Thursday, April 30, 2009

Seriously...

Joe Biden has announced that he would advise family members to avoid commercial aircraft and subways on account of the swine flu virus. Said the Vice President on the Today show: “I would tell members of my family – and I have – I wouldn’t go anywhere in confined places now. It’s not that it’s going to Mexico. It’s [that] you’re in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft. That’s me...So, from my perspective, what it relates to is mitigation. If you’re out in the middle of a field when someone sneezes, that’s one thing. If you’re in a closed aircraft or closed container or closed car or closed classroom, it’s a different thing.”

The White House apparently finds these comments embarrassing, as they are afraid they will touch off mass panic that would paralyze the nation. But:

-- Does anybody seriously believe Joe Biden doesn't already avoid commercial flights and subways?

-- Does anybody seriously believe Joe Biden would not continue to avoid commercial flights and subways even in the absence of swine flu?

-- Does anybody seriously believe anybody goes to Joe Biden for advice on anything?

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

April 29th: St. Catherine of Siena


Novena Prayer to St. Catherine of Siena

O marvelous wonder of the Church, seraphic virgin, Saint Catharine, because of your extraordinary virtue and the immense good which you accomplished for the Church and society, you are acclaimed and blessed by all people. Oh, turn your benign countenance to me who, confident of your powerful patronage, calls upon you with all the ardor of affection and begs you to obtain, by your prayer, the favors I so ardently desire.

You, who were a victim of charity, who in order to benefits your neighbor obtained from God the most stupendous miracles and became the joy and the hope of all, you cannot help but hear the prayers of those who fly into your heart - that heart which you received from the Divine Redeemer in a celestial ecstasy.

Yes, O seraphic virgin, demonstrate once again proof of you power and of your flaming charity, so that your name will be ever more blessed and exalted; grant that we, having experienced your most efficacious intercession here on earth, may come one day to thank you in heaven and enjoy eternal happiness with you. Amen.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Why Would Anybody Want to Hurt This Man?

Is Pope Benedict tough? You bet. Is he orthodox? Unquestionably. Is he a staunch supporter of tradition? No doubt about it. Is he firm in his principles? Much to the consternation of his opponents. Has he been putting the smackdown on error, heresy, and nutjobbery in the universal Church since 1981? The salvos from the sewer that have been lobbed at him ever since the day he was elected to succeed John Paul II tell you everything you need to know right there.

The fact that congregations of habitless liberal nuns have been using his picture as a dart board only adds to Pope Benedict's appeal. But that's not all. On a personal, human level, Josef Alois Ratzinger has to be the most adorable man to wear the Fisherman's Ring since Eugenio Pacelli, the thoroughly lovable and unjustly maligned Pius XII. Why on earth would anybody want to do this man harm?

It's a safe bet the dart board nuns, whose kind is easily routed even in mild verbal disagreements, lack the courage of their convictions. But apparently, there are those who not only think this would be a better world without Papa Ratzi; they are willing to take action to see that it really happens. Chris Gillibrand at CathCon reports that Israeli intelligence has detected indications of a planned Islamist attack on the Pope during his visit to the Holy Land in May. It has been noted that May 13th, the 92nd anniversary of the first apparition at Fatima and the 28th anniversary of the attempt on John Paul II's life, falls in the middle of Benedict's visit.

Pray for the safety of Pope Benedict.


O Lord, we are the millions of believers, humbly kneeling at Thy feet and begging Thee to preserve, defend and save the Sovereign Pontiff for many years. He is the Father of the great fellowship of souls and our Father as well. On this day, as on every other day, he is praying for us also, and is offering unto Thee with holy fervor the sacred Victim of love and peace.

Wherefore, O Lord, turn Thyself toward us with eyes of pity; for we are now, as it were, forgetful of ourselves, and are praying above all for him. Do Thou unite our prayers with his and receive them into the bosom of Thine infinite mercy, as a sweet savor of active and fruitful charity, whereby the children are united in the Church to their Father. All that he asks of Thee this day, we too ask it of Thee in union with him.

Whether he weeps or rejoices, whether he hopes or offers himself as a victim of charity for his people, we desire to be united with him; nay more, we desire that the cry of our hearts should be made one with his. Of Thy great mercy grant, O Lord, that not one of us may be far from his mind and his heart in the hour that he prays and offers unto Thee the Sacrifice of Thy blessed Son. At the moment when our venerable High Priest, holding in His hands the very Body of Jesus Christ, shall say to the people over the Chalice of benediction these words: "The peace of the Lord be with you always," grant, O Lord, that Thy sweet peace may come down upon our hearts and upon all the nations with new and manifest power. Amen.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Happy Belated Earth Day!

