The Anima Christi is a lovely prayer that touches me profoundly every time I sing it, especially when I sing it in Latin! The words are very holy, like a portal through which I can enter into an intimate union with Christ. Though many saySt. Ignatius of Loyolacomposed it, lots of historians say that it came along more than 150 years before he lived, even though he appreciated it so much that he prayed it as an opening prayer daily. He was definitely right— this prayer is sacred and transcends time and space.
My portion to analyze is the poetic passage« the hour of my death, call me, and bid me come to you that, with your saints, I may praise you for ever and ever. Amen. » What the speaker of these words is doing is imploring Christ to remember him as he approaches death( like the Hail Mary implores the Holy Mother to pray for the sinner at the hour of his death). The speaker of these words knows he needs Christ’s divine assistance in order to attain heaven. The speaker longs for the voice of God to choose him , to call him by name ( reference to the Good Shepherd who calls his own sheep by name). He also begs the Lord to keep close to him as he passes on, so that he can join in singing God’s praises with those much more worthy saints that the speaker is certain have been taken into God’s Kingdom.
These ending lines of the Anima Christi overflow with appreciation and desire to praise the creator who redeemed the world through his Son, showing immense love and boundless mercy.
Paula Egan Wright Musician, teacher, artist, linguist, storyteller
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