Choir (Of Angels) Members

Today marks the feast of the Archangels St. Michael (Who is like God?), St. Gabriel (God is my strength), and St. Raphael (God has healed).

Fr. John Zuhlsdorf at What Does The Prayer Really Say gives a brief synopsis of the origins of today (and from where I found the photo--fedora doff to the good priest).

At the 'blog of Ignatius Press is a re-post (see, I am not the only one who does this) from an excerpt of a book by Dr. Peter Kreeft, a professor of philosophy at Boston College.

Speaking of priests, Fr. Philip Neri Powell, OP, who has his own 'blog (Domine, da nihi hanc aquam!) shares his homily.

Finally, there is my post from 2006 which links to a post from the Happy Catholic.

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Originally posted 9/29/2012.
Re-posted 9/29/2015.
Re-posted 9/29/2016.

Re-posted 9/29/2017.

Re-posted 9/29/2020.

Re-posted 9/29/2021.

Re-posted 9/29/2022.

Intercession, Again

Prayer to Saint Anthony of Padua:

Good Saint Anthony, in God's providence you have secured for His people many marvelous favors. You have been especially celebrated, good Saint Anthony, for your goodness to the poor and the hungry, for finding employment for those seeking it, for your special care of those who travel, and for keeping safe from harm all who must be away from home. You are widely known also, good Saint Anthony, for securing peace in the family, for your delicate mercy in finding lost things, for safe delivery of messages, and for your concern for women in childbirth. In honoring you, Saint Anthony, for the many graces our Lord grants through your favor, we trustfully and confidently ask your aid in our present need. Pray for us, good Saint Anthony, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

May it be a source of joy, O God, to your Church that we honor the memory of your Confessor and Doctor, Saint Anthony. May his spiritual help always make us strong, and by his assistance may we enjoy an eternal reward. This we ask through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

(This post will remain at the top until further notice.)

"...You Yourself Shall Be Pierced With A Sword..."

Statue of Our Lady of Sorrows

Church of the True Cross

Salamanca, Spain

The Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows follows the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Once again, like the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the liturgical calendar shows us that we, like Mary, should be close to Jesus. We also must be ready to share the sorrows of both.

Many of you sing the following during the Stations of the Cross. A 13th. Century hymn, it was suppressed as a sequence by the Council of Trent, only to be restored by Benedict XIII in 1727. Its use in the Ordinary Form of the Mass is optional. The English translation is by Edward Caswall.

Stabat mater dolorosa

juxta Crucem lacrimosa,

dum pendebat Filius.

Cuyus animam gementem,

contristatam et dolentem,

pertransivit gladius.

O quam tristis et afflicta

fuit illa benedicta

Mater Unigeniti.

Quae moerebat et dolebat,

Pia Mater cum videbat

Nati poenas incliti.

Quis est homo qui non fleret,

Matrem Christi si videret

in tanto supplicio?

Quis non posset contristari,

Christi Matrem contemplari

dolentem cum Filio?

Pro peccatis suae gentis

vidit Jesum in tormentis

et flagellis subditum.

Vidit suum dulcem natum

moriendo desolatum,

dum emisit spiritum.

Eia Mater, fons amoris,

me sentire vim doloris

fac, ut tecum lugeam.

Fac ut ardeat cor meum

in amando Christum Deum,

ut sibi complaceam.

Sancta mater, istud agas,

crucifixi fige plagas

cordi meo valide.

Tui nati vulnerati,

tam dignati pro me pati,

poenas mecum divide.

Fac me tecum pie flere,

crucifixo condolere,

donec ego vixero.

Iuxta crucem tecum stare,

et me tibi sociare

in planctu desidero.

Virgo virginum praeclara,

mihi iam non sis amara:

fac me tecum plangere.

Fac ut portem Christi mortem,

passionis fac consortem,

et plagas recolere.

Fac me plagis vulnerari,

fac me cruce inebriari,

et cruore Filii.

Flammis ne urar succensus

per te Virgo, sim defensus

in die judicii

Christe, cum sit hinc exire,

da per matrem me venire

ad palmam victoriae.

Quando corpus morietur,

fac ut animae donetur

Paradisi gloria.

Amen.

++++++++++

At the cross her station keeping,

Stood the mournful Mother weeping,

Close to Jesus to the last.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,

All His bitter anguish bearing,

Now at length the sword had pass'd.

