Perpetual Novena for the Nation (Ecumenical)

today | Mad Dawg

[Mad Dawg]

Back in September I took the liberty of starting a thread inviting all to pray for the election.

Well, that didn't work out so well, maybe.

But I am am still asking us to consider ADDING something to our daily prayers. I know you all are busy and I suspect many of you spend a good deal of time in prayer anyway. I do not seek to bind burdens on anyone's back. Though prayer sometimes involves teeth-gritting, that should not be the main theme! The main themes should always be hope, joy, and gratitude, IMHO.

But the prayer of a just man avails much, and we are justified in Jesus! So let us pray! Please consider adding ONE thing -- an act of charity and mercy, a little extra time in prayer and/or with Scripture, maybe a little fast -- or a even little extra physical exercise! But add just one thing to the Glory of our loving God and with a petition that He do HIS will in the coming election.

[Boring technical stuff for non-Catholics. The term "novena" refers to a period of prayer. It derives from, so to speak, riffing on the nine days of prayer between the Ascension and the Pentecost. Hence the name, which pretty much means "niney-thing" -- Mad Dawg translation.
["Perpetual Novena" just means we mean to keep on praying in a committed and regular way until something happens.]

[Mad Dawg]

Litany for Liberty

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

INTRODUCTION

Christ the Lord has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Let us turn to him in humble but fervent petition,
seeking the grace to root out from our hearts all trace of darkness,
and all that holds us back
from walking in the full freedom of the children of God.
As Christ is our great model for that inner freedom,
which enables us to do the right,
let us turn to him with confidence
that we, too, may follow him to the fullness of spiritual freedom.

Lord, have mercy;	Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy;	Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy;	Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, victor over sin and death…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, source of light and hope…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, fullness of truth and mystery…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, teacher of seeking hearts…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, healer of body and soul…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, bringer of mercy and justice…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, who humble the heart and mind…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, release of captives…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, voice against violence…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, courage for the lowly/downtrodden…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, origin of all authority and power…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, true lawgiver…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, unity of order and passion…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, freedom of the Spirit…	Free our hearts.
Jesus, obedient Son of the Father…	Free our hearts.
For the freedom to love…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to believe…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to hope…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to worship…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to serve in charity…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to care for the suffering…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to comfort the sick…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to feed the hungry…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to shelter the homeless…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to proclaim the Gospel…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to walk in chastity…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to live in peace…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to work in good conscience…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to stand in solidarity…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to seek justice…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to reject sin…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to reject coercion…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to reject falsehood…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to reject evil temptations…	Give us your grace.
For the freedom to reject injustice…	Give us your grace.

CLOSING PRAYER

O God, who gave one origin to all peoples
and willed to gather from them one family for yourself,
fill all hearts, we pray, with the fire of your love
and kindle in them a desire
for the just advancement of their neighbor,
that, through the good things which you richly bestow upon all,
each human person may be brought to perfection,
every division may be removed,
and equity and justice may be established in human society.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen.

[Mad Dawg]

Gang: I’m praying this daily at least through Ash Wednesday

[diamond6]

I really need to post an article about the Holy Face. Our Lord said that communism could be destroyed through devotion to His holy face.

[johngrace]

Thank you!!

[johngrace]

“Pray, hope, and don’t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.”

“Prayer is the best weapon we have; it is the key to God’s heart. You must speak to Jesus not only with your lips, but with your heart. In fact on certain occasions you should only speak to Him with your heart.”

[johngrace]

Padre Pio Quotes!

[bronxville]

Thanks...will do the best I can.

[OpusatFR]

Sure, good idea. Even if the country does remain enslaved and more, all according to God’s will and His purpose, we will still be free.

[OpusatFR]

Sure, good idea. Even if the country does remain enslaved and more, all according to God’s will and His purpose, we will still be free.

[Salvation]

This is great. I will also type in the prayer for our nation that I talked about. Prayers cards are free for it by contacting someone in Louisianna. It’s her ministry.

I’ll have to bring it up to my computer to do it.

Nevertheless — this is wonderful — thank you for the thread.

[Mad Dawg]

Dear bronxville,

(I once loved a girl from Bronxville. She fell for a guy far classier than I.)

My advice to those who come to me for advice on prayer is that the FIRST thing is to make a rule you can keep, and then keep it.

So if you could say this litany, for example, once a week, say on Sunday, that would be good.

We want to FIND the edge, the limit of what we can do, and ONLY THEN inch forward. 5 pushups this week, 6 pushups next week.

At the same time, we try to remember, as we patrol the aisles at the Piggly-Wiggly, that God is right there with us and we can shop and think and pray in his company.

Prudence and Temperance are still virtues, or they were the last time I looked. So do not take up prayer as a crushing burden, but as gently and simply as you can, live in God's company, a little more and again a little more.

