From the successor of Saint Escriva

Bishop Javier Echevarria on tyohoon Haiyan

Read full report here!

Also to remind the readers of this blog of tomorrow's day of fasting and prayer as mentioned in this blog.

Pro-abortion rallyists heckle pro-lifer with shouts of...

I cannot even type it.

Just go and watch out for what you hear in the background.  :(




Then in this next clip, you'll hear it again in 3:35. By 5:15, they are all shouting it at the same time.




Now you know...

Now start praying this.

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Catholic Devotions for your Android Phone

There are so many apps available for download but you can go ahead and save the video on your phone!

Great to pray the rosary while you are stuck in traffic.

Plug in your earphone, and keep the noise away!

Do remember me in all your prayers ok, as I do you for visiting my blog.  :)

Click here for the link.  The video will start immediately.

I recently learned that you can set an alarm for 3PM on your phone and the Chaplet for Divine Mercy or 3'o clock Prayer will play!  Cool!

No more excuses.

What to do during Holy Thursday Vigil

Hello brother... Can you give us some ideas on what to do or pray during the Holy Thursday Eucharistic Vigil... Thanks po and God bless your work...

***

No thank you brother for your trust and patronage of the Pinoy Catholic blog. As I have said in a couple of blogs and in recent Facebook chats, WE ARE THE PINOY CATHOLIC.

Before I answer your question, let me share to you a summary on the liturgical heritage of the Church for Maundy Thursday:

As for today's liturgies, in the morning, the local Bishop will offer a special Chrism Mass during which blesses the oils used in Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Unction, and the consecration of Altars and churches.

At the evening Mass, after the bells ring during the Gloria, they are rung no more until the Easter Vigil (a wooden clapper called a "crotalus" is used insead). Parents explain this to their children by saying that the all the bells fly to Rome after the Gloria of the Mass on Maundy Thursday to visit the Popes. Children are told that the bells sleep on the roof of St. Peter's Basilica, and, bringing Easter eggs with them, start their flight home at the Gloria at the Easter Vigil, when when they peal wildly.

Then comes the Washing of the Feet after the homily, a rite performed by Christ upon His disciples to prepare them for the priesthood and the marriage banquet they will offer, and which is rooted in the Old Testament practice of foot-washing in preparation for the marital embrace (II Kings 11:8-11, Canticles 5:3) and in the ritual ablutions performed by the High Priest of the Old Covenant (contrast Leviticus 16:23-24 with John 13:3-5). The priest girds himself with a cloth and washes the feet of 12 men he's chosen to represent the Apostles for the ceremony.

The rest of the Mass after the Washing of the Feet has a special form, unlike all other Masses. After the Mass, the priest takes off his chasuble and vests in a white cope. He returns to the Altar, incenses the Sacred Hosts in the ciborium, and, preceded by the Crucifer and torchbearers, carries the Ciborium to the "Altar of Repose," also called the "Holy Sepulchre," where it will remain "entombed" until the Mass of the Presanctified on Good Friday.

Then there follows the Stripping of the Altars, during which everything is removed as Antiphons and Psalms are recited. All the glorious symbols of Christ's Presence are removed to give us the sense of His entering most fully into His Passion. Christ enters the Garden of Gethsemani; His arrest is imminent. Fortescue's "Ceremonies of the Roman Rite Described" tells us: "From now till Saturday no lamps in the church are lit. No bells are rung. Holy Water should be removed from all stoups and thrown into the sacrarium. A small quantity is kept for blessing the fire on Holy Saturday or for a sick call." The joyful signs of His Presence won't return until Easter begins with the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday evening.

Now about your question.

The Church does not have a set liturgy for the Vigil of Holy Thursday. If there were one, I'd be happy to promote it. The Forty Hours Devotion  or Quarantore is a different one since this is, as the name implies, is done over a span of 40 hours of non stop adoration of and prayers in front of the exposed Blessed Sacrament.


The spirit of the visits to the churches and the night vigil until midnight is so one can at least watch over with Christ at the Garden of Gethsemani while He prayed before His arrest. Matthew 26:36 "Then Jesus came with them into a country place which is called Gethsemani; and he said to his disciples: Sit you here, till I go yonder and pray."

