Thinking of St Michael and All Angels

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O EVERLASTING God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and mortals in a wonderful order: Mercifully grant that, as thy holy Angels alway do thee service in heaven, so by thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Apocalypse/Revelation 12:7-12

7 And there was a great battle in heaven, Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, and the dragon fought and his angels: 

8 And they prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in heaven. 

9 And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, who seduceth the whole world; and he was cast unto the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. 

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: 

Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth, who accused them before our God day and night. 

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of the testimony, and they loved not their lives unto death. 

12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you that dwell therein. Woe to the earth, and to the sea, because the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time.

Verbum Domini.

Deo gratias.

Saint Birgitta of Sweden on the Sorrows of Mary

Excerpts from Book 11 “The Sermon of the Angel” from The Prophecies and Revelations of Saint Bridget of Sweden, Chapter 18:

“You shall seek me and shall not find me.” These words of Christ were the sharp point of the sword of sorrow, entering Mary's heart. That sword pierced deeper at the betrayal of Judas, and at the arrest of Christ, when he willed to be taken by the enemies of justice and truth. Deeper still at each insult offered to Christ, with each suffering inflicted on him. The sorrow of her heart overflowed into all the members of her body. She saw how cruelly Christ was struck, and more cruelly beaten and scourged. She heard the sentence of death passed by the Jews. She heard the cries of the people - Crucify him, away with him.

She saw him led out, bound as a criminal, to a traitor's death. She saw him struggling to carry his Cross, dragged forward and whipped as he stumbled, led like some wild beast rather than a lamb to the slaughter. As Isaias had foretold, he went meekly to his death; like the lamb that is led to the slaughter house, like the sheep that is dumb before its shearers.

Christ was patient in his sufferings. Mary endured patiently the sorrow of his sufferings. She followed him, even to the place of death. She saw the wounds of his scourging, the crown of thorns, his cheeks disfigured with blows, his face covered with blood, and she wept in sorrow.

She saw him stretched on the Cross, and heard the blows of the hammer as the nails pierced his hands and feet. So great was her suffering and sorrow that her strength almost failed her as she stood by and watched. She saw the vinegar and gall offered for his lips to taste. and her own lips could not move in prayer. She heard his cry - My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?, and saw his head fall forward and his body become rigid as he breathed forth his spirit. She stood and saw how he died.

Then truly was her heart quite pierced by the sword of sorrow. It was the strength God gave that alone saved her from dying in such sorrow. To see her Son, stripped and bleeding, dying, pierced by a lance, mocked by those who stood by, jeered at by soldiers, deserted by all but a few of his chosen ones, abandoned by so many whom he had won to justice and truth, to see this most bitter death - could there be sorrow so deep as her?

We read that once, when the Ark of God fell into the hands of enemies, the wife of one of God's priests died for sorrow. How much greater was the sorrow of Mary, for she saw the body of her Son, which the Ark prefigured, nailed to the wood of the Cross. Her love for her Son was love for the Son of God, greater than the loves of all men.

If the loss of the Ark could cause sorrow and death, the death of Christ would have brought Mary to death but for God's gift to support so grievous a sorrow. By his death, Christ opened the gateway to heaven, and won for his own their entry into joy. Mary looked up from the depths of her sorrow, as one coming back from the gates of death.

Her faith never faltered that Christ would rise again, and in this faith she could comfort many whose faith had failed. They took him down from the Cross, and wrapped him in fine linen with spices, and laid him in the tomb. Then all left. Few still had faith that he would rise. Little by little, the sorrows of Mary's heart lightened, and she felt the first sweetness of consolation. The sufferings of her Son were at an end. She knew that on the third day he would rise, would rise with his humanity united again to his Divinity, would rise to everlasting honor and glory, to suffer, to die no more.

Saint Birgitta of Sweden

(Saint Bridget)

England to be re-dedicated in 2020

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In 2020 England will be re-dedicated as Our Lady's Dowry.

Please see the article at this link.

The Roman Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham is promoting a new Novena to Our Lady of Walsingham which can be found at this link.

Others may prefer the traditional Novena to Our Lady of Walsingham at this link.

O gracious Lady, 

glory of Jerusalem, 

Cypress of Sion and Joy of Israel, 

Rose of Jericho and Star of Bethlehem, 

O gracious Lady, 

our asking do not repel, 

in mercy all women ever thou dost excel. 

Therefore, Blessed Lady, 

grant then thy great grace, 

to all that thee devoutly visit in this place. Amen.  

15th Century Prayer to Our Lady of Walsingham, 

from the Pynson Ballad

Fr James T Moore, PhD, Requiescat in Pace

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I received this notice yesterday from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham in Houston, Texas, and I feel I need to pass it on here on my blog for those who may not have heard or read of the passing of Fr James T Moore, the founding priest of Our Lady of Walsingham Church in Houston (now the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham).  