MY holy father, St. Dominic, abhorred the idea of a rule of prayer becoming an occasion of guilt and despair. So if you are not keeping your rule, make it easier until you can keep it. ONLY then should you try to move forward.

[annalex]

I have added a prayer for the protection of the Church in America to our prayer at meals, since earlier this year.

Lord Jesus, have mercy on America and protect the Christians in it, and especially protect Thy Catholic Church and our religious freedom (the actual words vary, — we don’t say a set prayer at meals and include daily concerns as they come).

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, amen.

[Mad Dawg]

Excellent!

[TEXOKIE]

Amen

[mlizzy]

Yes, excellent idea! (Pray always.) Myself, I've been taking Mother Teresa's and Fr. John A. Hardon's advice on how to end abortion. http://adorationrocks.posterous.com/166971716

[Salvation]

Dear Lord, protect our Nation, founded on God’s principles, and watch over and protect our military sending them Christian chaplains. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

[Mad Dawg]

Beloved in the Lord:

Let me know if you want to be removed from the pingy list.
More to the purpose, let me know if you want to be added.

Let's recruit people, if we can do so w/o being obnoxious. I know others, like Darth Vader, are running similar efforts. Great!

I know physicians, still paying off school loans, who are threatened by this administration. I know others who are worried. And I know the great many (well, okay, a few of them) who risk being spit out of our Lord's mouth because their faith has not yet caught fire and they have accommodated themselves to the anemic beliefs of a failing world.

I also surmise that many of you already pray a great deal. My list of devotions is getting a wee bit ridiculous. I'm going to do a house cleaning come Lent. But in the meantime, for those of you with smartphones, tablets, and confusers, I recommend “Evernote” as a great help in keeping your prayer list current.

When I am asked for prayers. If it's a one-time thing, I'll just say a paternoster right there. But if a longer assault is needed, I haul out the phone and add the name to the list (sometimes with the date — that way I can pray for a week or a month or longer.) Evernote updates my other devices so that wherever (almost) I am I can bring up the list and pray.

Then, when I pray Lauds and Vespers I can bring up the list and pray for these people between the intercessions and the paternoster.

In ways like this, we can really exercise the priesthood of all believers and intercede with our Lady through our Lord for the whole world.

And I am blessed to have you praying with me.

[Running On Empty]

I have printed out the USCCB prayer for freedom that you posted and will be praying it as you suggested.

I also printed out for keeping your counsel about prayer, which as a fellow “Third Order” person, I really found helpful, especially when talking with others about prayer.

I always find myself regretting that I stray away from threads about prayer and get enmeshed in ones about debate (and yes, it is debate and not “discussion”). It feels like coming home again to return to my first calling and first love which is prayer.

You are so right: intercessory prayer is exercising the priesthood of all believers, and is what is most needed now.

“I’m blessed to have you praying with me”

Dear MD, we are blessed to have you call us to prayer and to shepherd us into it with your love. I’m grateful to know you are there.

ROE

[SumProVita]

This and the Prayer for Freedom. YES!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks, MD

(Am also in the process of renewing my total consecration, so this all fits together.)

[annalex]

God bless. If I am not on your list, please put me on.

[SumProVita]

Is there anything like Evernote for the computer? As it is presently, I am keeping my list of prayers on a Word document and can print it out one a month or so. Example: I update the monthly intentions of the Holy Father when Salvation posts them at the beginning of each month.

[SumProVita]

“Well, that didn’t work out so well, maybe.”

_________________________________

IMHO...I think it IS “working out.” I firmly believe that God allowed this election result because more people could be awakened to what is really evil in this way. Thus, many more people will be inclined to repent and FINALLY understand that God’s ways are far better than our own ways. It is the very MERCY and wisdom of the Father that allows it.

[Mad Dawg]

Evernote works across computer, tablet, and smartphone platforms. That’s the beauty of it for me. I get stopped in church and asked to pray for someone. I bring up evernote on my phone and put the intention in there.

Then when I get home, it’s on my computer and my tablet as well! Is that cool or what?

[Mad Dawg]

I think Paul's line about being saved as if through fire applies.

Certainly God can bring good out of this evil. Certainly he permitted us to follow “the devices and desires of our own hearts.”

It's hard for me to think about his will, though Isaiah has “I create weal and I create woe,” and Amos asks “Can there be evil in the city and I have not done it?”

But, well, Ezekiel 7 is on my mind a lot these past few days. We have profaned the temple ... of our bodies if no other temple. Ichabod ... the glory may depart for a while, the Shekinah may remove itself to the east. It's all too much for me to achieve coherence.

But I DO agree with you that many will now see what the reality of their political fantasies and whims truly is. And maybe there will be a third great awakening for this country.

[Mad Dawg]

You are on the list.

Well, MY list. It’s between you and God whether you’re on HIS list.

