tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88572167967209715552024-03-18T13:24:00.009-07:00Mary's BlogMary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.comBlogger1213125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-4943737255934306022024-03-17T20:35:00.000-07:002024-03-17T20:36:51.088-07:00MAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED FEAST OF ST PATRICK!<p> <span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: large;">I wish all my readers, friends and loved ones a most blessed and delightful feast of St Patrick. Some years ago, I took part in a documentary done by EWTN on the Apostle of Ireland. Ye might like to see it:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w_i9p_kCNUU" width="320" youtube-src-id="w_i9p_kCNUU"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: large;">Please join me in offering the Litany to "Padrig of Eire", </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: large;"><b><span>Litany of St. Padrig of Eire<br /><br />Lord, have mercy on us. <span style="font-style: italic;">Lord, have mercy on us.</span><br />Christ, have mercy on us. <span style="font-style: italic;">Christ, have mercy on us</span>.<br />Lord, have mercy on us. <span style="font-style: italic;">Lord, have mercy on us.</span><br style="font-style: italic;" /><br />Christ, hear us. Christ,<span style="font-style: italic;"> graciously hear us.</span><br />God the Father of Heaven, <span style="font-style: italic;">have mercy on us.</span><br />God the Son, Redeemer of the world, <span style="font-style: italic;">have mercy on us.</span><br />God the Holy Ghost, Sanctifier, <span style="font-style: italic;">have mercy on us.</span><br />Holy Trinity, one God, <span style="font-style: italic;">have mercy on us.</span><br style="font-style: italic;" /><br />Holy Mary, <span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span><br />Holy Mother of God, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>All ye holy angels, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>All ye Apostles and Evangelists, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>All ye holy Saints and Doctors, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>All ye holy Bishops and Confessors, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>Saint Padrig, Apostle and Patron of Ireland, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, vessel of election, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, model of penitents, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, example of mortification, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, meek and humble, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, mild and patient, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, pure and temperate, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, zealous pastor of souls, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Pardig, ardent lover of Jesus, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, singularly devoted to our Blessed Lady, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, most constant in holy prayer, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, example of perfect chastity, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, glory of Ireland, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, our powerful protector, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, pillar of Catholicity, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, confessor of the Faith, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, herald of salvation, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span>St. Padrig, our Father in Christ, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span><br />Jesus, Our Lord, <span style="font-style: italic;">we beseech Thee to hear us.<br /></span><br />That it would please Thee, through the intercession of Thy servant Padrig, to make Thy Name glorious to all who know it not, <span style="font-style: italic;">we beseech Thee to hear us.</span><br style="font-style: italic;" /><br />That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve the Pope, and all ecclesiastical orders in Thy holy religion, <span style="font-style: italic;">we beseech Thee to hear us.</span><br /><br />That Thou wilt protect our Bishops and Clergy, and all who labor in Thy holy Church, <span style="font-style: italic;">we beseech Thee to hear us.</span><br /><br />That Thou wilt preserve and increase the Faith among us, <span style="font-style: italic;">we beseech Thee to hear us.</span><br /><br />That Thou wilt enlighten all those who are in error, and bring them to the knowledge of Thy truth, <span style="font-style: italic;">we beseech Thee to hear us.</span><br /><br />That Thou wilt deliver us from all sins, <span style="font-style: italic;">we beseech Thee to hear us.</span><br /><br />From all pride and impurity,<span style="font-style: italic;"> deliver us, O Lord.</span><br />From all hatred and ill-will, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">deliver us, O Lord.</span></span><br /><span>From all violence and intemperance, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">deliver us, O Lord.</span></span><br /><span>From a sudden and unprovided death, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">deliver us, O Lord.</span></span><br /><span>In the day of judgment, </span><span><span style="font-style: italic;">deliver us, O Lord.</span></span><br /></b></span><span><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: large;"><b><br />Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, <span style="font-style: italic;">spare us, O Lord.</span><br />Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, <span style="font-style: italic;">hear us, O Lord.</span><br />Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, <span style="font-style: italic;">have mercy on us, O Lord.</span><br style="font-style: italic;" /><br />Christ, hear us. <span style="font-style: italic;">Christ, graciously hear us.</span><br /><br />Lord have mercy on us. <span style="font-style: italic;">Lord have mercy on us.</span><br />Christ have mercy on us. <span style="font-style: italic;">Christ have mercy on us.</span><br />Lord have mercy on us. <span style="font-style: italic;">Lord have mercy on us.</span><br style="font-style: italic;" /><br />V. Pray for us, O glorious Saint Padrig:<br />R. <span style="font-style: italic;">That we made be made worthy of the promises of Christ.</span><br /><br />Let us pray. O God, Who didst vouchsafe to send blessed Padrig, Thy Confessor and Bishop, to preach Thy glory to the pagans: grant that, through his merits and intercession, we may be enabled to accomplish by Thy mercy, what Thou commandest us to do. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.</b></span><br /></span></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-5485331577576041722024-01-11T14:13:00.000-08:002024-01-11T14:14:41.987-08:00PADRE PIO VOLUNTEERED TO GO TO HELL FOR BAD PRIESTS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q7qUqnaja5s" width="320" youtube-src-id="Q7qUqnaja5s"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div>Here is a clip from an interview I gave last September 23rd, Padre Pio's feast day, when I appeared on Joe McClane's show. </span><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">This is the full episode of the show:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GZGrix_Oslk" width="320" youtube-src-id="GZGrix_Oslk"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-70759704365029004892024-01-09T11:31:00.000-08:002024-01-09T11:31:35.932-08:00WHEN ST PHILOMENA GAVE ME A RUBY HEART<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3k0yEYp__Xa3lKH5gJtlZcehyphenhyphenTneVIaWoQ4k_S5PXrKNYiryt8JRxAw8QZhaItZrC5wu9dbC4DFuP02dVfpccZG4U7nX9yT40YtTzmY8Xdy4AmBQT6vveZGVulX-hsMisFcizEitCLLe6BCYrVvDQigAAzgs0ew416yYzgWmScOrOKz3otlrhh4Gp0sMq/s800/IMG_0765.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3k0yEYp__Xa3lKH5gJtlZcehyphenhyphenTneVIaWoQ4k_S5PXrKNYiryt8JRxAw8QZhaItZrC5wu9dbC4DFuP02dVfpccZG4U7nX9yT40YtTzmY8Xdy4AmBQT6vveZGVulX-hsMisFcizEitCLLe6BCYrVvDQigAAzgs0ew416yYzgWmScOrOKz3otlrhh4Gp0sMq/s16000/IMG_0765.JPG" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">During Advent, early December, my friend and fellow writer, Keith Berube asked me something that made me regretful for when I've been cynical. Keith asked me if I had ever heard of <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2022/02/philomena-powerful-princess-in-heaven.html" target="_blank">St Philomena</a> sending people hearts. Several times when I've completed <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2021/12/please-join-me-in-starting-new-year.html" target="_blank">a novena</a> to St Philomena or offered <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2021/11/invincible-athlete-of-chastity.html" target="_blank">the litany</a> to her, there has been some heart-shaped gift given me on the day, but until recently, I dismissed them out of hand, I admonished myself for "looking for signs" and thinking narcissism-inspired thoughts about a Saint lavishing hearts on me. I was afraid that I had been seeking sentimentality in the sacred. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">On the same morning I was taking myself to task for not having kept some record of heart-shaped gifts that I associated with signs of St Philomena's intercession, I was bouncing around Los Angeles where I live, and meeting up with various young friends and giving out sacramentals. Blessed Green Scapulars. Miraculous Medals. St Benedict Medals. These are the "Gen Z" young 'uns that I meet in my travels and they follow the progress of my book on Padre Pio. They think of him as a character from fantasy fiction, that is until they invite his intercession and witness his power to transform their lives. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Well, I was so busy that I never told anyone that which Keith asked, or that I made a promise to St Philomena that the next time a heart was given to me after praying to her, I'd make a special note. I was expecting to be given some heart-shaped jellies some time off in the distant future. But then I got a call from a young friend asking me my favorite gem, and I volunteered it was a ruby. I thought nothing of it 'til she asked to meet up there and then in Manhattan Beach. I thought she might be having a personal problem, but when we met up in the place where the sun bleaches the plastic Santa hats a deep tangerine, we spoke of the uses for the blessed St Benedict Medal and she presented me with a small jeweler's box, and I opened it to find a heart-shaped ruby on a silver chain. An artisan piece of jewelry, in the shape of the heart that beats in our chests, rather than the simple doodle of a heart.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I am "used to" such things, but this dumbfounded me. </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Keith's question, my promise and the ruby heart all happened within three hours, well before afternoon tea. Had Keith never asked me, I'd never have pledged to Philomena that I'd take the next heart she sent to heart. I wear it next to my Miraculous Medal, as in "I ♥️ Our Lady". St Philomena always furnishes greater devotion to the Blessed Mother. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">January 10th is St Philomena's birthday, the grand occasion when she was born a princess of Greece, and like the royal lady she is, she gives her courtiers the finest of gems, as though she is giving us a few spare from her heavenly crown. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Keith Berube, who has spectacular devotion to St Philomena is one of the foremost mariologist of the age and is the author of <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Beloved-Keith-Berube/dp/1950108724/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LZ3GH5ZV06ZH&keywords=keith+berube%2C+mary+the+beloved&qid=1704745800&s=books&sprefix=keith+berube%2C+mary+the+beloved%2Cstripbooks%2C89&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Mary, the Beloved</a></i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpP3vHHOOs38Bddql-XmBJt05Dy3BrLcLXRvNjEOMNlVDWo52i5Gk_3nrriLU5wQ7e6mxb9x-sRACfsskL2oA6Exm2-7suAiMZa63rvTFNczEvCbIE_h5zz4tOtPD1HHXhTRAiGsukx0X_KMeBBCbdSPpkHMPx44YcEZmFZigrBFniheQfNFL-D320hy-r/s4032/IMG_0517.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpP3vHHOOs38Bddql-XmBJt05Dy3BrLcLXRvNjEOMNlVDWo52i5Gk_3nrriLU5wQ7e6mxb9x-sRACfsskL2oA6Exm2-7suAiMZa63rvTFNczEvCbIE_h5zz4tOtPD1HHXhTRAiGsukx0X_KMeBBCbdSPpkHMPx44YcEZmFZigrBFniheQfNFL-D320hy-r/s16000/IMG_0517.HEIC" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-82529416765792778352024-01-06T21:12:00.000-08:002024-01-06T21:22:40.163-08:00A THEORY AS TO WHY "MARY" LOST FAVOR WITH THE JEWS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAn3vk8DlCsIrM-JNNBNQSwsfJwQEVyruZmE2XxOjZZv7K3yCUXPizfFrgARdkiQQLCHm8xACow7OLRVKxO-nMwaJLg0NrBwt9rrfkn8ZbCJaPHWUlFhZeZNroYukYuPci1rL6pwGuiz27rUbPo23vNTyMyKM39_DN-DHx7jWxaxuZAF-5L0ZCgOf-9LS/s2394/Nativity%20Scene.heic" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2050" data-original-width="2394" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMAn3vk8DlCsIrM-JNNBNQSwsfJwQEVyruZmE2XxOjZZv7K3yCUXPizfFrgARdkiQQLCHm8xACow7OLRVKxO-nMwaJLg0NrBwt9rrfkn8ZbCJaPHWUlFhZeZNroYukYuPci1rL6pwGuiz27rUbPo23vNTyMyKM39_DN-DHx7jWxaxuZAF-5L0ZCgOf-9LS/w640-h548/Nativity%20Scene.heic" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> <span style="font-family: Merriweather;">A few of my Jewish friends have called their daughters, Miriam, and once one found a polite way to tell me that they'd had something of an averse reaction because it was the same name as Jesus's Blessed Mother. Not for the first time, I heard this was the reason "Mary" has not been a favorite name among the Jews. But other names of Hebrew origin which have been anglicized, such as "Peter", "Joseph" and "John" have remained in favor throughout the ages, despite their close association with Jesus. </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">"Mary" is the anglicized version of the Hebrew "Miriam", and I'd like to put forth another reason why the name was dropped so dramatically. </span><div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I write this just after the blessed Feast of the Epiphany, the celebration of the three kings from the East who came to adore Christ. Before they were led by the star to the manger where Baby Jesus lay, they visited Herod who lied when he said he wanted to know the whereabouts of the Child so he, too, could worship Him. A</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">fter the three kings had lavished gifts on the Christ Child, they went on their way, but when they next slept, t</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">hey were instructed in their dreams not to return to Herod. The day after Epiphany is a celebration of the Holy Spirit leading the kings away from a meeting with another king, Herod, who had the most despicable plans for the newborn Savior. Herod was able to execute his other plan, and he rapaciously decapitated firstborn Jewish baby boys, the "slaughter of the innocents". This did not make him a beloved ruler among the Jews. His wife was not revered either, and her name was Miriam. