The Sequestered Sequence

Of all the sequences removed during the revision of the Mass, this is the one I think is the most sorely missed. While it is still found in the Liturgy of the Hours (in a similar format as Ut Queant Laxis) for both All Souls Day and the last week before Advent begins, its impact when it was part of funeral Masses and Masses for the Dead cannot be overstated. It is a poignant reminder of the Four Last Things and why we on earth cannot take for granted the state of the soul of the deceased (or ours).

The Latin is from the 1962 Roman Missal; the English translation (1849) is courtesy of William Josiah Irons.

Dies iræ, dies illa,

Solvet sæclum in favilla:

Teste David cum Sibylla.

Quantus tremor est futurus,

Quando judex est venturus,

Cuncta stricte discussurus!

Tuba, mirum spargens sonum

Per sepulchra regionum,

Coget omnes ante thronum.

Mors stupebit, et natura,

Cum resurget creatura,

Iudicanti responsura.

Liber scriptus proferetur,

In quo totum continetur,

Unde mundus iudicetur.

Iudex ergo cum sedebit,

Quidquid latet, apparebit:

Nil inultum remanebit.

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?

Quem patronum rogaturus,

Cum vix iustus sit securus?

Rex tremendæ maiestatis,

Qui salvandos salvas gratis,

Salva me, fons pietatis.

Recordare, Iesu pie,

Quod sum causa tuæ viæ:

Ne me perdas illa die.

Quærens me, sedisti lassus:

Redemisti Crucem passus:

Tantus labor non sit cassus.

Iuste Iudex ultionis,

Donum fac remissionis

Ante diem rationis.

Ingemisco, tamquam reus:

Culpa rubet vultus meus:

Supplicanti parce, Deus.

Qui Mariam absolvisti,

Et latronem exaudisti,

Mihi quoque spem dedisti.

Preces meæ non sunt dignæ:

Sed tu bonus fac benigne,

Ne perenni cremer igne.

Inter oves locum præsta,

Et ab hædis me sequestra,

Statuens in parte dextra.

Confutatis maledictis,

Flammis acribus addictis,

Voca me cum benedictis.

Oro supplex et acclinis,

Cor contritum quasi cinis:

Gere curam mei finis.

Lacrimosa dies illa,

Qua resurget ex favílla

Iudicandus homo reus:

Huic ergo parce, Deus:

Pie Iesu Domine,

Dona eis requiem. Amen.

++++++++++

Day of wrath! O day of mourning!

See fulfilled the prophets' warning,

Heaven and earth in ashes burning!

Oh, what fear man's bosom rendeth,

when from heaven the Judge descendeth,

on whose sentence all dependeth.

Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth;

through earth's sepulchers it ringeth;

all before the throne it bringeth.

Death is struck, and nature quaking,

all creation is awaking,

to its Judge an answer making.

Lo! The book, exactly worded,

wherein all hath been recorded:

thence shall judgment be awarded.

When the Judge his seat attaineth,

and each hidden deed arraigneth,

nothing unavenged remaineth.

What shall I, frail man, be pleading?

Who for me be interceding,

when the just are mercy needing?

King of Majesty tremendous,

who dost free salvation send us,

Fount of pity, then befriend us!

Think, good Jesus, my salvation

cost thy wondrous Incarnation;

leave me not to reprobation!

Faint and weary, thou hast sought me,

on the cross of suffering bought me.

shall such grace be vainly brought me?

Righteous Judge! For sin's pollution

grant thy gift of absolution,

ere the day of retribution.

Guilty, now I pour my moaning,

all my shame with anguish owning;

spare, O God, thy suppliant groaning!

Thou the sinful woman savedst;

thou the dying thief forgavest;

and to me a hope vouchsafest.

Worthless are my prayers and sighing,

yet, good Lord, in grace complying,

rescue me from fires undying!

With thy favored sheep O place me;

nor among the goats abase me;

but to thy right hand upraise me.

While the wicked are confounded,

doomed to flames of woe unbounded

call me with thy saints surrounded.

Low I kneel, with heart submission,

see, like ashes, my contrition;

help me in my last condition.