I entreat you all to pray for the soul of Fr Moore who was one of the first priests to enter the Catholic Church under the Pastoral Provision of Pope St. John Paul II. Please also pray for Fr. Moore's dear, dear wife Linda and for his children and grandchildren.  

May Father Moore rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon him:


Dear Faithful of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham,

It is with great sorrow that I inform you that Father James T. Moore, beloved co-founding pastor of our parish, passed away at his home in Iola, Texas yesterday afternoon, September 10, 2017.

A rosary will be offered on Thursday evening at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church (1511 Hwy 90 South, Anderson, Texas).  

Simultaneously that evening, Evensong for the Faithful Departed will be offered at 7:00 pm at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham (7809 Shadyvilla Lane, Houston, Texas) with the body lying in state in the Holy House Chapel throughout the evening.  

On Friday morning at 10:30 am a Requiem Mass will be offered at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham celebrated by the Most Rev. Steven J. Lopes.  A lunch reception for all present will follow at the Chancery of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.    

Please pray for the Moore family, especially Fr. Moore’s beloved wife Linda.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord; and let light perpetual shine upon him. May his soul rest in peace

Faithfully in Christ through Mary,

Fr. Hough

_____________________

Very Rev. Charles A. Hough IV
Rector and Pastor

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Walsingham

Catholic Church & Shrine

7809 Shadyvilla Lane  

Houston, TX 77055
(713) 683-9407

Bishop’s Master of Ceremonies and Director of Worship

The Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter

A Chaldean Catholic Prayer of Blessing

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Glory to you, O Jesus our victorious King, eternal image of the Father, Begotten One without beginning, above the ages and creations, without whom we have neither hope nor expectation, O Creator! By the prayer of the just and chosen who have pleased you from the beginning, grant forgiveness for our sins, absolution for our faults, deliverance from our troubles and response to our requests. Bring us to your joyous Light and guard us, through your living Cross, from all perils, hidden or manifest; now, at all times, and forever and ever. Amen.

Final Blessing

Sunday Evening Prayer

EMMANUEL

That is,

The Book of Public Prayer

as Celebrated 

in the Chaldean Church of the East

For Church or Nation: A Prayer of Humiliation

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Dan. ix.

O LORD, the great and dreadful GOD,
which keepest covenant and mercy
with them that love Thee
and keep Thy commandments :
We have sinned and have dealt perversely,
and have done wickedly and have rebelled,
even turning aside from Thy precepts
and from Thy judgements.
O LORD, righteousness belongeth unto Thee,
but unto us confusion of face as at this day,
because we have sinned against Thee.
To the LORD our GOD
belong mercies and forgivenesses,
but we have rebelled against Him :
neither have we obeyed
the voice of the LORD our GOD,
to walk in His laws which He set before us.
O LORD, according to all Thy righteousness,
let Thine anger and Thy fury, I pray Thee,
be turned away ;
because for our sins
and for the iniquities of our fathers
Thy people are become a reproach
to all that are round about us.

Now therefore, O our GOD,
hearken unto the prayer
of Thy servant, and to his supplications,
and cause Thy face to shine
upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate.
O my GOD, incline Thine ear and hear :
open Thine eyes, and behold our desolations,
and the city, which is called by Thy name.
For we do not present our supplications
before Thee for our righteousnesses,
but for Thy great mercies.

O LORD, hear : O LORD, forgive :
O LORD, hearken and do : defer not :
For Thine own sake, O my GOD ;
Because Thy city and Thy people are called
by Thy name.

from Sursum Corda
A Handbook of Intercession and Thanksgiving
W.H. Frere & A. A. Illingworth
October 1898

Hurricane Season: Our Lady of Prompt Succour, pray for us.

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We pray the following Litany especially this 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!

Prayer after natural disasters

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Compassionate Lord, we pray for those who have been devastated by recent natural disasters. We remember those who have lost their lives so suddenly. We hold in our hearts the families forever changed by grief and loss. Bring them consolation and comfort. Surround them with our prayer for strength. Bless those who have survived and heal their memories of trauma and devastation. May they have the courage to face the long road of rebuilding ahead. 

 We ask your blessing on all those who have lost their homes, their livelihoods, their security and their hope. Bless the work of relief agencies and those proving emergency assistance. May their work be guided by the grace and strength that comes from You alone. 

 Help us to respond with generosity in prayer, in assistance, in aid to the best of our abilities. Keep our hearts focused on the needs of those affected, even after the crisis is over. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Xavier University

xavier.edu