Love, remember Thy servants who
have fallen asleep.
Bless swiftly passing time. For every hour, every moment
brings eternity nearer. A new sorrow, a new gray hair are
heralds of the coming world, witnesses of earthly corruption,
for all is passing (they tell us) and the Eternal kingdom draws
near, where there is no sorrow, no sighing, no tears, but
joyful singing: ALLELUIA.
Just as a tree loses its leaves after a time, so our days after
a certain number of years come to an end.
The festival of youth fades, the lamp of joy goes out,
the alienation and dispossession of old age approaches.
Friends and relations die. Where are you, young
merrymakers?
Their tombs are silent, but their souls are in Thy hand.
Let us think how they watch us form the spiritual world.