Thursday, September 26, 2013

"Our Prayer:" My Mom, Marie Kelly's prayer to Our Lady, 1940

Our Prayer

Oh Virgin Pure,
Oh Virgin Fair,
Sweet Mary, lily white,
Keep us in Thy loving care,
Protect us, day and night.

Watch o'er us when
The days are dark
With life's great trouble
And strife—

Keep within us
A burning spark
A Love for eternal life.

Keep vigil, sweetest Mother dear
When Satan aims his arrow of sin.
Coat our souls with an armor of fear
Of Hell's precocious din.

Please give us Thy helping hand
When we stumble
In erring way.
Deliver us from the Devil's snare,
Protect us, we humbly pray!

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Pope Francis Answers an Atheist's Questions, and Reaches Out to Unbelievers

"I do not think he will respond," wrote prominent Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari, in La Republica, a newspaper he co-founded, and Italy's most popular. An atheist, Dr. Scalfari challenged the Holy Father to explain some key points in the scriptures.

Pope Francis did respond, however, as Kathy Schiffer reports here.

Saturday, September 07, 2013

What Do You Give to the Woman Who Has Everything?

Okay, so, officially, Mary's Birthday was bumped because it falls on a Sunday. But that doesn't mean we can't celebrate it! What we need to do is to give her—the Woman Who Has Everything—something she really wants.

And I think I've got it.

The Lady likes to pray.

Scratch that. She loves to pray. She loves to intercede for us No kidding, she really loves doing this!

And hey, how about this? Sunday's—her birthday's—readings? They focus on wisdom!

So. What better present to give to Our Blessed Mother than to 1) honor her as the Seat of Wisdom that she is and 2) ask for the prayers we all know shewants to give us? Make sense? Great! Here we go…


~~~~~~~
Litany to Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, on the 
Wonderful Occasion of Her Nativity

O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for me.

For the wisdom to know that God is in charge, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to know when to speak, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to know when silence is preferable, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to discern God's will at all times, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to understand that God's love extends to all human beings, 
Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to recognize your Son, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in all whom I encounter, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to pray for those whom I hold dear, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to pray for those who have hurt me, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to pray for those I dislike, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to pray for those I perceive to be my enemies, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to strive to emulate your humility, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to always echo your "yes" to God's will, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to embrace ills and sufferings as opportunities to unite myself to Jesus on the Cross, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to put others before myself, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to firmly reject deceit, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to embrace honesty at all times, despite any temporal cost, 
Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to recognize that storing up heavenly treasures that last is infinitely preferable to grasping for earthly treasures that fade away, 
Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to immediately depend and seek reconciliation with God when I sin, 
Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to love God with all my heart, all my soul, and all my strength, 
Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to love my neighbor as myself, Mary my Mother, pray for me.

For the wisdom to hold fast to my faith, despite any obstacles placed in my way, 
Mary my Mother, pray for me.

~~~~~
All-holy Father, Eternal God, in your goodness you prepared a royal throne for your Wisdom in the womb of the  Blessed Virgin Mary; bathe your Church in the radiance of your life-giving Word, that, pressing forward on its pilgrim way in the light of your truth, it may come to the joy of a perfect knowledge of your love. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us!

(and hey, Mom...Happy Birthday!)

Sunday, September 01, 2013

Roman Catholic Priests: For Your Own GOOD…

….please stop mucking around with the words of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in order to make me (a) feel "included" or (b) "express yourselves"

Just three examples.

1.) When you purify your hands…

Do NOT AUDIBLY say: "Lord, wash away our iniquities, cleanse us from our sins."

Say, (quietly) and mean it: "Wash me O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin"

Here's why. First? You're a sinner, Padre. You haven't a bleeping clue about my sins but you sure know about yours. Second, and maybe even more important, this gives me a chance to pray for YOU and YOUR forgiveness. Don't blow it. I'm not a priest. You are. Remember that.

2.) At the Orate Fratres…

DON'T say anything like "Pray my dear brothers and sisters, that TOGETHER, our sacrifice…" blah blah blah. Those ain't the words, Father. The precise and beautiful words are "Pray brethren (you can substitute "brethren" with "brothers and sisters" if you wish although personally I find this tacky but it's allowed and it's the ONLY variant you're allowed) that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father."

"What's the big deal?" you might ask. If you do, the answer is twofold. One, because that's the way it's written. (This answer is for those of you who are too lazy to THINK.) The real answer? Because it's YOUR sacrifice, primarily, Padre. Yes, it's also ours, but primarily? It's yours. In Persona Christi. Look it up. You'll note that we respond: "May the Lord accept the sacrifice at YOUR hands…"

(Sheesh, is it really for the sheep to guide the shepherds? Evidently at times it is.)

3.) Before receiving with the Lord… 

Do NOT PROCLAIM, loudly or otherwise:

"May the Body of Christ, bring us ALL to everlasting life" or any other such pious but really stupid, given the circumstances, words.

Padre o' mine. Again, you're a sinner. You've just done an awesome thing. By the power of God you've changed bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of JESUS CHRIST!!! Personally I think you should be quivering all over and not worrying about, in your imbecilic albeit well-intentioned way, the "feelings" of your "guests." You are NOT hosting a bleeping TEA PARTY here, Padre. You are about to receive Jesus into your soul and if this isn't the time to say these words then I'll be bleeped if I know when the proper time is! Just pray (again, inaudibly…we all know what you are, or should be, praying):

May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.

Do the same thing before consuming His Precious Blood:

May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.

Kindly, at this most intimate moment, keep me and everybody else out of it. You fool! Don't you realize that when you start acting like Holy Hostess with your "inclusive" words, you're interrupting those of us who are praying for YOU?

Okay, that's it for now. Believe me, this hurt me than it hurt you (and you know who you are). At worst, Father? Just follow the Missal. At best? Pray it.

May God continue to bless you.