The Prayer of Cross: Christaraksha

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May the Cross of the Son of God,

which is mightier than all the hosts of satan

and more glorious than all the hosts of heaven,

abide with you 
in your going out and your coming in.

By day and night, at morning and at evening, 

at all times and in all places 
may it protect and defend you.

From the wrath of evildoers,

from the assaults of evil spirits

from foes visible and invisible

from the snares of the devil,

from all passions 
that beguile the soul and body:

May the Cross of Christ 
guard, protect and deliver you. 
Amen.

The prayer above is called "Christaraksha" and it comes from India.  It is a wonderful prayer to pray over someone going away. I have friends who pray this over their children wherever they may be going. 

Underhill: The Preparation for Mass

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The following are the prayers selected by Evelyn Underhill for the Preparation of the Liturgy in her volume Eucharistic Prayers:

THE PREPARATION

THE PRAYER OF THE BEGINNING

     VOUCHSAFE unto us, O Lord God, that we may stand before thee in purity and holiness; and with knowledge and fear, in the beauty of spiritual order, may serve thee, the Lord and Creator of all, to whom worship is due from all, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, world without end, Amen. —Liturgy of the Syrian Jacobites.

Evelyn Underhill

     HEAVENLY King, Paraclete, Spirit of truth, present in all places and filling all things, Treasury of good and Master of life; come and dwell within us, cleanse us from all stain, and save our souls. —Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

     LET us pray with faith to our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, that at this hour of sacrifice and prayer we may be found acceptable to him. May he listen to the voice of our hearts and receive their requests, forgive us our sins, and ever have mercy upon us. May our needs and petitions be ever in the sight of his sovereign Majesty, and may he strengthen us in the unity of the faith and in the justification of good works; that he may bestow on us the grace of his mercy, pity us and save us.—Armenian Liturgy.

THE PRAYER OF THE PRIEST

     O MIGHTY God, most great and omnipotent Father of Goodness and Power, not without dure reverence, yet unadorned by any dignity of office, I come before the might of thine immeasurable greatness, and before thine unspeakable sight, O wondrous Majesty—a suppliant nothing worth. I stand here, conscious of guilt and bearing witness to it. What shall I ask, I that deserve nothing? What shall I seek? For must it not be said of me, that he who should mediate for sins, must rather himself be charged with sin?
     Therefore I come to thee, not to excuse but to accuse myself; confessing my wrong-doing unto thee before witnesses, my Lord God. I confess, yea, I make open confession of mine iniquity; that thou mayst forgive me the wickedness of my sin. I confess things which, if thou forgive not, thou dost rightly punish. I stand before thee confessing my sin, yet well I know that I make not amends, save with words: for with words I seek to appease thee, whilst with deeds I offend. My fault I know, my amends I delay. Help, help me, therefore, O ineffable Goodness. Forgive, forgive me, O wondrous Trinity. Spare, spare, spare I beseech thee, O God that hearest prayer. Hearken, hearken, hearken unto me when I cry aloud unto thee in the words of thine own Son, “Father, eternal God, I have sinned before heaven and before thee; I am no more worthy to be called thy son. Make me as one of thine hired servants.”
     And now, merciful Father, I seek by Christ's help the only haven of thy mercy; that thou mayst see fit to take and accept through him what in me is nothing worth. Who with thee evermore liveth and reigneth. Amen.—Gothic Missal.

     HOLY, Most High, Terrible, thou that art present in holy things; Lord, do thou thyself make us holy, and bring us to thy precious altar with a good conscience. Cleanse our hearts from all defilement, and count us worthy of the awful priesthood. Drive away from us all evil feeling, and hallow our mind and soul, that we may perform the worship of the holy fathers in thy fear; seeking the favour of thy countenance through all things, for thou art he that blessest and hallowest all things.—Liturgy of St. Mark.

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Coptic Ikon of Christ Pantokrator

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USA's Federal Election & Knights of Columbus Novena

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Our Lady of America, pray for us.

The Knights of Columbus in the USA are calling on its members and all Catholics to join in a novena before the General Election and Presidential Election in the USA.  For those of you living outside the USA, the political situation and its attendant media coverage are toxic.  

