HYMN - Roman Catholic Daily Missal, 1962
The Father's pardon from above, O Christ, bestow, Thy servants spare;
And, bending from Thy throne of love, Regard the Blessed Virgin's prayer.
Bright Angels, happy evermore, Who in your circles nine ascend,
As ye have guarded us before, So still from future ills defend.
Ye prophets, and apostles high, Forgiveness for our sins entreat,
Who for our faults now weeping cry, Before the dread Lord's judgment seat.
Ye purple-clad, the Martyr band, Confessors, too, a shining train,
O call us to our native land, From this our exile, back again.
Ye choirs of virgins, pure and chaste, Ye hermits, who from deserts bare,
To heaven were called: O bid us haste, The thrones of Saints on high to share.
From Christian realms chase for away, The faithless host of evil men;
That all beneath one Shepherd's sway, Within one fold may come again.
To God the Father glory be, And to the sole-begotten Son,
With Holy Ghost eternally, While everlasting ages run. Amen.
V. Be glad, O ye just, and rejoice in the Lord.
R. And be joyful all ye that are right of heart.
ANTIPHON AT THE MAGNIFICAT
O ye Angels and Archangels, Thrones and Dominions, Principalities and Powers, ye Hosts of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, ye Partiarchs and Prophets, and holy Doctors of the law, Apostles, and all Martyrs of Christ, holy Confessors and Virgins of the Lord, Hermits and all Saints, intercede for us.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Pride or the Lord?
"It is not good to eat much honey; So to seek one's own glory is not glory." Prov. 25:27
There is a deep desire within the heart of sinful man to attain a level of esteem and preeminence. All of us want to be known as being special and having a unique talent or gift that will somehow enhance and validate our yet infinitely meager existence. In our effort to strive and achieve importance, we often stoop to extremely low levels in hopes of actually elevating our standing among others. While we seek to be a star in the celestial expanse, all objectivity and perspective become warped as we exhalt ourselves as the new self-centered, egotistical "I AM." It is at this point that our whole world comes crashing in on us. For we have sought to lay claim to that which is eternal, and that is a condition we have absolutely no right to whatsoever outside of the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. We place ourselves on the throne of a kingdom that exists only in the dark corridors of our fallen imagination. God will share His power and glory with none other. We have been bought by the priceless blood of the Son of the Most High. There is nothing that we have done to deserve God's pardon, being but children of dust. Therefore, "[H]e who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Cor. 1:31).
There is a deep desire within the heart of sinful man to attain a level of esteem and preeminence. All of us want to be known as being special and having a unique talent or gift that will somehow enhance and validate our yet infinitely meager existence. In our effort to strive and achieve importance, we often stoop to extremely low levels in hopes of actually elevating our standing among others. While we seek to be a star in the celestial expanse, all objectivity and perspective become warped as we exhalt ourselves as the new self-centered, egotistical "I AM." It is at this point that our whole world comes crashing in on us. For we have sought to lay claim to that which is eternal, and that is a condition we have absolutely no right to whatsoever outside of the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. We place ourselves on the throne of a kingdom that exists only in the dark corridors of our fallen imagination. God will share His power and glory with none other. We have been bought by the priceless blood of the Son of the Most High. There is nothing that we have done to deserve God's pardon, being but children of dust. Therefore, "[H]e who glories, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Cor. 1:31).
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Consecration Of The Human Race To The Sacred Heart Of Jesus
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thy altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united to 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 their 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 soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.
Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry and Islamism and refuse not to draw them all into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy upon the children of that 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 to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and honor forever. Amen.
(ordered by His Holiness Pope Pius XI, December 11, 1925) 5 years indulgence
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 their 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 soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.
Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry and Islamism and refuse not to draw them all into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy upon the children of that 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 to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and honor forever. Amen.
(ordered by His Holiness Pope Pius XI, December 11, 1925) 5 years indulgence
Monday, October 3, 2011
Imitation of Christ by Thomas a` Kempis
As the back of my copy of this book states, "After the Bible, The Imitation of Christ is the all-time favorite book of Catholics throughout the world and during the more than 500 years since its first appearance." I would simply like to allow the author to speak for himself as I pull out some of my favorites from this classic.
"I had rather live a good life than a long life."
"Verily, when the Day of Judgment comes, we shall not be examined on what we have read, but what we have done; nor how learnedly we have spoken, but how religiously we have lived."
"It is then by resisting our passions, that we are to find true peace of heart, and not by being slaves to them."
"He that seeks here any other thing, than purely God and the salvation of his soul, will find nothing but trouble and sorrow."
And this certainly one of my favorites, especially in our day and age, is actually quoted from the Roman philosopher Seneca: "As often as I have been amongst men, I have returned less a man."
"If thou wouldst oftener think of thy death than of a long life, no doubt thou wouldst more fervently amend thyself."
