Weep the little children

Will of the Lord

Have I mentioned before and I am NO MYSTIC? I am just a simple Catholic lady struggling like every one else. The list of my faults and frequent failures are too numberous to list. I have been undergoing a great trial in my life and am currently burning in the furnace of stress. To deal with this I have turned, as I have in the past, to penance and daily Mass. When I am suffering mentally/spiritually I have a very difficult time praying, except perhaps a desperate ejaculatory prayer from time to time and an offering of my anguish. Anyway - I was offering one such prayer this morning before mass "Lord, what do you will?" ...or something to that effect. Without thinking anything of it, I then opened my missal and my eyes fell DIRECTLY upon the following:

"This is the will of God - your sanctification." (I Thess iv. 3)

I guess that's pretty clear. Lord do with me what you will. Amen+

Prayer for the Dying

Jesus and Mary at the deathbed of St. Joseph

O merciful Jesus, lover of souls, we beseech you by the agony of your most Sacred Heart and by the sorrows of your Immaculate Mother, to wash clean in your blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their final agony, but especially those on their way to eternal damnation and who are to die this day. Heart of Jesus, who suffered death’s agony, have mercy on these poor souls. Amen.

(Prayer for Mercy for the Dying from the booklet, Devotion to the Divine Mercy)

Source

Remember our Lady's Tears

In all the business of life, with all your stress and difficulties - remember there was a darker day. No one suffered more than Our Lord. Secondly suffered His holy Mother - no mere human suffered more than she and for her the grace of God sufficed. Is shall suffice for you and me as well. When darkness comes to your soul, go to her feet and pour out your suffering to her. She understands suffering well and will obtain assistance in all your needs.

Prayer of Discouragement

Moses' Prayer of Discouragement

Book of Numbers -Israel

10 Now Moses heard the people weeping by their families, every one at the door of his tent. And the wrath of the Lord was exceedingly enkindled: to Moses also the thing seemed insupportable. 11 And he said to the Lord: Why hast thou afflicted thy servant? wherefore do I not find favour before thee? and why hast thou laid the weight of all this people upon me? 12 Have I conceived all this multitude, or begotten them, that thou shouldst say to me: Carry them in thy bosom as the nurse is wont to carry the little infant, and bear them into the land, for which thou hast sworn to their fathers? 13 Whence should I have flesh to give to so great a multitude? they weep against me, saying: Give us flesh that we may eat. 14 I am not able alone to bear all this people, because it is too heavy for me. 15 But if it seem unto thee otherwise, I beseech thee to kill me, and let me find grace in thy eyes, that I be not afflicted with so great evils.

Hearing the complaint of Moses, the Lord did give him consolation and help:

16 And the Lord said to Moses: Gather unto me seventy men of the ancients of Israel, whom thou knowest to be ancients and masters of the people: and thou shalt bring them to the door of the tabernacle of the covenant, and shalt make them stand there with thee, 17 That I may come down and speak with thee: and I will take of thy spirit, and will give to them, that they may bear with thee the burden of the people, and thou mayest not be burthened alone. 18 And thou shalt say to the people: Be ye sanctified: tomorrow you shall eat flesh...

...But with a just consequence:

for I have heard you say: Who will give us flesh to eat? it was well with us in Egypt. That the Lord may give you flesh, and you may eat: 19 Not for one day, nor two, nor five, nor ten, no nor for twenty. 20 But even for a month of days, till it come out at your nostrils, and become loathsome to you, because you have cast off the Lord, who is in the midst of you, and have wept before him, saying: Why came we out of Egypt?

...and also a just chastisement:

33 As yet the flesh was between their teeth, neither had that kind of meat failed: when behold the wrath of the Lord being provoked against the people, struck them with an exceeding great plague. 34 And that place was called, The graves of lust: for there they buried the people that had lusted.

I am no theologian, just a simple Catholic. I see that the Lord answered Moses's prayer of discouragement based on his suffering of burden and did not chastise him. The Lord did however chastise Israel's complaining despite God's provisions for them. We are such a whining people.

We must turn with trust to the King of Heaven and ask for His actual grace to sustain us in all things - not waste our prayers and thoughts on frivolous so-called sufferings. Rest in the Spirit of the Lord and let not your heart become hopeless but rather hope in the Lord for He is in charge and control of all things. Though the gates of hell beat against you, though all things seem to fall apart around you - lock yourself up in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary for there is the only true refuge.

Lord have pity on me. Amen+

Critically Ill

(photo credit)

Words on card "By this holy anointing and by His most tender mercy, may the Lord forgive you all the evil you have done through the power of sight or hearing."