Ah! that day of tears and mourning!

From the dust of earth returning

man for judgment must prepare him;

Spare, O God, in mercy spare him!

Lord, all pitying, Jesus blest,

grant them thine eternal rest. Amen.

The Church Suffering

Le Jour des Morts (1859)

by William-Aldophe Bougueareau (1825-1905)

The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect.

Wisdom 3:1-9

The last on the list of the seven Spiritual Works of Mercy is to pray for the dead. The month of November is devoted to doing that, as many parishes have a "Book of the Dead" and remember "those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith." Fish Eaters also has an article describing other practices to free souls from Purgatory.

++++++++++

Requiem aeternam dona ei (eis) Domine; et lux perpetua luceat ei (eis).

Requiescat (Requiescant) in pace. Amen.

++++++++++

Eternal rest grant unto him/her (them), O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon him/her (them).
May he/she (they) rest in peace. Amen.

**********

Originally posted 11/2/2006.
Re-posted 11/2/2008.
Re-posted 11/2/2009.
Re-posted 11/2/2010.
Re-posted 11/2/2012.
Re-posted 11/2/2013.
Re-posted 11/2/2014.
Re-posted 11/2/2015.
Re-posted 11/2/2016.
Re-posted 11/2/2017.
Re-posted 11/2/2018.

Re-posted 11/2/2019.

Re-posted 11/2/2020.

Re-posted 11/2/2021.

Re-posted 11/2/2022.

Re-posted 11/2/2023.

November 2024 Morning Offering Prayer Intention

Here is the intention for this month when praying the Morning Offering:

For Anyone Who Has Lost A Child. We pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community and receive peace and consolation from the Holy Spirit.

 

Invoking The Church Triumphant

One of the eight approved litanies for public recital, the Litany of Saints, use in various itineration throughout the Church's liturgies, is one of Her most powerful prayers. 

Earth asks Heaven for its help in this valley of tears.

How very appropriate for not only today, but every day.

(Additional saints may be added in the appropriate category.)

(This particular wording comes from the website of Ascension Press, with editorial adjustments.)

++++++++++

V. Lord, have mercy on us.

R. Christ have mercy on us. 

V. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us, 

R. Christ, graciously hear us.

 
V. God, the Father of heaven,

R. Have mercy on us. 
V. God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

R. Have mercy on us. 
V. God, the Holy Spirit,

R. Have mercy on us. 

V. Holy Trinity, One God, 

R. Have mercy on us.

V. Holy Mary,

R. Pray for us. (Repeat after each invocation.)
Holy Mother of God,  
Holy Virgin of virgins, 

Saint Michael, 
Saint Gabriel,  
Saint Raphael,
All ye holy angels and archangels,  
All ye holy orders of blessed spirits,  

Saint John the Baptist,  
Saint Joseph, . 
All ye holy patriarchs and prophets.  

Saint Peter,  
Saint Paul,  
Saint Andrew,  
Saint James,  
Saint John,  
Saint Thomas,  
Saint James,  
Saint Philip,  
Saint Bartholomew.  
Saint Matthew,  
Saint Simon,  
Saint Thaddeus,  
Saint Matthias,  
Saint Barnabas,  
Saint Luke,  
Saint Mark,  
All ye holy apostles and evangelists,  
All ye holy disciples of our Lord.  
All ye holy Innocents,  

Saint Stephen,  
Saint Lawrence,  
Saint Vincent,  
Saints Fabian and Sebastian,  
Saints John and Paul,  
Saints Cosmas and Damian,  
Saints Gervase and Protase, 
All ye holy martyrs, 

Saint Sylvester, 
Saint Gregory, 
Saint Ambrose, 
Saint Augustine.  
Saint Jerome,  
Saint Martin,  
Saint Nicolas,  
All ye holy bishops and confessors, 
All ye holy doctors, 

Saint Anthony, 
Saint Benedict, 
Saint Bernard,  
Saint Dominic,  
Saint Francis,  
All ye holy priests and levites,  
All ye holy monks and hermits. 

