Advent Wreath--First Week Of Advent

 

Lighting The Way

The calendars turn, both the secular and sacred.

As we begin a new month we also begin a new liturgical year. Deriving from the Sunday nearest to the Feast of St. Andrew, the first Apostle called, we are now called to "prepare the way of the Lord".

Leaving a month in which we recall the Four Last Things and pray for those "marked with the sign of Faith" and those who faith is known only by God, we now enter the season of Advent, where we will count the days until the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is celebrated.

We heed the words of St. John the Baptist. While our preparation is not as severe as Lent, it still is a time of penitence. We hear the longing in our hearts for redemption, much as the world did some two millennia ago. Then as now, how we reply and respond is critical. Will we recognize the Christ Child like the shepherd and Magi or just go on what we think is our "merry" way?

As we get ready materially, so also spiritually. Make the time in the hustle and bustle of December to be still, to reflect upon the beginning of the penultimate chapter of  "The Greatest Story Ever Told". Deck the halls, trim the tree, light the candles of the Advent wreath, erect the Creche. Make ready the gifts, not only those we give to others, but also what we can (and should) give to Him.

Yes, the darkness of this time of the year increases.

The four tapers await you.

As well as the Light of the World.

Mediation For Advent

Hail and blessed be the hour and the moment in which 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 desires, through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

To be recited 15 times a day from the Feast of St. Andrew's (November 30) until Christmas.

(Fedora Doff to Drew at the Shrine of the Holy Whapping.)

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Originally posted 12/1/2005.
Re-posted 11/29/2008.
Re-posted 11/28/2009.

Re-posted 11/27/2010.
Re-posted 11/26/2011.
Re-posted 12/2/2012.
Re-posted 11/30/2013.
Re-posted 11/29/2014.
Re-posted 11/28/2015.
Re-posted 11/30/2016.
Re-posted 11/30/2017.
Re-posted 11/30/2018.

Re-posted 11/30/2019.

Re-posted 11/30/2020.

Re-posted 11/30/2021.

Re-posted 11/30/2022.

Re-posted 11/30/2023.

2024 Thanksgiving Day Card

May your Thanksgiving Day be full of love and laughter. May it be a time of being truly grateful for all the blessings God has bestowed upon you. May you see an even more abundance of blessings in the time to come

Happy Thanksgiving, Everybody!

Royal Hymn

In honor of the Feast of Christ the King, I present excerpts of the hymn Christus Vincit as it was chanted at the 2010 CMAA Winter Chant Intensive. (In case you want to know what I look like, I am the first one in the front pew with the rest of the men.)

The text and translation is courtesy of The Parish Book of Chant.

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Christus vincit! Christus regnat! Christus imperat!

Exaudi, Christe.

Benedicto, Summo Pontifici, in unum populos doctrina congreganti caritate: Pastori gratia gregi obsequentia.

Salvator mundi, Tu illum adjuva.
Sancta Maria, Tu illum adjuva.
Sancte Petre, Tu illum adjuva.
Sancte Paule, Tu illum adjuva.
Sancte Benedicte, Tu illum adjuva.

Rex regum! Rex noster! Spes nostra! Gloria nostra!

Magistratibus et omnibus concivibus nobiscum orantibus: cordis vera quies votorum effctus.

Auxilium christianorum, Tu illos adjuva.
Sancte Michael, Tu illos adjuva.
Sancte Benedicte, Tu illos adjuva.

Ipsi soli imperium, laus et jubilatio per infinita saecula saeculorum. Amen.

Tempora bona habeant! Tempora bona habeant redempti Sanguine Christi.

Feliciter!

Pax Christi veniat! Regnum Christi veniat! Deo Gratias! Amen.

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Christ conquers! Christ reigns! Christ commands!

Give ear, O Christ!

To the Supreme Pontiff [Benedict], who gathereth into one all peoples through doctrine, in charity: let there be dignity for our Shepherd, and obedience for his flock.

O Saviour of the world, grant him assistance.
Holy Mary,...
Holy Peter,...
Holy Paul,...
Holy Benedict,...

King of Kings! Our King! Our hope! Our glory!

To the magistrates and all fellow citizens praying with us: let the effect of their devotions be true rest for the heart.

O help of Christians, grant them assistance.
Holy Michael,...
Holy Benedict,...

Let all power, praise, and jubilation be to Him alone, through endless ages to ages. Amen.

May they have prosperous times! May they have prosperous times by the redemptive Blood of Christ!

Joyously!

Let the Peace of Christ come! Let the Reign of Christ come! Thanks be to God! Amen.

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Originally posted 11/20/2011.
Re-posted 11/25/2012.
Re-posted 11/23/2014.
Re-posted 11/22/2015.
Re-posted 11/20/2016.
Re-posted 11/26/2017.
Re-posted 11/25/2018.

Re-posted 11/24/2019.

Re-posted 11/22/2020.

Re-posted 11/21/2021.

Re-posted 11/20/2022.