Other churches and parishes organize the various BEC communities (if they are still existing in your parishes) and the mandated organizations and groups for every hour after the end of the Night Mass of Maundy Thursday until 12 midnight when the Blessed Sacrament is taken from the Altar of Repose and deposited in either the sacristy or at the parish rectory where a candle is left burning, just like the Sanctuary Lamp.

As for prayers, my experience with some parishes I visited is that those keeping watch and adoring the Blessed Sacrament are there kneeling and praying, SILENTLY.  I have visited one or two parishes where those keeping vigil are singing songs and blurting out their novena-esque prayers over the sound system of the church.

My opinion on this?  SHUT UP.

Pilgrims are coming from all walks of life and from all directions.  They come to the church to pray before the Blessed Sacrament, to pray the Via Crucis, to confess their sins to priests in the confessionals.  I hate to go to a church during Holy Thursday Vigil and find the church too noisy with the singing of the groups assigned to keep vigil.  One church I visited had a charismatic group keeping vigil.  And you know what happened?  SINGING EXPLOSION with electric guitars blaring in the church!

Can you not give us the Maundy Thursday silent?

I have experienced this in several churches and cathedrals I went to.  People were hushing inside the church.  Lines to the confessional box was loooonnnggg.  Poor priests.  This is the one time every year they get to be Padre Pio or Cure of Ars.  Sadly, one parish I visited last year in Caloocan City was just noisy.  The manangs were holding the microphones and.....you know the rest.

So to Franciscus Carmelo, and all those planning their parishes or chapels on what to do during the Eucharistic Vigil, no SINGING except the Tantum Ergo or Salutaris Hostia, which are sung, either of the two, before the Blessed Sacrament is taken from the Altar of Repose.

Have Prayers of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament printed out and handed to adorers of even pilgrims.

These are some of the prayers I have that I really like:

An Offering of Ourself to Christ in the Eucharist
by Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman

My Lord, I offer Thee myself in turn as a sacrifice of thanksgiving. Thou hast died for me, and I in turn make myself over to Thee. I am not my own. Thou hast bought me; I will by my own act and deed complete the purchase. My wish is to be separated from everything of this world; to cleanse myself simply from sin; to put away from me even what is innocent, if used for its own sake, and not for Thine. I put away reputation and honor, and influence, and power, for my praise and strength shall be in Thee. Enable me to carry on what I profess. Amen.


Short Visit to the Blessed Sacrament
By Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman

I place myself in the presence of Him, in whose Incarnate Presence I am before I place myself there.  I adore You, O my Savior, present here as God and Man, in Soul and Body, in true Flesh and Blood.  I acknowledge and confess that I kneel before the Sacred Humanity, which was conceived in Mary’s womb, and lay in Mary’s bosom; which grew up to man’s estate, and by the Sea of Galilee called the Twelve, wrought miracles, and spoke words of wisdom and peace; which in due season hung on the cross, lay in the tomb, rose from the dead, and now reigns in heaven.  I praise and bless, and give myself wholly to Him, Who is the true Bread of my soul, and my everlasting joy.


Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament
as taught to the Fátima Children by an angel

O most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly. I offer You the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg the conversion of sinners.


Prayer of St. Peter Julian Eymard

Oh! Yes, Lord Jesus, come and reign! Let my body be Your temple, my heart Your throne, my will Your devoted servant; let me be Yours forever, living only in You and for you!

(St. Peter Julian Eymard, 1811-1868, a French priest, founded the Blessed Sacrament Fathers and Brothers, dedicated to devotion of the Eucharist. Feast: August 3.)

Act When Visiting the Most Holy Sacrament
By St. Alphonsus Liguori

My Lord Jesus Christ, who, for the love you bear to mankind, do remain night and day in this Sacrament, full of pity and love, awaiting, calling, and receiving all who come to visit you; I believe that you are present in the Sacrament of the Altar; I adore you from the depths of my own nothingness; I thank you for the many graces you have given me, and especially for having given me yourself in this Sacrament; for having given me Mary your Mother as my advocate, and for having called me to visit you in this church.