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I read in the writings of the fabulous Frank Sheed that Herod had a second wife,</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> and her name was Miriam. Then he had a third wife and her name was Miriam. Herod had a thing for Miriams! But it speaks to the great popularity of the name, and it had been a highly prized name among Jews, that was, before Herod's reign. I'd like to submit that a reason it fell out of favor was not because it was the name of Jesus's Blessed Mother, rather there were three wives of a diabolical tyrant who bore that name. My understanding is that it lost its appeal and was no longer a "common" name given a baby girl at the time of Jesus's birth, which is more likely to do with it having been synonymous with the spouses of a slayer. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I think this bears much greater scrutiny, research and scholarship because in the absence of knowing with greater certainty why the name "Mary" was jettisoned, we may be blaming the wrong Mary, Jesus's Beloved Mother for the name attaining ill-repute. </span></p></div>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-19427374534428654262024-01-01T17:49:00.000-08:002024-01-04T17:50:03.320-08:00WHEN ST THERESE GAVE ME A ROSE-PRINT SCARF<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllyPjW-6aRqA_r3HIKjlIFYgGn9v9xDzLhvuIWd4adCN5CCGEKGl2hF36s3y4pYLYux91LISDHiWKMGchJ42IhY8J1946S9bg1wM3LV4bS7ZDY49KxI0aRomMwAh5Mn7IxvLMJZ8Pj5B_7xn6NbwFA68t0Ry1oUcrLNfarKbtdumdUjDNdDdwbMpZdHec/s2554/74E7A1B3-E856-4F81-9C33-C07FE57CA391.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2554" data-original-width="1714" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllyPjW-6aRqA_r3HIKjlIFYgGn9v9xDzLhvuIWd4adCN5CCGEKGl2hF36s3y4pYLYux91LISDHiWKMGchJ42IhY8J1946S9bg1wM3LV4bS7ZDY49KxI0aRomMwAh5Mn7IxvLMJZ8Pj5B_7xn6NbwFA68t0Ry1oUcrLNfarKbtdumdUjDNdDdwbMpZdHec/w430-h640/74E7A1B3-E856-4F81-9C33-C07FE57CA391.jpeg" width="430" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">On Christmas Eve, I went with friends for a scrumptious dinner at the home of some neighbors. A roast ham was enjoyed by all. One of the hosts has a fantastic devotion to the Little Flower, aka, St Therese of Lisieux. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">She was telling me that she called on her when her little boy was at death's door, and he recovered miraculously, the disease just disappeared. There was also a time when she owed a big bill, and it was mysteriously paid. Every occasion that the Little Flower has interceded in big ways, she has sent roses within a day. So, this lady who is eagerly awaiting my Padre Pio book (as are a few other people it seems) volunteered to pray to St Therese for the completion of the last draft that I'm working on. Then she said, "Watch out for the gift of roses!" I demurred, and said that it could be a long wait. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I thought the roses would come on the day of the book's publication, but no, on Christmas morning, a friend of mine for 10 years gave me this beautiful scarf, not even 12 hours after the dinner party. </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">She knows me well and knows my taste for rococo fashion. But it is a rose-printed scarf! </span></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div>We are about to celebrate the occasion of St Therese's birth - she was born on Thursday, January 2nd, 1873. </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">She came into the world 151 years ago, and it seems opportune to highlight her gift of roses on her birthday. </span><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I wish all my readers a blessed and peaceful 2024, God willing I will be doing much more blogging than last year, and will be giving updates as to the date the book on Pio will be published. </span></div>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-10910421783318873732023-11-14T13:19:00.000-08:002023-11-14T13:19:19.617-08:00WHEN THE PRINCE OF DEVILS POSSESSED A YOUNG WOMAN BY PRETENDING TO BE HER DEAD GRANDFATHER<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4azZP5ZSfT6q1xYc6WDZNCl1Sx3WcxvuT9x_G1gns2lwBeEXu5HSqS5wiEuMtUFYngp2KljmjjKif0TxHeQCszrlGkJIp7s-had0la782ONR9tbVb8OrAU9-5QhEdVPkRbsg6zuEqnb515AjEx0fYRfU-e3eM86R1iEfsk71q2LH5zrYGGE9hhNCezdI/s5166/Friedrich's%20Cemetery.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5166" data-original-width="3926" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE4azZP5ZSfT6q1xYc6WDZNCl1Sx3WcxvuT9x_G1gns2lwBeEXu5HSqS5wiEuMtUFYngp2KljmjjKif0TxHeQCszrlGkJIp7s-had0la782ONR9tbVb8OrAU9-5QhEdVPkRbsg6zuEqnb515AjEx0fYRfU-e3eM86R1iEfsk71q2LH5zrYGGE9hhNCezdI/w486-h640/Friedrich's%20Cemetery.jpeg" width="486" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">It seemed like an ordinary November day in Northern France. Crisply cold, but not quite freezing. Young Nicola went to the cemetery to pray at the grave of her dead grandfather. He had passed two years ago. This was the year 1549, and Nicola had been raised to pray a lot for deceased loved ones. She knelt in the frigid earth and prayed for his swift passage through Purgatory. Suddenly, a man appeared in front of her. A white shroud covered his face. "I am your grandfather", the apparition sorrowfully intoned, which caused Nicola to flee. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">But the next time the spirit came, Nicola's tolerance for terror had increased, and again he said he was her grandfather, that he suffered much in expiation for his sins, and that during life he had vowed to make certain pilgrimages, but had neglected his promise. He told her of 3 pilgrimages to holy places in her native France and also said he'd sworn to go to St James of Compostella. He requested that Nicola ask her husband and her uncles to go in his stead. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Nicola confided her strange story to her family and entreated her husband and relatives to do the pilgrimages to places in France - she appeared desperate and agitated - and they agreed in a bid </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">to restore her peace. But she did not tell them anything about that which the apparition said about the pilgrimage to St James of Compostella. She and her family were based in V</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">ervins, at the very top of France, almost as north as you can go and had they wanted to go to North-Eastern Spain, they would have had to travel the whole length of France and cross over a treacherous border and travel by horse-drawn carriage or by a buggy drawn by a mule all in the dead of winter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Nicola's husband and uncles did the pilgrimages within France, under the false impression this was what was needed, but when they returned, they found Nicola to be worse, she shook convulsively and when she tried to go to a Requiem Mass, she was snatched by an invisible force and dragged around. Her family then asked what more could be done to satisfy the spirit, and she finally revealed, "My grandfather tells me that those who made the other pilgrimages must also go to St James of Compostella....my grandfather says he will torture me, and make me deaf, dumb and blind until the pilgrimages are made." The pilgrimage to Spain was never made, but the spirit continued his dire threats, until Nicola's mother ran to fetch an exorcist. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Thankfully, the local priest, Monsieur L'Abbe Lautrichet was good and holy, as well as intellectually rigorous enough to confront the spirit and make it reveal itself. The first exorcism started and the priest said he didn't believe the spirit was really Nicola's dead grandfather, and then the spirit changed its story, saying it was the good angel of the deceased grandfather. Monsieur L'Abbe Lautrichet scoffed in reply, "I can hardly believe that; good angels never take forcible possession of the human body; and they do not torment the children of God." The foul spirit dissembled more; saying it was not occupying her body, only her mouth, but the priest persisted, "But you are in her body, since you are speaking through her mouth...you are an evil spirit - a demon of hell."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Eventually, Nicola was successfully exorcised; the disquieting details of which may be read in their entirety <a href="https://sensusfideliumpress.com/products/the-exorcism-of-nicola-aubry" target="_blank">here</a>. </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">This is <a href="https://sensusfideliumpress.com/products/the-exorcism-of-nicola-aubry" target="_blank">one true account of exorcism</a> that is scarier than anything I've ever read on the subject. Yes, it outdoes Malachi Martin, William Peter Blatty and even the tales from the exorcism trenches that I've heard, and not because of the shocking reveals, rather because of the satanic strategies which are laid bare in the text, and which if acknowledged properly can have a very humbling influence; it is so easy to be conned by old scratch. Nicola was possessed when she earnestly sought to help the foul spirit who had taken the form of her grandfather. </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">The Exorcism of Nicola Aubry </i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">is as enlightening as it is hair-raising. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The book is merely 95 pages, can be read in a sitting, but looms very large in the mind. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD03E44CL2bfcjK_dcNsa9ryVka6oN8K8xwoX8PS6z7RHzOK-e-f1YiKOwmTpHjV7mmqaa9Wj-7JVPHy157-4693uDn-2U6dAfawHRjI3xzOAYkOZk6F51EXNEmAdfKL2T6RSM8sWBhWB91cHv1biu5gRVYs_dB_W8DvFelmtTxA6dbvwok9YiSMl9kZBk/s1360/ExorcismofNicolaAubry_BookCover.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="880" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD03E44CL2bfcjK_dcNsa9ryVka6oN8K8xwoX8PS6z7RHzOK-e-f1YiKOwmTpHjV7mmqaa9Wj-7JVPHy157-4693uDn-2U6dAfawHRjI3xzOAYkOZk6F51EXNEmAdfKL2T6RSM8sWBhWB91cHv1biu5gRVYs_dB_W8DvFelmtTxA6dbvwok9YiSMl9kZBk/w414-h640/ExorcismofNicolaAubry_BookCover.jpeg" width="414" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">* * *</p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The classic painting of a cemetery was executed by Caspar David Friedrich. <i><a href="https://sensusfideliumpress.com/products/the-exorcism-of-nicola-aubry" target="_blank">The Exorcism of Nicola Aubry </a> </i>is available from Sensus Fidelium Press. </span></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-64898287485484752112023-11-09T12:26:00.001-08:002023-11-09T12:26:32.192-08:00POWERFUL PRAYER FOR OUR LOVED ONES IN PURGATORY<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfK3oB4QswUI3xPvj5Y0rN6joCCOyutujQwSeol6MMaJVJFiNA3tszzJN8AxE7djo8Hlj0-3p1DSaRB6sKbuUuKiEKSRKYB85tMkQs9PvJAf-Ji8d7y-UW89Rqj-pCH5J_JkyoJIQ783XfnzYwBQsCUN4qViBu4aZr2KjnLa2GnPuctCoNpPRACCQ5zUib/s2811/ChristinPurgatory%20Fra%20Angelico.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2811" data-original-width="2536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfK3oB4QswUI3xPvj5Y0rN6joCCOyutujQwSeol6MMaJVJFiNA3tszzJN8AxE7djo8Hlj0-3p1DSaRB6sKbuUuKiEKSRKYB85tMkQs9PvJAf-Ji8d7y-UW89Rqj-pCH5J_JkyoJIQ783XfnzYwBQsCUN4qViBu4aZr2KjnLa2GnPuctCoNpPRACCQ5zUib/w578-h640/ChristinPurgatory%20Fra%20Angelico.jpeg" width="578" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Domine;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Domine;">O Good Jesus, Whose loving Heart was ever troubled by the sorrows of others, look with pity on the souls of our dear ones in Purgatory. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Domine;">You, who "loved Your own", hear our cry for mercy, and grant that those whom You have called from our homes and hearts may soon enjoy everlasting rest in the home of Your love and mercy in heaven. Amen</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">And let perpetual light shine upon them. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">May they rest in peace. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Amen. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">* * *</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The classic painting, Christ in Purgatory was executed by Fra Angelico and the prayer was found in a splendid book, <i><a href="https://www.divinemercy.org/saints-books/handbook-of-devotion-to-holy-souls-detail.html" target="_blank">In the Friendship of God</a>. </i></span></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-7046598282318120952023-11-07T18:51:00.004-08:002023-11-07T19:00:37.399-08:00A MOST HUMBLE SOUL WHO RECEIVED LESS THAN A DAY IN PURGATORY<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ppCQQV9vd9NVqnZVKh8-uoqYxtMWVOT65StkPQmWxI6WQxulbZ_Z4VPjFkqw77zz18SnbD7RTxYpWhrjFZcLP1oyPfzQQ8gvc7IMouF77cou5WHk8pyFWbsEw8YiHWvljAmptZ-SRYwu4Opgn-b_5oTLgJ5nSX_rNRyJ1UES1nK4noqqQnyZKB9U1e4c/s1122/Magdalen_de_Pazzi%20de%20Moya.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ppCQQV9vd9NVqnZVKh8-uoqYxtMWVOT65StkPQmWxI6WQxulbZ_Z4VPjFkqw77zz18SnbD7RTxYpWhrjFZcLP1oyPfzQQ8gvc7IMouF77cou5WHk8pyFWbsEw8YiHWvljAmptZ-SRYwu4Opgn-b_5oTLgJ5nSX_rNRyJ1UES1nK4noqqQnyZKB9U1e4c/w514-h640/Magdalen_de_Pazzi%20de%20Moya.jpeg" width="514" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">St Magdalen de Pazzi came into the world in 1566 -</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> a few decades after the zenith of the Renaissance. And she was born in Florence, the city hailed as a cultural and artistic epicenter. Her father was one of the wealthiest men of his time, and he was a highly placed aristocratic. He tried to marry his daughter off when she was 14, but before that, she had taken a vow to be a Spouse of Christ. Magdalen was very beautiful and could have had her pick of noblemen. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Magdalen gave up a life of affluence and influence, and became a Carmelite nun. She entered Carmel because she was allowed to be a daily communicant; something that was not standard in religious life in the 1500s. </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">She shared a convent with a very lovely nun, Sister Mary Benedicta, who greatly impressed Magdalen with her profound humility. She sought out mortification, and had her superior not kept a close watch on her, she would have done anything to humble herself. Mary Benedicta held up St. Alexius of Rome as her special patron; he who had dressed as a beggar to excoriate his ego. Like all truly humble people, Mary Benedicta was a joy to be with, and she was like a little child who greeted every chance at self-abasement as though it were a birthday cake. But she was informed by her mature faith, and knew she was humbling herself so as to be like her Spouse, Who said, "Learn from Me because I am meek and humble of heart". </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">When death came, she was not long in agony, Mary Benedicta was only ill for a few hours before the Lord took her. The day after she died, a Saturday, found Magdalen at Holy Mass and she was consumed in an ecstasy. She was given a vision of Mary Benedicta in her heavenly glory. Mary Benedicta had been awarded the gold star of charity, her fingers were filled with beautiful rings because of her faithfulness to her vows as a bride of Christ and the pains she took to make holy her smallest of acts. She was crowned like a monarch. She won this crown because she loved suffering in union with Christ. And she had a higher place in Heaven than a great number of other nuns. This all speaks to the utmost importance of humility, and in particular the love of humility. If pride is the root of all sin, then the opposite, is the root of all virtue. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">In 2019, I wrote a post on how Magdalen de Pazzi <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2019/11/st-magdalen-de-pazzi-made-107.html" target="_blank">made 107 Communions to free her brother from Purgatory</a>. This year, I'm trying to interlace my posts on souls who got a tough time of purgation with </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">posts on those good souls who got very short stays in Purgatory, or who didn't go there at all. We can only hope that we are among those who have only hours in those flames. St Mary Benedicta, pray for us! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">* * *</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">This post was informed by <a href="https://bookstore.spiritdaily.com/products/br-purgatory-explained-fr-f-x-schouppe?_pos=10&_sid=686a2640a&_ss=r" target="_blank">Fr. F.X. Schouppe's Purgatory</a>, which you may buy <a href="https://bookstore.spiritdaily.com/products/br-purgatory-explained-fr-f-x-schouppe?_pos=10&_sid=686a2640a&_ss=r" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The classic painting of St Magdalen de Pazzi was executed by Pedro de Moya. </span></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-82431716315554466082023-11-02T13:01:00.002-07:002023-11-02T13:01:29.323-07:00SUPERB SERMON ON THE SUFFERING SOULS - PERFECT FOR ALL SOULS' DAY<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_MVj-ZPZMeI" width="320" youtube-src-id="_MVj-ZPZMeI"></iframe></div><br /><p></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-84203295784848636842023-11-01T15:08:00.002-07:002023-11-01T15:32:54.454-07:00MORE THAN YOUR HEART DESIRES AND COULD EVER DESIRE<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLb9ZSV4sQVP4S7-JdnAT93nujuuoAdLYEfLRZBnvkYdz6gUrQa0WcrCLPI4BB1TCvDhLMAYeIOFe6nufSlyu-Uvflur7dOJHMvl9NjcoeSqSbEsLDlrFspnOdK1Dh9xcBfzFTbZNA-XlK0dQcxjR3U3kh38yzux8zFnPtwvUpsuRfWp6ovEA3qrMQhOKQ/s2560/Raphael%20Disputation%20on%20the%20Holy%20Sacrament.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1846" data-original-width="2560" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLb9ZSV4sQVP4S7-JdnAT93nujuuoAdLYEfLRZBnvkYdz6gUrQa0WcrCLPI4BB1TCvDhLMAYeIOFe6nufSlyu-Uvflur7dOJHMvl9NjcoeSqSbEsLDlrFspnOdK1Dh9xcBfzFTbZNA-XlK0dQcxjR3U3kh38yzux8zFnPtwvUpsuRfWp6ovEA3qrMQhOKQ/w640-h462/Raphael%20Disputation%20on%20the%20Holy%20Sacrament.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I wish ye all a blessed and joyful All Saints' Day. Let us cry out to them, "<a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2022/12/miraculous-litany-of-saints.html" target="_blank">All you Holy Saints of God, pray for us</a>!"</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">On this auspicious day, we celebrate every citizen of the celestial kingdom, all those beautiful souls who are in Heaven. All those Saints who enjoy eternal ecstasies. Those who bask in the bliss of being before the Face of God! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">To have some sense of the joy of the Saints, I'm giving myself to meditating on the glories of Heaven. Too often, I have excluded myself from contemplating Heaven because I have taken St Paul's words too literally, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him." True, we will not experience Heaven on this dry earth, but doing our best to contemplate Heaven can be one of the best ways to inspire and rouse us to do our utmost to make it there; this life with all its difficulties is temporary, Heaven is forever and it will be glorious. Perhaps we may ask for the grace that we may meditate on Heaven. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The famed spiritual writer, Thomas a Kempis acknowledges that, "the joys of Heaven are beyond our present comprehension" but he allows that, "it is both possible and helpful to try to imagine them". <a href="https://tanbooks.com/meditations-on-death" target="_blank">It is a Kempis's insights on Heaven</a> that guide me, I'm trying to let my visual senses be consumed by the sight of Heaven as, "a great city miraculously constructed from the purest gold and the most precious gemstones. Each of its gates is miraculously fashioned from a single, immense pearl." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">a Kempis invites us, "consider, my friend, the infinite and unutterable joy which shall arise from the pure and direct perception of the Most Holy Trinity! For the Holy Trinity, mysterious and beyond all conception, is the perfect archetype and ultimate epitome of all that is beautiful, all that is good...you will know all ther eis to know, and you shall possess all that your heart desires - rather, even more than your heart desires and could ever desire". </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">WOW - the mere thought is dizzying - that if we get through the pearly gates we will have all our desires met but also, too, desires that we cannot desire in this life. This could be our perpetual seat in eternity; because we will be "united with the boundless power, the infinite glory, and the perfect immortality of the Godhead itself." </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">If we reach Heaven, we will have, "immortality...complete with unimpaired liberty and agility and celestial beauty...all of this you will enjoy with absolute and perfect security."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">We may also entertain how much joy there is to be had in the company of Our Lady, the angels, the apostles, the martyrs, the virgins, and the confessors and the husbands and wives who had holy marriages. To be among the perfect! a Kempis delights us with his wisdom, "each will delight ecstatically in the beatitude of the other". This alone caused my heart to soar because in this world, so few are happy with the happiness of others. In Heaven, it is the opposite. In fact, if I may add anything as to how to meditate on Heaven, it is to think of the worst aspects of this life, and then imagine them as their opposite; from wholly bad to wholly good. Jealousies and resentments are gone, replaced by elation at another's good fortune, anger and discord are replaced by peace while broken relationships are no more; there is only unity and harmony. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Of course, while we are in this exile, we may have recourse to the Saints, who while they no longer suffer as we do, can use their place before the Heavenly Throne to win us the graces to get through this grim passage from which they have escaped forever. They want us to have their joy. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">* * *</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">This post was informed by the marvelous, <a href="https://tanbooks.com/meditations-on-death" target="_blank"><i>Meditations on Death, Preparing for Eternity </i>by Thomas a Kempis</a>. Raphael's masterpiece, Disputation on the Holy Sacrament furnishes this post. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4rToUemB7dBITfcbWvNWK2lRTB0oFbwvziqhtQAm9HseK_APZCHrDNyaRY-oLkNBip5PMRQ3jgzlniQg8d-ftY3dureoHWlcF0d1_pDswS_-KuGS1GNh2VDahbc5bNKbAPRDLNpsJj-t-m99GfJoaHHdelj_I9HeJiI3bloHV-D7Edl_TECeL6pM37_S/s1750/MeditationsOnDeath.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1750" data-original-width="1268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4rToUemB7dBITfcbWvNWK2lRTB0oFbwvziqhtQAm9HseK_APZCHrDNyaRY-oLkNBip5PMRQ3jgzlniQg8d-ftY3dureoHWlcF0d1_pDswS_-KuGS1GNh2VDahbc5bNKbAPRDLNpsJj-t-m99GfJoaHHdelj_I9HeJiI3bloHV-D7Edl_TECeL6pM37_S/s16000/MeditationsOnDeath.jpeg" /></a></div><p></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-63471485335849600442023-10-30T22:25:00.003-07:002023-10-30T22:29:17.816-07:00TO JUMP OR NOT TO JUMP ACROSS THE SNAKE PIT<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbFguPvkFesd0VtcEkW3MS3S-qKj-DpheZpJ48jQ8fNffz5RrHOtApVvZGZs5IzU7L9V9TUjJRp7Viv6F2VE5arbD_hSfi_IFGUvBHymCr63CwiIpFgD826yDOHU7G55PEAwl4A_XBIbfoqhFhjob2MbLWuSM_4VCuwJrZdrV6qSSr3tkJ4R207r8Yge6/s704/StJohnBoscoOlder.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbFguPvkFesd0VtcEkW3MS3S-qKj-DpheZpJ48jQ8fNffz5RrHOtApVvZGZs5IzU7L9V9TUjJRp7Viv6F2VE5arbD_hSfi_IFGUvBHymCr63CwiIpFgD826yDOHU7G55PEAwl4A_XBIbfoqhFhjob2MbLWuSM_4VCuwJrZdrV6qSSr3tkJ4R207r8Yge6/w488-h640/StJohnBoscoOlder.jpeg" width="488" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">160 years ago, <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2022/01/st-john-boscos-dream-of-horned-cat.html" target="_blank">Don John Bosco</a> had a dream of a snake pit that is worthy of as much careful analysis as we can give it in our times. This dream will be important for Catholics for all time; until the end of the world. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Prior to the dream, Don Bosco had been trying to teach the boys in his care how to prepare for a happy death. Don Bosco had been dissatisfied because despite his best efforts to inform them as to the inevitability of death and the need to be ready at all times,</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> some of the young men did not take it seriously, in fact, they felt it had no relevance for them and rejected his teachings out of hand, almost flippantly. As was his way, Don Bosco did not react angrily and he wasn't hurt that they'd paid scant attention to him; he knew they were shortchanging their chances at salvation and they needed patience. He yearned to help them, and the Holy Spirit gave Don Bosco a dream which he shared with the boys and enlightened them as to the real danger posed to their souls when they deny the need to be always ready for death and simultaneously </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">risk falling into the devil's hole. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The dream opened in the playground, he was with the boys at recreation, and then they decided to go for a walk to a meadow, where the boys played jumping games; perhaps like hopscotch and leap-frog. Don Bosco, however, was met with a disturbing sight; in the middle of the field was a gaping hole, and he feared for the children's safety. Had he known it was there, he hardly would have brought them there. He was in for a further shock, as he peered into the pit, he saw, "</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">a short, yellow-spotted, mean-looking serpent coiled at the bottom. It seemed as huge as a horse or even as an elephant." </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">This vicious viper was low-sized but enormous at the same time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Suddenly a large group of the boys congregated around the pit and started jumping over it. The younger boys were lighter and did the jump more easily than the older, bigger boys. The older ones were barely making it across, and they scrambled to make it to the edge of the other side. They were so near to the viper that it snatched at them with his fangs and tore into their flesh. But they kept leaping across the pit, even though they were getting attacked. One boy commented cavalierly and callously about his peer, </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">"He'll jump once and barely make it. Then he'll jump again, and that will be the end of him."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Don Bosco pleaded with them, "Why did you jump over the pit and keep it up even after you got hurt?" </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">He got the arrogant reply, "We're still not too good at jumping." He rejoined, </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">"Then you shouldn't have jumped!" But they rebutted him again, </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">"We couldn't help it. We're just not too good at it. Besides, we didn't think it was so risky." </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The debate between Don Bosco and the boys was abruptly ended when one boy fell into the pit and was gobbled by the viper who vomited him. He looked as scorched as burning coal, but was still alive. The sight of him, however, made the other boys panic. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">This is a dream about gambling with one's soul. We who are alive now, either dance around this same pit or know that instead of trying to have victory in a game of gymnastics held over the manhole to Hell, we need instead stay as far away as possible. Quite a few of us, myself included, are part-time dancers on the hem of Hades. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">We are on the cusp of that time of year, the vigil of the Feast of All Saints, and the </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">month dedicated to the holy souls, and so our minds are on the souls in eternity, those who have made it. We are not yet among them. Many of us are like the boys in the dream, thinking that if we could only get better at the same game of sin; that we can leap over the devil's crater and that with enough practice we can play as we wish and win against the infernal foe. Denial of death and persistence in entertaining the devil and personal sin are often one and the same thing. If we don't do the opposite; embrace the inevitability of death, the need to be ready at every moment and try to be as free from sin as humanly possible; we'll never be a holy soul, let alone a Saint. The pit awaits. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">* * *</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">This post was informed by the extraordinarily important <a href="https://bookstore.spiritdaily.com/products/br-forty-dreams-of-st-john-bosco?_pos=1&_sid=50f2cff11&_ss=r" target="_blank"><i>Forty Dreams of St. John Bosco</i> which is available at The Spirit Daily bookstore</a>. </span></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-31312523181448468792023-10-28T00:01:00.001-07:002023-10-28T11:10:24.699-07:00JESUS ON SAINT JUDE: "HE WILL SHOW HIMSELF THE MOST WILLING TO HELP"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIe51DzQEhIXtbkm_oZUnunExVbdPR_RlWpr40-LKR44tJbw8i9iy83yPkdCt8jgog5BpBo_vmJ2BdKp11nTv-o6539krorIc26fm8rxSRBC6OtES4Ejwo9XU-mRGg6-tTJ5dc9DnFr5C1FenhCeuh_r71G2-gg85s4XebUrJiXxfiFgbqspe0gqK_eM-/s640/StJude.