Showing posts with label Prayers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayers. Show all posts
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, November 2, 2012
Remembering the Holy Souls in November
Indulgences for All Souls' Day
From noon on November 1 to midnight on November 2 (a span of 36 hours), the Catholic faithful, as often as they visit a church to pray for the faithful departed, and recite six times during each visit the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be for the intentions of the Church, may gain a plenary indulgence applicable only to the souls in purgatory, under the usual conditions of:
*Confession (within a week before or after)
*Holy Communion (within the day before or up to a week after)
This plenary indulgence may also be gained from noon on the following Saturday to midnight on the following Sunday, but only by those who did not gain it on the preceding November 1st and 2nd. Note: When November 2 falls on a Sunday, All Souls’ Day is transferred to November 3rd and the gaining of the Toties Quoties indulgence begins on Sunday, November 2, at noon, lasting all through the day until midnight on November 3rd.
Other Indulgences for the Month of November(Cited here.)
Those who, within the octave of All Souls’ Day, visit the cemetery in a spirit of piety and devotion and pray, even only mentally, for the departed, may gain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions (confession, Communion, and an Our Father and a Hail Mary for the intentions of the Church (on each day of the octave, applicable only to the Holy Souls in purgatory.
Those who recite prayers or perform other devout exercises for the departed during this month may gain an indulgence of 3 years each day of the month, and a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions, if they perform these devotions daily for the entire month.
Those who during November take part in public services held in a church in intercession for the faithful departed may gain an indulgence of 7 years on each day of the month, and a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions if they do so on at least 15 days.
I'll try to post a few pictures of some of the places we go this week, as the cemeteries in our valley are almost always situated in the most beautiful places you can imagine. When we enter a cemetery, we will usually say a "blanket" De Profundis prayer (below), but then, as we walk around, visiting the graves, we make a point not to pass a single grave that we don't ask God to bless the soul of the one lying there; i.e., God bless the soul of Michael O'Flannery! God bless the soul of Julio! Bless Mr and Mrs. Barelli!
* Prayers for the Holy Souls
Our Lord promised St. Gertrude the following prayer, said devoutly, would free 1,000 souls from purgatory:
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus,in union with the Masses said throughout the world today,for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory,for sinners everywhere,for sinners in the Universal Church,those in my own home and within my family. Amen.
Another Good Prayer:
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful: grant to the souls of Thy servants and handmaidens the remission of all their sins: that through pious supplications, they may obtain the pardon which they have always desired: Who livest and reignest...
The De Profundis:
(Indulgences found in the Racolta)
Ps. 129.
Out of the depths I have cried unto Thee, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice.
Let Thine ears be attentive: to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, shalt mark our iniquities: O lord, who can abide it?
For with Thee there is mercy: and by reason of Thy law I have waited on Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath waited on His word : my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even unto night: let Israel hope in the Lord.
For with the Lord there is mercy: and with Him is plenteous redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel: from all his iniquities.
Eternal rest give to them, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace.
Amen.
V. Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
Let us pray.
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful; grant to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that by our devout supplications they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
V. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.
Ps. 129.
De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine: * Domine, exaudi vocem meam.
Fiant aures tuae intendentes: * in vocem deprecationis meae.
Si iniquitates observaveris, Domine: * Domine, quis sustinebit?
Quia apud te propitiatio est: * propter legem tuam sustinui te, Domine.
Sustinuit anima mea in verbum ejus: * speravit anima mea in Domino.
A custodia matutina usque ad noctem: * speret Israel in Domino.
Quia apud Dominum misericordia: * et copiosa apud eum redemptio.
Et ipse redimet Israel: * ex omnibus iniquitatibus ejus.
Requiem aeternam * dona eis, Domine.
Et lux perpetna luceat eis.
Requiescant in pace.
Amen.
End at pleasure with the following:
V. Domine, exaudi orationem meam,
R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Feast of St. Andrew/ The Christmas Novena
* Original trade was as a fisherman
* First an apostle of St. John the Baptist
* Then the first of the twelve Apostles of Our Lord and Saviour
* Brother of St. Peter
* Preached in Scythia (including parts of Russia) and Greece
* Tied to a cross, in legend X-shaped, and crucified in Patras near Greece
* Preached for two days as he hung on the cross dying
* Chief relics preserved at the Basilica of St. Andrew in Patras, Greece
* More complete bio of St. Andrew here
* Patron saint of: Scotland, Ukraine, Russia, Sicily, Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Diocese of Parañaque, Philippines, Amalfi, Luqa (Malta) and Prussia; Diocese of Victoria fishermen, fishmongers, rope-makers, golfers and performers
* ALSO, today, on the feast of St. Andrew, we begin the Christmas Novena. All fifteen repetitions of the prayer may be said all together at any time each day for the next twenty-five days -- ending on Christmas Eve. When we're able, though, we say it five times in the morning, five times midday and five times in the evening. It's a wonderful tool for recollection during Advent! And, heaven knows, there is much to pray for. Again, here's how it goes:
Blessed be the hour and the moment
In which the Son of God was born
Of the most pure and blessed Virgin MaryAt midnight
In Bethlehem
In the piercing cold.
In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God,
To hear my prayers and grant my petitions,
Through the merits of Jesus Christ,
Our Lord and Redeemer. Amen
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Special Novena Intention to St. John Bosco
The following letter is from our son's pastor, a priest our family feels honored to know (especially Gabey who shares a name-patron, and any of our our boys who've enjoyed his company at Boys' Camp):
Dear Friends in Christ,
Praised be Jesus and Mary!
Could I ask your help in praying for a special intention? The prayers for this novena, which will start today, are at the end of this email. The reason for it is as follows.
In 1847 St. John Bosco wrote a book of prayers and spiritual advice for youth called The Companion of Youth. It was his best-seller so to say. During his lifetime it went through 122 printings and three editions (The first had 352 pages and the 3rd had grown to 520 pages). Each printing was about 50,000 copies.
In his Memoirs of the Oratory St. John Bosco speaks of this book as follows: “Another need showed up: a prayer book suitable for the times. There is no shortage of prayer books which have been put together by excellent people and are available to everyone. But, on the whole, these books were written for educated people, for adults, and most of them could be used by Catholics, Jews, or Protestants. Seeing how insidious heresy was spreading quietly every day, I undertook to compile a book suitable for the young, adapted to their religious ideas, based on the Bible, and setting out the foundations of the Catholic religion clearly and concisely. This was The Companion of Youth.”
