The Church in Crisis ... St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.

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Few people I know outside the Roman Catholic Church understand what an incredibly gut-wrenching time this is for those who feel betrayed by the Episcopate of the Church worldwide.

I recommend reading "Georgetown panel deals with 'moral catastrophe' of church's own making" : LINK.

From the article I share the following quotation from my friend the theologian Dawn Eden Goldstein,

" "I realized if every human believed and practiced what the Catholic Church teaches about human dignity," she said in response to Carr's question of why she would join such a wounded church, "I wouldn't have suffered abuse; no one would suffer abuse." "

On this feast day of the Holy Archangels and Angels, I can only offer a prayer we should be saying daily especially at the end of every Holy Mass:

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.

The Newly Consecrated Mother Abbess Cecilia

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Let us rejoice in the consecration of Mother Cecilia as the first Benedictine abbess in US American history to be consecrated according to the Ancient Usage (Usus Antiquior) of the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church.

Since she is now a female prelate of the Church, she is shown in the photograph holding her crozier and wearing her abbatial pectoral cross. She will remain a consecrated Abbess for life.

May God bless her reign as Mother Abbess, and may her household increase to the glory of God.

The Lady Abbess is a graduate of the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University, Houston, Texas. Her religious community, The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, Priory (now Abbey) of Our Lady of Ephesus is world famous for award-winning recordings of Gregorian chant.

8 September: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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The eighth of September is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In other words it is the Birthday of Our Holy Mother Mary.

Illustrations by Enid Chadwick of blessèd memory
in her book 'The Church's Year'

The following are some of the collects and prayers in use for celebrating this feast day:

O ALMIGHTY God, who didst endue with singular grace the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord: Vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to hallow our bodies in purity, and our souls in humility and love; through the same our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 

The Book of Common Prayer, 1929, Scotland

Impart to your servants, we pray, O Lord, the gift of heavenly grace, that the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin may bring deeper peace to those for whom the birth of her Son was the dawning of salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Roman Missal, 3rd ed.

Almighty and everlasting God,
who stooped to raise fallen humanity
through the child-bearing of blessed Mary:
grant that we, who have seen your glory
revealed in our human nature
and your love made perfect in our weakness,
may daily be renewed in your image
and conformed to the pattern of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Common Worship, Church of England

God most high,
whose handmaid bore the Word made flesh:
we thank you that in this sacrament of our redemption
you visit us with your Holy Spirit
and overshadow us by your power;
strengthen us to walk with Mary 
the joyful path of obedience
and so to bring forth the fruits of holiness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Common Worship, Church of England