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIe51DzQEhIXtbkm_oZUnunExVbdPR_RlWpr40-LKR44tJbw8i9iy83yPkdCt8jgog5BpBo_vmJ2BdKp11nTv-o6539krorIc26fm8rxSRBC6OtES4Ejwo9XU-mRGg6-tTJ5dc9DnFr5C1FenhCeuh_r71G2-gg85s4XebUrJiXxfiFgbqspe0gqK_eM-/s16000/StJude.jpeg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">St Jude was a blood relative of both Mary and Joseph. Jude's</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> mother was Mary, cousin to the Virgin Mary, and his father was Alphaeus who is believed to have been the brother of Joseph. If Jude's father was Joseph's brother; then Joseph was Jude's uncle and Jude was Joseph's nephew. Most certainly, Jude was of the House of David. He had royal blood. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Jude was Jesus's first cousin, and at that time, cousins were also called siblings. People looked upon Jude as Jesus's sibling, and yet when he lived, he referred to himself as a servant to the Savior. He described himself as a mere helper, and this prefigured his role among ordinary Christians who call on him for urgent help as they would a butler. Jude is often called upon to clean up the nastiest situations. His humility has allowed for his intercession to be invited without hesitation. Once, I knew the wife of a gambling addict who called on Jude when they were broke and in debt, and she was not intimidated by the fact that Jude was from Joseph's immediate family or that Jude was Jewish nobility, rather in her desperation she turned to him because he helps hopeless cases. Her husband recovered from his devastating addiction. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Jude came to be known as "Thaddeus", which means the courageous one. He needed a lot of bravery to fulfill the mission that Jesus gave him; to heal a king miraculously. King Abgar of Edessa was ravaged by leprosy. His Royal Highness </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">sent an envoy to Jesus with an invitation that He come to his palace and heal him. Jesus, however, could not go in Person. The king also sent an artist to do an accurate drawing of Jesus, which was brought back to Edessa. Jude pressed a cloth to Jesus's Face and His Image was imprinted on it. Then Jude traveled over 700 miles to the palace of King Abgar, and when the royal saw the cloth, he knew it had Jesus's face marked on it, it matched the portrait he had commissioned. When the cloth touched the king, he was instantly cured of his leprosy and he committed himself totally to Christianity and so, too, did his subjects. </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Thus Jude is depicted as wearing a picture of Jesus on his breast. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">As an apostle his fate was to die a martyr. Jude was beheaded, and his symbols are of the instruments of decapitation. In the painting I selected for this post, Jude has a sickle slung over his shoulder, quite grim-reaper like, but he also has a spear, a shared symbol with Christ; Whose side was pierced by a spear. His death was like his character; <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2021/10/st-jude-who-didst-preach-gospel-in.html" target="_blank">he gave himself up so generously, so willingly</a>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">As Jude was on earth, so he is in Heaven. Our Lord extolled Jude's benevolence and efficiency to some of our greatest saints; He inspired St Bridget of Sweden with a profound devotion to Jude when He told her, "he will show himself the most willing to help". Our Lord instructed St Bernard of Clairvaux to promote Jude as, "patron saint of the impossible". </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">But the impossible is only made possible if we do as Jude and rely solely on the Trinity. Jude wrote in his Epistle: </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">"But you my dear friends, must build yourselves up by means of your most holy faith; you must pray in the Holy Spirit and keep yourselves in the love of God while you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ which effects life everlasting...To Him who is able to preserve you without sin and to present you spotless before His glorious presence with exceeding joy - to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory and magnificence, empire and power, before all ages, now and forever. Amen"</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>A very blessed feast of St Jude to you and yours. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">* * *</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The classic painting was executed by Georges de la Tour. The post was informed by multiple sources but primarily by the sublime Dr. Pius Parsch's <i>Year of Grace. </i></span></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-83365534787612637782023-10-24T08:22:00.006-07:002023-10-24T08:37:33.202-07:00SAINT RAPHAEL, ENDOWED WITH THE GRACE OF HEALING<p> <i><span style="font-size: x-large;">A blessed feast day of St. Raphael to one and all</span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheh1uTgVawo8y3Tpl9ukFoVe3c5aEF0QF5yAnKrh5cdKow_m0b1__uUvyUYgSX_vcFivjzRo_8-aEG0smUJHTazhosW75Ee9adDnK5lgLZePLK-l5qfFArNlO8q3L29bIUFmAV-f4tmWQMaSOSYgcmgooAt8O8UDyhhHGPz3wHZZT7GHkm6jSCDNL46Jrc/s916/StRaphael.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="619" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheh1uTgVawo8y3Tpl9ukFoVe3c5aEF0QF5yAnKrh5cdKow_m0b1__uUvyUYgSX_vcFivjzRo_8-aEG0smUJHTazhosW75Ee9adDnK5lgLZePLK-l5qfFArNlO8q3L29bIUFmAV-f4tmWQMaSOSYgcmgooAt8O8UDyhhHGPz3wHZZT7GHkm6jSCDNL46Jrc/s16000/StRaphael.jpeg" /></a></span></i></div><p></p><p><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #001717; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; text-align: center;"> Litany of St. Raphael</span></span></i></p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404000; text-align: center;"></span><p style="color: #404000; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001717; font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><br /></span></p><p style="color: #404000; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #001717; font-family: "Book Antiqua";"><b>Lord, have mercy on us.</b></span></p><p style="color: #404000; text-align: center;"><big><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Christ have mercy on us.</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">Lord, have mercy on us. Christ hear us.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">Christ, graciously hear us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">God the Father of Heaven,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">Have mercy on us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">God the Son, Redeemer of the world,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">Have mercy on us.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">God the Holy Spirit,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">Have mercy on us.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">Holy Trinity, One God,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">Have mercy on us.</span></span></big></p><p style="color: #404000; text-align: center;"><big><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">Holy Mary, Queen of Angels,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span></big></p><p style="color: #404000; text-align: center;"><big><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, filled with the mercy of God,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, perfect adorer of the Divine Word,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, terror of demons,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, exterminator of vices,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, health of the sick,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, our refuge in all our trials,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, guide of travelers,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, consoler of prisoners,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, joy of the sorrowful,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, filled with zeal for the salvation of souls,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, whose name means "God heals,"</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, lover of chastity,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, scourge of demons,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, in pestilence, famine and war,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, Angel of peace and prosperity,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, endowed with the grace of healing,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, sure guide in the paths of virtue and sanctification,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, help of all those who implore thy assistance,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, who was the guide and consolation of Tobias on his journey,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, whom the Scriptures praise: "Raphael,</span></span> <span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">the holy Angel of the Lord, was sent to cure,"</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">St. Raphael, our advocate,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua; font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #001717;">pray for us.</span></span></big></p><p style="color: #404000; text-align: center;"><big><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Spare us, O Lord.</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Graciously hear us, O Lord.</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Have mercy on us.</span></span></span></big></p><p style="color: #404000; text-align: center;"><big><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">Christ, hear us.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">Christ, graciously hear us.</span></span></span></big></p><p style="color: #404000; text-align: center;"><big><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">Pray for us, St. Raphael, to the Lord Our God,</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;"> <span style="font-style: italic;">That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.</span></span></span></big></p><big style="color: #404000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Let Us Pray.<br /><br /></span> Lord, Jesus Christ, by the prayer of the Archangel Raphael, grant</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;"> us the grace to avoid all sin and to persevere in every good work</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;"> until we reach our Heavenly destination, Thou Who livest and reignest </span></span><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;">world without end. Amen.</span></span></big><span style="color: #333300; text-align: center;"></span><br style="color: #333300; text-align: center;" /><div><big style="color: #404000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;"><br /></span></span></big></div><div><big style="color: #404000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;"><span style="color: #001717;"><br /></span></span></big></div><div><span style="color: #001717; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; text-align: center;"> * * *</span></div><div><span style="color: #001717; font-family: "Book Antiqua"; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This litany and many other lovely and powerful prayers to St. Raphael may be found in the booklet, <a href="https://bookstore.spiritdaily.com/products/st-raphael-angel-of-marriage-of-healing-of-happy-meetings-of-joy-and-of-travel-angela-carol?_pos=1&_sid=2cab881f8&_ss=r" target="_blank">ST RAPHAEL, Angel of Marriage, of Healing, of Happy Meetings, of Joy and of Travel</a></span></div>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-90703615292092215762023-08-30T21:54:00.004-07:002023-08-30T21:55:16.622-07:00INTERVIEW WITH AN EXORCIST <p> <span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The amazing Father Ambrose Criste of St. Michael's Abbey, California gave a wonderful interview on his exorcism ministry to Lila Rose, and truly it is deserving of a wider audience. </span></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="416" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pKdYnZd9TiI" width="500" youtube-src-id="pKdYnZd9TiI"></iframe></div><p></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-30215621838846397922023-08-29T16:59:00.000-07:002023-08-29T16:59:45.743-07:00JOSEPH, TO WHOM GOD GAVE HIS WILL<p><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-family: Merriweather;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-family: Merriweather;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwsiqogWsZLYMIq5H8jYvE03PSORFcl-VjglOj91uDKqgHnmhrPMDSWGTORLQU8VTHTKwgwIVwKUNV9HfH4GQQMwBRWUdTtKdD-8fHdeLBcskUVYXA7UCCjHW9gI5gvb2d4eigjJwvSuHW9NCLyAYbuE3Ip-qjgkpdj-g5rmA_IFQllC3S_CkMOe_tWpE/s477/St_JosephChristChild.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="300" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwsiqogWsZLYMIq5H8jYvE03PSORFcl-VjglOj91uDKqgHnmhrPMDSWGTORLQU8VTHTKwgwIVwKUNV9HfH4GQQMwBRWUdTtKdD-8fHdeLBcskUVYXA7UCCjHW9gI5gvb2d4eigjJwvSuHW9NCLyAYbuE3Ip-qjgkpdj-g5rmA_IFQllC3S_CkMOe_tWpE/w403-h640/St_JosephChristChild.jpg" width="403" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14pt;">The liturgical calendar is bejeweled with feasts of beloved St. Joseph, but Autumn not so much. Yes, we ought fete the legal father of Jesus frequently, but because less attention is given the earthly father of the Almighty in these months, we arrive at Advent and are often in a rush to prepare for Christmas without sufficient time given to the man who God the Father entrusted with His Son.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Joseph was a chaste man, and it is reasonable to conclude he made the decision in union with Mary that they both remain virgins for all their married life. This was utterly self-abnegating of him because this was the era when his fellow Jews were of the mind that bearing as many babes as possible would hasten the arrival of the Messiah. More male babies meant the Messiah would surely be among them. It seems Joseph discounted the mere possibility that he could be the sire of the Savior – even though he was of the royal line of David - and King David had been promised the Chosen One would be of his flesh and blood. By staying a virgin, Joseph was not planning to be a parent of any child and he certainly never imagined the Christ would be cradled in his arms. The Lord God had led Joseph to remain pure, yet Joseph’s humility meant he could not even conceive of being the daddy of the Divine.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">This was even more evident when Joseph discovered that Mary is with Child. He was galled by doubt, and begged to know how the woman who he had been convinced was a virgin was suddenly growing a Babe inside her. He must have felt horribly betrayed. His mind was devastated by the mere question – could she have been with another man? Joseph planned to separate from her because he knew the Child was not his biological issue and he disqualified himself totally from the mere idea that his wife was carrying the Messiah. Joseph knew well the prophecy that a virgin would bear the Savior as foretold by the Prophet Isaiah, yet Joseph was too modest to even entertain for a second that he was the Baby’s legal father.