Church of England Prayer for Pope Francis

Click here for the direct link to the Church of England website with this prayer.

Prayer for Pope Francis

Almighty God,

shepherd of souls,

we pray for Francis chosen to be Pope:

Guide him by your Spirit,

give him grace to lead people in prayer and zeal

and to follow in the footsteps

of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

Amen.

Muslims, Our Lady, and exorcism

There is such an interesting article on Muslims,  St. Mary the Virgin and exorcism in AsiaNews.it that I had to share it with those who check in on this blog:  click here please.

A Parish in Chicago to Recommend

The conductor and composer Tim Woods has written to say that he is now the Music Director at St. Thomas More Parish in Chicago (81st and California).  He is the composer of the glorious Byzantine Requiem, recordings of which are available from the Ecclesia Choir and Lincoln Chamber Productions website —  you really need to get the Byzantine Requiem CD!  If you are in Chicago or are simply visiting do pay a visit to the parish.  I will let Tim Woods tell you about the parish in his own words:

I'm letting you know this because, if you appreciate fine Catholic liturgy, and want to experience excellent chant and polyphony in the context of the English Mass (not easy to find), you might want to pay us a visit. We sing proper antiphons, chant settings of the ordinary, and solid hymns. The priest celebrates "ad orientum" and the altar area has been made to look quite beautiful.  The Mass schedule is Sat at 4:30pm, and Sun. at 7:30am, and 10:30am, with a Mass in Spanish at 9am. 

If you are looking for a choir to sing in, look no further! Just give me a call and we can set up an audition. In this day and age when people no longer just go to the parish closest to them, you owe it to yourself to come and see what St. Thomas More is doing. It is possible to attend a beautiful Mass in English which is faithful to the rubrics of the Missal. Come find out what Vatican II really promulgated as far as Mass in the vernacular. Come find out the real meaning of the word "Eucharist", or thanksgiving. Come find out what it really means to worship. Thanks for reading this, Tim Woods.

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H.L Mencken on Church Architecture

It may seem odd to quote H.L. Mencken, but even Balaam's ass was made to prophesy.  Upon reading one should immediately think of the "new cathedral" in Los Angeles, California which has all the charm of a grim air hanger for the souls of the damned.   

So here is a quote worth considering even if it be a slight reworking of the original :

“When men really begin to build churches 

that look like cargo terminals, 

 there will be no religion any more, 

just Rotary. 

And when they begin to live in houses 

as coldly structural as step-ladders 

they will cease to be men, 

and become mere rats in cages.”

— H.L. Mencken

The original follows from the conclusion of Mencken's "The New Architecture": "[w]hen men really begin to build churches like the Bush Terminal [a recently upgraded cargo terminus, in Brooklyn] there will be no religion any more, just Rotary. And when they begin to live in houses as coldly structural as step-ladders they will cease to be men, and become mere rats in cages."

Chesterton on Eugenics

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G.K. Chesterton's reply to a pamphlet on eugenics by Congressman Frank O. Smith of Maryland: 

"Mr. Smith is an American, and Eugenics is chiefly a denial of the Declaration of Independence. 

It urges that so far from all men being born equal, numbers of them ought not to be born at all. 

And so far as them being entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, they are to be forbidden a form of liberty and happiness that the maddest inquisitor never dreamed of meddling with before. 

 You can find the full essay in "The Collected Works of G.K. Chesterton, vol. 30."

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Prayer for the U.S.A.

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Mighty God, you permitted our nation to live with no one ruling over us but you. Our presidents and government were never to reign and rule as monarchs, and our people were never again to be subjects to any mortal authority. You called us to be responsible citizens of a brave and free people whose gift of liberty was to be a shining light for all people throughout the world. But, merciful Lord, we have lost our way. Those raised to authority forget they are the servants of the People. They forget of the account they must give to you for the position of leadership you have permitted them to have. And our people grow fearful and disheartened.

Give us a clear vision of true hope in you, and give us grace to repent of our failures as a people and a nation. Stretch out your arm and remove from authority all who deceive or abuse the people of this land. Raise up the just and wise to take their place. Send forth your Spirit as a mighty wind to blow through our nation and each person till evil has no perch or foothold left. Deliver us from our past arrogance and pride, and make of us a people who are wise stewards of all your gifts to us.

Of your tender mercies, guide us to cherish the life of each one of us and to defend that Liberty without which there is no reason for our nation to exist. Make us courageous in our just pursuits and virtuous in our care of those who need our aid, and please give our nation a second chance to live up to our promise and always and everywhere praise your Holy Name, O Father, Son, and Paraclete, one God in glory everlasting. Amen.

This prayer was written by Vincent W. Uher III.  
You are welcome to reprint it under Creative Commons 3.0-Attribution U.S.

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Wisdom from Richard of S. Victor

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Do you see that only Truth leads and brings one to this mountain?  Truth leads; Truth is that which guides; I gladly follow Truth; I do not hold suspect such a guide.  Truth knows to lead; Truth does not know how to mislead.  But what is Truth?  

What do you say, good Teacher, teacher Christ, what is Truth?  'I am,' he says, 'the Way, the Truth, and the Life' (John 14:6).  Therefore let one who wishes to ascend to the mountain follow Truth.  Follow Christ, whoever you are who wish to ascend this mountain.  

