Does anyone of you dare
– having a case against another-
to go to law
before the unrighteous
rather than before the ‘saints’?
Do you not know
that the saints will judge the world?
And if the world is judged by you
are you incompetent to judge the least cases?
Do you not know that we will judge angels?
To say nothing of ordinary matters!
So indeed if you have an ordinary matter,
the least in the church-
sit these (as judges)!
Teach us, good Lord,
to serve thee as thou deservest;
to give and not to count the cost;
to fight and not to heed the wounds;
to toil and not to seek for rest;
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do thy will,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
St Ignatius