As you may have noticed, I rarely post prayer requests but I feel I must humbly ask anyone who happens by to pray for a collegue of mine who is critically ill with H1n1 influenza, clinging to life ICU. Please recommend him to Our Lady's prayers, or stay a moment and say this short prayer for him -

Lord, in difficult moments we must take refuge in Your Sacred Wounds. It is there we must seek consolation, comfort, light and affirmation. I recommend this soul to Thine Majesty and in the midst of this trial we see Your loving hand. Mary, Mother of God, we recommend this soul to your efficacious prayers! Amen+

Prayers for the Sick VII

Queen of Martyrs and Mother of Compassion, by the unspeakable sorrow which brought thy heart to the lowest depths of desolation, when Jesus was laid in the sepulchre and thou couldst no more comfort thyself with the sight of His lifeless body, pray for this sick person, that, since human remedies are of no avail for them, they may, by thy powerful intercession, be cured, and thus we may, both in time and eternity, give thee heartful thanks.

Hail Mary...

V. Pray for him/her, most sorrowful Virgin

R. That he/she may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Oremus/Let us pray

GRANT, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the most blessed Virgin Mary Thy Mother, whose must holy sould was pierced with the sword of sorrow in the hour of Thy Passion, may intercede before the throne of Thy mercy for this Thy servant, now and at the hour of thier death. Who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen+

Prayers for the Sick VI

Queen of Martyrs and Mother of Compassion, by the bitter sorrow thou didst experience, when receiving on thy knees thy Jesus taken down from the cross, receive in thy loving arms this sick person, and moved by the sight of their suffering, restore to them the health of body and the peace of soul.

Hail Mary...

Amen+

Prayers for the Sick V

Queen of Martyrs and Mother of Compassion, by the unspeakable sorrow thou didst suffer, when thou didst behold thy Jesus hanging on the tree of the cross, with His hands and feet pierced with nails, and all His body covered with blood, regard the painful sufferings of this sick person, and relieve the pains of his/her body, procuring at the same time, through the merits of thy Son's most precious Blood, the salvation of his/her soul.

Hail Mary...

Amen+

Prayers for the Sick IV

Teutonic nuns caring for the sick

Queen of Martyrs and Mother of Compassion, by the intense sorrow thou didst endure, when thou didst meet thy dear Son Jesus laden with a heavy cross, without being able to relieve Him, let the sight of this sick person, whom thou canst relieve, so move thee, that thou mayest deliver him/her from the burden of his/her illness.

Hail Mary...

Amen+

Prayers for the Sick III

Nuns caring for the sick at Hotel Dieu in Paris, c1482

Queen of Martyrs and Mother of Compassion, by the bitter sorrow thy most loving heart experienced, when in sorrow thou didst seek thy Son Jesus for three long days, obtain for this sick person perfect health of body and soul.

Hail Mary...

Amen+

Prayers for the Sick II

Queen of Martyrs and Mother of Compassion, by the unspeakable sorrow thou didst experience, when obliged to flee into Egypt with the Child Jesus, obtain grace for the sick person we recommend to thee, that thy presence may be for the health of his/her body and soul.

Hail Mary...

Amen+

Prayers for the Sick

Hospitallers of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem caring for the sick

by Philippe Thomassin

I have been remiss as of late in posting and also in my poor efforts to promulgate devotion to Our Lady's Seven Sorrows. Thus begins the first of a new series of prayers for the sick through the intercession of our Sorrowful Mother. In these fine prayers we ask our Heavenly Mother to intercede upon the sick person's behalf in honor of her sorrows - a devotion which pleases Jesus very much. Following this series for the sick will be a series of prayers for the dying.

Prayers fo a Sick Person

Queen of Martyrs and Mother of Compassion, by the sword of sorrow which pierced thy soul, when holy Simeon foretold the most cruel Passion and death of thy beloved Son, obtain that the sick person for whom we pray may no more be tormented in his/her body, if it be for the greater good of his/her soul.

Hail Mary...

Amen+

Hours of Mary

A kind gentlemen sent me a book called "Servants of Mary" which is a reprint (with permission) of the Servite Manual which is a treasure for those with a devotion to the sorrows of Mary. Most readers of this blog will be acquainted with Office prayers of the church. I used to pray the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary but fell away from the practice. In the Servite Manual there is published a little known "Little Office of our Lady of Seven Dolors" This is posted below:

Matins

First Dolor - The Prophecy of Simeon

Hail Mary...

