He that dwelleth in the aid of the Most High, shall abide under the protection of the God of Jacob. He shall say to the Lord: Thou art my protector and my refuge: my God, in Him will I trust (Ps 90)
Tuesday, 6 December 2016
Tuesday, 26 July 2016
Fr. Jaques Hamel
I have recently heard the news of the murder this morning of Fr. Jaques Hamel in St. Etienne du Rouvray in Normandy.
I see that other bloggers have already posted on the subject, notably Fr's. John Zuhlsdorf and Ray Blake .
Fr. Hamel was killed by two attackers, allegedly claiming affiliation to so-called 'Daesh' or 'ISIS' while he was in the act of saying morning Mass. A fuller account can be read here.
One obvious thought is the parallel with Blessed Oscar Romero, who was also murdered while celebrating Mass.
I would suggest that is genuine Martyrdom, given that Fr. Hamel was actively witnessing to the Faith by the very act of offering the Holy Sacrifice (or having the intention to do so imminently - I am not sure to what extent the Mass had progressed when the attack took place). Perhaps if there is a reader with a fuller understanding of the theology of martyrdom, they could confirm whether this is indeed the case.
I would echo the final comment of Fr. Blake's post:
Kyrie eleisonChriste eleisonKyrie eleison
and add an invocation for the prayers of Our Blessed Lady:
Regina pacis, ora pro nobis
and finally, for Fr. Hamel:
Requiem aeternum dona ei, Domine,Et lux perpetual luceat ei:Requiescat in pace,Amen
Monday, 25 July 2016
Sunday, 10 July 2016
Lovely Thing
Yesterday I visited the hospital where I was recently treated, in order to properly thank the ward staff who looked after me, and leave a card and gift of some sweeties for them.
It was also an opportunity to look round the hospital properly, visit the chapel to say a prayer of thanksgiving for my ongoing recovery and so forth.
The hospital corridors are decorated with several displays of artwork, and among them, a small collection of poems written by staff and others associated with the hospital. I was quite taken by one in particular, which I think was a beautiful thing. I am reproducing it below, as the photo of it I took on my 'phone is not the clearest. As it was on public display, I trust the author will not mind me posting it here.
Unborn Child
What would you say to an unborn child?
Explain the world surrounding them
The deepest blue oceans wide
The purest white clouds up high
How night becomes a brand new day
When sunshine chases it away
How love must triumph over all
And hatred left behind to die
So we can live our lives in full
Without the fear of sin and lie
This unborn child will join the world
With peace in heart and love to give
With hatred shielded from their mind
Until they grow and start to live
Shirley Hanson,
Laboratory Manager, Pathology
Very nice to see these sentiments expressed in an NHS hospital, although I sadly suspect that not all unborn children who enter there do not get the chance to 'join the world' - please pray for all expectant mothers, especially those who are led or pressured to destroy the new lives they are carrying.
St Catherine of Sienna, patroness of expectant mothers, pray for us
Sunday, 3 July 2016
Inspiring Hymn
Please pray for me, and more so, pray for all those on the world who are going through much greater tribulation and suffering that that which I experienced during my recent illness.
Father, for the sake of Christ's sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us, and on the whole world.
Land of Our Birth - Rudyard Kipling
Following the Brexit vote, we have seen a rise of nastiness in some quarters, with racial and xenophobic abuse on the increase.
In response to this, I would draw your attention to this delightful old poem by Rudyard Kipling. Also sometimes known as 'The Children's Song', it is largely written in the form of a prayer, from the viewpoint of the young, and, I imagine, was probably once commonly recited in school assemblies and similar. I believe the poem was written a little before WW1, and so the fourth stanza is poignant in the light of the events of the Somme battle, of which we are currently commemorating the centenary.
Here is the poem:
Land of our Birth, we pledge to thee
Our love and toil in the years to be;
When we are grown and take our place
As men and women with our race.
Father in Heaven who lovest all,
Oh, help Thy children when they call;
That they may build from age to age
An undefiled heritage.
Teach us to bear the yoke in youth,
With steadfastness and careful truth;
That, in our time, Thy Grace may give
The Truth whereby the Nations live.
Teach us to rule ourselves alway,
Controlled and cleanly night and day;
That we may bring, if need arise,
No maimed or worthless sacrifice.
Teach us to look in all our ends
On Thee for judge, and not our friends;
That we, with Thee, may walk uncowed
By fear or favour of the crowd.