Damn, I forgot all about Earth Day, the present-day incarnation of the birthday of Lenin, who, in this 1895 mugshot, looks every inch the punk kid brother of Satan.

I'll have to burn some extra light bulbs and run my internal combustion engine a little longer than usual today as a belated celebration. But I wish I could do more to expand my carbon footprint to truly Al Gore-esque proportions. I'd like to be a business tycoon, so I could build some oil refineries, or maybe even a nuclear power plant. I'd like to own all the Sonic franchises, so I could distribute thousands and thousands of drinks every hour in styrofoam cups. I'd like to be married, so I could have a big bunch of kids and contribute to overpopulation.

For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens (He is God!), Who formed the earth and made it (He established it; He did not create it a chaos, He formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other. I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, 'Seek me in chaos.' I the LORD speak the truth, I declare what is right.

Isaiah 45:18-19

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Treasures Old and New

Fr. Phillip Neri Powell, OP, of Domine, Da Mihi Hanc Aquam!, has a new book out. Treasures Old and New: Traditional Prayers for Today's Catholics comes out September 15th of this year from Liguori Publications.

And speaking of Liguori:

He who prays is certainly saved. He who prays not is certainly damned. All the blessed (except infants) have been saved by prayer. All the damned have been lost through not praying; if they had prayed, they would not have been lost. And this is, and will be, their greatest torment in hell, to think how easily they might have been saved, only by asking God for his grace; but that now it is too late -- the time of prayer is over.

The Ringed Planet

We get a better view of Saturn and its moons (now numbered at 61, not counting hundreds of moonlets within the rings) than anybody else in human history, thanks to the Cassini Spacecraft. Here are some of my favorite images (click each one for a better view):

Close-up of Saturn's atmosphere, from a distance of about 336,000 miles.

Icy Rhea, below the plane of Saturn's rings and against the background of its atmosphere.

Tiny, misshapen Prometheus, one of the shepherd moons that holds Saturn's rings in place. Note the apparent distortion of the rings caused by the gases in Saturn's upper atmosphere.

That's not the Death Star hovering over the rings of Saturn: it's the moon Mimas. The giant crater is named after the moon's discoverer, William Herschel (1738-1822).
Click here for more.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Catholic Universities, RIP

It's bad when -- undeterred by the furor over the same thing happening elsewhere -- a Catholic university invites the most virulently and unapologetically pro-abortion President ever elected to give a speech on campus.

It's really bad when said President asks the Catholic university to remove all Christian symbols from his sight before he'll give his speech.

It's really, really bad when the Catholic university goes ahead and does it.

"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."

Mark 8:38

May God Make You a Saint!

Whenever St. Alphonsus Liguori had had the last straw and was at his wit's end with somebody, he would always say: "May God make you a saint!"

This is not the touchy-feely, mushy-gushy sentiment that it may appear to be on the surface. More often than not, God has to drop anvils and safes and 16-ton weights and all kinds of catastrophes on us in order to break us of whatever it is that's keeping us from becoming saints. So whenever St. Alphonsus prayed God to make somebody a saint, I bet he added -- silently -- something along the lines of: "And may He get me out of the way when He does it!"

So, since I'm having a hard time remembering to do so myself, please help me pray for all the people who are driving me up the wall this week and next week. May God make them all saints. And may He get me out of the way while He does it.

The Cowboy of God Turns 82

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Taxed Enough Already!

Five hundred Tea Parties in fifty states -- including Idaho. There is a tea party in Boise today at the Capitol. I cannot, alas, attend due to my work schedule, but I herewith register my support.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Animal House


That is what my church sounded like on Easter Sunday between the 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Masses. So great was the uproar just before the 10:00 a.m. Mass that the announcement (over a microphone) that Mass was about to begin could barely be heard.

Someone close to me who has been away from the Church for many years told me that he had considered going to Easter Mass with me, but decided against it. I am almost -- almost -- glad he didn't come this time: according to his way of thinking, the din would most likely have made him feel quite justified in walking out and never darkening the doors of a Catholic church again.

The parish has launched a ministry dedicated to fallen-away Catholics and those who have returned to the Church after a long absence. Good; but to what extent are we undermining these efforts by our lack of reverence in church? Some people have not been to Mass since the days when such flagrant misbehavior in church was unthinkable. How many of these, who might otherwise be inclined to make their peace with the Church, are being driven away by the impression of hopeless decadence conveyed by today's frat house atmosphere?