V. O Lord, open Thou my lips. R. And my mouth shall declare Thy praise.

V. O God, come unto mine aid. R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia.

From Septuagesima to Easter, instead of Alleluia, is said:

Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

HAIL to Thee, Christ's Mother dearest,

Who, by sad prophetic word,

In the sacred temple hearest

Of the keen heart -piercing sword,

Make me mindful of Thy sorrow,

Guard me, that, the valley past,

I may, in the eternal morrow,

Give Thee thanks in heaven at last.

Antiphon: LAM ii. 13: To what shall I compare thee, or to what shall I liken thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? To what shall I equal thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Sion? For great as the sea is thy destruction.

V. Thine own soul a sword shall pierce.

R. That out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.

Let us pray

O Lord Jesus Christ, we beseech Thee that the blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother,whose most holy soul was pierced by the sword of sorrow in the hour of Thy Passion, may appeal for us to Thy clemency, now and at the hour of our death. Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost, livest and reignest, world without end. Amen+

PRIME

Second Dolor - The Flight into Egypt

Hail Mary...

V. O God, come unto mine aid. R. O Lord, make haste to help me.

V. Glory Be... R. As it was in the beginning, etc. Alleluia or Praise be to Thee, O Lord, King of everlasting glory.

Hymn

HAIL, thou Christ's sweet Mother, flying

From an angry tyrant's hand,

In thy heart's deep sorrow sighing,

Banished from thy fatherland.

O thou Queen of blessed spirits,

Exiles never seek in vain;

Safe from evil man inherits

Grant me with thy Son to reign.

Antiphon: LAM i. 20: Behold, O Lord, for I am in distress; my bowels are troubled, my heart in turned within me, for I am full of bitterness: abroad the sword destroyeth, and at home there is death alike.

V. Lord, all my desire is before Thee.

R. And my groaning is not hidden from Thee.

Prayer as above

TERCE

Third dolor - The Loss of the Child Jesus

Hail Mary...

V. O God, come unto mind aid. As above.

Hymn

HAIL, to thee, Christ's Mother sweetest,

When was lost thy Son, thy King,

Thou, with mother's woe completest,

Three days sought Him sorrowing.

Ne'er be this remembrance over,

Let me find thy Son by grace,

And when I have found my lover,

Hold Him in a long embrace.

Antiphon: LAM i. 2: Weeping she hath wept in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: there is none to comfort her among all them that were dear to her.

V. He hath made me desolate.

R. Wasted with sorrow all the day long.

Prayer as above

SEXT

Fourth dolor - The Meeting of Jesus carrying His cross

Hail Mary...

V. O Lord, come unto mine aid. As above

Hymn

HAIL, Christ's sweetest Mother, looking

While thy Son was led along,

And from cruel hands was brooking

Blows and thorns and torture-thong.

By the pains which ne'er another

Bare as He, may we find peace;

By the love of His dear Mother

Suffering, may our love increase.

Antiphon: LAM i. 9-10: Behold, O Lord, my affliction, because the enemy is lifted up: the enemy hath put out his hand to all her desirable things.

V. Who will give water to my head and a fountain of tears to my eyes?

R. And I will weep day and night.

Prayer as above

NONE

Fifth Dolor - The Crucifixion & Death of Jesus

Hail Mary...

V. O God, come unto mine aid. As above

Hymn

HAIL, Christ's sweetest Mother sighing

'Neath the cross predestined tree,

When thy Son, so sadly dying,

Turned His eyes to look on thee.

By the sword of bitter sorrow,

Which then cleft thy soul in twain,

Grant that I love's might may borrow,

and o'er death the victory gain.

Antiphon: LAM i. 12: O all ye that pass by the way, attend and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow.

V. All they that passed by the way have clapped their hands at thee.

R. They have hissed, and wagged their head at the daughter of Jerusalem.

Prayer as above

VESPERS

Sixth Dolor - Christ's descent from the Cross

Hail Mary...

V. O God, come unto mine aid. As above

Hymn

HAIL, Christ's sweetest Mother, craving

Dead, thy Son, let down fron rood,

In thine arms to bear, and laving

Him with thy tears' holy flood.

May the power of that great anguish,

Mary Mother full of grace,

Keep me, when in death I languish,

Till I se my Saviour's face.

Antiphon: RUTH i. 20: Call me not Noemi (that is, beautiful), but call me Mara (that is, bitter), for the Almighty hath quite filled me with bitterness.

V. A bundle of myrrh is my Beloved to me.

R. He shall abide between my breasts.

Prayer as above

COMPLINE

Seventh Dolor - The Burial of Jesus

Hail Mary...