Oh, how sad and sore distress'd

Was that Mother highly blest

Of the sole-begotten One!

Christ above in torment hangs;

She beneath beholds the pangs

Of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,

Whelm'd in miseries so deep

Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain

From partaking in her pain,

In that Mother's pain untold?

Bruis'd, derided, curs'd, defil'd,

She beheld her tender child

All with bloody scourges rent.

For the sins of His own nation,

Saw Him hang in desolation,

Till His spirit forth He sent.

O thou Mother! fount of love!

Touch my spirit from above;

Make my heart with thine accord.

Make me feel as thou hast felt;

Make my soul to glow and melt

With the love of Christ our Lord.

Holy Mother! pierce me through;

In my heart each wound renew

Of my Saviour crucified.

Let me share with thee His pain,

Who for all my sins was slain,

Who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,

Mourning Him who mourn'd for me,

All the days that I may live.

By the cross with thee to stay,

There with thee to weep and pray,

Is all I ask of thee to give.

Virgin of all virgins best,

Listen to my fond request

Let me share thy grief divine.

Let me, to my latest breath,

In my body bear the death

Of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound,

Steep my soul till it hath swoon'd

In His very blood away.

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,

Lest in flames I burn and die,

In His awful Judgment day.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,

Be Thy Mother my defence,

Be Thy cross my victory.

While my body here decays,

May my soul Thy goodness praise,

Safe in Paradise with Thee.

Amen.

**********

Originally published 3/21/2008 (Good Friday).

Re-posted with image 9/15/2018.

Re-posted without image 9/15/2020.

Re-posted 9/15/2021.

Re-posted 9/15/20222

Of Legal Age

This 'blog is now an adult.

(The debate about whether or not the 'blogmaster is continues.)

I still can't believe it's been that long since the internet saw this.

(I still can't believe the internet still see this once in a while.)

Don't get me wrong; I still enjoy writing, no matter how poorly I turn phrases.

(Or if I was still playing my trumpet, how I phrase turns.)

I am not ready to give up on this. As I have said many times, I do not live to 'blog. I realize new posts are few and far between and rely too much on re-posts to stay active (much less relevant). But that tiny spark is still within me, just as it was nearly two decades ago. The goal is still the same--thoughtful, quality posts on topics which interest me and (hopefully and eventually) a readership which needs rebuilding. I had made a bit of a dent back then; I still believe I can make a comeback.

But first things first. Now, more than ever, I need stability in my life. (And, yes, there's a post about that in the not to distant future, when things work out for me.)

So continue to be patient with me. God is not finished with me, nor am I with this. It is a bit of the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Welcome to my infinitesimal corner of the universe!

It's still here.

A Different Memorial Weekend

 

 

And so it begins again and anew.

It started this past weekend. Many communities have adopted the Saturday nearest September 11 as a "day of service" where the citizenry unite in a show of strength and caring in various service projects.

I suspect there may have been a mention of this in a pulpit or two during worship services yesterday.

But the bulk of the remembrance will be today.

In cities large and towns small, the events of twenty-two years ago in New York, NY; Washington, DC; and Shanksville, PA will be solemnly and dutifully recalled in ways grandiose and humble. Go find one if your schedule allows

The worst terrorist attack perpetuated on the United States, a wound still somewhat fresh and somewhat healing but will always leave a scar, is slowly becoming a fixture on the civic calendar.

We as a nation remember the lives lost--2,996. Humans no longer give or receive love to others but, hopefully, is receiving the love of God.

We renew a pledge to bring to justice all those involved and stem the tide of this kind of warfare. Lofty goals met with some success since then, but an ideal (some may call it a pipe dream) for which to strive.

Most of all it is a time to remember the fragility of life. How we really don't know when the last grain of sand in the hourglass we call life will finally fall to the other bulb. How we really need to take the time to prioritize what is important in our lives and act accordingly. How we really need to acknowledge we are dependent on God.

We as a nation pause to remember this tragedy.

We as a nation need this reminder to do justice, love goodness, and walk humbly with God (cf. Micah 6:8).

That is the greatest tribute we can give.

Never Forget.

 

September 2023 Morning Offering Prayer Intention

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

For people living on the margins. We pray for those persons living on the margins of society, in inhumane life conditions; may they not be overlooked by institutions and never considered of lesser importance.

(UPDATE:  9/9/2023) A reflection for this intention can be found here.