Monday, April 13, 2009

Day Nine of Bl. Margaret Novena

And, of course, today is her feast day.

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, through your suffering and misfortune, you became sensitive to the sufferings of others. Your heart reached out to everyone in trouble – the sick, the hungry, the dying prisoners. Obtain for me the grace to recognize Jesus in everyone with whom I come into contact, especially in the poor, the wretched, the unwanted! Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray:

O God, by whose Will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened, she might think without ceasing on You alone: be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. This we ask in humble submission to God’s Will, for His Honor and Glory, and the salvation of souls. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

Prayer

O my God, I thank you for having given Blessed Margaret of Castello to the world as an example of the degree of holiness that can be attained by anyone who truly loves you, regardless of physical abnormalities.

In today’s perverted culture, Margaret would have, most likely, never been born, death through abortion being preferable to life, especially life in an ugly, distorted, twisted body. But Your ways are not the world’s ways; and so it was Your Will that Margaret would be born into the world with just such a malformed body.

It is Your way that uses our weakness to give testimony to Your power. Margaret was born blind, so as to see You more clearly; a cripple, so as to lean on You completely; dwarfed in physical posture, so as to become a giant in the spiritual order; hunch-backed, so as to more perfectly resemble the twisted, crucified body of Your Son. Margaret’s whole life was an enactment of the words expressed by Paul: “So I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast, so that the power of Christ may stay over me; and that is why I am content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.” (2 Cor 12:10).

I beseech you, O God, to grant, through the intercession of Blessed Margaret of Castello, that all the handicapped -- and who among us is not? -- all rejected, all unwanted of the world may make their weaknesses their own special boast so that your power may stay over them now and forever. Amen.

Blessed Margaret of Castello, pray for us.

Our Father...
Hail Mary...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...

Our Father...
Hail Mary...

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Day Eight of Bl. Margaret Novena

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, how it must have hurt when your parents abandoned you! Yet you learned from this that all earthly love and affection, even for those who are closest, must be sanctified. And so, despite everything, You continued to love your parents – but now you loved them in God. Obtain for me the grace that I might see all my human loves and affections in their proper perspective: in God and for god. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray:

O God, by whose Will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened, she might think without ceasing on You alone: be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. This we ask in humble submission to God’s Will, for His Honor and Glory, and the salvation of souls. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Day Seven of Bl. Margaret Novena

O blessed Margaret of Castello, you could have so easily become discouraged and bitter; but, instead, you fixed your eyes on the suffering Christ and there you learned from Him the redemptive value of suffering: how to offer your pains and aches, in reparation for sin and for the salvation of souls. Obtain for me the grace to learn how to endure my sufferings with patience. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray:

O God, by whose Will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened, she might think without ceasing on You alone: be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. This we ask in humble submission to God’s Will, for His Honor and Glory, and the salvation of souls. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

Friday, April 10, 2009

Good Friday


The Dream of the Rood
Being a Poem in Old English, of Anonymous Authorship,
Possibly Dating to the 7th Century