Saint Mary Magdalen,  
Saint Agatha, 
Saint Lucy,  
Saint Agnes, 
Saint Cecily,  
Saint Catherine, 
Saint Anastasia, 
All ye holy virgins and widows, 
V. All ye holy men and women, Saints of God,

R. Make intercession for us.

V. Be merciful,

R. Spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful

R. Graciously hear us, O Lord.
V. From all evil,

R. O Lord, deliver us. (Repeat after each invocation.) 
From all sin,
From Thy wrath,  
From a sudden and unprovided death,  
From the snares of the devil,  
From anger, and hatred, and all ill will, 
From the spirit of fornication,  
From lightning and tempest, 
From the scourge of earthquake.  
From pestilence, famine and war,  
From everlasting death, 

Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation, 
Through Thy coming, 
Through Thy nativity,  
Through Thy baptism and holy fasting, 
Through Thy Cross and Passion, 
Through Thy death and burial, 
Through Thy holy Resurrection,  
Through Thine admirable Ascension, 
Through the coming of the Holy Spirit the Paraclete,
In the day of judgment, 

V. We sinners,

R. We beseech Thee, hear us. (Repeat after each invocation.) 
That Thou wouldst spare us, 
That Thou wouldst pardon us,  
That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance, 
That Thou wouldst govern and preserve Thy holy Church 
That Thou wouldst preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all ecclesiastical orders in holy religion, 
That Thou wouldst humble the enemies of Thy holy Church, 
That Thou wouldst give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes, 
That Thou wouldst grant peace and unity to all Christian people, 
That Thou wouldst bring back to the unity of the Church all those who have strayed away, and lead to the light of the Gospel all unbelievers, 
That Thou wouldst confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service, 
That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires, 
That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors, 
That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations and benefactors, from eternal damnation, 
That Thou wouldst give and preserve the fruit of the earth,  
That Thou wouldst give eternal rest to all the faithful departed, .
That Thou wouldst graciously hear us We beseech Thee, hear us. Son of God,

V. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

R. Spare us, O Lord. 
V. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

R. Graciously hear us, O Lord. 
V. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,

R. Have mercy on us.

V. Christ hear us.

R. Christ, graciously hear us. 
V. Lord, have mercy on us. 

R. Christ, have mercy on us. 
V. Lord, have mercy on us.

Our Father.. (silently)…. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. Amen.
 
Psalm 69
Deign, O Lord, to rescue me; O Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be put to shame and confounded who seek my life. Let them be turned back in disgrace who desire my ruin. Let them retire in their shame who say to me, "Aha, aha!" But may all who seek Thee exult and be glad in Thee, And may those who love Thy salvation say ever, "God be glorified!" But I am afflicted and poor; O God, hasten to me! Thou art my help and my deliverer; O Lord, hold not back!

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
V. Save Thy servants.
R. Who trust in Thee, O my God.
V. Be a tower of strength for us, O Lord,
R. Against the attack of the enemy.
V. Let not the enemy prevail against us.
R. And let not the son of evil dare to harm us.
V. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins.
R. Neither requite us according to our iniquities.
 
V. Let us pray for a true Sovereign Shepherd.
R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
V. Let us pray for our benefactors.
R. Deign, O Lord, for Thy name's sake, to reward with eternal life all those who do us good. Amen.
V. Let us pray for the faithful departed. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord;

R. And let perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.
 
V. For our absent brethren.
R. Save Thy servants, who trust in Thee, my God.
V. Send them help, O Lord, from Thy sanctuary.
R. And sustain them from Zion.
 
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
V. The Lord be with Thee.
R. And with Thy spirit.
 
Let us pray.

O God, Whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, receive our petition, that we, and all Thy servants who are bound by the chains of sin, may, by the compassion of Thy goodness, be mercifully absolved.
 
Graciously hear, we beg Thee, O Lord, the prayers of Thy suppliants, and pardon the sins of those who confess to Thee, that in Thy bounty Thou may grant us both pardon and peace.
 
In Thy clemency, O Lord, show us Thy ineffable mercy, that Thou may both free us from all our sins, and deliver us from the punishments which we deserve for them.
 