In 1851 St. John Bosco added another section called “Fundamentals of the Catholic Religion”. It had been published earlier as a separate pamphlet. Speaking of this pamphlet he said: “Its aim was to put Catholics on the alert lest they let themselves be caught in the nets of the heretics. Its distribution was extraordinary; in two years it sold more than two hundred thousand copies. This pleased the good, but it enraged the Protestants, who had begun to think that they had the field of evangelization all to themselves.” He also wrote to a friend: “If you get involved in these booklets you're sacrificing any support you might have from La Gazzetta del Popolo [a violently anti-Catholic newspaper], and maybe from others. This booklet, tiny as it is, is a nuisance to them, and they would just love to burn any copies they can get hold of.”
The book was translated into English for the first time in 1938, then again in 1955. Later revised or incomplete translations were published by the Salesians after they had become very liberal. These included changes in the Mass. Neither the old and complete translations, nor the new are in print, except for some small excerpts in another work. They are almost impossible to obtain (the Salesian publishers in NY did not even have a copy of the 1938 edition in their archives).
I obtained a copy of the 1938 edition to scan and have compared it with the 101st Italian printing (3rd edition, the most complete one published by St. John Bosco). It is a complete and accurate translation. The only omission is the Vespers of Our Lady, Vespers for the whole year, and the Office of the Dead. These were left out in order to keep the size small and because they can be obtained from many other prayer books.
There are so many of our youth today who could benefit from this book, if we could only get it in their hands. Unfortunately, due to a change in copyright law in 1996, the book is still in copyright (owned probably by the Salesians). Could you join me and a couple hundred others to whom this email is being sent in praying this novena from today, October 27th to November 4th to get permission to republish this work?
The prayers below are selected from several novena prayers to St. John Bosco which were added to the 1938 edition of The Companion of Youth. Could you pray at least one of them each day of the novena? Thank you in advance, and may God reward you abundantly for this act of zeal for the souls of the young!
In Jesus and Mary,
Fr. Gabriel
Novena prayers for permission to reprint St. John Bosco’s book, The Companion of Youth: prayers and spiritual advice for the youth.
O glorious St John Bosco, by that great love which thou didst bear towards Youth, of which thou didst make thyself Father and Teacher, and by the heroic sacrifices thou didst bear for its salvation, obtain for us, that we also may love with a holy and generous love this chosen portion of the Heart of Jesus and that in every child we may see the adorable person of our Divine Savior.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
O glorious St John Bosco, who didst love the virtue of purity with a love of predilection, and who didst inculcate it by word, writing, and example, obtain that we too, enamored of so indispensable a virtue, may practice it constantly and diffuse it by every means in our power.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
O glorious St John Bosco, who wert ever so compassionate towards human miseries, look down upon us, so greatly in need of thine aid; pray that the maternal blessings of Mary, Help of Christians may descend upon us and upon our families ; obtain for us all the spiritual and temporal favors of which we stand in need ; intercede for us in life and in death, so that we, too, eternally may sing the Divine mercies in Paradise.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer to Mary, Help of Christians
Most Holy and Immaculate Virgin, Help of Christians, we consecrate ourselves entirely to Thee and we promise always to labor for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls. We pray Thee to turn thine eyes of pity on the Church, priests and missionaries; on our relatives and benefactors; on the youth confided to our care; on poor sinners and the dying, and on all the souls in Purgatory. Teach us, O most tender Mother, to copy in ourselves the virtues of St. John Bosco, particularly his angelic modesty, profound humility and ardent charity.
Grant also, O Mary, Help of Christians, that through thy powerful intercession we may be victorious over the enemies of our souls in life and in death, so that with Saint John Bosco we may be gathered round Thee in thy home in heaven. Amen.
Ejaculation: Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us. (300 days indulgence.)
PS: Also our family is adding the intention to this novena of the spiritual well-being of all our young people, but especially our sons, that prayer being the mission of St. John Bosco's life. (We like to "Pile On" in our novenas... :)
Dear Friends in Christ,
Praised be Jesus and Mary!
In 1847 St. John Bosco wrote a book of prayers and spiritual advice for youth called The Companion of Youth. It was his best-seller so to say. During his lifetime it went through 122 printings and three editions (The first had 352 pages and the 3rd had grown to 520 pages). Each printing was about 50,000 copies.
In his Memoirs of the Oratory St. John Bosco speaks of this book as follows: “Another need showed up: a prayer book suitable for the times. There is no shortage of prayer books which have been put together by excellent people and are available to everyone. But, on the whole, these books were written for educated people, for adults, and most of them could be used by Catholics, Jews, or Protestants. Seeing how insidious heresy was spreading quietly every day, I undertook to compile a book suitable for the young, adapted to their religious ideas, based on the Bible, and setting out the foundations of the Catholic religion clearly and concisely. This was The Companion of Youth.”
In 1851 St. John Bosco added another section called “Fundamentals of the Catholic Religion”. It had been published earlier as a separate pamphlet. Speaking of this pamphlet he said: “Its aim was to put Catholics on the alert lest they let themselves be caught in the nets of the heretics. Its distribution was extraordinary; in two years it sold more than two hundred thousand copies. This pleased the good, but it enraged the Protestants, who had begun to think that they had the field of evangelization all to themselves.” He also wrote to a friend: “If you get involved in these booklets you're sacrificing any support you might have from La Gazzetta del Popolo [a violently anti-Catholic newspaper], and maybe from others. This booklet, tiny as it is, is a nuisance to them, and they would just love to burn any copies they can get hold of.”
I obtained a copy of the 1938 edition to scan and have compared it with the 101st Italian printing (3rd edition, the most complete one published by St. John Bosco). It is a complete and accurate translation. The only omission is the Vespers of Our Lady, Vespers for the whole year, and the Office of the Dead. These were left out in order to keep the size small and because they can be obtained from many other prayer books.
There are so many of our youth today who could benefit from this book, if we could only get it in their hands. Unfortunately, due to a change in copyright law in 1996, the book is still in copyright (owned probably by the Salesians). Could you join me and a couple hundred others to whom this email is being sent in praying this novena from today, October 27th to November 4th to get permission to republish this work?