(St. Alphonsus Liguori, 1696-1787, Italian bishop and founder of the Redemptorists, was proclaimed a doctor of the Church and is patron of confessors and moralists. Feast: August 1.)

COPY, PASTE, SHARE, PRINT and use it tomorrow and every time you visit and adore the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament who is present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

And don't forget to include me and my family in your prayers as I have include all of you in mine all the time. :)

A request from a priest-friend

From the great Father Z, comes a simple request.

Yup. I used to chat with him when the ZChat was still on quite often

The death of St. Joseph in the presence of Our Lord and the Blessed Mother

This is a nice prayer and I hope you stop a moment and say this prayer for him and for all priest, good or those who are hard-headed.  They, too, need our prayers.  We are all part of the Mystical Body of Christ:    Church Triumphant, Militant and Suffering.  Don't forget that.

***

PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH FOR A PARTICULAR PRIEST

Saint Joseph,
I present to you this day
Father N., priest of Jesus Christ,
and beg you to be to him
advocate and defender,
counselor and friend.
Open your heart to him
as you opened your home to the Virgin Mother
in her hour of need.
Protect his holy priesthood
as you protected the life of the Infant Christ
threatened by cruel Herod.
In darkness bring him light;
in weakness, strength,
and in fear the peace that passes understanding.
For the sake of the tender love that bound you
to the Virgin Mary and the Infant Christ,
be for him, Saint Joseph, a constant intercessor
and a shield against every danger of body, mind, and soul
so that, in spite of his weaknesses and sins,
his priesthood may bring glory to Christ
and serve to increase the beauty of holiness
in his bride the Church.

Amen.

Faith

"Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. (Matthew 8:8)

If I only touch his garment...(Matthew 9:21)


***


If the Roman centurion and the woman suffering from a hemorrhage are too fanatic to say those words, then call these people fanatics of the Lord.


It's the faith that spells the difference.

The Holy Family

From EWTN's collection of prayers:

This novena is most appropriately begun nine days before December 28, the feast of the Holy Family. It is also fitting to pray it during the month of February, which is consecrated to the Holy Family.

Novena Prayer:

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of loving Holy Church as I should, above every earthly thing, and of ever showing my love by deeds.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of openly professing as I should, with courage and without human respect, the faith that I received as your gift in holy Baptism.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of sharing as I should in the defense and propagation of the Faith when duty calls, whether by word or by the sacrifice of my possessions and my life.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of loving my family and others in mutual charity as I should, and establish us in perfect harmony of thought, will, and action, under the rule and guidance of the shepherds of the Church.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless me and grant me the grace of conforming my life fully as I should to the commandments of God’s law and those of His Holy Church, so as to live always in that charity which they set forth.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I ask in particular this special favor:
(Mention your favor).

Dedication of One’s Family:
Most loving Jesus, by Your sublime and beautiful virtues of humility, obedience, poverty, modesty, charity, patience, and gentleness, You blessed with peace and happiness the family which You chose on earth. In Your mercy look upon my family. We belong to You, for we have received Your many blessings over many years and we entrust ourselves to Your loving care.

Look upon my family in Your loving kindness, preserve us from danger, give us help in time of need, and grant us the grace to persevere to the end in imitation of Your holy Family, so that having revered You and loved You faithfully on earth, we may praise You eternally in heaven.

Mary, dearest Mother, to your intercession we have recourse, knowing that your Divine Son will hear your prayers. Glorious patriarch, Saint Joseph, help us by your powerful prayers and offer our prayers to Jesus through Mary’s hands. Amen.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, being subject to Mary and Joseph, You sanctified family life by Your beautiful virtues. Grant that we, with the help of Mary and Joseph, may be taught by the example of Your holy Family, and may after death enjoy its everlasting companionship.

Lord Jesus, help us ever to follow the example of Your holy Family, that in the hour of our death Your glorious Virgin Mother together with Saint Joseph may come to meet us, and we may be worthy to be received by You into the everlasting joys of heaven. You live and reign forever. Amen



Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/novena/HolyFamily.htm#ixzz1hy4ktnbI

Weird translation...bordering on heresy?

I visited the RCAM website and downloaded the Missalettes for the Thanksgiving Mass for the service of Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales as Archbishop of Manila.  It is available in both English and Tagalog.

