Michael
poem & music by Patricia Van Ness
Latin translation by Edward J. Vodokyls, S.J.
Excerpt from the Nine Orders of Angels

I am Michael of the Seraphs
The singers of heaven, the highest angels
And from my throat floats the eternal song
It flows like a golden river that bathes and renews,
Weaving around the throne until its beauty breaks the heart of God,
And heals it, unceasingly,
Beloved one, creator
You have formed me from pure compassion
It burns from my heart like precious jewels, like flames of gold,
And it inspirits the eternal song that I sing for you.
For I am your intimate
You have shown me your heart, the heart of God
And you have told me your most secret thoughts
And I have come to understand the mysteries of the Heavens,
For what I have seen within you is utter beauty.

Michael sum Seraphim
Cantatores Coeli, Summi Angeli
Ab cuius mei vocis aeternum cantum volitat
Qui, velut flumen auream Perfundit reficitque
Contexens circum thronm
Donec sua forma cor Dei infringat
Idque continuo curet.
Amatus, Creator,
Me ab pura misericordia formavisti.
Quae ab meo corde ardet modo gemmarum,
Flammarumque Auri,
Atque aeternum cantum inspirat, quem tibi canto.
Nam tuus familiariassimus sum; Mihi tum cor ostendisti, cor Dei,
Mihi tua arcana secretissima a narravisti,
Atque ego mysteria coelorum cognovi,
Cum quid intus te viderim tota forma sit
Tota forma sit.

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