Most strong God, who is able to fight against you?

I want you to help me fight against the flaming dragon of sin within me,

   that eats away my very soul.

I want to have the strongest sword in my hand,

   fashioned by you, with the sharpest blade

   that will cut through the dragon’s scales.

And when I have slayed the dragon within myself,

   I want to offer a safe refuge for all who,

   like me, are frail and vulnerable.

I will give them a sword to slay their own dragons,

   so that together we may live in joy and peace.

St. Hildegard of Bingen, 1098 – 1179, German Benedictine abbess and composer

____________________________

For the word of God is alive and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword,

   it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,

   joints and marrow;

   it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.