30 June 2017

Heart of Jesus, Think of Me. [Anglican Patrimony]




Heart of Jesus, think of me.
Eyes of Jesus, look on me.
Face of Jesus, comfort me.
Hands of Jesus, bless me.
Feet of Jesus, guide me.
Arms of Jesus, hold me.
Body of Jesus, feed me.
Blood of Jesus, wash me.
Jesus, make me thus thine own,
Here and in the world to come. Amen.

from St. Augustine's Prayer Book Order of the Holy Cross
Episcopal Church USA

An Armenian Apostolic Prayer for the Sick at the Sixth Hour




Dispel the pain 
and heal the sickness of thy people, 
Lord our God,
and grant to all perfect health 
by the sign of thine all-conquering cross 
through which thou removed the weakness of mankind
and condemned the enemy of our life and salvation.

Thou art our life and salvation,
beneficent and all merciful God,
who alone can forgive us our sins
and remove diseases and sickness from us,
to whom are known our needs and necessities.

Bestower of gifts, 
grant thy bounteous mercy to thy creatures 
according to their individual needs, 
through whom thy Holy Trinity is always glorified and praised, 
now and always and forever and ever.
Amen.

24 June 2017

Keble: SAINT JOHN BAPTIST in "The Christian Year". (Anglican Patrimony)

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In The Christian Year
John Keble offers this for 
St. John Baptist:


Behold, 
I will send you Elijah the prophet 
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: 
and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, 
and the heart of the children to their fathers. 
Malachi iv. 5, 6.


Twice in her season of decay
The fallen Church hath felt Elijah’s eye
Dart from the wild its piercing ray:
Not keener burns, in the chill morning sky,
The herald star,
Whose torch afar
Shadows and boding night-birds fly.

Methinks we need him once again,
That favoured seer—but where shall he be found?
By Cherith’s side we seek in vain,
In vain on Carmel’s green and lonely mound:
Angels no more
From Sinai soar,
On his celestial errands bound.

But wafted to her glorious place
By harmless fire, among the ethereal thrones,
His spirit with a dear embrace
Thee the loved harbinger of Jesus owns,
Well-pleased to view
Her likeness true,
And trace, in thine, her own deep tones.

Deathless himself, he joys with thee
To commune how a faithful martyr dies,
And in the blest could envy be,
He would behold thy wounds with envious eyes,
Star of our morn,
Who yet unborn
Didst guide our hope, where Christ should rise.

Now resting from your jealous care
For sinners, such as Eden cannot know,
Ye pour for us your mingled prayer,
No anxious fear to damp Affection’s glow,
Love draws a cloud
From you to shroud
Rebellion’s mystery here below.

And since we see, and not afar,
The twilight of the great and dreadful day,
Why linger, till Elijah’s car
Stoop from the clouds? Why sheep ye? Rise and pray,
Ye heralds sealed
In camp or field
Your Saviour’s banner to display.

Where is the lore the Baptist taught,
The soul unswerving and the fearless tongue?
The much-enduring wisdom, sought
By lonely prayer the haunted rocks among?
Who counts it gain
His light should wane,
So the whole world to Jesus throng?

Thou Spirit, who the Church didst lend
Her eagle wings, to shelter in the wild,
We pray Thee, ere the Judge descend,
With flames like these, all bright and undefiled,
Her watch-fires light,
To guide aright
Our weary souls by earth beguiled.

So glorious let thy Pastors shine,
That by their speaking lives the world may learn
First filial duty, then divine,
That sons to parents, all to Thee may turn;
And ready prove
In fires of love,
At sight of Thee, for aye to burn.