"When a certain person in anxiety of mind was often wavering between hope and fear, and, on a time, being overwhelmed with grief, had prostrated himself in prayer in the church before a certain altar, he resolved these things within himself saying, 'If I did but know that I should persevere'; and presently he heard within himself this answer from God: 'And if thou didst know this what wouldst thou do? Do now what thou wouldst then do , and thou shalt be very secure.'
"When a man is come to this, that he seeks comfort from nothing created, then he begins perfectly to relish God; then likewise will he be well content, however matters happen to him.
Then will he neither rejoice for much, nor be sorrowful for little, but will commit himself wholly and confidently to God, who is to him all in all; to whom nothing perishes or dies, but all things live to Him and serve Him at a nod without delay."
I desire "to live under the eye of Jesus Christ by means of recollection, in His hands by resignation, and at His feet by humility."
"...for a good conscience is that which is either exempt from sin by fidelity, or cleansed from it by repentance."
God says to us, "I am accustomed to visit My elect in two ways, that is by trial and by comfort. And I read them daily two lessons, one to rebuke their vices, the other to exhort them to the increase of virtues."
"Write, read, sing, sigh , keep silence, pray, bear thy crosses manfully; eternal life is worthy of all these, and greater combats."
"...hence are we constrained to fight incessantly against the motions of nature, and to follow those of grace. Without offering this holy violence to ourselves, by which we subdue and renounce our own inclinations, it would be impossible to be saved."
"Boast not in the stature nor beauty of thy body, which is spoiled and disfigured by a little sickness."
"Faithfulness can never be measured in terms of success, but only in terms of commitment."
"Thou knowest what is expedient for my progress [Lord], and how serviceable tribulation is to rub away the rust of sin."
"We are all frail: but see thou think no one more frail than thyself."
And lastly, "But he who has not his heart within, nor God before his eyes, is easily moved with a word of censure. Whereas he that trusts in Me, and desires not to stand by his own judgment, will be free from the fear of men."
Friends, I earnestly encourage you to invest in this paperback treasury of gems from one of the great hearts and minds of Catholic history. Regardless of your Christian heritage you owe it to yourself, especially if you have been moved by some of these brief quotations.
Go with God!
"I had rather live a good life than a long life."
"Verily, when the Day of Judgment comes, we shall not be examined on what we have read, but what we have done; nor how learnedly we have spoken, but how religiously we have lived."
"It is then by resisting our passions, that we are to find true peace of heart, and not by being slaves to them."
"He that seeks here any other thing, than purely God and the salvation of his soul, will find nothing but trouble and sorrow."
And this certainly one of my favorites, especially in our day and age, is actually quoted from the Roman philosopher Seneca: "As often as I have been amongst men, I have returned less a man."
"If thou wouldst oftener think of thy death than of a long life, no doubt thou wouldst more fervently amend thyself."
"When a certain person in anxiety of mind was often wavering between hope and fear, and, on a time, being overwhelmed with grief, had prostrated himself in prayer in the church before a certain altar, he resolved these things within himself saying, 'If I did but know that I should persevere'; and presently he heard within himself this answer from God: 'And if thou didst know this what wouldst thou do? Do now what thou wouldst then do , and thou shalt be very secure.'
"When a man is come to this, that he seeks comfort from nothing created, then he begins perfectly to relish God; then likewise will he be well content, however matters happen to him.
Then will he neither rejoice for much, nor be sorrowful for little, but will commit himself wholly and confidently to God, who is to him all in all; to whom nothing perishes or dies, but all things live to Him and serve Him at a nod without delay."
I desire "to live under the eye of Jesus Christ by means of recollection, in His hands by resignation, and at His feet by humility."
"...for a good conscience is that which is either exempt from sin by fidelity, or cleansed from it by repentance."
God says to us, "I am accustomed to visit My elect in two ways, that is by trial and by comfort. And I read them daily two lessons, one to rebuke their vices, the other to exhort them to the increase of virtues."
"Write, read, sing, sigh , keep silence, pray, bear thy crosses manfully; eternal life is worthy of all these, and greater combats."
"...hence are we constrained to fight incessantly against the motions of nature, and to follow those of grace. Without offering this holy violence to ourselves, by which we subdue and renounce our own inclinations, it would be impossible to be saved."
"Boast not in the stature nor beauty of thy body, which is spoiled and disfigured by a little sickness."
"Faithfulness can never be measured in terms of success, but only in terms of commitment."
"Thou knowest what is expedient for my progress [Lord], and how serviceable tribulation is to rub away the rust of sin."
"We are all frail: but see thou think no one more frail than thyself."
And lastly, "But he who has not his heart within, nor God before his eyes, is easily moved with a word of censure. Whereas he that trusts in Me, and desires not to stand by his own judgment, will be free from the fear of men."
Friends, I earnestly encourage you to invest in this paperback treasury of gems from one of the great hearts and minds of Catholic history. Regardless of your Christian heritage you owe it to yourself, especially if you have been moved by some of these brief quotations.
Go with God!
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