In Jesus and Mary,
Fr. Gabriel
Novena prayers for permission to reprint St. John Bosco’s book, The Companion of Youth: prayers and spiritual advice for the youth.
O glorious St John Bosco, by that great love which thou didst bear towards Youth, of which thou didst make thyself Father and Teacher, and by the heroic sacrifices thou didst bear for its salvation, obtain for us, that we also may love with a holy and generous love this chosen portion of the Heart of Jesus and that in every child we may see the adorable person of our Divine Savior.
O glorious St John Bosco, who didst love the virtue of purity with a love of predilection, and who didst inculcate it by word, writing, and example, obtain that we too, enamored of so indispensable a virtue, may practice it constantly and diffuse it by every means in our power.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
O glorious St John Bosco, who wert ever so compassionate towards human miseries, look down upon us, so greatly in need of thine aid; pray that the maternal blessings of Mary, Help of Christians may descend upon us and upon our families ; obtain for us all the spiritual and temporal favors of which we stand in need ; intercede for us in life and in death, so that we, too, eternally may sing the Divine mercies in Paradise.
Glory be to the Father, etc.
Prayer to Mary, Help of Christians
Grant also, O Mary, Help of Christians, that through thy powerful intercession we may be victorious over the enemies of our souls in life and in death, so that with Saint John Bosco we may be gathered round Thee in thy home in heaven. Amen.
Ejaculation: Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us. (300 days indulgence.)
PS: Also our family is adding the intention to this novena of the spiritual well-being of all our young people, but especially our sons, that prayer being the mission of St. John Bosco's life. (We like to "Pile On" in our novenas... :)
Friday, August 26, 2011
Note From my Aunt in Eastern North Carolina
Because my aunt is the most dedicated prayer warrior I know, I know she won't mind if I send out this prayer request on the world wide web. Aunt Billie, my Mom's sister, and her husband, our Uncle Elbert are in their seventies. The rest of my mothers siblings are all on the Carolina coast, as well as many of my cousins (two she references below, Micki and Joanne). We have relatives in Maryland, too, and Georgia, and Florida.... Anyway, we're concerned for everyone's safety! Praying today! Going to Mass right now, in fact to send intentions up for everyone in Hurricane Irene's path!
Here's Aunt Billie Jean's E-mail:
Looks like Irene is headed straight for us. 'Course, it often changes its course, but sometimes it doesn't. We've got everything (I hope) picked up and stored. We've still got one bird feeder out, but will put that away tomorrow morning. Schools are either closed tomorrow, or a few are going half a day. All visitors on the Outer Banks (OBX) and some in the IBX are under mandatory orders to evacuate and I expect that more will be tomorrow.
The llllllll Community College will open tomorrow at l:00 PM as an emergency shelter; and I'm not sure when the llllllllll County shelters will open, but soon, I'm sure. JoAnn is scheduled to be on duty at one of them. Haven't heard about Micki yet, but expect she, Lola, and Marley will be at the one where JoAnn is, but probably Micki will be on duty at llllllllll Hospital.
They've already cancelled our church service Sunday AM because it's supposed to be a BIG storm!! The weather man here said on the 6:00 news that if you have a tin roof on your house, expect it to be blown off!! We don't....but still..... He also said that if you have a lot of big trees in your yard....leave, even if you never have before!! I never have before, but I'm thinking about it now!! We've got some BIG trees. Elbert's not sure..but I asked him....what can you do if something terrible happens? He doesn't know. I've never been afraid in a big storm before, and I've been through some duzzies in Florida...but I was a lot younger then. I can't run fast now, and if a tree is falling, where do you run? You don't know what direction it's going to fall!! He says, "Where would you go?" I told him that I don't know, but probably southwest.
Soooo, whenever you have a spare moment...or hour....say a prayer for all of us down here and along the northeast coast....looks like we're in for a bumpy ride!
Love you all...
Billie Jean
Here's Aunt Billie Jean's E-mail:
The llllllll Community College will open tomorrow at l:00 PM as an emergency shelter; and I'm not sure when the llllllllll County shelters will open, but soon, I'm sure. JoAnn is scheduled to be on duty at one of them. Haven't heard about Micki yet, but expect she, Lola, and Marley will be at the one where JoAnn is, but probably Micki will be on duty at llllllllll Hospital.
Soooo, whenever you have a spare moment...or hour....say a prayer for all of us down here and along the northeast coast....looks like we're in for a bumpy ride!
Love you all...
Billie Jean
Saturday, January 22, 2011
On the 38th Anniversary
Today marks the anniversary of the decision of our American Legal System allowing the murder of innocent life in the womb. Millions of words have been written condemning the Roe v. Wade ruling in an effort to save the lives of babies. And there is no doubt that these appeals have saved babies in individual cases, thank God, but, in the big picture, our world is still blind to the evil it's allowing. Just as in the days when the evil of slavery soiled our world, the conscience of our culture needs to be awakened and retaught in this matter, equally as grave, if not more so -- because the sin goes beyond the de-valuing of life that we saw when another human could "own" another -- to the legalized destruction of life for the convenience of another.
These are truly sad times -- not just because such a thing as abortion exists, because it's been around since the beginning, but because it's accepted and even celebrated. God help us.
But, no sense wasting more words here on truths that anyone visiting me likely sees already. I know I'm preaching to the choir. But a reminder today to pray that the crime of abortion will be seen as just that -- a crime -- sometime soon in our country. Only God knows how this change of heart and laws can take place. So, we join all the faithful people of our country and our world today in praying for His interference to save the lives of babies -- to save the souls of their mothers.
The offering of the Mass and the daily rosary are our strongest weapons against evil, but here is another prayer, written by the National Director of Priests for Life that encourages a commitment to action along with prayer.
Prayer to End Abortion
(by Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director Priests for Life.)
Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself Never to be silent, Never to be passive, Never to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, And never to stop defending life Until all my brothers and sisters are protected, And our nation once again becomes A nation with liberty and justice Not just for some, but for all, Through Christ our Lord. Amen!
These are truly sad times -- not just because such a thing as abortion exists, because it's been around since the beginning, but because it's accepted and even celebrated. God help us.