I was reading through the Missalette when something caught my attention.

Here is the screencap.

ENGLISH Eternal Father, we honor the holiness and glory of the Virgin Mary. May her prayers bring us the fullness of your life and love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever.

TAGALOG Ama naming makapangyarihan, kaming gumugunita sa Mahal na Birheng Maria ay humihiling na iyong pagbigyan pakundangan sa kanyang pagdalangin upang kami’y pagindapating tumanggap mula sa abut-abot na kaloob mo sa pamamagitan ni Hesukristo kasama ng Espiritu Santo magpasawalang hanggan.

This is something that has been bugging me every time I get hold of a copy of a Tagalog Missalette, be it Sambuhay or Euchalette.  (ugh)

For those who understand Tagalog, you can clearly see the great disparity between the English original from the Tagalog translation.

 Of particular interest is how the Tagalog prayers always end this way If translated to English this would how it would look:

Almighty Father, we who celebrate the Virgin Mary, ask you to grant us, through her prayers, that we may be worthy to receive through the abundance of Your Will through Jesus Christ together with the Holy Spirit, forever and ever

WHAT?!

RECEIVE WHAT?!

You ask the Father to give you the grace which you ask then say with the Jesus and the Holy Spirit forever and ever? Look at the original English.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever.

The Tagalog does nto even say that you are asking it through Christ who LIVES AND REIGNS WITH THE FATHER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD FOREVER AND EVER.

Remember folks, that all our prayers are based from the Latin original, which then is translated into the languages of each of the concerned countries.  I do not have the Latin original with me, but basing on the English, you'd be sure that THIS IS ONE BAD TRANSLATION.

All the graces that the Father gives to us are asked through Jesus Christ who is the One Mediator.  We do not ask the graces WITH JESUS CHRIST.  We ask the Father to GRANT THEM THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, who lives and reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit, ONE GOD, forever and ever.

The Trinitarian formula is always used to end our prayers.

I have attended Mass said in Cebuano but I never heard of this.  Same in Ilocano and Ilonggo and never heard it as well.

Is this a case of bad translation or a THEOLOGICAL AGENDA?

Lex orandi, lex credendi folks!

The one who did the translating shows his faith.

That is not how the original was written.

Then, WHY IS THIS STILL GOING ON?!?!

***

Dear TPC readers,  chime in your experiences about the prayers you hear at Mass.  If you can send in the prayers printed in the Misallettes you hold on Sundays, the better.  Watch out especially for the prayers used in the Prayers of the Faithful / General Intercession.

The Feast of the Sacred Heart

DO not forget to attend Mass today. Our friends at Rorate gave us a friendly reminder about the plenary indulgence one receives if he recites the Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart on this day.

Act of Consecration to the Sacred heart of Jesus

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I consecrate myself to Your Most Sacred Heart. Take possession of my whole being; transform me into Yourself. Make my hands Your hands, my feet Your feet, my heart Your heart. Let me see with Your eyes, listen with Your ears, speak with Your lips, love with Your heart, understand with Your mind, serve with Your will, and be dedicated with my whole being. Make me Your other self. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, send me Your Holy Spirit to teach me to love You and to live through You, with You, in You and for You.

Come, Holy Spirit, make my body Your temple. Come, and abide with me forever. Give me the deepest love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus in order to serve Him with my whole heart, soul, mind and strength. Take possession of all my faculties of body and soul. Regulate all my passions: feelings and emotions. Take possession of my intellect, understanding and will; my memory and imagination. O Holy Spirit of Love, give me an abundance of Your efficacious graces. Give me the fullness of all the virtues; enrich my faith, strengthen my hope, increase my trust, and inflame my love. Give me the fullness of Your sevenfold gifts, fruits and beatitudes. Most Holy Trinity, make my soul Your sanctuary.

Act of Reparation

Sacred Heart of Jesus, animated with a desire to repair the outrages unceasingly offered to Thee, we prostrate before Thy throne of mercy, and in the name of all mankind, pledge our love and fidelity to Thee!

The more Thy mysteries are blasphemed, the more firmly we shall believe them, O Sacred Heart of Jesus!

