I translated this wonderful ballad of St. Teresa the year before last, for my 'Creative Writing: Translation' class. In this Lenten season, perhaps it is fitting that I post this beautiful prayer for complete resignation to God's holy Will.

THINE AM I.

Thine am I, I was born for Thee;
What is Thy command for me?

Majesty most sovereign,
O Thou wisdom without end,
Goodness, to my soul a friend,
God most High, that e'er hast been,
Look on the vileness and sin
That today sings Love to Thee.
What is Thy command for me?

I am Thine, that Thou didst make;
Thine, redeemed, O Lord, by Thee;
Thine, for Thou didst suffer me;
Thou didst call; my self, then, take.
Saved by thee from hell's dark lake,
I went not astray from Thee;
What is Thy command for me?

What, good Lord, dost Thou command
That this worthless servant do?
O, what work is given into
This, Thy sinful servant's hand?
See, sweet Lover, here I am,
Lover sweet, I come to Thee;
What is Thy command for me?

See my heart, O Lord - I place
It within Thy hand. My soul,
Entrails, life and body whole,
All I fix upon Thy face;
Sweet Redeemer of our race,
Since I gave myself to Thee
What is Thy command for me?

Give me death or give me life,
Health or sickness give to me,
Honor give or infamy,
Give me greater peace or strife,
Strength or weakness to my life,
I accept it all from Thee…
What is Thy command for me?

Wealth or poverty be given,
Consolation, misery;
Joy or sorrow give to me,
Give me hell or give me heaven,
Scorching sun or joy of living,
I surrender all to Thee;
What is Thy command for me?

If Thou wilt, give prayer to me,
Or give dryness in its stead;
Pour devotion on my head,
Or if not, sterility.
O Thou sovereign Majesty,
I find peace in none but Thee;
What is Thy command for me?

Wisdom, knowledge, grant to me,
Or for love, give foolishness.
Give me years of thy largesse
Or of starving scarcity;
Cloudy days or clarity,
Whirl me hither, thither, free.
What is Thy command for me?

Wouldst Thou have me leisure lie?
I will laze for love of thee;
If my labor thou wouldst see,
Laboring for thee I'd die.
Tell me when, where, how and why,
Tell, dear Lover, tell to me,
What is Thy command for me?

Calvary's pain or Thabor's light,
Desert land or fruitful rest;
Be I Job in deepest plight,
Or John at his mother's breast;
If a fruitful vine I be
Or unfruitful, pleasing Thee,
What is Thy command for me?

Be I Joseph bound in jail
Or as Egypt's ruler great;
David suffering great travail,
Or David in royal state,
Be I Jonah in the whale
Or from his dark prison free,
What is Thy command for me?

In my speech and silence too,
Be I fruitful, be I not,
Let the law show me my fault,
Let me joy in Gospels true;
In my joys and in my woe,
Thou alone, come live in me;
What is Thy command for me?

Thine am I, I was born for Thee;
What is Thy command for me?

-- St. Teresa of Avila -- tr. Inés de Erausquin. Oct. 19, 2008.