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21 June 2017

Hurricane Season: Litany of Our Lady of Prompt Succour

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We pray the following Litany especially during hurricane season.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour, New Orleans, Louisiana


In the Name + of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

The Litany
of
Our Lady of Prompt Succour

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy upon us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy upon us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Mother of the Infant Jesus, pray for us.
Our Lady of Prompt Succour, pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 of all who invoke you with confidence, 
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
of all who are devout toward the Infant Jesus, 
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
for obtaining a lively faith,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 for sustaining the hope of Christians,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
for obtaining and persevering in charity,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
for observing the law of God, 
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
for observing perseverance in virtue and good works, 
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 in every spiritual necessity,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 against the revolt of self-will,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 in the occasion of sin, 
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 in every temptation,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 against the evil spirit,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 for obtaining contrition,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 of those wishing to re-enter the path of salvation,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
for the conversion of sinners,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
in every temporal necessity,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
in every affliction,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
of afflicted families,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
of the sick and the poor,  
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
against contagious diseases and epidemics,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour in every accident,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 against destruction by fire,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 against lightning and tempest,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 against destruction by flood, 
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour of travelers,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour of navigators,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour of the shipwrecked,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 against the enemies of our country,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour in time of war,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour of those aspiring 
to the holy priesthood and the religious life, 
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
of laborers in the Lord's vineyard,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
of missionaries who spread the faith,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
of our Holy Father the Pope,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour
for those searching for the faith,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour against the enemies of the Church,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour at the hour of death,
pray for us.

Our Lady of Prompt Succour 
 for the deliverance of the souls in purgatory,
pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

V: Our Lady of Prompt Succor, pray for us.
R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O Almighty and Eternal God, Who sees us surrounded by so many dangers and miseries, grant in Your infinite goodness that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Your Divine Son, may defend us from the evil spirit and protect us against all adversities, that always and with prompt succor she may deliver us from every evil of soul and body, and safely guide us to the kingdom of heaven, through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Contemplation:
If our eyes are always on heaven and God, at the end of life we will find ourselves in His Presence.

(Recitation of the Rosary)

Imprimatur:

Joseph F. Rummel
Archbishop of New Orleans.
New Orleans.
February 11, 1936.


+Kyrie eleison!

19 June 2017

A Prayer to God the Father from the First Letter of Clement

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We ask you, Master, 
be our helper and defender.
Rescue those of our number in distress;
raise up the fallen;
assist the needy;
heal the sick; 
turn back those of your people who stray; 
feed the hungry; 
release our captives; 
revive the weak; 
encourage those who lose heart. 
Let all the nations realise 
that you are the only God, 
that Jesus Christ is your Child, 
and that we are your people 
and the sheep of your pasture. 


from The First Letter of St. Clement
(circa A.D. 96) 


14 June 2017

Prayers for Peace [Church of Scotland]

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Once again I have been moved to post these prayers which come from the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian).  

Before we find ourselves suddenly engulfed in warfare or violence on every side, let us pray for God's Peace and the Divine Will to prevail over the hearts and wills of all those who would sew division, create chaos, and inflict violence and pain on everyone.



A Prayer in time of war.
from The Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland

God of infinite mercy, we trust in your good purposes of peace for all your children. We pray for those who at this time face danger in the defence of justice. Watch over those in peril; support those who are anxious for loved ones; gather into your eternal purpose those who will die. Remove from the hearts of all people the passions that keep alive the spirit of war, and in your goodness restore peace among us; for the sake of the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


A Prayer that the Will of God may prevail.
from The Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland


Lord God, Sovereign over all, bring in the day of the splendour of your kingdom and draw the whole world into willing obedience to your reign. Cast out the evil things that cause war, and send your Spirit to rule the hearts of people in righteousness and love. Repair the desolations of many generations, that the wilderness may rejoice, and the city be made glad with your law. Confirm every work that is founded on truth, and fulfil the desires and hopes of your people, through the victory of Christ our Lord. Amen.


A Prayer for Guidance and Protection.
from The Book of Common Order of the Church of Scotland

God of light and love, in your tender compassion you sent your Son to shine on those who sit in darkness and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Grant us, in our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us do. By your Spirit of wisdom, save us from false choices. And since it is by your light that we are enlightened, lead us and protect us, and give us a straight path to follow, that we may neither stumble nor fall; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


By thy love and pity, save us, O Lord Christ.