O God, Who by sin are offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy suppliant people, and turn away the scourges of Thy anger, which we deserve for our sins.
Almighty, everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant N., our Sovereign Pontiff, and direct him according to Thy clemency into the way of everlasting salvation, that by Thy grace he may desire those things that are pleasing to Thee, and perform them with all his strength.
 
O God, from Whom are holy desires, good counsels, and just works, give to Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts be set to keep Thy commandments, and that, being removed from the fear of our enemies, we may pass our time in peace under Thy protection.
 
Burn our desires and our hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit, O Lord, that we may serve Thee with a chaste body, and with a clean heart be pleasing to Thee.
 
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of Thy servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins, that, through devout prayers, they may obtain the pardon which they always desired.
 
Direct, we beg Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy holy inspirations, and carry them on by Thy gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may begin always with Thee, and through Thou be happily ended.
 
Almighty and everlasting God, Thou hast dominion over the living and the dead, and Thou art merciful to all who Thou foreknowest will be Thine by faith and good works; we humbly beg Thee that those for whom we intend to pour forth our prayers, whether this present world still detain them in the flesh, or the world to come has already received them out of their bodies, may, through the intercession of all Thy Saints, by the clemency of Thy goodness, obtain the remission of all their sins.

Through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.
 
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.
V. May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us. 

R. Amen.
V. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R. Amen. 

Today's Hymn

The Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs 

by Fra Angelico

The words are from the pen of William Walsham How; the tune to which this is sung, Sine Nomine, was composed by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Note how well this compares to all of today's Readings.

++++++++++

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the apostles' glorious company,
who bearing forth the cross o'er land and sea,
shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
is fair and fruitful, be thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
and seeing, grasped it, thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win, with them the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
we feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
and singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!

++++++++++

All you holy men and women, pray for us.

Where they are, we hope to follow.

**********

Originally posted 11/1/2006.
Re-posted 11/1/2009.
Re-posted 11/1/2011.
Re-posted 11/1/2012.
Re-posted 11/1/2013.
Re-posted 11/1/2014.
Re-posted 11/1/2015.
Re-posted 11/1/2016.
Re-posted 11/1/2017.
Re-posted 11/1/2018.

Re-posted 11/1/2019.

Re-posted 11/1/2020.

Re-posted 11/1/2021.

Re-posted 11/1/2022.

Re-posted 11/1/2023.

A Scary Quote

From ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord, deliver us! 

Anonymous

Happy Hallowe'en! Save some candy for the kids, OK?

**********

Originally posted 10/31/2007.
Re-posted 10/31/2008.

Re-posted 10/31/2009.
Re-posted 10/31/2010.

Re-posted 10/31/2011.
Re-posted 10/31/2012.
Re-posted 10/31/2013.
Re-posted 10/31/2014.
Re-posted 10/31/2015.
Re-posted 10/31/2016.
Re-posted 10/31/2017.
Re-posted 10/31/2018.

Re-posted 10/31/2019.

Re-posted 10/31/2020.

Re-posted 10/31/2021.

Re-posted 10/31/2022.

Re-posted 10/31/2023.

Lepanto

Battle of Lepanto (c. 1572), 
by Paolo Veronese (1528-1588)

Today's feast commemorates this battle.

Dr. Thursday's favorite poet published this work in 1911.