Re-posted 11/26/2023.

With Royal Diadem

The original text was written by Matthew Brown in 1851 and altered by Godfrey Thring twenty years later. The tune, DIADMATA, was composed by George Elvey. This is a somewhat all encompassing representation of the many titles of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

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1. Crown Him with many crowns,

The Lamb upon His throne;

Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns

All music but its own!

Awake, my soul, and sing

Of Him who died for thee,

And hail Him as thy matchless King

Through all eternity.

2. Crown Him the Virgin’s Son,

The God Incarnate born,

Whose arm those crimson trophies won

Which now His brow adorn:

Fruit of the mystic Tree,

As of that Tree the Stem;

The Root whence flows Thy mercy free,

The Babe of Bethlehem.

3. Crown Him the Lord of Love:

Behold His hands and side;

Rich wounds yet visible above

In beauty glorified:

No angel in the sky

Can fully bear that sight,

But downward bends his burning eye

At mysteries so bright.

4. Crown Him the Lord of peace,

Whose power a scepter sways

From pole to pole, that wars may cease,

And all be prayer and praise.

His reign shall know no end,

And round His pierced feet

Fair flowers of glory now extend

Their fragrance ever sweet.

5. Crown Him the Lord of years,

The Potentate of time.

Creator of the rolling spheres,

Ineffably sublime.

All hail, Redeemer, hail!

For Thou hast died for me;

Thy praise shall never, never fail

Throughout eternity.

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Originally posted 11/26/2023.

With Full Heart And Voice

Anther gem from the pen of Charles Wesley. The tune was composed by John Darwall. Although more appropriate for Ascension, this is another fitting tribute to close the liturgical year.

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Rejoice, the Lord is King:
Your Lord and King adore!
Rejoice, give thanks and sing,
And triumph evermore.
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Jesus, the Savior, reigns,
The God of truth and love;
When He has purged our stains,
He took his seat above;
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

His kingdom cannot fail,
He rules o'er earth and heav'n;
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv'n:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope!
Our Lord and judge shall come
And take His servants up
To their eternal home:
Lift up your heart,
Lift up your voice!
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Christus Rex

1. To Jesus Christ, our Sov'reign King,
Who is the world's salvation,
All praise and homage do we bring,
And thanks and adoration.

Refrain:  Christ Jesus Victor, Christ Jesus Ruler!
Christ Jesus, Lord and Redeemer!

2. Thy reign extend, O King benign,
To ev'ry land and nation,
For in Thy kingdom, Lord divine,
Alone we find salvation.

(Refrain)

3. To Thee and to Thy Church, great King,
We pledge our hearts' oblation,
Until before Thy throne we sing,
In endless jubilation.

(Refrain)

From the 2 Hearts Network, here is a link to prayers specifically about our King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

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Originally posted 11/25/2007.
Re-posted 11/21/2010.
Re-posted 11/25/2012.
Re-posted 11/24/2013.
Re-posted 11/23/2014.
Re-posted 11/22/2015.
Re-posted 11/20/2016.
Re-posted 11/26/2017.
Re-posted 11/25/2018.

Re-posted 11/24/2019.

Re-posted 11/22/2020.

Re-posted 11/21/2021.

Re-posted 11/20/2022.

Re-posted 11/26/2023.

Another Musical Saint

As today is the Memorial of St. Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr and patron saint of musicians, I thought it would be appropriate to introduce you to another female saint who also made a significant contribution to the treasury of sacred music.

St. Hildegard of Binden (c. 1098-1176) was a Benedictine abbess and polymath. Her contributions in many other fields, both sacred and secular, lead to her becoming the fourth female Doctor of the Church in 2012. A truly remarkable woman, no matter in what time she may have lived.

Enjoy this presentation of her chant.

Veteran's Day Acknowledgement

My two brothers are veterans of the Air Force. I have other relatives who have served in various branches of the military. I personally owe them a debt of gratitude for their service to the country. To all other veterans, that gratitude, while not as personal, is nonetheless heartfelt.

Our active military personnel take the following oath (those in the National Guard take a similar oath which includes obeying orders from their state's Governor):

I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.

For those who preserve our freedom, we salute you!

NOTE: I gave a Fedora Doff to a Facebook friend who posted a video on my wall which I had placed here in 2010. I no longer have that link.

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Originally posted 11/11/2010.
Re-posted 11/11/2011.
Re-posted 11/11/2012.
Updated and edited 11/11/2013.
Re-posted 11/11/2014.
Re-posted 11/11/2015.
Re-posted 11/11/2016.
Re-posted 11/11/2017.

Re-posted 11/11/2019.

Re-posted 11/11/2020.

Re-posted 11/11/2021.

Re-posted 11/11/2022.

Re-posted 11/11/2023.

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.

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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.

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

Requiescat (Requiescant) in pace. Amen.

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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.

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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.

(UPDATE:  11/30/23) A reflection for this intention can be found here.

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.)

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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.

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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.