The more impiety endeavors to extinguish our hopes of immortality, the more we shall trust in Thy Heart, sole hope of mankind!

The more hearts resist Thy Divine attractions, the more we shall love Thee, O infinitely amiable heart of Jesus!

The more unbelief attacks Thy Divinity, the more humbly and profoundly we shall adore It, O Divine Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy holy laws are transgressed and ignored, the more we shall delight to observe them, O most holy Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Sacraments are despised and abandoned, the more frequently we shall receive them with love and reverence, O most liberal Heart of Jesus!

The more the imitation of Thy virtues is neglected and forgotten, the more we shall endeavor to practice them, O Heart, model of every virtue!

The more the devil labors to destroy souls, the more we shall be inflamed with desire to save them, O Heart of Jesus, zealous Lover of souls!

The more sin and impurity destroy the image of God in man, the more we shall try by purity of life to be a living temple of the Holy Spirit, O Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Holy Church is despised, the more we shall endeavor to be her faithful children, O Sweet Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Vicar on earth is persecuted, the more we will honor him as the infallible head of Thy Holy Church, show our fidelity and pray for him, O kingly Heart of Jesus!

O Sacred Heart, through Thy powerful grace, may we become Thy apostles in the midst of a corrupted world, and be Thy crown in the kingdom of heaven.

Amen.

Patron of the Pro-Life Movement

John-Paul Deddens of PrayMoreNovenas.com sent me an email requesting my dear TPC readers to pray the Novena to St. Joseph, foster father of Our Lord Jesus Christ and Patron of the Universal Church, starting today, March 11 ending on the saint's feast on March 19.

This is a timely request as St. Joseph obediently took our Blessed Mother for his wife after the angel instructed him to do so in a dream.  So to speak, he is the PATRON OF THE PRO-LIFE MOVEMENT as he protected the unborn Jesus from his fellow Jews who might subject the Virgin Mary to the severe penalty of death if She is discovered to be pregnant before they were married.

Go visit the website to pray the novena.

Click here to sign the petition.

Sign up and you'll get your novena prayers via email or you can also just copy the novena prayers.

Pray for the protection of Life!

Pray for the protection of Holy Mother Church!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

To all my dear TPC readers,

My prayers and warmest regards to you and your loved ones for the year 2010!

The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

YEAR OF THE PRIEST: Pray for our dearly departed priests

His Eminence, Father John Zuhlsdorf of "What Does the Prayer Really Say?"  has posted a suggestion to pray for our dearly departed priests on this Year of the Priests especially on the First Thursday, November 5.  We can gain a plenary indulgence this Year of the Priest.  Thursday, probably because, it was on a Thursday that Christ gave us the Sacrament of Holy Orders and the Blessed Sacrament.

WONDERFUL IDEA!  So I'll join the call.

Please say a prayer for our dearly departed priests.  They prayed for us their whole ministry.  It time to return the favor.

I have included here traditional prayers for the dead including a Prayer for Deceased Priests.  For those who wanted the Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory written by St. Alphonsus Ligouri, please email me so I can send it to you.  The file is too long to be posted here.

***

DE PROFUNDIS

Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.
Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, shalt observe iniquities; Lord, who shall endure it?
For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness:
and by reason of Thy law, I have waited for Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on His word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him plentiful redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel from all her iniquities.

Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.


Responsory Prayer for the Dead

V. Do not remember my sins O Lord,
R. When you come to judge the world by fire
V. Direct my ways in your sight, O Lord, my God
R. When you come to judge the world by fire
V. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.
R. When you come to judge the world by fire
V. Lord, have mercy
R. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy
V. Our Father in heaven, holy be your name, your kingdom come your will be done on earth as in heaven.
R. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Do not bring us to the test but deliver us from evil.
V. From the gates of Hell.
R. Deliver his soul, O Lord.
V. May he rest in peace
R. Amen
V. Lord hear my prayer
R. And let my cry come to you.