But, no sense wasting more words here on truths that anyone visiting me likely sees already. I know I'm preaching to the choir. But a reminder today to pray that the crime of abortion will be seen as just that -- a crime -- sometime soon in our country. Only God knows how this change of heart and laws can take place. So, we join all the faithful people of our country and our world today in praying for His interference to save the lives of babies -- to save the souls of their mothers.
The offering of the Mass and the daily rosary are our strongest weapons against evil, but here is another prayer, written by the National Director of Priests for Life that encourages a commitment to action along with prayer.
Prayer to End Abortion
(by Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director Priests for Life.)
Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself Never to be silent, Never to be passive, Never to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, And never to stop defending life Until all my brothers and sisters are protected, And our nation once again becomes A nation with liberty and justice Not just for some, but for all, Through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Saturday, October 30, 2010
October 31st, 2010: Feast of Christ the King!
It seems a strange irony for this great feast day to coincide with the eve of All Saints', a day that has been terribly saecularized in the last century. If only the recognition of Our Lord's reign over the universe would receive the same priority as the satisfying of sweet-tooths (sweet teeth?) on this last Sunday of October. If only images of Christ the King appeared in more homes this day than jack o'lanterns and nylon spider webs. If only more people would process behind a statue of Christ singing hyms of love and praise than people processing in costumes from door to door looking for candy...
It's human and natural to enjoy ourselves -- in wholesome ways, and the tradition of holding harvest parties through October and November is perfectly wonderful. We're all about pumpkins and corn stalks, and even love a spooky ghost story at our house. But I just wish the Feast of All Saints every year -- and the Feast of Christ the King this year were not so eclipsed by worldly revelry, too often (consciously or unconsciously) redolent of witchcraft and satanism. And, geezlouise, I wish people didn't think that my saying this was just me being an old party-pooper, or puritanical religious zealot of some kind. =sigh= If you know us, I hope you know better. We just like to have the kind of fun that heaven joins in on.
God Bless everyone on this day; wherever you go and whatever you do, bring Christ the King with you.
Viva Christo Rey!
* This Day in the Liturgical Year
On this Double of the First Class Feast of the Sovereign Kingship of Jesus Christ ( Christ the King Sunday), celebrated on the last Sunday of October (the Sunday before the Feast of All Saints ) and initiated in 1925 by His Holiness Pius XI in his Encyclical Quas Primas, there follows after the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass a Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All kneel in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and, with the priest, recite the following consecration; then the Litany of Christ the King and Benediction. Those in the state of Sanctifying Grace by making a good Confession within eight days and worthily receiving Holy Communion receive a plenary indulgence in praying the following Consecration :
Consecration of the Human Race
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but, to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy most Sacred Heart.
Many indeed have never known Thee; many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to Thy Father's house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.
Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of the race, once Thy chosen people: of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life.
Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: "Praise be to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever." Amen.
* The Litany of the Sacred Heart can be found here.
* A family procession is a wonderful and traditional way of celebrating a great feast. You can find ideas for a Christ the King procession here. (H/T: Catholic Culture)
* Great Craft (and an easy one for Mom to prepare) to celebrate the day here. (H/T: Family in Feast and Feria).
* Plans for a Party! for the Feast of Christ the King can be found here. Though the plans are for an all-out affair and there's not much time to whip anything up very elaborate on the day of the Feast, some of the game ideas can be used at home with the family on short notice. And, now is the time to start thinking about next year if a large affair might be in our plans. (H/T: The Domestic Church)
* And there are a host of ideas, including desserts and "crown crafts" at this site -- which also has a beautifully written article about the Feast of Christ the King and its connection with Advent.
It's human and natural to enjoy ourselves -- in wholesome ways, and the tradition of holding harvest parties through October and November is perfectly wonderful. We're all about pumpkins and corn stalks, and even love a spooky ghost story at our house. But I just wish the Feast of All Saints every year -- and the Feast of Christ the King this year were not so eclipsed by worldly revelry, too often (consciously or unconsciously) redolent of witchcraft and satanism. And, geezlouise, I wish people didn't think that my saying this was just me being an old party-pooper, or puritanical religious zealot of some kind. =sigh= If you know us, I hope you know better. We just like to have the kind of fun that heaven joins in on.
God Bless everyone on this day; wherever you go and whatever you do, bring Christ the King with you.
Viva Christo Rey!
* This Day in the Liturgical Year
On this Double of the First Class Feast of the Sovereign Kingship of Jesus Christ ( Christ the King Sunday), celebrated on the last Sunday of October (the Sunday before the Feast of All Saints ) and initiated in 1925 by His Holiness Pius XI in his Encyclical Quas Primas, there follows after the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass a Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All kneel in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and, with the priest, recite the following consecration; then the Litany of Christ the King and Benediction. Those in the state of Sanctifying Grace by making a good Confession within eight days and worthily receiving Holy Communion receive a plenary indulgence in praying the following Consecration :
Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
on the Solemnity of the
Sovereign Kingship of Jesus Christ
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but, to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy most Sacred Heart.
Many indeed have never known Thee; many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to Thy Father's house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.
Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of the race, once Thy chosen people: of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life.
Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: "Praise be to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever." Amen.
* The Litany of the Sacred Heart can be found here.
* A family procession is a wonderful and traditional way of celebrating a great feast. You can find ideas for a Christ the King procession here. (H/T: Catholic Culture)
* Great Craft (and an easy one for Mom to prepare) to celebrate the day here. (H/T: Family in Feast and Feria).
* Plans for a Party! for the Feast of Christ the King can be found here. Though the plans are for an all-out affair and there's not much time to whip anything up very elaborate on the day of the Feast, some of the game ideas can be used at home with the family on short notice. And, now is the time to start thinking about next year if a large affair might be in our plans. (H/T: The Domestic Church)
* And there are a host of ideas, including desserts and "crown crafts" at this site -- which also has a beautifully written article about the Feast of Christ the King and its connection with Advent.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Favorite Prayers Meme
Grandma K. over at A Bit of the Blarney tagged me last week for the Catholic Prayer Meme. This is a great thought-provoking meme. Here are the guidelines:
"Name your three most favorite prayers, and explain why they're your favorites. Then tag five bloggers - give them a link, and then go and tell them they have been tagged. Finally, tell the person who tagged you that you've completed the meme... The Liturgy and the Sacraments are off limits here. I'm more interested in people's favorite devotional prayers."