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">His reaction to Mary’s widening womb spoke volumes to his meekness. Joseph was not so proud as to shame her for the possibility she preferred another over him, and he did not seek retribution. Joseph has often described almost as though he was shy and tongue-tied, which has the faint implication he was cowardly. But when he saw beyond doubt that Mary was in the family way, he reacted tacitly because he did not want to cause her the slightest embarrassment.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">In a dream he learned Mary’s Baby was conceived by the Holy Spirit, which meant he went from a state of mistrust to awe and he adored the Child Whose Presence had caused him such doubt. Joseph had gone through his dark night of the soul to the brightness of Christ’s light shining right in front of him. He was also humbled to his marrow, he had gone from putting himself out of the running completely to knowing he was the one to whom God was giving the awesome responsibility of protecting the Life of His Son.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Then Joseph journeyed with Mary to Bethlehem to put their names on a census and with newborn Baby Jesus in hand, Joseph wrote the Name of God on a parchment. Joseph had the heroism and fearlessness to rise to be the one to make the prophecy come true – it had been foretold that the Baby would be born in Bethlehem – but Joseph was not born there and this was perhaps a reason he had excluded himself as the man who could be earthly father of the Savior.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Back home in Nazareth, they had not established their household that long when Joseph was told by an angel in a dream to take the Mother and Child to Egypt. They fled from Herod, for fear his soldiers’ swords would slice the Savior. Joseph had no work there and no one knew they were coming. Only someone very strong could have made such a bold move, and only one who relied on Divine Providence to such a courageous degree.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">A dozen years passed, and Jesus was on the cusp of adulthood. On their way back from their yearly pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Joseph and Mary trusted He was with them or with one of their travelling companions, and they were shocked when they found out He was not. Both Mary and Joseph were in desolation, not knowing when their Savior would come in their midst again. They were forced to travel back to the temple, only to find their Boy holding forth before the elders and amazing them with His wisdom. After they asked for an explanation, they were greeted with a rhetorical reproach as to why they didn’t know He was to be found in His Father’s House? This was a most humbling moment for Joseph, in public Jesus put him in his place as being His earthly father. Jesus, however, was having no pubescent hissy fit. Rather, he was asserting Himself before Joseph and Mary as being the only Begotten Son of the Father.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">But when He left the temple with His father and mother, He was obedient to Joseph. Just like before Jesus’s birth, Joseph had been humbled yet again, and only after he assumed new humility, did Joseph take charge of the adult Jesus. Yes, Joseph had authority over God Himself and was in his rights to correct Him for forsaking him for 3 days, but he may not have done so, because in his ever deepening docility to God’s will, he may have seen that this trial of the 3 days when Jesus was “lost” was part of God’s plan to humble him for the next stage of raising Jesus in the second third of His Life. This was the most awesome role ever given a human man, that God put Himself under Joseph’s rule. No man ever had before or since the right to exercise God’s will on His behalf. If Jesus can deign to be under Joseph’s reign, so can we.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">* * *</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I am posting this on the eve of Wednesday, day of St Joseph. wrote this for <i>The Mass of Ages</i>, the magazine of the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales. You may read <a href="https://lms.org.uk/sites/default/files/u5374/autumn_23_final_corrected_proof_31_july.pdf" target="_blank">the entire qua</a></span></span><a href="https://lms.org.uk/sites/default/files/u5374/autumn_23_final_corrected_proof_31_july.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 14pt;">rterly </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 14pt;">here</span></span></a></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-68657353081201960072023-06-06T06:11:00.002-07:002023-06-08T11:53:49.849-07:00ABORTION AND INFERTILITY: PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH REPRODUCTION<p><span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJok027oxm-NjKKo5P7xuMyJTLyV3mMFcdjrGgPODtzyVBwYFIc8-0TYTlE1v2A2_sjmoMoLt8n9FduuBbXg04_FHzxeLpB3HX8e2v41jnToORAFD2g-xF86_qJ8_RknsMNoYHgisLV6yf6Q5b4DXIWEtJWSCK9qibCPmixYltleNsNdf6YH6n0YRpg/s800/MotherandChildHicks.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="624" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJok027oxm-NjKKo5P7xuMyJTLyV3mMFcdjrGgPODtzyVBwYFIc8-0TYTlE1v2A2_sjmoMoLt8n9FduuBbXg04_FHzxeLpB3HX8e2v41jnToORAFD2g-xF86_qJ8_RknsMNoYHgisLV6yf6Q5b4DXIWEtJWSCK9qibCPmixYltleNsNdf6YH6n0YRpg/s16000/MotherandChildHicks.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="background-color: #ead1dc;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> <span style="color: #222222; font-size: 13pt;">After I turned 30, it became much harder to take some of my single female friends to the Mass of the Ages. Mind you, at least one was having a conversion and said how much she wanted to assist at the Holy Sacrifice. When she did come, she just looked at the ground and at Communion she closed her eyes which were brimming with tears. She was on the Pill for years and is also post-abortion. In her 20s, the abortion industry told her, “You can go on to have a football team.” I have known hundreds of women who were told the same lie.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Like my friend, many of them aborted the only babies they ever conceived. When my friend goes to the Traditional Latin Mass with me, she sees women with many children and she feels harrowing pain. No one told her the psychological harm, that she would crave a baby but at the same time have “an allergy” as she describes it to being near one. Perhaps it’s too easy to merely call her jealous, but I sometimes hear other friends, Trad Mums with a big, beautiful brood who complain of women who give them rude looks and who behave stroppily towards them. The usual remarks to a woman with many babies is that she and her husband are lusty lagomorphs or that they are overpopulating. Jealousy is a factor here, when a childless woman tries to make a family feel at fault or even guilty for having something she desperately wants for herself.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I know many women who spent their 20s on the Pill, sleeping with men who were not father material, using up their precious fertile years when that same time could have been spent looking for a good man. Up until recently, women were sold a falsehood of eternal fertility. We can debate the varying degrees to which the Pill and abortion negatively impact fertility; some women have more resilient uterine walls, but these practices tend to make the womb wall harder. But there is something we can all agree on; the Pill and abortion allow for a lot of wasted time. It’s so much easier to take the pleasure on offer, even if the man is not who you want to be the father of your children, but encounter after encounter can add up to years. When I was in the pro-life trenches, I discovered that fear of infertility was <i>the </i>major issue that deterred pregnant women from having an abortion. I’ve met pregnant women from every walk of life under the sun and the vast majority – except for very few – had grave concerns that an abortion would impact their fertility. Their concerns were well-founded, not just because abortion is not good for the womb, but because no one can turn back the clock as Shakespeare wrote, “And nothing ‘gainst time’s scythe can make defence, Save breed to brave him when he takes thee hence.”</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">A Hindu couple who were hellbent on having a late-term abortion for their baby girl decided against abortion because they feared it would wreck the mother’s chances of conceiving a baby boy. It has always confounded my listeners when I tell them how worried women in crisis pregnancy are that an abortion will damage their fertility irreparably. If they want children, why do they abort the one they already have? Many times they are just not with the “right” person, granted, the man they have in mind is a fantasy figure and has an odd habit of never appearing. But for some pregnant women, the father of the baby is a total rotter and yet these women deserve to keep their fertility as strong as possible. Many rape victims, when they learned of the impact an abortion could have on their fertility turned totally against having one. As a proud African mum said to me, “my rapist took control of my body, he’s not getting my fertility, too.” A lovely young woman paid for an abortion but didn’t go through with it. Hers was a very hard case, her boyfriend was in crime, but she cancelled “the procedure” because she feared for her fertility.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The Pill and abortion mean playing Russian Roulette with reproductive functions. We are about to see an explosion of women on the cusp of middle age who conceived in their younger years, “got rid”, and then never had a baby. Childless by choice, and childless not by choice. True respect for the young who are coming up entails telling them it could be them. I write this as a childless woman myself; I gave my best years to helping others have children but am content I followed a certain calling.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">This Summer it is 65 years since Humanae Vitae was promulgated, a document that tried to answer the proponents of contraception. I think it is only now, however, that the tide is turning on contraception, <a href="https://www.louisemperry.co.uk/" target="_blank">Louise Perry</a>’s groundbreaking book, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Case-Against-Sexual-Revolution/dp/1509549994/ref=zg_bs_276490_3/257-0531236-7395869?pd_rd_i=1509549994&psc=1" target="_blank">The Case Against the Sexual Revolution</a> </i>finally gives voice to the women who felt under great pressure to have sex when the Pill became ubiquitous. I myself remember being pushed to take the Pill when I was in my 20s. I have found, however, that nothing is so strong a factor in making a woman decide against promiscuity as explaining the link between the Pill and a childless life, spent alone and lonely. Thus, if we want to stop abortion, this needs to be better known.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">As for my fellow women who attend the Latin Mass and are open to life, if you’re a mum with young babies, and you see a woman give you a dirty look, you may consider doing her the charity of asking her, “Is what I have something you wanted?” You just might see tears peep from her eyes. She’ll never dry her baby’s tears, but she’ll have plenty of her own. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">* * *</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I wrote this piece for the Summer edition of <i><a href="https://lms.org.uk/sites/default/files/u5374/final_print_version_summer_23_moa.pdf" target="_blank">The Mass of Ages</a>.</i> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The classic painting was executed by George Elgar Hicks. </span></span></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-12639412727216072392023-06-05T20:17:00.003-07:002023-06-06T03:58:50.355-07:00TOMORROW MORNING I WILL BE REVIEWING THE NEW PADRE PIO MOVIE...<span style="font-family: Merriweather;">....on <a href="https://www.grnonline.com/en/" target="_blank">The Guadalupe Radio Network</a>. You can listen live! </span><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Tito Edwards very kindly invited me to take part. </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">My segment will be on at 4:37 Pacific Coast Time, or the time it is here in Los Angeles. This is 6:37 US Central Time and 7:37 Eastern Standard Time. For all my loved ones back in Europe, this is 12:37 pm. </span><div><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOz8ZXwKiRii6KG02DbzuEhJx4t8JdBJdmqdlL5CHFuPQd2NnYguvwDln1C8xde6omndMaIyxauktXI4IERECJdB9U7Dyzqmff9Ux2FLYTJH-P6299xuaQ7ZG-ZeZLQg_ocD8_bL5PpqiP_NsGJ0IHgzkVQksF3Oe-s_inl1WN4PI2p8sTue3_PfdfQ/s1333/PadrePioMovie.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1333" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOz8ZXwKiRii6KG02DbzuEhJx4t8JdBJdmqdlL5CHFuPQd2NnYguvwDln1C8xde6omndMaIyxauktXI4IERECJdB9U7Dyzqmff9Ux2FLYTJH-P6299xuaQ7ZG-ZeZLQg_ocD8_bL5PpqiP_NsGJ0IHgzkVQksF3Oe-s_inl1WN4PI2p8sTue3_PfdfQ/s16000/PadrePioMovie.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-83927890402103642602023-04-09T00:10:00.008-07:002023-04-09T00:15:49.607-07:00CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN!<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Merriweather;">May I wish you and yours a very happy and holy Easter. May every blessing and grace of this most holy of holy feasts be yours. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcacSQWivVgR8tN-KfdsYTwlvitSnElLMbsIrqTKkphbAgpMwoeBJqdtWkiKYAQMy2D4UXJU3GQ8OAAjMdr7X3vryGqufja9OOjf1HlpifJhJsPMXv-5khNxmiZlUISfGD52TPqmHxueuIJ5J9-7OrOhHQcYtbRmx8qK2NHl2AMHhTgugJkjEuQY1Oww/s1904/Resurrection.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="1904" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcacSQWivVgR8tN-KfdsYTwlvitSnElLMbsIrqTKkphbAgpMwoeBJqdtWkiKYAQMy2D4UXJU3GQ8OAAjMdr7X3vryGqufja9OOjf1HlpifJhJsPMXv-5khNxmiZlUISfGD52TPqmHxueuIJ5J9-7OrOhHQcYtbRmx8qK2NHl2AMHhTgugJkjEuQY1Oww/s16000/Resurrection.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">***</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Andrea Mantegna executed, The Resurrection, the painting that accompanies this post. </span></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-60265310120791556212023-03-13T22:16:00.002-07:002023-03-13T22:18:06.034-07:00WHEN I WAS CAST INTO OUTER DARKNESS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWHxIU81tOjngp5Lknsz7aVIpj5B_q8hxSLPqX2WfOTX_tDDVZ6GpmZXfg9LOdRYDMknHuZhgwnnvQlMDI61f2YYAKS7OmMrL964qlvKHIrl-D3hyNgqk0y5QgH5tWf31fJUL1AYdu1N6UgDcAZp7qFNVYRM6BNNnqkPzkGNmva7VOJ7CMdRR6MKTrA/s1750/MeditationsOnDeath.