Let us pray.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that through our pious supplication they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

PRAYER FOR A DECEASED PRIEST

O God, Thou didst raise Thy servant, N., to the sacred priesthood of Jesus Christ, according to the Order of Melchisedech, giving him the sublime power to offer the Eternal Sacrifice, to bring the Body and Blood of Thy Son Jesus Christ down upon the altar, and to absolve the sins of men in Thine own Holy Name. We beseech Thee to reward his faithfulness and to forget his faults, admitting him speedily into Thy Holy Presence, there to enjoy forever the recompense of his labors. This we ask through Jesus Christ Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

THE GLORIOUS ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED AND IMMACULATE MOTHER

"  By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.

Hence if anyone, which God forbid, should dare willfully to deny or to call into doubt that which we have defined, let him know that he has fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith.

It is forbidden to any man to change this, our declaration, pronouncement, and definition or, by rash attempt, to oppose and counter it. If any man should presume to make such an attempt, let him know that he will incur the wrath of Almighty God and of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul.  "

-Venerable Pius XII
MUNIFICENTISSIMUS DEUS
November 1, 1950

***

Almighty and eternal God, who hast taken up into the glory of Heaven, with body and soul, the immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of thy son: grant us, we pray, that we may always strive after heavenly things and thus merit to share in her glory. Amen.

***

O most sweet Lady and our Mother, by the merits of thy happy death obtain for us holy perseverance in the divine friendship, that we
may finally quit this life in God’s grace; and unite with the blessed spirits in praising thee and singing thy glories as thou deservest. Amen.

St. Alphonsus Ligouri (Glories of Mary)

A beautiful Morning Offering

I want to share with you this short but very beautiful prayer taught by a departed  missionary, Fr. Robert E. Sullivan.  We used to call him "Your Eminence" because that was how big he was in life.  Truly dedicated to his work!  A very holy man.  He greatly influenced me in my life as a Catholic and as a writer.  Pray for us Fr. Bob!

***

A Short Morning Offering

Lord, I offer you this day
All that I shall think or do or say
Uniting it with what was done
On earth by Jesus Christ Your only Son.  Amen.

The Bells used to toll for the Angelus Domini

I used to remember back in my younger days when churches in Manila still have bells in their towers. Every 6AM, 12noon and 6PM the bells would toll to signal the praying of the Angelus. Even a local TV station will play a video of the Angelus so viewers can pray along. Even the catholic school I went to had an empty hospital oxygen tank as a bell, because it creates a beautiful toll everytime it is struck by a wooden pole. Those were the good old days gone by because of some saying "it's not the practice of the times." or "its too old fashion." Since when was the praying and commemoration of the solemn time in history when God became Man in the womb of the Virgin Mary became so old fashion? I can still remember when we would kneel in the part of the Credo saying "He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary". Well, that part was also long gone by thanks to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines who stopped the practice. You don't even see bishops bow their heads at the mention of the Holy Name. But you see them on TV commenting on issues like Charter Change, election fraud, environmental protection, and... Oh sorry, I drifted.

Going back to the Angelus, I found this beautiful video on YouTube. Watch and if you can find yourself among the people who literally stopped at what they are doing after hearing the toll of the bells.

Read and Compare: Rite of Blessing of Salt and Water

Below are the prayers for the blessing of water (which obviously will become Holy Water after it has been blessed by the priest. Compare and contrast.


1962 Rituale Romanum

Sign of the Cross
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who has made heaven and earth.

(Then the priest continues:)

Salt made by God, I purge you of evil,
by the living God, by the true God, by the holy God,
by God who ordered by the mouth of the prophet Eliseus
that you be mixed with water to heal the latter's sterility.
Become now the salt of exorcism for the salvation of the faithful,
that all tasting you may receive health of soul and body.
From wherever you are sprinkled
let there flee away all appearance of devilish deceit,
and wickedness and cunning.
Let every unclean spirit be commanded by Him
who is to come to judge the living and the dead
and the world by fire.

R. Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God,
we humbly beg of Your measureless mercy to bless this salt
that You have made and given mankind to use.
Sanctify it in Your loving kindness,
so that all who partake of it may receive health of both mind and body.
Grant that whatever is touched or sprinkled by it
may be preserved from uncleanness,
and from every assault of the wicked foe,
through our Lord Jesus Christ.