There are so many prayers that come to mind, I don't know where to start or how to narrow my favorites down to three... The Mass and the rosary come first as the greatest prayers, of course, but I think that's assumed by most Catholics... So many others to choose from, though... from my daily repertoire and from those that we use occasionally, when we want to call in the "big guns." It's hard to come up with just three! But, after some thought, this is what I decided on:
1. I love the Prayer of St. Francis.
Such a beautiful lyrical prayer, like you'd expect from St. Francis (my Confirmation saint), but also solidly practical. It's a three-parter. The first part tells me what I must be: an instrument of God's peace -- a necessary thing in any vocation, but an especially important thing for a mother. What do I need most to do in my home every day? Sow love, get injuries pardoned, grow in and impart faith and hope. With God's help.
Then the second part of the prayer tells me what I must not be: a needy, self-centered whiner. There are people out there who don't need this reminder, but unfortunately, I'm one of the ones that needs the constant poking -- and the alternative suggestions: console, understand, love.
The third part of the prayer is the payoff: ...for it is in giving that we receive, in pardoning that we are pardoned, and in dying that we are born to eternal life. Such a gentle, but firm hand on the shoulder, this prayer. Go this way, Lisa. Do this. Don't do this. And this is why.
My favorite prayer.
2. My second choice I'm cheating on. I have two prayers of St. Thomas Aquinas that we've depended on through the years. First, The Student's Prayer: Grant me, I beseech Thee, most merciful God, prudently to study, rightly to understand, and perfectly to fulfill that which is pleasing to Thee, in the praise and glory of Thy Name. Amen.* * * * * * We've prayed this prayer to start every home school day for seventeen years or so. It is straight-forward, simple, and says it all, not only for the student, but for all of us, I think.
The second St. Thomas prayer that we love and use often is similar -- The Prayer to Know God's Will: Grant me grace, O merciful God, to desire ardently all that is pleasing to Thee, to examine it prudently, to acknowledge it truthfully, and to accomplish it perfectly for the praise and glory of Thy name. Amen * * * * * * I'm not exactly sure why this works, but we've always used this one when making decisions about car buying. We think St. Thomas would have been a good mechanic, happily puttering around with motors while pondering the mysteries of the universe. But, aside from its use for automotive endeavors, this is a short, easy prayer for a teenager seeking God's will for a vocation; for a family making decisions about its children's education; for counsel on moving to a different home... You name it. We use it often.
St. Thomas rocks.
3. The third prayer that comes to mind is actually a novena -- a new one to us and a long one that is a little difficult to get all the way through, but so very worth it. The Novena To St. Joseph. We prayed this novena right before we put our house up for sale and St. Joseph definitely came through for us. But that's not why I choose this novena as my third favorite. It was through this prayer that I found a greater love and understanding of the wonder and importance of St. Joseph than I ever had. In the words of this novena, which change with each of the nine days, you walk through the life of this greatest of saints and learn the power of his virtues in a deep way. We always loved St. Joseph, but after saying this novena, we honor and love him more than ever. St. Joseph, patron of the universal Church, pray for us!
* Now, I'd like to tag the following friends to see what their favorite three prayers are:
1. Sarah
2. Ann
3. Kim
4. Charlotte
5. My daughter, Theresa
There are so many prayers that come to mind, I don't know where to start or how to narrow my favorites down to three... The Mass and the rosary come first as the greatest prayers, of course, but I think that's assumed by most Catholics... So many others to choose from, though... from my daily repertoire and from those that we use occasionally, when we want to call in the "big guns." It's hard to come up with just three! But, after some thought, this is what I decided on:
1. I love the Prayer of St. Francis.
Then the second part of the prayer tells me what I must not be: a needy, self-centered whiner. There are people out there who don't need this reminder, but unfortunately, I'm one of the ones that needs the constant poking -- and the alternative suggestions: console, understand, love.
The third part of the prayer is the payoff: ...for it is in giving that we receive, in pardoning that we are pardoned, and in dying that we are born to eternal life. Such a gentle, but firm hand on the shoulder, this prayer. Go this way, Lisa. Do this. Don't do this. And this is why.
My favorite prayer.
The second St. Thomas prayer that we love and use often is similar -- The Prayer to Know God's Will: Grant me grace, O merciful God, to desire ardently all that is pleasing to Thee, to examine it prudently, to acknowledge it truthfully, and to accomplish it perfectly for the praise and glory of Thy name. Amen * * * * * * I'm not exactly sure why this works, but we've always used this one when making decisions about car buying. We think St. Thomas would have been a good mechanic, happily puttering around with motors while pondering the mysteries of the universe. But, aside from its use for automotive endeavors, this is a short, easy prayer for a teenager seeking God's will for a vocation; for a family making decisions about its children's education; for counsel on moving to a different home... You name it. We use it often.
St. Thomas rocks.
* Now, I'd like to tag the following friends to see what their favorite three prayers are:
1. Sarah
2. Ann
3. Kim
4. Charlotte
5. My daughter, Theresa
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Novena of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Begun today, April 18th, the novena will end on the Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel, April 26th.
You can find the story of the above miraculous image of Our Lady of Good Counsel and the history of the devotion here.
Prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel
O Holy Virgin, to whose feet we are lead by our anxious uncertainty in our search for and attainment of what is true and good, invoking thee by the sweet title of Mother of Good Counsel. We beseech Thee to come to our assistance, when, along the road of this life, the darkness of error and of evil conspires towards our ruin by leading our minds and our hearts astray.
Do Thou, O Seat of Wisdom and Star of the Sea, enlighten the doubtful and the erring, that they be not seduced by the false appearances of good; render them steadfast in the race of the hostile and corrupting influences of passion and of sin. O Mother of Good Counsel, obtain for us from Thy Divine Son a great love of virtue, and, in the hour of uncertainty and trial, the strength to embrace the way that leads to our salvation.
If Thy hand sustains us,we shall walk unmolested along the path indicated to us by the life and words of Jesus our Redeemer, and having followed freely and securely, even in the midst of this world's strife, the Sun of Truth and Justice under Thy maternal star, we shall come to the enjoyment of full and eternal peace with Thee in the haven of salvation.