A Child's Prayer for Peace [Anglican Patrimony]

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  From an old Anglican Children's Prayer Book




A  PRAYER  FOR  PEACE

O GOD,
send Thy Spirit into men's hearts 
that they may hate war 
and love peace.
Teach the children of every land 
that it is better to love one another 
than to fight,
so that war may cease
and Thy Kingdom of love and brotherhood
may be set up through all the world,
for the sake of JESUS CHRIST, 
Our Lord. 
Amen.

11 June 2017

Most Holy Trinity Sunday

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Benedictus sit Deus
K. 117
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

This was composed when Mozart was 12 years old.

10 June 2017

Suscipe Sancta Trinitas

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Blessed Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Buffalo, New York
Photo credit: Gary Kelley

There are a number of lost prayers I cannot help but wish were brought back into the authorised forms for the celebration of the Holy Eucharistic Sacrifice of the Mass. The following may be the most important one:


Accept, holy Trinity, this offering which we make to you in remembrance of the passion, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in honour of blessed Mary ever Virgin, of blessed John the Baptist, of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, of those whose relics rest here, and of all the Saints. To them may it bring honour, and to us salvation; and may they, whose memory we keep on earth, be pleased to intercede for us in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.


Suscipe, sancta Trinitas, hanc oblationem, quam tibi offerimus ob memoriam passionis, resurrectionis, et ascensionis Jesu Christi Domini nostri: et in honorem beatae Mariae semper Virginis et beati Joannis Baptistae, et sanctorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli, et istorum, et omnium Sanctorum: ut illis proficiat ad honorem, nobis autem ad salutem: et illi pro nobis intercedere dignentur in caelis, quorum memoriam agimus in terris. Per eundem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.


08 June 2017

A Prayer of Saint Ephrem, the Harp of the Holy Spirit

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O Lord and Master of my life,
take from me the spirit of sloth, despondency,
lust of power, and idle talk;

But grant rather to thy servant
the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love.

Yea, O Lord and King,
grant me to see my own transgressions,
and not to judge my brother;
for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages.


A Prayer of Saint Ephrem
The Harp of the Holy Spirit
Doctor of the Church

Quito, Ecuador: Our Lady of Good Success

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There is a good article on the Catholic World Report regarding the apparitions of Our Lady of Good Success in Quito, Ecuador that began in 1549.  In the Americas, this may be the most profound of the Marian apparitions with regard to our contemporary culture's condition.  LINK

There is an excellent pamphlet distributed by Matthew Arnold that can be downloaded from his website HERE that I encourage you to download and share. In this day perhaps the best is to share the link with family and friends via email: http://www.promultismedia.net/uploads/OLGS_Pamphlet.pdf

Soul of Mary, sanctify me,
Body of Mary, purify me,
Heart of Mary, inflame me,
Sorrow of Mary, comfort me,
Tears of Mary, console me,
O Sweet Mary, hear me.
With thy benign eyes, look on me, 
Through thy holy steps, guide me,
To thy Divine Son, pray for me,
Pardon for my sins, achieve for me,
Devotion to your holy Rosary, infuse in me,
Love for God and my fellow man, grant me,
Permit me not to ever be separated from thee,
In the hour of my death, comfort me,
From my enemies, defend me,
With the shield of thy holy name, defend me,
With thy mantle, cover me,
In the fatal instant of my agony, assist me,
From dying in sin, free me,
Into the arms of Jesus, deliver me,
To the eternal mansion, bring me,
So that, with the angels and saints
I can praise thee for ever and ever. Amen.

(from a holy card distributed by the Sisters of the Conceptionist Convent of Quito with ecclesiastical approval)

07 June 2017

Heber/Uher Hymn: "Bread of the world ..."

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The copyright of the text is under Creative Commons 2009 by Vincent Wm Uher III,
reprint permission granted with author attribution.