R. Amen.

(Exorcism of the water. The priest says:)

Water made by God, I purge you, too, of evil,
in the name of God the Father almighty,
in the name of Jesus Christ His Son our Lord,
and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Become now water blessed to banish all power of the enemy,
and to conquer and dispel that enemy himself with his fallen angels,
by the power of the same Lord Jesus Christ,
who shall come to judge the living and the dead
and the world by fire.

R. Amen.

Let us pray.

O God, for the salvation of mankind
You have built Your greatest sacraments on this substance of water.
Give a kindly hearing to our prayers,
and pour out the power of Your blessing on this element,
now prepared for our many kinds of purifications.
Grant that this, Your creature,
may receive power by divine grace,
in serving Your mysteries,
to drive away evil spirits, and dispel diseases.
Grant that everything in the homes or other buildings of the faithful
that is sprinkled with this water
may be freed of all uncleanness,
and be freed from harm.
Let no harmful spirit abide here,
nor breath of corruption approach,
and may all the snares of our hidden enemy vanish.
If there be anything which threatens
either the health or the peace of those living there,
may the sprinkling of this water put it to flight.
Grant that the well-being sought by calling on Your holy name
may be defended from all attacks,
through Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.


V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.

Let us pray.

O God, You are the origin of unshakable power,
the King of an unconquerable dynasty,
and a ruler ever magnificent in triumphs.
It is You that hold in check the forces of the hostile power,
You that vanquish the rage of the roaring foe,
You that scatter far and wide the snares of the enemy.
Trembling and bowing before You,
we ask of You and we beg, O Lord,
that You behold with favor this mixture of salt and water,
to regard it with kindness,
and to bless it with the breath of Your tireless love.
Grant that wherever it is sprinkled at the invocation of Your holy name,
the attacks of the unclean spirit may be banished,
and the fear of the fatal serpent be kept far away.
Let the presence of the Holy Spirit within us,
who humbly implore Your mercy,
be everywhere granted,
through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and is King and God with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

R.Amen.



This is from the New Rite of Blessing of Water (Collectio Rituum)

Sign of the Cross

Priest: May God who has given us a new birth in Christ by water and the Holy Spirit be with you all.
R: And also with you

The priest continues...

P: By this blessing of water, we recall the sacrament of baptism in which by water and the Holy Spirit we were reborn. Everytime we are sprinkled with this water or we use it in making the sign of the cross upon entering the church and in our prayer at home, we give thanks to God for his gifts beyond human telling and we implore his help so that we may live up to the sacrament which we have received by faith.

Reading from the Gospel according to John (7:37-39)

Prayer of Blessing
P: Let us pray. Lord, holy Father, look upon us who were redeemed though your Son and were reborn at the baptismal font and grant that those who would be sprinkled by this water may be renewed in body and mind and may offer you pure service through Christ our Lord together with the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

If salt is added, the priest blesses the salt using the following prayer:
P: Almight God, we ask you to bless + this salt as once you blessed the salt scattered over the water by the prophet Elisha. Wherever this salt and water are sprinkled, drive away the power of evil and protect us always by the presence of your Holy Spirit. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(He adds the salt to the water and sprinkles the water to the people as he says:
P: Let this water call to mind our baptism into Christ, who by his death and resurrectionhas redeemed us. Amen.




If you are going to Notre Dame to sprinkle holy water on the ND officials who invited Obama, which prayers would you prefer the priest would use to bless the water and salt so these can be used to exorcize these officials and even Obama himself? Was there something wrong with the old rite that it needs to be revised? Or is this the Obama-type of change? Change for the sake of changing because old or traditional = Evil, Bad?

I am no theologian but I know my catechism. And I know the difference between the white and black. The old rite calls for God's blessing upon the water and salt as a potent weapon against the Enemy while the new rite asks God's blessing that we may be renewed in body and mind.

Huh?

Fortunately for us all, Summorum Pontificum, the wonderful motu propio gift of our Holy Father, Benedict XVI (ad multos annos!) allowed priests to use the old liturgical books (including the old rite of blessing of water and salt) and the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, which was called the Latin Tridentine Mass or the Mass of the Ages. Show the old rite to your priest and ask him to bless your water and salt using this prayer.