Amen
Prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel
O Holy Virgin, to whose feet we are lead by our anxious uncertainty in our search for and attainment of what is true and good, invoking thee by the sweet title of Mother of Good Counsel. We beseech Thee to come to our assistance, when, along the road of this life, the darkness of error and of evil conspires towards our ruin by leading our minds and our hearts astray.
Do Thou, O Seat of Wisdom and Star of the Sea, enlighten the doubtful and the erring, that they be not seduced by the false appearances of good; render them steadfast in the race of the hostile and corrupting influences of passion and of sin. O Mother of Good Counsel, obtain for us from Thy Divine Son a great love of virtue, and, in the hour of uncertainty and trial, the strength to embrace the way that leads to our salvation.
If Thy hand sustains us,we shall walk unmolested along the path indicated to us by the life and words of Jesus our Redeemer, and having followed freely and securely, even in the midst of this world's strife, the Sun of Truth and Justice under Thy maternal star, we shall come to the enjoyment of full and eternal peace with Thee in the haven of salvation.
Amen
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
A Beautiful Mother's Prayer
Holiness seems so far from me, and yet it is truly the desire of my heart. I long for intimacy. I long to know you. I want my whole life to reflect Your presence and Your power. I want to live astounded by your Grace and Your glory.
And yet God, it's just me. Fragile and sinful me. Come and make me yours. Heal my wounds. Forgive my old sins, again. Give new words to my prayers. Restore my yearning for truth. Feed me with Your insight and wisdom. Cover me with Your lavish love.
I want this man and these children to live in the blessing of a spiritually healthy woman. Let me be that woman. Remove the distractions that keep me from godliness. Step into the blur of my life rushing by and speak stillness into my days. Hold me close and care for my soul.
In these years of mothering, let me choose to surrender the place of my soul for Your safekeeping. Whisper to my heart and give direction to my steps. Shout to me from your vastness and add wisdom to my words. Let me love and celebrate life from the full cup of Your grace and peace.
Thank You, my Savior, my Keeper, my Friend, for the tender mercy that comes and fills my soul. In the precious name of Jesus, amen."
~by Angela Thomas Guffey
H/T: Last August from Jessie at Muthering Heights
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Tomorrow is the First Sunday of Advent!
Can you believe it?
Almost no time for a breath between Thanksgiving and the Christmas season this year, and I'm scrambling this morning to feel on top of it all. There's still a cooler of Thanksgiving day iced tea on my counter and a fridge full of leftovers threatening to avalanche any time the door is open, but instead of working through that mess, I have to hike out to the barn this morning to hunt down our Advent wreath. Agh! I'm not ready! So, though I'd like to post some pictures of our Turkey Day and reflect on how full I still am, I really do need to get our Christmas season plans on "paper" first. Here they are, in a nutshell:
(Thanksgiving pictures later!)
* On the Feast of St. Andrew, which is also the first day of Advent this year, we begin:
The Christmas Novena
In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my petitions,
through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen"
We'll repeat this prayer 15 times a day until Christmas for our various special intentions, ending on Christmas Eve.
(Note to self: Print this out and put one copy on end of piano where everyone can see it to pray seven times in morning with morning prayers -- and put one copy near statue of the Blessed Mother to pray the last eight in the evening at rosary time.)
* During the first week of Advent (beginning Monday!), we'll start building our Nativity Scene in the dining room fireplace as always, but this year we want to try to observe more closely the traditional manner and order of constructing the creche. (Below is a detail of last year's set up, not quite finished. I'll post pictures as we build this year's edition.)
(Note to self: Order holy cards and patron saint medals from Aquinas and More now, in order to get them in time for St. Nick's Day!)
"The Mary candle: Some families have the custom of decorating the Christ candle with a blue veil on December 8th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. On this great feast, others place a candle with a blue ribbon before a statue or picture of the Blessed Virgin, whose “yes” to God enabled our Lord’s coming at Christmas. The candle is lit during meal times to serve as a delightful reminder of Mary’s eager expectation of the “Light of the World.” It can also serve as a reminder to each family member to keep their own light of grace burning as a preparation for Christ’s coming."
(From CERC)
(Note to self: Get Hobby Lobby internet coupon to bring with me to offset cost of pillar candle.)
* On the thirteenth of December, the Third Sunday of Advent, we get to celebrate The Feast of St. Lucy, with all of its special traditions . The novena to St. Lucy may be begun next Saturday, December 5th, to finish on her feast day.
St. Lucy, Your beautiful name signifies light. By the light of faith which God bestowed upon you, preserve and increase this light in my soul, so that I may avoid evil, be zealous in the performance of good works, and abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin. By your intercession with God, obtain for me perfect vision for my bodily eyes and the grace to use them for God's greater honor and glory and the salvation of all men. St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. Amen.
(Note to self: Get copy of Lucia, Saint of Light!)
* Advent Embertide comes around again, on Wednesday, Friday, and in the third week of Advent (December December 16th, 18th, and 19th).
* Later on, during the last octave of Advent, beginning December 18th, we'll pray the O Antiphons,
* But tomorrow, we'll set up our Advent Wreath to begin the First Sunday of Advent prayers on Sunday.
* And, in addition to the Christmas Novena, we'll start the Christmas Crib Prayers on Sunday.
We had copies of this and prayed it for years until we lost the prayers during some move or another. But we found it again last year, reprinted by the lovely lady at House and Hold ! Wahoo! We all love this devotion. Here it is in its entirety:
Almost no time for a breath between Thanksgiving and the Christmas season this year, and I'm scrambling this morning to feel on top of it all. There's still a cooler of Thanksgiving day iced tea on my counter and a fridge full of leftovers threatening to avalanche any time the door is open, but instead of working through that mess, I have to hike out to the barn this morning to hunt down our Advent wreath. Agh! I'm not ready! So, though I'd like to post some pictures of our Turkey Day and reflect on how full I still am, I really do need to get our Christmas season plans on "paper" first. Here they are, in a nutshell:
(Thanksgiving pictures later!)
* On the Feast of St. Andrew, which is also the first day of Advent this year, we begin:
The Christmas Novena
“Hail and blessed be the hour and the moment
when the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary,
at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold.In that hour vouchsafe, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my petitions,
through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen"
We'll repeat this prayer 15 times a day until Christmas for our various special intentions, ending on Christmas Eve.
