The title of this prayer of David Maria Turoldo (1916-1992) expresses the profound longing for the season of Advent which ends with the solemnity of Christmas. It was written by the “rebel poet” during the Resistance. A tragic time, yet founding of the peace we have enjoyed in Europe for 80 years.
A time that required our parents and grandparents to have extraordinary strength of mind, capable of persisting in the most negative circumstances. This prayer embodies the desire for peace in that era of war, loneliness, deportations, massacres. And confusion. A feeling that, in very different circumstances, still presents itself today, as the latest Censis report explains.
Yet that sense of hope that beats in our hearts forcefully pushes us to repeat with the poet: “And therefore always come, Lord”. Come, Lord, in our nights, in our silences incapable of words, in our solitudes, in our wars, in our slavery, in our sadness, in our feeling lost.
In this time when arrogance often becomes the only language and in which emerge, in dramatic coexistence and contrast, the best and most generous energies with irrational and selfish attitudes, we need that Child who, by incarnating, chose to be our companion in every season of history, until the end of time. Invoking him, almost in litany form, “Come always, Lord”, we ask him not only for peace and consolation, but also for the ability to judge, with a supernatural sense, of the present time.
This invocation is also called to be transformed into concrete actions. With the “Christmas of Value” initiative Also Christian familytogether with 12 companies that make solidarity their guiding star, wants to make its contribution to a better world.
And to you, fellow readers who follow us with so much affection, may I send you the most sincere and heartfelt wishes of peace and joy from me and the entire editorial team. A wish that becomes hope if entrusted to the words of Father David Turoldo and his prayer:
Come always, Lord
Come at night, but in our hearts it is always night:
and therefore always come, Lord.
Come in silence, we no longer know what to say to each other:
and therefore always come, Lord.
Come in solitude, but each of us is increasingly alone:
and therefore always come, Lord.
Come son of peace, we do not know what peace is:
and therefore always come, Lord.
Come and free us, we are increasingly slaves:
and therefore always come Lord.
Come console us, we are increasingly sad:
and therefore always come Lord.
Come and look for us, we are increasingly lost:
and therefore always come Lord.
Come, you who love us, no one is in communion with his brother
if he is not with you first, O Lord.
We are all far away, lost,
nor do we know who we are, what we want:
come, Lord. Come always, Lord.