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1750" data-original-width="1268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWHxIU81tOjngp5Lknsz7aVIpj5B_q8hxSLPqX2WfOTX_tDDVZ6GpmZXfg9LOdRYDMknHuZhgwnnvQlMDI61f2YYAKS7OmMrL964qlvKHIrl-D3hyNgqk0y5QgH5tWf31fJUL1AYdu1N6UgDcAZp7qFNVYRM6BNNnqkPzkGNmva7VOJ7CMdRR6MKTrA/s16000/MeditationsOnDeath.jpeg" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I had a call to make an unusual request of the Lord, one that was curious for someone like me who likes to pray only nice things happen to me. I asked the Lord to consider my soul in my worst mortal sin and to allow me to experience being "cast into outer darkness" - for one mere minute. Essentially, I asked to feel the reality of Hell for 60 seconds and meet the same dire fate that befell the man in Matthew's Gospel who dared show up not wearing "a wedding garment" at the marriage feast for the King's son. The King is outraged on seeing a guest not dressed in the proper attire for his son's nuptial banquet. As punishment, the King has the guest bound hand and foot and cast into the place that sounds like a prison in black fog. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Oh, but let me tell you it is worse than can ever be described, but I will endeavor all the same to approach a description. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">So, my prayer was answered. Oddly, I was in a state of grace when I made the petition, and that's perhaps why it was granted to me to be in that place of perdition where the man who had no wedding garment was sent. One night I had a dream where I was suddenly thrown into that same "outer darkness"</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> of which Jesus speaks in</span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> Matthew's Gospel. First, I was shown a writ of my transgressions, and then like a bolt of lightning, I was absorbed down into an ever increasing blackness, like being vaccuumed into a hole of blackest mud, and the force of the suction was so strong I could not resist it. Then I came to a place of total seclusion. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I felt at one with this place of bleakest night; that I was the dark and the dark was me. It was cut off from all that is good and lovely; there would never be the faintest feeling of love again, and I would never know any of my friends or loved ones ever again. The impossibility of ever receiving sanctifying grace, and of being separated from our Savior for all time pervaded my senses 'til an unbearable agony set in. But then, it was over, it had only lasted as long as I'd asked, and I woke up. One minute was more than enough for me. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I wonder if the famed spiritual writer, Thomas a Kempis, author of <i><a href="https://tanbooks.com/products/books/spiritual-warfare/virtue-vice/the-imitation-of-christ/" target="_blank">The Imitation of Christ</a>,</i> ever made the same request as I did and had a true-to-hell experience which meant he wrote from knowledge when he penned his section on hell in his work, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;"><a href="https://tanbooks.com/meditations-on-death" target="_blank">Meditations on Death</a>. </i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">He wrote of it as, </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">"a lightless and sinister subterranean cavern" wherein </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">"there is an unfathomable opaque darkness...the senses and the mind are suffocated and reduced to a state of perpetual, tormented confusion." And I find this so agonizingly true to my minute of hellish mysticism that I think he wrote from having been thrust into total torture so that he could write travelogue of torment. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSG_TngYpMS5VC3Te_oT4GZ_YPXuSQw7xxm1DSjmP1Nb_jFwl8NuXAxuDAxIfAoRa65AtB6a12KzTBf94H2z3ciWYhWhEes-B951lZpUoj0mlUXxMRmpLdqR2mSzWW1-Y7bxUfn-mc0QKUwD1IG4pt2wTNUG8SClLv20O-r5qqE9QzadZmhgLHfoisBg/s350/ThomasAKempis.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="302" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSG_TngYpMS5VC3Te_oT4GZ_YPXuSQw7xxm1DSjmP1Nb_jFwl8NuXAxuDAxIfAoRa65AtB6a12KzTBf94H2z3ciWYhWhEes-B951lZpUoj0mlUXxMRmpLdqR2mSzWW1-Y7bxUfn-mc0QKUwD1IG4pt2wTNUG8SClLv20O-r5qqE9QzadZmhgLHfoisBg/w345-h400/ThomasAKempis.jpeg" width="345" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></p>Unlike me, Thomas a Kempis never deserved hell, perish the thought, but I think he was given a vision of hell so he could write something so visceral it would save souls from going there. I invited such a vision to sate curiosity and to compare my minute in misery to having that state for all eternity. </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Thomas a Kempis, however, is so benevolent in his zeal for souls to be before the Face of God that </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">he renders so hot a depiction of hell that it burns itself onto the memory and his aim is primarily and most charitably to make others turn from sin. When the soul becomes one of Satan's spoils, the eternal segregation is </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">"a state of utter isolation, bereft of all companionship" which sparks with <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2020/03/from-here-on-no-one-will-ever-again.html" target="_blank">St John Bosco's account of hell</a>, that there is never friendship or even a kind glance to be had there. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Yet, Thomas a Kempis is humble enough to concede, </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">"we can never accurately describe it in words or depict it in comprehensible images" </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">and there is his implicit humility because even though he stresses hell can never be portrayed in all its horridness, he still writes of the "inextinguishable fire of unbearable intensity" but he admits that a true understanding of hell, </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">"exceeds the capacity of the human mind". Thomas a Kempis does not put himself forward as the author who can perfectly illustrate hell; rather he is like the rest of us, he falls short, but he will nevertheless do his damndest to save others from damnation. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Unlike in a Kempis's time, however, I think it requires even more effort and more self-sacrifice to tell the ones who need to read </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;"><a href="https://tanbooks.com/meditations-on-death" target="_blank">Meditations on Death</a> </i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">the most that they had better take its message to soul. My friends and loved ones who are dying to read it, are the ones who are the least likely to be going to hell because they have already reckoned with its reality. </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The ones who are anything but dying to read it, are the ones who are in the most danger of dying a bad death. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">If you are worried about someone, then this is the book for them, that said, it may take sublime courage on your part to give it to them because it could risk offending them, in their pride the person you think needs it the most has the air of immortality and may lack the humility to ever even admit the slightest risk they could go to hell. It is best to do the meditations yourself, and then tell someone who you believe might benefit that you found this set of meditations to be most helpful. Too often we wish for souls who we fret may be in jeopardy to do meditations on death that we have not done ourselves. I caution you against asking for a minute in hell as I did; it truly is that bad. Instead, read a Kempis's <i><a href="https://tanbooks.com/meditations-on-death" target="_blank">Meditations on Death</a>.</i></span></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-64753860595507155642023-02-28T23:22:00.002-08:002023-02-28T23:25:07.632-08:00"JESUS WILL SAVE CIVILIZATION BY LIVING IN THE MEMBERS OF HIS BODY AND ACTING THROUGH THEM IN THE WORLD"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsiPGxVsFgWnVfIjDA7HuXx87dSdGemK4XJJiCt5OaXjBnyjjyyEIs6Yd-1tzRyZ0sN9W8WKiK39L2HapbIMuRMjaYeIaKQx_QrJGGJxtA_3V-gqsDNwU3ziEGVmDbFpHdHsRoRf06HoTxgFNBuASG7qOe7lWVx7ereHaWyNtlp5KmbbxmnjzOrBcnw/s1280/HowtheEucharistBookCover.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="841" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsiPGxVsFgWnVfIjDA7HuXx87dSdGemK4XJJiCt5OaXjBnyjjyyEIs6Yd-1tzRyZ0sN9W8WKiK39L2HapbIMuRMjaYeIaKQx_QrJGGJxtA_3V-gqsDNwU3ziEGVmDbFpHdHsRoRf06HoTxgFNBuASG7qOe7lWVx7ereHaWyNtlp5KmbbxmnjzOrBcnw/s16000/HowtheEucharistBookCover.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Dr. R. Jared Staudt has just published a book, <i><a href="https://tanbooks.com/products/new-releases/how-the-eucharist-can-save-civilization/#" target="_blank">How the Eucharist Can Save Civilization</a> </i>which I intuit could be a spiritual masterpiece. I have not read the book in its entirety yet - it was only released today and I don't normally praise books that highly but just watch Dr. Staudt expound on his thesis that if Catholics seek personal transformation through the Eucharist and allow Christ Who they have received to work in them to be a force for good in whatever area of life then they can change the world for the better. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6LSEwB3gHNM" width="320" youtube-src-id="6LSEwB3gHNM"></iframe></div><p></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-44339878211689843322023-02-13T22:45:00.001-08:002023-02-13T22:45:27.520-08:00ONLY FOR THYSELF, I LOVE THEE, O MY GOD<p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vXLvIJ9T2g6Ijf9SzECG8RBR-dH6nQDqvDtXEt7QPUS70v1aIDm38bKd4DCJTz4Sm-OTC78JRheX17CBueK6-FftPxWSgvzcIi0h3PgcawWcG_JJiscgyIzk4vqJmRnq2hk3_cpab7dHbDTPAgWQSrFEGNhIoodb0qKHwqXwihhMwUj_8qkJZFMGWw/s640/TheHolyTrinity.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="475" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1vXLvIJ9T2g6Ijf9SzECG8RBR-dH6nQDqvDtXEt7QPUS70v1aIDm38bKd4DCJTz4Sm-OTC78JRheX17CBueK6-FftPxWSgvzcIi0h3PgcawWcG_JJiscgyIzk4vqJmRnq2hk3_cpab7dHbDTPAgWQSrFEGNhIoodb0qKHwqXwihhMwUj_8qkJZFMGWw/w475-h640/TheHolyTrinity.jpeg" width="475" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: x-large; font-style: italic;">Litany of the Love of God</span></p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br style="font-size: large;" /></span><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lord have mercy on us.<br />Christ, have mercy on us.<br />Lord, have mercy on us.<br />Christ, hear us.<br />Christ, graciously hear us.<br />God the Father in heaven,<br />Have mercy on us.<br />God the Son, Redeemer of the world,<br />Have mercy on us.<br />God, the Holy Ghost,<br />Have mercy on us.<br />Holy Trinity, one God,<br />Have mercy on us.<br /><br />Thou Who art Infinite Love,<br /><i>I love Thee, O my God</i></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Thou Who didst first love me, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></i><div><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Thou Who commandest me to love Thee, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />With all my heart, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />With all my soul, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />With all my mind, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />With all my strength, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />Above all possessions and honors, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />Above all pleasures and enjoyments, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />More than myself and all that belongs to me, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />More than all my relatives and friends, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />More than all men and angels, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />Above all created things in heaven or on earth, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />Only for Thyself, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />Because Thou art the sovereign Good, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />Because Thou art infinitely worthy of being loved, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />Because Thou art infinitely perfect, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />Even hadst Thou not promised me heaven, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />Even hadst Thou not menaced me with hell, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />Even shouldst Thou try me by want and misfortune, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />In wealth and in poverty, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />In prosperity and in adversity, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />In health and in sickness, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />In life and in death, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />In time and in eternity, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />In union with that love wherewith all the Saints and all the Angels love Thee in heaven, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />In union with that love wherewith the Blessed Virgin Mary loveth Thee, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br />In union with that infinite love wherewith Thou lovest Thyself eternally, </span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I love Thee, O my God</span></i><i style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /><br />Let us pray:</span></i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br style="font-size: large;" /><br style="font-size: large;" /><span style="font-size: large; font-style: italic;">M</span><span style="font-size: large;">y God, Who dost possess in incomprehensible abundance all that is perfect and worthy of love, annihilate in me all guilty, sensual, and undue love for creatures: kindle in my heart the pure flame of Thy love, so that I may love nothing but Thee or in Thee, until, being entirely consumed by holy love of Thee, I may go to love Thee eternally with the elect in Heaven, the country of pure love. Amen.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-size: large;">* * *</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">This litany was composed by Pope Pius VI, and I think it is the perfect way to celebrate St Valentine's Day. Valentine was a priest who was martyred rather than denounce his belief in Christ. On this day romantic love is celebrated more than anything, the love that man and woman have for each other, yet we need orientate ourselves in the love that Valentine had for God alone that led him to being a priest consecrated to Him. Offering this litany is exactly what Valentine would have us do. May I wish you and yours a most happy feast of St Valentine. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather; font-size: medium;">The classic painting of The Holy Trinity was executed by Miguel Cabrera. </span></div></div>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-33324695901932263302023-01-16T12:10:00.003-08:002023-01-16T12:11:37.704-08:00WHEN PADRE PIO FIRST APPEARED TO ME<p> <span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I had the honor of being a guest on <a href="https://youtu.be/Y4VLLwS4JX8" target="_blank">the TAN Roundtable podcast.</a> I held forth on the first time Padre Pio appeared to me and why it was on the cover of a TAN book that I first saw Pio in a “normal” way and was able to put a a face to the Franciscan friar who came to me.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Y4VLLwS4JX8" width="320" youtube-src-id="Y4VLLwS4JX8"></iframe></div><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">T’was<a href="https://tanbooks.com/products/books/saints/biographies/padre-pio-the-stigmatist/" target="_blank"> Father Carty’s </a><i><a href="https://tanbooks.com/products/books/saints/biographies/padre-pio-the-stigmatist/" target="_blank">Padre Pio, The Stigmatist</a> </i>and here is my copy. Had I not seen this book when I did, my introduction to Pio would have been delayed by some years.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9MdtRy9UqrnYuezwXT6fVEEHGlmmyb9SK8fQZv2ZYmV7NFqwtnZk23FRiiAZUdbCkXr-72PrAWW9RrOIrGzAb3aplkUxZp5pJSid1qr5xalcWtel29Xw1lrK50N-FANztv6Nv-oTf9e0BadLDfe-S_7g9mdrSM5l_PvrDBB1a3WkW9mgbDBcq_ZBCg/s4032/4D9FBF26-4D8C-42AF-9974-83252FBA1E1E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9MdtRy9UqrnYuezwXT6fVEEHGlmmyb9SK8fQZv2ZYmV7NFqwtnZk23FRiiAZUdbCkXr-72PrAWW9RrOIrGzAb3aplkUxZp5pJSid1qr5xalcWtel29Xw1lrK50N-FANztv6Nv-oTf9e0BadLDfe-S_7g9mdrSM5l_PvrDBB1a3WkW9mgbDBcq_ZBCg/s16000/4D9FBF26-4D8C-42AF-9974-83252FBA1E1E.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-25510463469905096372023-01-02T11:18:00.003-08:002023-01-02T11:18:47.957-08:00ST PHILOMENA, THE PRINCESS WINS OUT <p> <span style="font-family: Merriweather;">In the course of 2022, <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/?m=1" target="_blank">my blog</a> garnered 493 K hits. I thank all of you, dear readers, from the depths of my soul for your loyalty. I wish you all a blessed 2023.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQWOa5OAGWttO-Tat42Jr2aqniFZzLCjTS4tYyA5I97VqpR6TQrrOVPrblwnv66OtToDhfd9ISOCUxaH-tgvqLp8iQ8XEZq5KdlM-9xVX_m1TgZRF-M-194LPJwvDF71jHsy4Zu992p4gdnCxp518T5TrYh-mVE9WW2oWmKMP1Qm-qJil1kvasBPrcQ/s1668/ADF043A6-CD4C-469B-AA94-2E0E76E0CFC9.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1668" data-original-width="1240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQWOa5OAGWttO-Tat42Jr2aqniFZzLCjTS4tYyA5I97VqpR6TQrrOVPrblwnv66OtToDhfd9ISOCUxaH-tgvqLp8iQ8XEZq5KdlM-9xVX_m1TgZRF-M-194LPJwvDF71jHsy4Zu992p4gdnCxp518T5TrYh-mVE9WW2oWmKMP1Qm-qJil1kvasBPrcQ/s16000/ADF043A6-CD4C-469B-AA94-2E0E76E0CFC9.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The most popular blog was that on <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2022/08/when-st-philomena-knocked-at-my-door.html?m=1" target="_blank">St Philomena knocking on my door</a>. I’m grateful and humbled that <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2022/02/philomena-powerful-princess-in-heaven.html?m=1" target="_blank">the Princess</a> came calling. She is always most welcome.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkhtaA0N-X7YyWzpLtnlJWANCHxtZCuW8te-1pWljF5DGIy0tbbEoHQb-xtN3C4cem-88x8laTbr1faumrOLONSj_bRbx3CRp2H-FvkDWfC25FNjIq3Eqa0aCzW6Qh1ZlyQpoSi0dXY6EY_e5ukjM6ZvY4pfB8Pn0pEUL3donC7RGkxVizJ9aQLC3Tw/s1561/451E1ABF-23B2-4304-A6F9-BE17D5051BF6.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="1248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkhtaA0N-X7YyWzpLtnlJWANCHxtZCuW8te-1pWljF5DGIy0tbbEoHQb-xtN3C4cem-88x8laTbr1faumrOLONSj_bRbx3CRp2H-FvkDWfC25FNjIq3Eqa0aCzW6Qh1ZlyQpoSi0dXY6EY_e5ukjM6ZvY4pfB8Pn0pEUL3donC7RGkxVizJ9aQLC3Tw/s16000/451E1ABF-23B2-4304-A6F9-BE17D5051BF6.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span><p></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-31448438829961596482022-12-22T21:39:00.004-08:002022-12-22T21:49:10.250-08:00MIRACLES FROM THE LITANY OF SAINTS<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOZ8CYLYAJkOxOxEkXSHd8Q7itEShI3NCXpUBIlCZBWjYrc_MTMRaHXfllYsfZob7RHC_90MGsNiG1goFo8qiiMJPYqv-lGOdqXDLy6oAHqvdOAkwJmWMAzxlJqXjjImkM43uuP_bz9VZazgp_qH23BDcK03TPcqjz9htOwDQCp6va3pYMJ-toseH0w/s2250/CommunionofSaintsDurer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="2024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOZ8CYLYAJkOxOxEkXSHd8Q7itEShI3NCXpUBIlCZBWjYrc_MTMRaHXfllYsfZob7RHC_90MGsNiG1goFo8qiiMJPYqv-lGOdqXDLy6oAHqvdOAkwJmWMAzxlJqXjjImkM43uuP_bz9VZazgp_qH23BDcK03TPcqjz9htOwDQCp6va3pYMJ-toseH0w/s16000/CommunionofSaintsDurer.png" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><p>I was extremely encouraged to pray and promote the offering of <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-best-litany-of-saints-ive-ever-found.html" target="_blank"><i>the Litany of the Saints</i></a> after I read Adam Blai's latest book, <i><a href="https://bookstore.spiritdaily.com/products/pre-order-now-the-exorcism-files-true-stories-of-demonic-possession-adam-blai?_pos=1&_sid=2d8ff5028&_ss=r" target="_blank">The Exorcism Files</a>. </i>To give just one example, Blai describes the case of a woman with a long history of New Age practice who developed an obsession to commit suicide. She was relieved from <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2022/11/saved-from-suicide-by-litany-of-saints.html" target="_blank">her all-consuming compulsion</a> to kill herself by Blai offering the Litany of the Saints in her presence. </p><p>I didn't really believe the Litany could be all that powerful in other situations, until I saw some fantastic fruits which were the result of people offering it. I know someone whose depression was lifted after they offered it. One person was very sick and feeling they might not recover, but after it was offered for them, they felt hopeful and their symptoms disappeared in so radical a way that they still can't fathom that they are well. There have been two extraordinary occasions of spectacular grace given souls who offered the Litany, and to be quite frank, I had previously never imagined they would ever overcome the horrors that plagued them. I thought the Litany would be a help, but not be a miraculous rescue. Thankfully grace is not limited to my meager mindset or anyone else's for that matter. </p></span><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I've sat on two miraculous events and have not written about them for some months in case "the miracle" as the people involved describe them were only flukes, only fleeting moments of seeming improvement and not permanent. </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">A married couple had been in a bad patch for a decade. And things were only getting worse. The priest who counsels them had lost hope and had suggested separation. All the therapy had not worked, in fact, it had made the spouse with the personality disorder feel cornered, that instead of being given the admiration they crave, they felt wrongly accused and misunderstood. When this couple were first in love, they had worshipped each other and the narcissistic spouse had been sufficiently adored and their problems were masked as a result. But with the passage of time, this spouse has no longer felt like they are being appropriately admired and reverenced and have taken it out on the other spouse. Both of them, however, wanted to stay together. They were encouraged to offer the Litany of the Saints, as part of an overall drive to help them become practicing Catholics. Amazingly, the spouse with the personality disorder has stopped their acts of vengeance. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Many would insist this couple ought separate and dissolve their marriage. They may do so in the future. But for now, thanks to the fact that the offering of <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-best-litany-of-saints-ive-ever-found.html" target="_blank">the Litany of the Saints</a> allows them to ask the help of the Blessed Trinity, the Blessed Virgin and all the Saints means they have had respite from their struggles and are living in harmony. Yes, the spouse with a normal personality has to go "grey rock", a term of art in the modern age for someone who does not retaliate, but things have gotten better, and more and more they feel "normal" and "content". </span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I am describing - in broad strokes - their problems not as a defense of the narcissistic partner who needs much prayer and forgiveness. Rather, I am writing with the aim of showing the efficacy of offering the Litany of the Saints even for someone who is married to someone with a personality disorder. Imagine if The Litany of Saints were promoted among married couples who have fewer issues? I would urge everyone reading this to give <a href="https://thepathlesstaken7.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-best-litany-of-saints-ive-ever-found.html" target="_blank">the Litany of Saints</a> to someone who is having a tough time in their marriage. And our priests and nuns might give it to couples who come to them in need. It could be part of a pack given couples in dire trouble. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I was tempted not to write this post because the personal attack brought to bear on me when I write something like this can be hard-going, but I realized that my reticence to post was selfishness; I want to preserve myself from insult and scrutiny at the expense of not making it know that a couple in difficulty was helped by the Saints and are happier. As a note to anyone who may be upset with me, I'd ask you to offer the Litany of the Saints and see its marvelous efficacy. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Then there is the case of a lady I know who has been successful in her field to the point that she has attracted envy from lesser achievers. In recent years, a former friend of hers turned "frenemy" trolled her and then made threats. The fact that the persecutor had once been a friend meant they knew things like the woman's address and knew certain vulnerabilities which meant they were able to get inside her head. Yes, this is a case where the authorities need to be called, and were about to be called. But a friend of the lady receiving the threats offered the Litany of the Saints for all concerned, and there was a sudden cessation in the threats being issued. The lady then started offering the Litany of the Saints herself for the explicit intention of the conversion of her former friend, the "frenemy". Suddenly, her antagonist was moved to stop and went to confession, which is "the miracle" she never thought would happen. They never said sorry to her. To be fair, an apology in this instance is a type of self-incrimination, but they have said sorry to Our Lord when they confessed their misdeeds and they have shown firm purpose of amendment.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><span style="text-align: center;"> * * *</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">The classic painting, Landauer Altar was executed by Albrecht Durer. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 20px;">The best Litany of the Saints that I've ever found is from </span><a href="https://bookstore.spiritdaily.com/collections/spiritual-warfare/products/br-deliverance-prayers-for-use-by-the-laity-fr-chad-ripperger?_pos=1&_sid=5d01d3bdb&_ss=r" style="background: rgb(233, 212, 210); color: #a93e33; font-family: Merriweather; font-size: 20px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Father Ripperger's <i>Deliverance Prayers For Use by the Laity</i></a>. <span style="font-family: Merriweather;">I include the Litany in full below, it was the one offered in every situation detailed in this post.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Litany of the Saints</span></i></b></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lord, have mercy on us. </span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>Lord, have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Christ have mercy on us. </span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>Christ have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lord, have mercy on us. </span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>Lord, have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Christ, hear us. </span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>Christ, hear us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Christ, graciously hear us.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>Christ, graciously hear us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">God the Father of heaven, </span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">God the Son, Redeemer of the world, </span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">God the Holy Ghost, </span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">have mercy on us</i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Holy Trinity, one God, </span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Holy Mary, <i>pray for us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Holy Mother of God, <i>pray for us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Holy Virgin of virgins, <i>pray for us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Michael,<i> pray for us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Gabriel, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Raphael, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Angels and Archangels, <i>pray for us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy orders of blessed Spirits, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint John the Baptist, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Joseph, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Peter, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Paul, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Andrew, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint James, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint John, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Thomas, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint James, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Philip, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Bartholomew, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Matthew, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Simon, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Thaddeus, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Matthias, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Barnabas, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Luke, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Mark, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Disciples of the Lord, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Innocents, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Stephen, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Lawrence, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Vincent, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saints Fabian and Sebastian, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saints John and Paul, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saints Cosmas and Damian, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saints Gervase and Protase, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Martyrs, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Sylvester, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Gregory, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Ambrose, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Augustine, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Jerome, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Martin, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Nicholas, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Bishops and Confessors, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Doctors, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Anthony, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Benedict, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Dominic, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Francis, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Priests and Levites, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Monks and Hermits, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Mary Magdalen, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Agatha, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Lucy, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Agnes, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Cecilia, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Catherine, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Anastasia, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Virgins and Widows, <i>pray for us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Saints of God, <i>Make intercession for us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Be merciful, <i>Graciously hear us, O Lord. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From all evil, <i>O Lord, deliver us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From the snares of the devil, <i>O Lord, deliver us</i>. </span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From anger, and hatred and every evil will, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From the spirit of fornication, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From lightning and tempest, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From the scourge of earthquakes, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From plague, famine and war, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From everlasting death, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thy Coming, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thy Birth, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thy Baptism and holy Fasting, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thy Cross and Passion, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thy Death and Burial, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thy holy Resurrection, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thine admirable Ascension, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">In the day of judgment, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">We sinners, <i>we beseech Thee, hear us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst spare us, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst pardon us, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thous wouldst bring us to true penance, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve Thy holy Church, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all orders of the Church in holy religion, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to the whole Christian world, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst call back to the unity of the Church all who have strayed from her fold, and to guide all unbelievers into the light of the Gospel, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations, and benefactors from eternal damnation, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Son of God, who take away the sins of the world, <i>spare us O Lord</i>. </span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, <i>spare us, O Lord</i>. </span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, <i>graciously hear us, O Lord.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, <i>have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Christ, <i>hear us. </i></span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Christ, <i>graciously h</i></span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">ear us. </i></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lord, have mercy, <i>Lord, have mercy.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Christ, have mercy, <i>Christ, have mercy. </i></span></p><p style="background-color: #e9d4d2; font-family: Lora, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lord, have mercy, <i>Lord, have mercy. </i></span></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8857216796720971555.post-18428313272049369222022-12-22T18:16:00.001-08:002022-12-22T18:16:29.407-08:00THE BEST LITANY OF THE SAINTS I'VE EVER FOUND <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9d5XgTuqt0h_5dl4aolVmCZiZKHcdSX1SVl1Mv5lyIS-PBQHAsA7dbXK35woq6cIL1PT2_e2aoH91fj3sAp9jKDNRz6OzgdQbEtzKKTo0gLy2oRzm1PrpaB2hs6R-oyQzlOeZ5fDsdvxodawiBUP4S-1RwGxsV3mV6_UUYonlG8SdUzsNJgtt7jlmw/s5184/Communion_of_saints_-_Baptistry_-_Padua_2016%20(1).jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9d5XgTuqt0h_5dl4aolVmCZiZKHcdSX1SVl1Mv5lyIS-PBQHAsA7dbXK35woq6cIL1PT2_e2aoH91fj3sAp9jKDNRz6OzgdQbEtzKKTo0gLy2oRzm1PrpaB2hs6R-oyQzlOeZ5fDsdvxodawiBUP4S-1RwGxsV3mV6_UUYonlG8SdUzsNJgtt7jlmw/s16000/Communion_of_saints_-_Baptistry_-_Padua_2016%20(1).jpg" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lord, have mercy on us. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>Lord, have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Christ have mercy on us. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>Christ have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lord, have mercy on us. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>Lord, have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Christ, hear us. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>Christ, hear us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Christ, graciously hear us.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>Christ, graciously hear us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">God the Father of heaven, </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">God the Son, Redeemer of the world, </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">God the Holy Ghost, </span></p><p><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">have mercy on us</i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Holy Trinity, one God, </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Holy Mary, <i>pray for us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Holy Mother of God, <i>pray for us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Holy Virgin of virgins, <i>pray for us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Michael,<i> pray for us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Gabriel, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Raphael, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Angels and Archangels, <i>pray for us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy orders of blessed Spirits, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint John the Baptist, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Joseph, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Peter, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Paul, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Andrew, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint James, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint John, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Thomas, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint James, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Philip, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Bartholomew, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Matthew, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Simon, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Thaddeus, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Matthias, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Barnabas, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Luke, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Mark, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Disciples of the Lord, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Innocents, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Stephen, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Lawrence, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Vincent, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saints Fabian and Sebastian, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saints John and Paul, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saints Cosmas and Damian, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saints Gervase and Protase, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Martyrs, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Sylvester, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Gregory, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Ambrose, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Augustine, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Jerome, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Martin, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Nicholas, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Bishops and Confessors, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Doctors, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Anthony, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Benedict, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Dominic, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Francis, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Priests and Levites, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Monks and Hermits, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Mary Magdalen, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Agatha, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Lucy, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Agnes, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Cecilia, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Catherine, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Saint Anastasia, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">pray for us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Virgins and Widows, <i>pray for us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">All ye holy Saints of God, <i>Make intercession for us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Be merciful, <i>Graciously hear us, O Lord. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From all evil, <i>O Lord, deliver us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From the snares of the devil, <i>O Lord, deliver us</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From anger, and hatred and every evil will, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From the spirit of fornication, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From lightning and tempest, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From the scourge of earthquakes, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From plague, famine and war, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">From everlasting death, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thy Coming, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thy Birth, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thy Baptism and holy Fasting, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thy Cross and Passion, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thy Death and Burial, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thy holy Resurrection, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through Thine admirable Ascension, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Through the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">In the day of judgment, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">O Lord, deliver us</i><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">We sinners, <i>we beseech Thee, hear us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst spare us, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst pardon us, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thous wouldst bring us to true penance, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve Thy holy Church, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all orders of the Church in holy religion, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to the whole Christian world, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst call back to the unity of the Church all who have strayed from her fold, and to guide all unbelievers into the light of the Gospel, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations, and benefactors from eternal damnation, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">That Thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us, </span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">we beseech Thee, hear us.</i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Son of God, who take away the sins of the world, <i>spare us O Lord</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, <i>spare us, O Lord</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, <i>graciously hear us, O Lord.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, <i>have mercy on us. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Christ, <i>hear us. </i></span><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Christ, <i>graciously h</i></span><i style="font-family: Merriweather;">ear us. </i></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lord, have mercy, <i>Lord, have mercy.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Christ, have mercy, <i>Christ, have mercy. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">Lord, have mercy, <i>Lord, have mercy. </i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">* * *</p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;">This is the best Litany of the Saints that I've ever found, and comes from <a href="https://bookstore.spiritdaily.com/collections/spiritual-warfare/products/br-deliverance-prayers-for-use-by-the-laity-fr-chad-ripperger?_pos=1&_sid=5d01d3bdb&_ss=r" target="_blank">Father Ripperger's <i>Deliverance Prayers For Use by the Laity</i></a> . I keep my copy of this book by my bedside table at night and in my purse by day. It is a must-have. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><i>Communion of Saints By © José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=52272736</i></span></p>Mary O'Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06111088825250138537noreply@blogger.com1