The Feast of Corpus Christi or Corpus Domini is observed on the first Thursday following Trinity Sunday i.e., the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.  The hymn above is one I hope someone somewhere will use this June 15th or the Sunday following. Please share it with your director of music at your parish or with your priest or minister.  My part of the text is under Creative Commons which makes its reproduction and use very easy for any parish, choir, or household.  

First a bit of historical background on the hymn printed above:

Jeffrey Tucker expressed a desire for the tune 'Rendez-a-Dieu' to receive a fully Catholic text.  The first verse of 'Bread of the world in mercy broken' by Reginald Heber is beautiful and well known.  

Unfortunately, the Heber hymn text as it appears today in hymnals is a posthumous one finished by a Protestant friend who did not share Heber's perspective on the Eucharistic theology.  

Being asked to try to do something with the text, I kept the one verse that was clearly by Reginald Heber.  I provided three verses that would echo the 'official' version found in many hymnals but would speak in terms fully acceptable for Roman Catholics and Anglo-Catholics.  

When printed with the tune 'RENDEZ-A-DIEU' the text appears as though it is two verses in length though it consists for four verses.  

The following is a .jpg image file. Click on the hymn below to see it in larger format. You may, dear Reader, need to double click on the image and then resize it if you wish to print it out.

I have been asked about the line "here too the tears by Mary shed".  In one respect at the Holy Sacrifice we are united with heaven and are present at the Lord's own sacrifice... present with the Blessed Mother, Saint Mary Magdalene, Saint John the Beloved... present then the tears of Mary shed over Jesus' suffering and death.


"Lord, fix in my heart..." from OFFICIUM EUCHARISTICUM [Anglican Patrimony]

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Lord, fix my Heart so firmly on thy everlasting Joys, 

that nothing in this World may ever hinder my pursuits of them, 

and let this Days Performances some ways advance my assurance of them, 

that so when I return to my Earth, 

I may lie down in sure and certain hopes to be transplanted 

into those Mansions where all Tears shall be wiped from mine Eyes, 

and live eternally with my Savior J E S U S. Amen, Amen.

Glory be to God on High.

from Officium Eucharisticum:
A Preparatory Service 
o a Devout and Worthy Reception
of the Lord’s Supper

PRINTED FOR A. ROPER 
AT THE BLACK BOY 
OVER AGAINST ST. DUNSTAN’S CHURCH 
IN FLEET STREET, LONDON, 1706.

Listen to RADIO WALSINGHAM

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RADIO WALSINGHAM has returned!

As with Radio Walsingham's first 10 years of broadcasting, I am the volunteer chief cook and bottle washer.  I find the music that we broadcast, and I prepare the basic playlists that are scheduled throughout the broadcasting day.  

Click here to go to the main page for Radio Walsingham's broadcast stream.  There is a blue and white 'Listen Now' button that will start the broadcast stream.

I hope you will share with others the news that RADIO WALSINGHAM has returned !

Unfortunately if you live in Germany or a few other countries outside of the USA copyright laws prohibit you from listening to our broadcast at this time.  One can easily work around this by installing a VPN that allows you to make your computer appear to be located in the USA.  There are several on the market, and most of them have indelicate names. I would not let that put you off if it is the means through which you can listen to music and programming in the USA or other nations.


From The Saint Ambrose Prayer Book

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GOD, who resistest the proud, and givest grace to the humble: grant us the virtue of true humility, whereof Thine Only-begotten showed in Himself a pattern for Thy faithful; that we may never by our pride provoke Thine anger, but rather by our meekness receive the riches of Thy grace. Amen.

O GOD, who rejectest none that come unto Thee, but in loving-kindness art appeased even with the greatest sinners who repent: mercifully regard our prayers in our humiliation, and enlighten our hearts that we may be able to fulfil Thy commandments. Amen.