The USA needs God's help. The Knights of Columbus have called for a novena (nine days of prayer) before the election.  The following information and prayer comes from the Knights of Columbus announcement:

AS THE ELECTION NEARS, THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS IS URGING ITS MEMBERS AND OTHER CATHOLIC AMERICANS TO PRAY [10/19/2016]

The prayer will be in the form of a novena — nine consecutive days of prayer — and will run from Oct. 30 to the eve of the election on Nov. 7.

The prayer is addressed to the Holy Trinity through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, under her title of the Immaculate Conception.

Individuals, families, councils and parishes are all invited to participate.

“The Church teaches that Catholics are called to form their consciences based on Church teaching and vote in accordance with that well-formed conscience,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson. He added: “Pope Francis has said in reference to the U.S. election that we should ‘study the proposals well, pray and choose with your conscience,’ and this novena is designed to help Catholic Americans do that.”

The text of the novena reads:

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as your Spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as your Mother, in union with Mary we adore your majesty and acknowledge your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to you. Through her we wish to thank you for the great resources of this land and for the freedom which has been its heritage.

Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our president and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy, born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the tempted, sinners – on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, our Mother, Patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give ourselves to you. Protect us from every harm. Pray for us,that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

O Mary, the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the United States, pray for us.

Prayer to Jesus Our Master

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Jesus, our Master, 

meet us while we walk in the way 

and long to reach the heavenly country;

so that, following your light

we may keep the way of righteousness, 

and never wander away 

into the darkness of this world's night,

while you, who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life

are shining within us;

for your own name's sake. Amen.

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Note: Sadly my computer has reached the end of the line

and there is no money 

in the wee hermitage's budget for another computer.

This is not good-bye 

but rather an explanation in case there is a hiatus

If it be God's will that I continue blogging,

then I will find another way to connect to the world of cyberspace.

Swiss Old Catholic Eucharistic Prayer

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In Switzerland the Old Catholics of the Union of Utrecht are called Christ-Katholiken.  In 1974 these Christ-Catholics (Utrecht) promulgated a reformed Order for the Eucharistic Sacrifice.  They continue to use their version of the Tridentine Mass translated and altered by their Bishop Herzog. Their new form brought their Eucharistic celebration into a relationship with the Roman Catholic's Novus Ordo Missae but retained more elements of the Tridentine than the Novus Ordo Missae did.

Because I received so many questions about the Swiss Old Catholics, I thought I would include an English translation of a portion of their 1970's era Eucharistic Prayer (which did not replace their version of the Tridentine Mass but rather stood aside it like an Alternative Services order for Eucharist).  What the situation is in the Swiss Christ-Catholic Church today I do not know. My knowledge is very dated, but from what I have read, the 1974 Eucharistic Prayer continues to be used.  What follows is that part of the Eucharistic Prayer that comes after the Sanctus:

             Truly holy, truly glorified
             is your son Jesus Christ,
             our Lord and Saviour,
             that you, eternal Father, have sent us,
             so that he may reveal your majesty and love
             and deliver the world through his obedience
             even to death on the cross. 

             You have given him up for us
             so that he, through his sacrifice, once and for all
             may break the might of sin and death
             and grant new life to the whole of creation.
             Through him you have ordained us to celebrate
             in this meal the mystery
             of his death and resurrection
             until he comes in glory. 

             For on the evening before his suffering
             he took bread,
             looked up to you, O God,
             his almighty Father,
             gave you thanks, broke it,
             gave it to his disciples and said:
             Take this and eat of it, all of you;
             this is my body
             which will be given up for you. 

             In the same way, after the meal,
             he also took the chalice,
             gave thanks to you once more,
             gave it to his disciples and said:
             Take this and drink of it, all of you;
             this is my blood,
             the blood of the new and everlasting covenant,
             that for you and for all men will be shed
             for the forgiveness of sins.
             Do this in my memory
             until the time I celebrate anew the banquet with you
             in the kingdom of God. 