***********

White founts falling in the courts of the sun,
And the Soldan of Byzantium is smiling as they run,
There is laughter like the fountains in that face of all men feared,
It stirs the forest darkness, the darkness of his beard,
It curls the blood-red crescent, the crescent of his lips,
For the inmost sea of all the earth is shaken with his ships.
They have dared the white republics up the capes of Italy,
They have dashed the Adriatic round the Lion of the Sea,
And the Pope has cast his arms abroad for agony and loss,
And called the kings of Christendom for swords about the Cross,
The cold queen of England is looking in the glass;
The shadow of the Valois is yawning at the Mass;
From evening isles fantastical rings faint the Spanish gun,
And the Lord upon the Golden Horn is laughing in the sun.
Dim drums throbbing, in the hills half heard,
Where only on a nameless throne a crownless prince has stirred,
Where, risen from a doubtful seat and half attainted stall,
The last knight of Europe takes weapons from the wall,
The last and lingering troubadour to whom the bird has sung,
That once went singing southward when all the world was young,
In that enormous silence, tiny and unafraid,
Comes up along a winding road the noise of the Crusade.
Strong gongs groaning as the guns boom far,
Don John of Austria is going to the war,
Stiff flags straining in night-blasts cold
In the gloom black-purple, in the glint old-gold.
Torchlight crimson on the copper kettle-drums,
Then the tuckets, then the trumpets, then the cannon, and he comes.
Don John laughing in the brave beard curled,
Spurning of his stirrups like the thrones of all the world.
Holding his head up for a flag of all the free.
Love-light of Spain - hurrah!
Death-light of Africa!
Don John of Austria
Is riding to the sea.
Mahound is in his paradise above the evening star,
(Don John of Austria is going to the war.)
He moves a mighty turban on the timeless houri's knees,
His turban that is woven of the sunset and the seas.
He shakes the peacock gardens as he rises from his ease,
And he strides among the tree-tops and is taller than the trees,
And his voice through all the garden is a thunder sent to bring
Black Azrael and Ariel and Ammon on the wing.
Giants and the Genii,
Multiplex of wing and eye,
Whose strong obedience broke the sky
When Solomon was king.
They rush in red and purple from the red clouds of the morn,
From temples where the yellow gods shut up their eyes in scorn;
They rise in green robes roaring from the green hells of the sea
Where fallen skies and evil hues and eyeless creatures be;
On them the sea-valves cluster and the grey sea-forests curl,
Splashed with a splendid sickness, the sickness of the pearl;
They swell in sapphire smoke out of the blue cracks of the ground,-
They gather and they wonder and give worship to Mahound.
And he saith, 'Break up the mountains where the hermit-folk can hide,
And sift the red and silver sands lest bone of saint abide,
And chase the Giaours flying night and day, not giving rest,
For that which was our trouble comes again out of the west.
We have set the seal of Solomon on all things under sun,
Of knowledge and of sorrow and endurance of things done.
But a noise is in the mountains, in the mountains, and I know
The voice that shook our palaces - four hundred years ago:
It is he that saith not 'Kismet'; it is he that knows not Fate;
It is Richard, it is Raymond, it is Godfrey at the gate!
It is he whose loss is laughter when he counts the wager worth,
Put down your feet upon him, that our peace be on the earth.'
For he heard drums groaning and he heard guns jar,
(Don John of Austria is going to the war.)
Sudden and still - hurrah!
Bolt from Iberia!
Don John of Austria
Is gone by Alcalar.
St Michael's on his Mountain in the sea-roads of the north
(Don John of Austria is girt and going forth.)
Where the grey seas glitter and the sharp tides shift
And the sea-folk labour and the red sails lift.
He shakes his lance of iron and he claps his wings of stone;
The noise is gone through Normandy; the noise is gone alone;
The North is full of tangled things and texts and aching eyes,
And dead is all the innocence of anger and surprise,
And Christian killeth Christian in a narrow dusty room,
And Christian dreadeth Christ that hath a newer face of doom,
And Christian hateth Mary that God kissed in Galilee,
But Don John of Austria is riding to the sea.
Don John calling through the blast and the eclipse
Crying with the trumpet, with the trumpet of his lips,
Trumpet that sayeth ha!
Domino gloria!
Don John of Austria
Is shouting to the ships.
King Philip's in his closet with the Fleece about his neck
(Don John of Austria is armed upon the deck.)
The walls are hung with velvet that is black and soft as sin,
And little dwarfs creep out of it and little dwarfs creep in.
He holds a crystal phial that has colours like the moon,
He touches, and it tingles, and he trembles very soon,
And his face is as a fungus of a leprous white and grey
Like plants in the high houses that are shuttered from the day,
And death is in the phial, and the end of noble work,
But Don John of Austria has fired upon the Turk.
Don John's hunting, and his hounds have bayed -
Booms away past Italy the rumour of his raid.
Gun upon gun, ha! ha!
Gun upon gun, hurrah!
Don John of Austria
Has loosed the cannonade.
The Pope was in his chapel before day or battle broke,
(Don John of Austria is hidden in the smoke.)
The hidden room in man's house where God sits all the year,
The secret window whence the world looks small and very dear.
He sees as in a mirror on the monstrous twilight sea
The crescent of his cruel ships whose name is mystery;
They fling great shadows foe-wards, making Cross and Castle dark,
They veil the plumèd lions on the galleys of St Mark;
And above the ships are palaces of brown, black-bearded chiefs,
And below the ships are prisons, where with multitudinous griefs,
Christian captives, sick and sunless, all a labouring race repines
Like a race in sunken cities, like a nation in the mines.
They are lost like slaves that swat, and in the skies of morning hung
The stair-ways of the tallest gods when tyranny was young.
They are countless, voiceless, hopeless as those fallen or fleeing on
Before the high Kings' horses in the granite of Babylon.
And many a one grows witless in his quiet room in hell
Where a yellow face looks inward through the lattice of his cell,
And he finds his God forgotten, and he seeks no more a sign -
(But Don John of Austria has burst the battle-line!)
Don John pounding from the slaughter-painted poop,
Purpling all the ocean like a bloody pirate's sloop,
Scarlet running over on the silvers and the golds,
Breaking of the hatches up and bursting of the holds,
Thronging of the thousands up that labour under sea
White for bliss and blind for sun and stunned for liberty.
Vivat Hispania! Domino Gloria!
Don John of Austria
Has set his people free!
Cervantes on his galley sets the sword back in the sheath
(Don John of Austria rides homeward with a wreath.)
And he sees across a weary land a straggling road in Spain,
Up which a lean and foolish knight forever rides in vain,
And he smiles, but not as Sultans smile, and settles back the blade...
(But Don John of Austria rides home from the Crusade.)