V. Convert us, O God our Saviour.

R. And turn off Thine anger from us.

V. O God, come unto mine aid. As above

Hymn

HAIL, Christ's sweetest Mother, weeping

Jesus hidden in the tomb,

Done to death and lowly sleeping,

Thou dost mourn His early doom.

By the might of anguished hours,

Suffered with a constant heart,

'Gainst the force of evil powers,

Help us bear a manly part;

Till with Saints on heavenly towers

We may join thee where thou art.

Antiphon: LAM i. 16: Therefore do I weep, and my eyes run down with water, because the Comforter, the relief of my soul, is far from me.

V. My eyes have failed with weeping.

R. My bowels are troubled.

Prayer as above

Offering

To thee, O Blessed Virgin, I recite

Prayers that are fitting for each holy rite;

May'st thou with loving mother's heart by nigh

To be my help, what time I come to die. Amen+

Stay Awake!

Robert Sargent Austin (1895 - 1973)

"Woman Praying" 1927-1928

"My son, when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity. Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great. Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient; For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation. Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him." Sirach 2:2-6

In these difficult and frightening times, we must keep our eyes always on the Lord and frequently lift our eyes to our Blessed Mother for help. Pray, offer sacrifices no matter how small....watch, pray and stay awake! Do not fall into asleep in the spirit (in other words, stay in a state of grace!) Go often to confession, communion and pray as much as you can. All will be well!

We must stand firm in hope.

"The waters have risen and severe storms are upon us, but we do not fear drowning, for we stand firmly upon a rock. Let the sea rage, it cannot break the rock. Let the waves rise, they cannot sink the boat of Jesus. What are we to fear? Death? Life to me means Christ, and death is gain. Exile? The earth and its fullness belong to the Lord. The confiscation of our goods? We brought nothing into this world, and we shall surely take nothing from it… I concentrate therefore on the present situation, and I urge you, my friends, to have confidence."

—St. John Chrysostom, Liturgy of the Hours, Vol IV, p. 1377

On attacks against priests

(Source: The Pieta Prayer Book, available here.)

"THE PRIESTHOOD IS A MASTERPIECE OF CHRIST'S DIVINE LOVE, WISDOM AND POWER. NEVER ATTACK A PRIEST"

"One should NEVER attack a priest, even when he's in error, rather one should pray and do penance that I'll grant him My grace again. He alone fully represents Me, even when he doesn't live after My example!" (source: page 29, Mutter Vogel's Worldwide Love, St. Grignion Publishing House, Altoting, South Germany (29. 6. 1929).

"When a Priest falls we should extend him a helping hand THROUGH PRAYER AND NOT THROUGH ATTACKS! I myself will be his judge, NO ONE BUT I!" "Whoever voices judgment over a priest has voiced it over Me; child, never let a Priest be attacked, take up his defense." (Feast of Christ the King 1937)

"Child, Never judge your confessor, rather pray much for him and offer every Thursday, through the hands of My blessed Mother, Holy Communion (for Him) (18.6. 1939)

"Never again accept an out-of-the-way word about a Priest, and speak no unkind word (about them) EVEN IF IT WERE TRUE! Every Priest is My Vicar and My heart will be sickened and insulted because of it! If you hear a judgment (against a Priest) pray a Hail Mary." (28. 6. 1939)

"If you see a Priest who celebrates the Holy Mass unworthily then say nothing about him, rather tell it to Me alone! I stand beside him on the altar!" "Oh pray much for My priests, that they'll love purity above all, that they'll celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with pure hands and heart. Certainly the Holy Sacrifice is one and the same even when it is celebrated by an unworthy priest, but the graces called down upon the people is not the same!" (28. 2. 1938)

A PRAYER FOR PRIESTS
Keep them, I pray Thee, dearest Lord, Keep them, for they are Thine -
Thy priests whose lives burn out before Thy consecrated shrine.
Keep them, for they are in the world, Though from the world apart;
When earthly pleasures tempt, allure, - Shelter them in Thy heart.
Keep them, and comfort them in hours Of loneliness and pain,
When all their life of sacrifice For souls seems but in vain.
Keep them, and O remember, Lord, They have no one but Thee,
Yet they have only human hearts, With human frailty.
Keep them as spotless as the Host. That daily they caress;
Their every thought and word and deed, Deign, dearest Lord, to bless.
Imprimatur: +D. Card. Dougherty, Arch. of Philadelphia

Mary Queen of the Clergy, pray for priests.

