Now I call upon God as witness
upon my life,
that sparing you
I did not come to Corinth.
I do not lord it over your faith
but are co-workers
of your joy.
For we stand – by faith.
For I considered this
by myself
not to come to you again
with grief.
For if I cause you grief
who would cheer me up
except for the one
who was grieved
by me?
And I wrote this very thing to you
that I might not be received with sorrow
by those who ought to (make me) rejoice
having confidence in all of you
that all my joy is yours.
For out of many afflictions and distresses of the heart
I wrote to you
with many tears
so that you might not be grieved
but that you might know the love
which I have all the more for you all.
O Love, O God who created me, in your love recreate me.
O Love, who redeemed me,
fill up in me whatever part of your love
has fallen into neglect within me.
O Love, O God, who first loved me,
grant that with my whole heart,
and with my whole soul,
and with my whole strength,
I may love you.
Gertrude the Great