             Therefore, Lord,
             we present this bread and this chalice to you,
             remembering the saving passion of your Son,
             as too his resurrection from the dead
             and his ascension into glory.
             With his sacrifice 
             we come into your presence and beseech you:
             Look down graciously on these gifts,
             as you looked favourably down
             on the sacrifices of Abel, Abraham, and Melchisedech. 

             Send your Holy Spirit,
             giver of all life and sanctification
             to bless, sanctify and consecrate these gifts
             that the bread we break
             may be the communion of the Body of the Lord
             and the chalice over which we give thanks
             the communion of the Blood of Jesus Christ.
             Fill us all who, from this altar, receive
             the Body and Blood of your Son,
             with the power of the Holy Spirit.
             Let us become one as members of your people
             in communion with your saints
             and have a share in the life of the kingdom to come. 

             Grant us this,
             merciful, Holy God,
             so that we may praise and glorify you
             through Jesus Christ, your son, our Lord;
             Through him and with him and in him
             be to you, almighty Father,
             in union with the Holy Spirit
             all honour and glory for ever and ever.
             AMEN.

The translation above is based upon that made by Dr R. J. Parish, Fellow, of St Catherine's College, Oxford for an article by P.G. Cobb (Oxford). That article may be found in PDF file format at this link.  The article by Cobb includes a translation from Bishop Herzorg's original version of the Tridentine Canon of the Mass as well as an explanation of the overall structure of the 1974 Order for Eucharist.

Canonisations: Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

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After many years of waiting for Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity to be canonised, she has now been raised at the canonisation mass in Rome and is from that moment forward Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity.  

All of those canonised today are extraordinary heroes of the faith. For a secular story about the Canonisations, please click here.  Vatican Radio has a story on those who were canonised today that I hope you will read: click here.

There is a fine background story on St. Elizabeth of the Trinity by Anthony Lilles at this link.  And Angelus has a good story on the Canonisation Mass today which you may read at this link.

Finally, at National Catholic Reporter's website, Jennifer Sokol has a beautiful article on St. Elizabeth of the Trinity.

St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, pray for us!

A Short Prayer of St. Teresa of Ávila

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May the Lord be blessed for ever 

for the great gifts 

that He has continually heaped upon me, 

and may all that He has created 

praise Him. Amen.

Saint Teresa de Jesús

1515-1582

Liturgical Invitation to the Eucharistic Banquet

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One element not entirely clear in the Novus Ordo Missae (New Order of Mass promulgated after Vatican II) is a direct invitation to the faithful to come and receive the Body and Blood of the Lord.  There is an element of indirect invitation woven into the liturgy that is generally seen as an invitation to Eucharistic participation:

Priest: Behold the Lamb of God,

behold him who takes away the sins of the world.

Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

All: Lord,  I am not worthy

that you should enter under my roof,

but only say the word

and my soul shall be healed.

Yet it strikes me that something more should have been added after the portion quoted above ...  namely a direct invitation to the faithful to come to the Supper of the Lord.  

I suspect that my sensitivity to this is entirely because of my Anglican and Episcopalian background, for many of the Anglican liturgies included elements of direct invitation to come to the Altar to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord or the invitation was couched in terms of Confession in proper approach to the Eucharistic Lord.

In the Church of England's Alternative Services Second Series we first saw the following form of invitation, and it remains my favourite of the shorter forms:

In one of the Eucharistic liturgies of the Old Catholics (Utrecht) in Switzerland, the people are invited to Holy Communion with the words (in translation) "Come,  for all is prepared for you."  I have found these words a profoundly personalising moment in which the Eucharistic sacrifice becomes connected to the personal invitation to come to the celestial marriage banquet of the Lamb.  Woe betide the soul who says, "I cannot come."

Come, for all is prepared for you!

Catholic responses to the US election

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Haitian-American U.S. voters are united in their opposition to Hillary Clinton. Most are Roman Catholic.  This Haitian story is almost completely unreported in the USA, but a broadcast on the FoxNews network touched on the subject of Haitian antipathy to Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton with an interview with the past president of the Haitian senate: click this link.

With regard to the Wikileaks release of anti-Catholic, anti-Evangelical emails from the Clinton campaign, EWTN's Raymond Arroyo is quoted in The Washington Post:

     Raymond Arroyo, lead anchor and managing editor of EWTN, the global Catholic network, said the emails have the potential to tip the balance for people who were still undecided. “If you have people on the fences, it is irritating,” Arroyo said. 