Translated into Modern English by Jonathan A. Glenn

Listen! The choicest of visions I wish to tell,
which came as a dream in middle-night,
after voice-bearers lay at rest.
It seemed that I saw a most wondrous tree
borne aloft, wound round by light,
brightest of beams. All was that beacon
sprinkled with gold. Gems stood
fair at earth's corners; there likewise five
shone on the shoulder-span. All there beheld the Angel of God,
fair through predestiny. Indeed, that was no wicked one's gallows,
but holy souls beheld it there,
men over earth, and all this great creation.
Wondrous that victory-beam--and I stained with sins,
with wounds of disgrace. I saw glory's tree
honored with trappings, shining with joys,
decked with gold; gems had
wrapped that forest tree worthily round.
Yet through that gold I clearly perceived
old strife of wretches, when first it began
to bleed on its right side. With sorrows most troubled,
I feared that fair sight. I saw that doom-beacon
turn trappings and hews: sometimes with water wet,
drenched with blood's going; sometimes with jewels decked.
But lying there long while, I,
troubled, beheld the Healer's tree,
until I heard its fair voice.
Then best wood spoke these words:
"It was long since--I yet remember it--
that I was hewn at holt's end,
moved from my stem. Strong fiends seized me there,
worked me for spectacle; cursèd ones lifted me.
On shoulders men bore me there, then fixed me on hill;
fiends enough fastened me. Then saw I mankind's Lord
come with great courage when He would mount on me.
Then dared I not against the Lord's word
bend or break, when I saw earth's
fields shake. All fiends
I could have felled, but I stood fast.
The young Hero stripped Himself--He, God Almighty--
strong and stout-minded. He mounted high gallows,
bold before many, when He would loose mankind.
I shook when that Man clasped me. I dared, still, not bow to earth,
fall to earth's fields, but had to stand fast.
Rood was I reared. I lifted a mighty King,
Lord of the heavens, dared not to bend.
With dark nails they drove me through: on me those sores are seen,
open malice-wounds. I dared not scathe anyone.
They mocked us both, we two together. All wet with blood I was,
poured out from that Man's side, after ghost He gave up.
Much have I born on that hill
of fierce fate. I saw the God of hosts
harshly stretched out. Darknesses had
wound round with clouds the corpse of the Wielder,
bright radiance; a shadow went forth,
dark under heaven. All creation wept,
King's fall lamented. Christ was on rood.
But there eager ones came from afar
to that noble one. I beheld all that.
Sore was I with sorrows distressed, yet I bent to men's hands,
with great zeal willing. They took there Almighty God,
lifted him from that grim torment. Those warriors abandoned me
standing all blood-drenched, all wounded with arrows.
They laid there the limb-weary one, stood at his body's head;
beheld they there heaven's Lord, and he himself rested there,
worn from that great strife. Then they worked him an earth-house,
men in the slayer's sight carved it from bright stone,
set in it the Wielder of Victories. Then they sang him a sorrow-song,
sad in the eventide, when they would go again
with grief from that great Lord. He rested there, with small company.
But we there lamenting a good while
stood in our places after the warrior's cry
went up. Corpse grew cold,
fair life-dwelling. Then someone felled us
all to the earth. That was a dreadful fate!
Deep in a pit one delved us. Yet there Lord's thanes,
friends, learned of me,. . . . . . . . . . .
adorned me with silver and gold.
Now you may know, loved man of mine,
what I, work of baleful ones, have endured
of sore sorrows. Now has the time come
when they will honor me far and wide,
men over earth, and all this great creation,
will pray for themselves to this beacon. On me God's son
suffered awhile. Therefore I, glorious now,
rise under heaven, and I may heal
any of those who will reverence me.
Once I became hardest of torments,
most loathly to men, before I for them,
voice-bearers, life's right way opened.
Indeed, Glory's Prince, Heaven's Protector,
honored me, then, over holm-wood.
Thus he his mother, Mary herself,
Almighty God, for all men,
also has honored over all woman-kind.
Now I command you, loved man of mine,
that you this seeing tell unto men;
discover with words that it is glory's beam
which Almighty God suffered upon
for all mankind's manifold sins
and for the ancient ill-deeds of Adam.
Death he tasted there, yet God rose again
by his great might, a help unto men.
He then rose to heaven. Again sets out hither
into this Middle-Earth, seeking mankind
on Doomsday, the Lord himself,
Almighty God, and with him his angels,
when he will deem--he holds power of doom--
everyone here as he will have earned
for himself earlier in this brief life.
Nor may there be any unafraid
for the words that the Wielder speaks.
He asks before multitudes where that one is
who for God's name would gladly taste
bitter death, as before he on beam did.
And they then are afraid, and few think
what they can to Christ's question answer.
Nor need there then any be most afraid
who ere in his breast bears finest of beacons;
but through that rood shall each soul
from the earth-way enter the kingdom,
who with the Wielder thinks yet to dwell."
I prayed then to that beam with blithe mind,
great zeal, where I alone was
with small company. My heart was
impelled on the forth-way, waited for in each
longing-while. For me now life's hope:
that I may seek that victory-beam
alone more often than all men,
honor it well. My desire for that
is much in mind, and my hope of protection
reverts to the rood. I have not now many
strong friends on this earth; they forth hence
have departed from world's joys, have sought themselves glory's King;
they live now in heaven with the High-Father,
dwell still in glory, and I for myself expect
each of my days the time when the Lord's rood,
which I here on earth formerly saw,
from this loaned life will fetch me away
and bring me then where is much bliss,
joy in the heavens, where the Lord's folk
is seated at feast, where is bliss everlasting;
and set me then where I after may
dwell in glory, well with those saints
delights to enjoy. May he be friend to me
who here on earth earlier died
on that gallows-tree for mankind's sins.
He loosed us and life gave,
a heavenly home. Hope was renewed
with glory and gladness to those who there burning endured.
That Son was victory-fast in that great venture,
with might and good-speed, when he with many,
vast host of souls, came to God's kingdom,
One-Wielder Almighty: bliss to the angels
and all the saints--those who in heaven
dwelt long in glory--when their Wielder came,
Almighty God, where his homeland was.