Teach us the Strength that cannot seek,
By deed or thought, to hurt the weak;
That, under Thee, we may possess
Man's strength to comfort man's distress.
Teach us Delight in simple things,
And Mirth that has no bitter springs;
Forgiveness free of evil done,
And Love to all men 'neath the sun! *
Land of our Birth, our faith, our pride,
For whose dear sake our fathers died;
Oh, Motherland, we pledge to thee
Head, heart and hand through the years to be!
* My Emphasis
Friday, 1 July 2016
Precious Blood
I have just noted from Zephirinus' post that today is the Feast of the Most Precious Blood of Our Blessed Lord. Having myself just posted in connection with the remebrance of the dead of the Somme, I can't help but notice the bitter irony that a century ago this day saw perhaps the greatest bloodshed in history.
Reframing that irony, however, leads to the thought that so many young men that day followed the pattern of Our Lord's death, walking forth, yes in fear and trepidation, but boldly, into inevitable oblivion. Let us pray for their souls, that, while their actions were perhaps not entirely motivated by the Faith, and so not an automatic source of the crown of marttyrdom, they were fighting in the cause of right and freedom. May their Purgatory be short (if, indeed, it is not already long over), and may they be with our Saviour in Paradise.
Remembering the Somme
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Requiem aeternum dona eis, Domine,
Et lux perpetua luceat eis:
Requiescant in pace. Amen.
Thursday, 30 June 2016
Who is She that stands triumphant?
Although it is a bit out of fashion among many of today's Catholics to celebrate the glories of the Church, I think there is a place for a bit of good old triumphalism, if only to remind us of the great good the Church does, which has sadly often been overlooked in recent times with the media focus on scandals and failings of some of her clergy and Orders.
Let's take a few moments to recall that Our Mother the Church does stand and overlook the wild uproar as empires rise and sink like billows.
Wednesday, 29 June 2016
Recovering
I have recently been through quite a significant period of illness, including some time in hospital, and am now convalescing at home.
I would like to extend my thanks and good wishes to the various friends and acquaintances with whom I have, directly or indirectly been in contact, and thank them for their support and prayers. I will, of course, also remember them in my prayers - that's the great thing about the Catholic Church: we're all in this together!
I would also like to thank the hospital chaplains who have supported me, prayed for me, and provided me with the Sacraments during my illness, and would ask readers to pray for them and the great work they do.
Finally, Thanks be to God that I am hopefully on the mend, and thanks to Our Lady and the Saints for their intercessions on my behalf.
Deo Gratias!
Sunday, 27 March 2016
Thursday, 17 March 2016
St. Patrick, Bishop and Confessor; Patron of Ireland
Happy Feast!
May the intercession of St. Patrick, who once brought the Faith to Ireland, restore that country as the powerhouse of Catholicism she once was; and, as by legend, he drove out the snakes, by his prayers drive out the influences of Satan that have sullied the Irish Church, that she may again be pure and holy, and an ark of salvation for the nation.
Ora pro nobis
St. Patrick's Breastplate
Tuesday, 1 March 2016
Thursday, 7 January 2016
Thoughts on St. Anthony
A recent post by Mac of Mulier Fortis concerning finding a lost ring has started a thread of comments about my old friend, St. Anthony of Padua.
This, coupled with having just heard on the News a trailer for a documentary about loneliness and depression put me in mind of St. Anthony's Brief, about which I have posted in the past, but is worth recalling.
The Brief originates from the Story of a 13th. Century Portugese woman who, through depression or demonic influences, was driven to the point of planning suicide by drowning herself in the River Tagus. As she approached the river, she passed a wayside shrine to St. Anthony and there experienced a vision or dream of the Saint, in which he gave her a parchment, saying, "'Arise woman, and take this paper, which will free you from the molestations of the Evil One". The parchment was a real, physical object and contained the words shown below:
The woman recovered, and her story spread to the extent that the King heard of it and asked for the Brief, which she gave to him, and which was added to the Crown Jewels of Portugal. Unfortunately, when she no longer had the brief about her person, the woman's mood again fell and old thoughts again troubled her. The King responded by having a copy of the Brief made for her, which was efficacious once she received it.
To this day, copies of the Brief are available, either printed on paper or linen, or in the form of medals, and are recommended for use by those who are troubled in mind.
In an era when mental illness, self-harm and suicide are prevalent, especially among the young, it would be good to invoke St. Anthony and encourage devotion to him and the use of his Brief.
Sancte Antoni, ora pro nobis.
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