(Note to self: Print this out and put one copy on end of piano where everyone can see it to pray seven times in morning with morning prayers -- and put one copy near statue of the Blessed Mother to pray the last eight in the evening at rosary time.)
* During the first week of Advent (beginning Monday!), we'll start building our Nativity Scene in the dining room fireplace as always, but this year we want to try to observe more closely the traditional manner and order of constructing the creche. (Below is a detail of last year's set up, not quite finished. I'll post pictures as we build this year's edition.)
* Next Sunday, the second week of Advent, happens to also be the Feast of St. Nicholas, and we'll celebrate with goodies in the children's shoes in the morning and a big batch of crockpot peppermint mocha in the afternoon -- after Mass and our parish's St. Nicholas Festival.
(Note to self: Order holy cards and patron saint medals from Aquinas and More now, in order to get them in time for St. Nick's Day!)
* The Eighth of December, the following Tuesday, is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Along with Mass that day, we'll decorate and light a Mary Candle:
(From CERC)
(Note to self: Get Hobby Lobby internet coupon to bring with me to offset cost of pillar candle.)
* On the thirteenth of December, the Third Sunday of Advent, we get to celebrate The Feast of St. Lucy, with all of its special traditions . The novena to St. Lucy may be begun next Saturday, December 5th, to finish on her feast day.
Novena to St. Lucy
St. Lucy, Your beautiful name signifies light. By the light of faith which God bestowed upon you, preserve and increase this light in my soul, so that I may avoid evil, be zealous in the performance of good works, and abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and of sin. By your intercession with God, obtain for me perfect vision for my bodily eyes and the grace to use them for God's greater honor and glory and the salvation of all men. St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions. Amen.
(Note to self: Get copy of Lucia, Saint of Light!)
* Advent Embertide comes around again, on Wednesday, Friday, and in the third week of Advent (December December 16th, 18th, and 19th).
* Later on, during the last octave of Advent, beginning December 18th, we'll pray the O Antiphons,
* But tomorrow, we'll set up our Advent Wreath to begin the First Sunday of Advent prayers on Sunday.
* And, in addition to the Christmas Novena, we'll start the Christmas Crib Prayers on Sunday.
We had copies of this and prayed it for years until we lost the prayers during some move or another. But we found it again last year, reprinted by the lovely lady at House and Hold ! Wahoo! We all love this devotion. Here it is in its entirety:
A Spiritual Christmas Crib
Start on December 1. Read the thought indicated about Christ's first crib.
DEC. 1 - THE STABLE
--Sweet Jesus, take my heart and make it meek and pure.
--Sweet Jesus, I long to see You.
Prepare these for the Divine Infant by folding your hands when you pray, and praying slowly and thoughtfully.
--Jesus, help me love you more and more.
DEC. 11 - FUEL
--Dearest Mary, obtain for me true contrition for my sins.
--I will obey for love of You, Jesus.
The following directions show you how to build a spiritual crib in your heart for Christ. Use it to put Christ into your Christmas in a real, living way.
Start on December 1. Read the thought indicated about Christ's first crib.
Practice it during the day.
Do this daily during December and make your heart a worthy crib for Christ on Christmas Day.
DEC. 1 - THE STABLE
Frequently during the day offer your heart to the little Infant Jesus. Ask Him to make it His home.
--Sweet Jesus, take my heart and make it meek and pure.
DEC. 2 - THE ROOF
See that the roof of the stable is in good condition, so that the Infant Jesus is protected from rain and snow. This you will do by carefully avoiding every uncharitable remark.
--Jesus, teach me to love my neighbor as myself.
DEC. 3 - CREVICES
Carefully stop every crevice in the walls of the stable, so that the wind and cold may not enter there. Guard your senses against temptations. Guard especially your ears against sinful conversations.
--Jesus, help me to keep temptations out of my heart.
DEC. 4 - COBWEBS
Clean the cobwebs from your spiritual crib. Diligently remove from your heart every inordinate desire of being praised. Renew this intention at least three times today.
--My Jesus, I want to please You in all I do today.
DEC. 5 - FENCE
Build a fence about the crib of your heart by keeping a strict watch over your eyes, especially at prayer.
--Sweet Jesus, I long to see You.
DEC. 6 - MANGER
Fix the best and warmest corner of your heart for the manger of Jesus. You will do so by abstaining from what you like most in the line of comfort and amusement.
--Dear Mother Mary, use these sacrifices to prepare my heart for Jesus in Holy Communion.
DEC. 7 - HAY
Supply the manger of your heart with hay, by overcoming all feelings of pride, anger or envy.
--Jesus, teach me to know and correct my greatest sins.
DEC. 8 - SOFT STRAW
Also provide your manger with soft straw by performing little acts of mortification; for instance, bear the cold without complaints; or sit and stand erect.
--Dear Jesus, Who suffered so much for me, let me suffer for love of You.
DEC. 9 - SWADDLING CLOTHES
Prepare these for the Divine Infant by folding your hands when you pray, and praying slowly and thoughtfully. --Jesus, help me love you more and more.
DEC. 10 - BLANKETS
Provide the manger of your crib with soft warm blankets. Avoid harsh and angry words; be kind and gentle to all.
--Jesus, help me to be meek and humble like You.
DEC. 11 - FUEL
Bring fuel to the crib of Jesus. Give up your own will; obey your superiors cheerfully and promptly.
--Jesus, help me do Your will in all things.
DEC. 12 - WATER
Bring fresh, clean water to the crib. Avoid every untruthful word and every deceitful act.
--Dearest Mary, obtain for me true contrition for my sins.
DEC. 13 - PROVISIONS
Bring a supply of food to the crib. Deprive yourself of some food at mealtime or candy as a treat.
--Jesus, be my strength and nourishment.
DEC. 14 - LIGHT
See that the crib has sufficient light. Be neat and orderly about your person; keep everything in its place in your room.
--Jesus, be the life and light of my soul.
DEC. 15 - FIRE
Take care to have the crib of your heart warmed by a cozy fire. Be grateful to God for the love He has shown us in becoming man; behave with grateful respect towards your parents and relatives.