G.K Chesterton

**********

Originally posted 10/7/2006.

Re-posted 10/7/2010.
Re-posted 10/7/2011.
Re-posted 10/7/2012.
Re-posted 10/7/2013.
Re-posted 10/7/2014.
Re-posted 10/7/2015.
Re-posted 10/7/2016.
Re-posted 10/7/2017.
Re-posted 10/7/2018.

Re-posted 10/7/2019.

Re-posted 10/7/2020.

Re-posted 10/7/2021.

Re-posted 10/7/2022.

Re-posted 10/7/2023.

About St. Francis of Assisi

New Advent, Catholic Online, and EWTN provide great articles about the very first Franciscan.

And two of his most famous prayers:

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O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, harmony;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light, and
Where there is sorrow, joy.
Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand; to be loved
as to love; for it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

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Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. 

Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility.

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(UPDATE: 10/4/2013): Here is an article stating the first prayer may not be attributed to him.

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Originally posted 10/4/2006.
Re-posted 10/4/2011.
Re-posted 10/3/2012.
Re-posted 10/4/2013.

Re-posted 10/4/2017.

Re-posted 10/4/2021.

Re-posted 10/4/2022.

Re-posted 10/4/2023.

Angels Amoungst Us

Yes, it is a children's prayer. But didn't He mention something about being child-like? On this Feast of the Guardian Angels, take time to say "thank you" to yours.

Angele Dei, qui custos es mei,
Me tibi commissum pietate superna;
Hodie, Hac nocte illumina,
custodi, rege, et guberna. Amen.

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Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom His love commits me here,
ever this night be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

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What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor.

Psalm 8:5-6

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Originally posted 10/2/2006.
Re-posted 10/2/2010.
Re-posted 10/2/2012.
Re-posted 10/2/2015.
Re-posted 10/2/2017.
Re-posted 10/2/2018.

Re-posted 10/2/2019.

Re-posted 10/2/2020.

Re-posted 10/2/2021.

Re-posted 10/2/2023.

October 2024 Morning Offering Prayer Intention

Here is the intention for this month when praying the Morning Offering:

For A Shared Mission. We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

(UPDATE:  10/31/23) A reflection for this intention can be found here.