Memorial Day Tribute

This is what today is about.

Let us pray for the souls of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

For love of country, "some gave all".

Cowards die many times before their deaths,
The valiant never taste of death but once. 

Julius Caesar (II, ii, 32-33)

by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

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Originally posted  5/26/2014.
Re-posted 5/30/2016.

Re-posted 5/25/2020.

Re-posted 5/31/2021.

Re-posted 5/30/2022.

Some Gave All

 

...We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.  

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. 

Abraham Lincoln

Gettysburg Address

November 19, 1863

It is altogether fitting and proper to remember those who have died in the service of this country.

It is truly right and just to honor their ultimate sacrifice.

It is well we have this holiday.

Happy Memorial Day!

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Originally posted 5/27/2013.
Original photo replaced with current photo and re-posted 5/30/2016.

Re-posted 5/25/2020.

Re-posted 5/31/2021.

Re-posted 5/30/2022.

Hymn For Pentecost

Veni, Creator Spiritus,
mentes tuorum visita,
imple superna gratia
quae tu creasti pectora.

Qui diceris Paraclitus,
altissimi donum Dei,
fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
et spiritalis unctio.

Tu, septiformis munere,
digitus paternae dexterae,
Tu rite promissum Patris,
sermone ditans guttura.

Accende lumen sensibus:
infunde amorem cordibus:
infirma nostri corporis
virtute firmans perpeti.

Hostem repellas longius,
pacemque dones protinus:
ductore sic te praevio
vitemus omne noxium.

Per te sciamus da Patrem,
noscamus atque Filium;
Teque utriusque Spiritum
credamus omni tempore.

Deo Patri sit gloria,
et Filio, qui a mortuis surrexit,
ac Paraclito,
in saeculorum saecula. Amen.

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Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God's hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father,
Thou Who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven. Amen.

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Originally posted 6/4/2006.
Part of post "Tongues Of Fire" posted 5/27/2007.
Re-posted 5/23/2010.
Re-posted 6/12/2011.
Re-posted 4/18/2013.
Re-posted 6/8/2014.
Re-posted 5/24/2015.
Re-posted 5/15/2016.
Re-posted 6/4/2017.
Re-posted 5/20/2018.

Re-posted 6/9/2019.

Re-posted 5/31/2020.

Re-posted 5/23/2021.

Re-posted 6/5/2022.

Pentecost Sequence

Veni, Sancte Spiritus,
et emitte caelitus
lucis tuae radium.

Veni, pater pauperum,
veni, dator munerum
veni, lumen cordium.

Consolator optime,
dulcis hospes animae,
dulce refrigerium.

In labore requies,
in aestu temperies
in fletu solatium.

O lux beatissima,
reple cordis intima
tuorum fidelium.

Sine tuo numine,
nihil est in homine,
nihil est innoxium.

Lava quod est sordidum,
riga quod est aridum,
sana quod est saucium.

Flecte quod est rigidum,
fove quod est frigidum,
rege quod est devium.

Da tuis fidelibus,
in te confidentibus,
sacrum septenarium.

Da virtutis meritum,
da salutis exitum,
da perenne gaudium.

Amen, Alleluia.

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Come, Holy Spirit,
Send forth from on high
The radiance of thy light.

Come, thou, father of the poor,
Come, dispenser of all good gifts,
Come thou, light of our hears.

Supreme Comforter,
Beloved guest of our soul,
Its most desirable nourishment.

In the midst of labor, rest.
A cool breeze to temper the heat,
Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed light,
Fill the innermost being.
The very hearts of they faithful.

Without thy divine strength
No good dwells in man,
Nothing but what turns to ill.

Wash away every stain,
Irrigate all dryness,
Heal every wound.

Make supple all that is rigid,
Give ardor to things grown cold,
Straighten every crooked path.

Grant to thy faithful
Who put their trust in thee,
The blessing of thy sevenfold gifts.

Grant us the reward of a virtuous life,
A death which leads to salvation,
To the gift of eternal joy.

Amen. Alleluia.

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Originally posted 5/23/2010.
Re-posted 6/12/2011.
Re-posted 5/19/2013.
Re-posted 6/8/2014.
Re-posted 5/24/2015.
Re-posted 5/15/2016.
Re-posted 6/4/2017.
Re-posted 5/20/2018.

Re-posted 6/9/2019.

Re-posted 5/31/2020.

Re-posted 5/23/2021.

Re-posted 6/5/2022.

May 2023 Morning Offering Prayer Intention

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

For church movements and groups. We pray that Church movements and groups may rediscover their mission of evangelisation each day, placing their own charisms at the service of needs in the world.

(UPDATE--5/23/23)  A reflection for this intention is found here.