Crown of Thorns Galaxy

A new one from the Hubble Telescope, in time for Good Friday.

H/T Norm de Plume.

Day Six of Bl. Margaret Novena

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, your miseries taught you better than any teacher the weakness and frailty of human nature. Obtain for me the grace to recognize my human limitations and to acknowledge my utter dependence upon God. Acquire for me that abandonment which leaves me completely at the mercy of God to do with me whatsoever He wills. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray:

O God, by whose Will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened, she might think without ceasing on You alone: be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. This we ask in humble submission to God’s Will, for His Honor and Glory, and the salvation of souls. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Day Five of Bl. Margaret Novena

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, in imitation of the Child Jesus, Who was subject to Mary and Joseph, you obeyed your father and mother, overlooking their unnatural harshness. Obtain for me that same attitude of obedience toward all those Who have legitimate authority over me, most especially toward the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray:

O God, by whose Will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened, she might think without ceasing on You alone: be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. This we ask in humble submission to God’s Will, for His Honor and Glory, and the salvation of souls. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Spy Wednesday


According to tradition, this is the day Judas Iscariot began to plot against Jesus.

Day Four of Bl. Margaret Novena

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, you unceasingly turned to God in prayer with confidence and trust in His Fatherly love. It was only through continual prayer that you were enabled to accept your misfortunes, to be serene, patient, and at peace. Obtain for me the grace to persevere in my prayer, confident that God will give me the help to carry whatever cross comes into my life. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray:

O God, by whose Will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened, she might think without ceasing on You alone: be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. This we ask in humble submission to God’s Will, for His Honor and Glory, and the salvation of souls. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Day Three of Bl. Margaret Novena

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, your love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament was intense and enduring. It was here in intimacy with the Divine Presence that you found spiritual strength to accept suffering, to be cheerful, patient and kindly towards others. Obtain for me the grace that I may draw from this same source, as from an exhaustible font, the strength whereby I may be kind and understanding of everyone despite whatever pain or discomfort may come my way. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray:

O God, by whose Will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened, she might think without ceasing on You alone: be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. This we ask in humble submission to God’s Will, for His Honor and Glory, and the salvation of souls. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

Monday, April 06, 2009

Day Two of Bl. Margaret Novena

Today there is special need of Little Margaret's intercession in her native central Italy, which has been stricken by a deadly earthquake.

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, in reflecting so deeply upon the sufferings and death of our Crucified Lord, you learned courage and gained the grace to bear your own afflictions. Obtain for me the grace and courage that I so urgently need so as to be able to bear my infirmities and endure my afflictions in union with our Suffering Savior. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray:

O God, by whose Will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened, she might think without ceasing on You alone: be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. This we ask in humble submission to God’s Will, for His Honor and Glory, and the salvation of souls. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Palm Sunday AND Day One of Bl. Margaret Novena

Today we began Holy Week by celebrating the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

It is also nine days to the feast of Bl. Margaret of Castello, so the Bl. Margaret of Castello Guild is beginning a novena to Bl. Margaret today. I'll be posting the novena prayers here so that my loyal readership can join in. Remember: Little Margaret has only been waiting SEVEN HUNDRED YEARS to be raised to the altar!

Bl. Margaret Novena, Day One

O Blessed Margaret of Castello, in embracing your life just as it was, you gave us an example of resignation to the Will of God. In so accepting God’s Will, you knew that you would grow in virtue, glorify God, save your own soul, and help the souls of your neighbors. Obtain for me the grace to recognize the Will of God in all that may happen to me in my life, and so resign myself to it. Obtain for me also the special favor which I now ask through your intercession with God.

Let us pray:

O God, by whose Will the blessed virgin, Margaret, was blind from birth, that the eyes of her mind being inwardly enlightened, she might think without ceasing on You alone: be the light of our eyes, that we may be able to flee the shadows in this world, and reach the home of never-ending light. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Jesus, Mary, Joseph, glorify your servant blessed Margaret, by granting the favor we so ardently desire. This we ask in humble submission to God’s Will, for His Honor and Glory, and the salvation of souls. Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be…