O GOD, who justifiest the ungodly, and willest not the death of a sinner: we humbly entreat Thy Majesty to protect Thy servants, who trust in Thy mercy, with Thy heavenly assistance, and preserve them by Thy continual protection; that they may constantly serve Thee, and by no temptation be separated from Thee. Amen.


ALMIGHTY and most Merciful God, who didst cause a fount of living water to spring out of a rock for Thy people in their thirst: draw forth tears of compunction from our stony hearts; that we may weep over our sins, and by Thy mercy deserve to obtain pardon for the same. Amen.


SAINT Joseph, defender and father of Virgins, unto whose faithful guardianship were committed Christ Jesus, very Innocence, and Mary, Virgin of virgins: I pray and beseech thee by Jesus and Mary, thy dearly beloved charge, that thou wouldst preserve me from all uncleanness; and make me with undefiled mind, and in purity of heart and boy, ever to serve Jesus and Mary in perfect chastity. Amen.





from The Saint Ambrose Prayer Book

The Very Revd Father John G. Winfrey, editor
First Edition, 2008

05 June 2017

Whit Monday • Monday of the Holy Spirit

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Blessed art Thou, O Christ our God, 
Who hast revealed the fishermen as most wise
by sending down upon them the Holy Spirit:
Through them Thou didst draw the world into Thy net.
O Lover of Man, glory to Thee!

There was a time when the Monday following was both a secular and a religious holiday throughout Europe.  In England this day was (and is ) called Whit Monday. In the Orthodox nations this day is designated as "Monday of the Holy Spirit".

For the Eastern Orthodox the Monday of the Holy Spirit seems utterly unique in the liturgical calendar, but it has one notable parallel in the liturgical life of the Eastern Orthodox Churches with the Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos Maria on the 26th of December.  

The celebration of the Blessed God-bearer Mary the day after Nativity expresses an attention to Saint Mary who is the very person without whom the Nativity would not have taken place. In a similar fashion the Monday of the Holy Spirit is dedicated to the very Person without whom the miraculous events of Pentecost would never have taken place that is the Holy Ghost, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity.

If we look to the ancient Syriac Fathers of the Church, we see a relationship between the Blessed Mother and the Holy Spirit stated very explicitly.  Mary gives birth to Jesus.   The Holy Spirit gives birth to the Church.

By way of example, Saint Ephrem the Syrian (called the Harp of the Spirit and who is a Doctor of the Church for Roman Catholics) uses the feminine Syriac word ruha for 'Spirit' which is the same as ruah in Hebrew. St Ephrem also uses feminine pronouns and verbal forms when speaking of the Holy Spirit whereas in a much later era, long after the falling-asleep of Saint Ephrem, the Syriac Church began to speak of the Holy Spirit with masculine pronouns whilst continuing to use the feminine word ruha for Spirit.

[For further reading concerning this early Christian understanding of the feminine and maternal imagery for the Holy Spirit, please see pp. 171-179 of Letter and Spirit: The Hermeneutic of Continuity Christ, Kingdom, and Creation edited by Scott Hahn.]

On this Whit Monday I encourage us all to take time and sit with the Holy Ghost.  Let us nvite the Holy Spirit to brood over us, to hover over us even as the Spirit of God hovered over the waters of Creation and still hovers over the Eucharistic Sacrifice of the Church.



ASPIRATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

LIGHT of the intellect, enlighten me;
Divine Fire of hearts, inflame me;
Fullness of souls, fill me;
Lord of grace and life, vivify me;
In this vale of suffering, guide me;
In my weakness, strengthen me;
From stumbles and falls, deliver me;
With Thy Divine Gifts, overwhelm me;
With Thy Presence, console me;
By Thy Divine operations, sanctify me;
Into my Jesus, transform me;
And unto Thy glory, bear me,
That, having been faithful upon earth,
I may be eternally happy in Heaven,
in the perfect reverberation of Thy love.
Amen.





+ Be exalted in Thy strength, O Lord.
We will sing and praise Thy power.