A perfect prayer

"Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner"

I came across this prayer while reading through the comments at some website or another and it struck me - I think this may be in essence a perfect prayer, or as perfect as any sinner can come up with. I've heard this is various forms, but this in its entirety is simple and beautiful. The longer I pray and try to be a "good Catholic" the more I see what a wretched sinner I am. May this be my "cry from the heart" Amen+

Act of Humility

Are you among many, like myself who seem to have no time? Employers are definately more demanding in these times. It would seem we are all expected to do what we simply cannot do, accomplish that which we cannot possibly accomplish. There are limits to what one person, one family, one group can do.

We are called as people of Christ to perform acts of charity: give of our time, our money, our prayers. If you are like me, after working, tending to home and family needs, there is precious little left of my inner resources. Prayer is above all needed in every spare moment. A soul without prayer is a soul that is dead. I must have God and prayer is the only way my poor soul has to communicate with Him.

Ok, so my family, home, job are demanding of everything, what is left is given to prayer - when, praytell am I to perform acts of charity???

If you cannot do charity, perform many and frequent acts of humility. Pour out to God, His mother and His saints how wretched and impoverished you are - tell them in what great need you are of their help! Humble yourself before the Lord and He will, in His loving kindness, bend to you. These acts of humility prepare the soul for later and greater acts of charity!

ACTS OF HUMILITY

1. Help me O Lord that my eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbours' soul and come to their rescue and that I may give heed to his needs, pains and moanings, and above all to have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all. Amen+

2. O divine Lord, how shall I dare to approach you, I who have so often offended you? No, Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof; but speak only the word and my soul shall be healed. Amen+

3. O my Saviour! whom am I that Thou shouldst invite me to receive Thee for the food of my soul? Is it possible that Thou, the God of infinite purity, shouldst come and dwell in my heart,which has been so long the abode of Thine enemy, and the sink of so much sin? Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.Say but the word and my soul shall be healed. I come then, O my amiable Saviour, to receive Thee this morning, but I come covered with shame and confusion at the sight of my sins, but full of confidence in Thy mercy, and in the love which Thou dost bear to me. Amen+

4. O Lord! Give me to know that truly I am the last, the very least of all. I am nothing before your all powerful Majesty. There is no good within me. Have pity on me, a poor sinner. Amen+

Praying with the Saints

(Saints by Fra Angelico)

One spiritual practice I've been using for some years now, I have found fruitful. I have more recently shared it with my family and we now put it into practice in our nightly rosary (no we don't pray the rosary every night, but more often than not) This is very simple and goes like this:

With each decade of the rosary/chaplet/etc. pronounce your intention and ask a saint or, in the case of my children MULTIPLE saints to implore the Lord before His throne for said intention. In practice it goes like this:

My husband leads the rosary, at the start of each decade he calls a child's name, the response goes like this: "The ah...the angel comes to Mary, uh, the Ammonciation...." , "You mean the Annunciation?", "Yeah...the Annunciation...so we'll pray for grandma and grandpa for their health, for Charley (the dog) so he'll have a long life, and for our family and that I can get better grades. We'll pray with Sts. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John... and let me see, St. Nicholas and St. Benedict too....Our Father..."

That would be our youngest, he's 11. Believe me, the teenagers are no different, just less enthusiastic. We talk about the certainty that with the name of each saint called on, they do indeed enter the room, kneel down with us before our home altar and pray with us, and for us.

In my own private prayer life it works a bit different. I have five primary patrons who I've "assigned" as it were to each decade of the rosary so I no longer call on them specifically but as I pray I imagine them right beside me, witnessing the mysteries with me. They of course are saints of God, much greater than me - I am no one. Sometimes when I am feeling particularly wretched I spiritually place my head in their hands, cower on the ground at their feet, or kiss their feet and beg like the most needy person alive for their help. I find they will often lead me in the meditation on the mysteries, walk with me from the scourging to the crowning of thorns, etc. This practice has richly deepened over the years to the point that I can no longer image prayer in any other manner. For instance, St. Charles Borromeo is my patron of the third decade. I am now accostomed to kneel beside him as our Lord is beaten by the soldiers and crowned with thorns. We praise His Holy Name as Jesus is spit upon, His beard plucked... sometimes at the end of this decade I imagine myself to kiss St. Charles' pectoral cross as he hands me off to St. Raphael for the carrying of the Cross. I ask my Angel Guardian to accompany me always as well.

This way, we are never, never alone in our prayers, but have a veritable arsenal at our disposal with which to beseech God for the graces needed. And God does surely know how badly I'm in need of His graces!