We have learned from the teaching of the Evangelist: 'Then Jesus took his disciples, viz., Peter, James, and John, and led them into a high mountain apart' (Matt. 17:1).  Thus the disciples of Jesus are led above and apart, that they may take possession of this high mountain.  It is a steep way, a secret way unknown to many, which leads to the summit of this mountain.  

I think only those run without error, only those arrive without impediment, who follow Christ, who are led by Truth.  Whoever hastens to high things, you go in security if Truth goes before you.  Without it you labor in vain.  As Truth does not wish to deceive, so it is not able to be deceived.  If you do not wish to err, follow Christ."

Richard of Saint Victor

Pray for Pope Francis

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Visitation Hymn

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Lo, how she brings Life with her

Concealed beneath her heart,

Eve’s daughter, brave and chosen,

God’s partner to his art.

Her will knit with divine will

Desires his Word be done.

For God she weaves within her

The body of their Son.

Elisabeth her cousin

A child will bring to birth –

God’s answer to her longing,

A prophet for the Earth.

“Peace be with you,” said Mary.

Her cousin’s babe did dance

The merry steps of best man:

The Bridegroom’s here, at last.

Elisabeth cried out then,

“The child within me leapt!

When he heard your sweet greeting,

With joy my baby stepped.”

She spoke full of the Spirit,

With insight from the Lord,

“How is it you come to me

The Mother of my Lord?”

The Mother of her Lord, Yes!
Great Mary, Anna’s child,

A daughter born to Israel,

A virgin undefiled,

She sang out as a woman

Brought up on Hannah’s song,

“O praise, my soul, God’s greatness.

Rejoice, our Lord is strong.”

All ages call her blessed

Just as she once foretold.

Blest is she amongst women,

Her Child blest from of old.

Blest is she who believes God

Who carries God’s true Word.

Her Son both God and human

Fulfils great Gabriel’s word.

Our Saviour, God of mercy,

Remembers Abraham’s fold.

Praise God who casts down tyrants.

Rejoice! Our God is bold.

So sing we with blest Mary

To magnify the Lord

Who raised up his handmaiden.

Oh, holy is the Lord!

Copyright © 2006 by Vincent Uher

This may be sung to the tunes: Far Off Lands

Wie lieblich ist der Maien 

or to the new tune Ein Kerem 

The Visitation by Brigid Marlin

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At a Wedding Feast in Cana

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At a wedding feast in Cana

Jesus, Mary, and their friends

joined to celebrate a marriage-

covenant which on Love depends.

And the party it went on

till the bowls of wine were gone.

Mary nudged her Son Christ Jesus,

urged him to step up and please us.

"Dearest woman, let's have no show.
You know well it's not my time."
Mary smiled and told the servants,
"Follow all his words sublime.
Do whatever he may say.
It's the way he'll save the day."
And the servants did her bidding
and to Jesus all were listening.

Jesus guided all their actions
and turned water into wine.
How amazing this great wonder
his first miracle and sign!
It was not to raise the dead
or to heal as it is said,
but to keep a party going --
this his first and wondrous showing.

Let us hearken then to Mary
and do all that Christ shall say.
Heal the sick and feed the hungry,
love the living of each day.
Walk on water when we must,
make disciples of the lost.
Raise the dead and banish demons.
Preach and teach through all the seasons.

Praise and worship to the Father
Laud and glory to the Son,
For the Holy Spirit muster
songs of joy on every tongue.
With Our Lady walk the way
leading to Christ's glorious day
when the faithful rise to meet him
and rejoicing we will greet him!

Words: © 1998 by Vincent Uher

Music: Genevan Psalm 42 (Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People)

Meter: 8787 7788

For Christmastide and other feasts

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All glory be to God on high!

Peace, laud, and joy be our reply

To angels singing in the sky.

Praise Jesus Christ, true light from light.

Tender his love and great his might,

Christ Jesus, Saviour, our delight.

O Word and Widsom, thee we name,

Jesus the infant, God the same.

Praise and all worship to thy Name.

Son of blest Mary, spotless Lamb,

High Priest most holy, Great I AM,

Receive our lives into thy hand.

Praise God for Joseph, sainted man,

Brave Guardian of God’s saving plan,

Protector of the God-made-man.

Praise God for Mary Mother true,

Faithful to Jesus her life through,

Mother of God, our Mother too.

Lord Jesus Christ, most holy Lord,

With thy blest Spirit be adored

In God’s own glory here outpoured.

Joy not to hear thine infant cries!

Hope of the simple and the wise!

Love from all souls to thee arise!

© 2008 by Vincent Uher

TUNE: OLD 113th (O Mensch, bewein), 

Strassburger Kirchenamt, 1525

88.88.88

Bright Torches

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Bright torches in the darkest night,

The saints of God as lights yet shine.

Lord, let our witness rise with theirs,

And through their prayers give grace divine.

A dimly burning wick were we, 
But now our faith fills with thy fire

For thou art all consuming love —

Thy perfect will our hearts desire.

Unite thy saints through every age 
And cleansed from sin lift us above,

O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

One God in glory, one in love. Amen.

____________________________

Copyright © 2006 by Vincent Uher

This may be sung to the tune Winchester New