--Jesus, how can I return Your love; how can I show my gratitude to You?
DEC. 16 - THE OX
Lead the ox to the crib. Obey cheerfully without making excuses and without asking "why."
--I will obey for love of You, Jesus.
DEC. 17 - THE DONKEY
Bring the donkey to the crib. Offer to the Divine Infant your bodily strength; use it in the service of others.
--Jesus, accept my service of love; I offer it for those who do not love You.
DEC. 18 - GIFTS
Gather some presents for the Divine Infant and His Blessed Mother. Give alms for the poor and say an extra decade of the rosary.
--Come, Jesus, to accept my gifts and to take possession of my heart.
DEC. 19 - LAMBS
Strive to bring some little lambs, meek and patient. Do not murmur or complain.
--Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.
DEC. 20 - SHEPHERDS
Invite the shepherds to pay homage to our newborn King. Imitate their watchfulness; stress in your speech and thoughts the idea that Christmas is important because Jesus will be born again in you.
--Jesus, teach me to love You above all things.
DEC. 21 - THE KEY
Provide the stable with a key to keep out thieves. Exclude from your heart every sinful thought, every rash judgment.
-- Dear Jesus, close my heart to all that hurts You.
DEC. 22 - ANGELS
Invite the angels to adore God with you. Cheerfully obey the inspirations of your guardian angel and of your conscience.
--Holy Guardian Angel, never let me forget that you are with me always.
DEC. 23 - ST. JOSEPH
Accompany Saint Joseph from door to door. Learn from him silently and patiently to bear refusals and disappointments. Open wide your heart and beg him to enter with the Blessed Virgin Mary.
--Saint Joseph, help me to prepare for a worthy Christmas Communion.
DEC. 24 - THE BLESSED VIRGIN
Go meet your Blessed Mother. Lead her to the manger of your heart and beg her to lay the Divine Infant in it. Shorten your chats and telephone conversations and spend more time
today thinking of Jesus and Mary and Joseph.
today thinking of Jesus and Mary and Joseph.--Come, dear Jesus, Come; my heart belongs to You."
**From: Devotions in Preparation for the Coming of the Christchild, and at the Crib, from Christmas to Purification" by Rev. Frederic Nelson, published by Marian House, Powers Lake, ND 58773
*** Christmas Crib prayers reprinted from last year -- First five comments are last year's, as well... (Long story why they reprinted. &:o)
*** Christmas Crib prayers reprinted from last year -- First five comments are last year's, as well... (Long story why they reprinted. &:o)
Saturday, April 25, 2009
The Blessings Yesterday
On the Feast of St. Mark
The Blessing of Crosses to be Placed in Fields and Vineyards
Blessing of Pasture, Meadows, and Fields
Blessing of the Sprouting Seed
Bless this sprouting seed, strengthen it in the gentle movement of soft winds, refresh it with the dew of heaven, and let it grow to full maturity for the good of body and soul.
Processing while praying the Litany of the Saints.
Blessing of a Farm
These blessings are performed in an official capacity by the Church, but it's also a nice family custom, one that literally "brings home" the importance of formally asking God's intercession in our daily lives, for the success of our endeavors and the safety of our homes. We all felt very safe here on our little farm when we had finished!
The Blessing of Crosses to be Placed in Fields and Vineyards
(Usually said on May 3rd, on the Feast of the Finding of the Holy Cross ~ But we decided to add it to our Greater Litany blessings. We placed four crosses made from pickets in the four corners of our "close in" acreage.)
Almighty, everlasting God, Father of goodness and consolation, in virtue of the bitter suffering of Thy Sole-Begotten Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, endured for us sinners on the wood of the Cross, bless these crosses which Thy Faithful will erect in their vineyards, fields, and gardens. Protect the land where they are placed from hail, tornado, storm, and every assault of the enemy, so that their fruits ripened to the harvest may be gathered to Thy honor by those who place their hope in the holy Cross of thy Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, Who livest and reigneth with Thee eternally.
Amen.
Blessing of Pasture, Meadows, and Fields (To be prayed sometime before the cattle are put on pasture for the summer. )
O God, through whom every good thing has its beginning, and through whom it is improved and increased; grant, we beseech Thee, to us who cry to Thee, that this work, which we are beginning for the praise of Thy name, may be happily brought to completion through the never-failing gift of Thy fatherly wisdom. Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Blessing of the Sprouting Seed(We all especially loved this sweet little prayer, and, in light of where we live, put special emphasis on the the word "soft"...)
Bless this sprouting seed, strengthen it in the gentle movement of soft winds, refresh it with the dew of heaven, and let it grow to full maturity for the good of body and soul.
Amen.
Processing while praying the Litany of the Saints. 
Blessing of a Farm (We like this prayer, especially, too; I hope to incorporate it into our daily prayers.)
Bless, O Lord Almighty God, this house (and/or farm). May health and purity, goodness and meekness, and every virtue reign here. May all those who dwell here be filled with faithfulness to Thy law and with thanksgiving to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. May this blessing remain on this house (and/or farm) and all who dwell here. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing of All Domestic Animals
(Chickens, in this case...)
Lord God King of heaven and earth, Thou the Word of the Father by Whom all creatures were given us for our support: look down, we beseech Thee, on our lowliness. As Thou has given us these animals to assist us in our labor and needs, so mayest Thou in Thy great goodness and mercy bless them from above, guard and preserve them; and, while Thou givest Thy servants temporal benefits, mayest Thou grant us Thy continual grace, so that we may praise Thy holy name with thanksgiving.
Amen.
Blessing of a Stable
Blessing of a Stable O Lord, Almighty God, who didst decree that Thy only- begotten Son, our Redeemer, should be born in a stable and laid in a manger between an ox and an ass, bless, we beseech Thee, this stable and preserve it from every deceit and snare of the devil that horses and cattle within it may be healthy and secure from all harm. And if "the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib," grant that Thy servants, whom Thou hast made to Thy own image and hast placed only a little lower than the angels may not be like unreasoning animals; that they may not be like the horse and the mule that have no understanding, but that they may acknowledge Thee, the one true God, the Author of all good, and that Thy servants may persevere in Thy service. Grant that Thy servants may always give thanks to Thee for the gifts they have received from Thee; and make them worthy to receive ever greater benefits. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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