     Arroyo said that the emails describing the “Catholic Spring” will especially rub Catholics the wrong way. 

     “It makes it seem like you’re creating organizations to change the core beliefs of the church,” he said. “For someone to come and say, ‘I have a political organization to change your church to complete my political agenda or advance my agenda,’ I don’t know how anybody could embrace that.”

This story has also been addressed at this blog link, at this CBS-Los Angeles link., and at Lifesitenews.  The story is also covered on the Vox Cantoris blog at this link.

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In praying for the US election, I make a point not to pray for this candidate or against that candidate.  We cannot know everything, and, it is entirely possible that a revelation would make it impossible for one to vote for Trump or Clinton or Johnson or Stein.  

The choice may well be between the "greater evil" and "the lesser evil".  Therefore, the way I pray —and this is a matter of prayer not my personal choice in the voting booth — is to petition the Blessed Trinity to grant that His Holy Angels may go forth and prevent the "greater evil" from being elected President.  

Praying that God stop "the greater evil" is the closest we can come to truth because only God sees all and only God can see through this lamentable political slime-war.

Sandro Magister: The German Church, The Black Hole

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Sandro Magister has a story about the genuine problems in the German Catholic Church.  In the past I have tried to explain to friends about the problems with the ecclesiastical tax and excommunications in the German Church, but I have had clergy and laity tell me I must be wrong.  So for those of you who do not know about this (and those of you who told me I had to be wrong) here is the link to Sandro Magister's article "Anything But An Example for the World: the German Church is a Black Hole" in which he covers the problems as well as Pope Benedict's sharp criticisms of the German Church.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

Traditional Catholics, Evangelicals, and Hillary Clinton

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The Wikileaks Clinton email revelations make it clear that it is necessary to defeat Hillary Clinton not only for her policies but because of the positions of her highest aides and associates which are anti-Catholic and anti-Evangelical.  John Podesta's emails reveal him to be an agent provocateur setting up fake "Catholic" organisations with George Soros' money to foment "revolution" within the Catholic Church.  This is beyond appalling and absolutely eclipses the many problems with Donald Trump's personal life and dreadful behaviour.  

I hope mass-attending Catholics and Evangelicals in the USA will take seriously the religious bigotry that is clear in these emails.  For their part the Clinton campaign refuses to comment on any of the hacked emails whilst raising the spectre of their having been fabricated ...but without providing any evidence for their accusation against Wikileaks.  

One of these Clinton lieutenants, her Communications Officer Jennifer Palmieri, claims to be Catholic, but less us be clear: she is no "Mother Angelica Catholic".  The truth is that she and others in the Clinton camp have contempt for traditional Catholics ... and who are traditional Catholics?  Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St. John Paul II, Mother M. Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA, the Little Sisters of the Poor ... and the list goes on.  These are the sort of Catholics that Jennifer Palmieri and John Podesta are taking aim at, and that is why those of us who are traditional Catholics of whatever stripe or variety need to shake the dust off of us and walk away from Hillary Clinton and her campaign staff.

Any other candidate would fire John Podesta and Jennifer Palmieri so that they are completely distanced from such religious bigotry against traditional Catholics, Catholicism, and Evangelical Christians.  Of  course, we know that the Clintons do not have the decency to resign and walk away.  And those who work for them only engage in categorical denials and refusals to comment.   

For me the situation is so dire that I must write that it is necessary either to vote for the candidate opposing Hillary Clinton who has the greatest opportunity to stop her i.e.,  Donald Trump or, if we feel we cannot morally vote for a Republican or a Democrat, then we must vote for Jill Stein (Green Party) or the Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson.  There are also Evan McMullin and Darrell Castle who may be on the ballot in your state or are running a write-in campaign.  

Some of us may find that no candidate is a moral choice.  The option available in most states is to simply not voting for President whilst casting votes in other races.  That is the closest method available to casting a "None of the Above" ballot.

One thing is certain for a serious Catholic: voting for Hillary Clinton is out of the question.