:-)

[Mad Dawg]

In recent days there have been stories about employees of government bodies being sacked for telling the truth. An accountant in New York noticed that much of the Hurricane Sandy money was diverted to things which had nothing to do with the storm damage. Scientists working for the Department of the Interior were fired for or cautioned against telling the truth about what would happen if certain DOI plans were carried out.

Can we not see that there is a problem here which lies at the heart of the commandment against bearing false witness? Satan is said to have declared, “Non serviam!” “I will not serve.” And here politicians and bureaucrats are acting as if their own ‘devices and desires’ were of more importance, were better justifications than the truth itself!

What sorry madness, what strange delusion is this? HOW can one hope to be happy or good by seeking what cannot be?

As I age and reflect on all I see and have seen, I find that we are beset by incorporeal enemies. Who or what but an intelligent and purposeful enemy could keep us from seeing the obvious, indeed, keep us from thinking or looking at all, and encourage us to go haring after illusion?

We have been graced with a call so seek an ever more intimate relationship with the Truth. Part of that gift is the awareness that we do NOT know, that we have NOT gained the final knowledge. And part of our response has been to long, to seek, to pray, and to implore.

It seems we must do so not only for ourselves but for others. We have gifts, we know we ought to share them, that their fullest enjoyment is found in sharing. So we must intercede, we simply must.

For the souls of those who have left the path or who don't even know there's a path to leave or to follow, for their happiness, for their return to grace — for this and more we must pray. Frightened as I am for the future of our country, I am more distressed for the future of souls who prize lies above truth, whim above will, spurious and evanescent gratification above true and eternal joy.

For their sake, let us pray. Their liberty is bound up with ours.

[johngrace]

Words of wisdom.

[SumProVita]

That is VERY cool. I will look into it. Thanks.

[SumProVita]

So we must intercede, we simply must.

_____________________

Yep...

[annalex]

Litany: A Prayer for Fortitude

Lord Have Mercy (Kyrie eleison), Christ Have Mercy (Christe eleison), Lord Have Mercy (Kyrie eleison)

God the Father of Heaven, We beg you to grant us Fortitude

God the Son, Redeemer of the World, We beg you to grant us Fortitude

God the Holy Ghost, We beg you to grant us Fortitude

God Jesus Christ, True God and True Man, We beg you to grant us Fortitude

God Holy Trinity One God (Unum Deum), We beg you to grant us Fortitude

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for Us

St. Michael, Prince of the Church of Jesus Christ, Pray for Us

St. Gabriel, Our Strength from God, Pray for Us

St. Raphael, Our Health from God, Pray for Us

Uriel, Our light from God, Pray for Us

Jophiel, Our Beauty of God, Pray for Us

Zadkiel, Our Righteousness of God, Pray for Us

Jopkiel, Our Purity of God, Pray for Us

Lamb of God you take away the sins of the World, Grant Us Peace, Say 3X

V. Jesus Christ, you redeemed us by your blood.

R. You have made us a Kingdom to serve our God.

Let Us Pray

Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly beg for Fortitude from you and of you. A strength of mind to meet and endure unfaltering pain, adversity, or peril physical, mental, emotional, social, and constant courage.

Lord Jesus Christ, we beg for physical, emotional, mental, and social strength with Holy forces, strength, and might.

Almighty God, Lord God Heavenly King we beg for supernatural blessing. May the Lord bless us and keep us, may the Lord let his face shine upon us, may the Lord lift his countenance up to us and grant us peace. Amen.

Dominus vobiscom et cum spiritu tuo.

Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro, Dignum et justum est.

Tres

angelsdospeak.wordpress.com

[Mad Dawg]

Thanks for this.

Yep. We need fortitude to keep our eyes on the prize.

[Mad Dawg]

Friends,

It is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

Our nation swims in the blood of innocents.

Cry out to God for mercy.

[SumProVita]

May the Holy Mother of God, Our Lady of Guadalupe, CRUSH THE HEAD OF THE SERPENT OF ABORTION!

Jesus, have mercy on us.

[Salvation]

A Day of Prayer and Penance for Life in the dioceses of the United States

A Day of Prayer and Penance for Life
in the dioceses of the United States
January 22nd

Visitation
Flemish. Rogier van der Weyden (oil on oak panel, ca 1445)
Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig

A special Mass “For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life” was confirmed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments for use in the dioceses of the United States. This Mass may be used on occasions to celebrate the dignity of human life.  The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) §373 was altered to allow this Mass to be said on January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday), the day of penance for abortion:

GIRM 373: In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.

The liturgical celebrations for this day may be the Mass “For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life” (no. 48/1 of the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions), celebrated with white vestments, or the Mass “For the Preservation of Peace and Justice” (no. 30 of the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions), celebrated with violet vestments.”  (American adaptation) 

Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life

Readings: Readings of the day or any readings from the Lectionary for Ritual Masses, the "Mass for Peace and Justice"

Collect A
God our Creator,
We give thanks to you,
Who alone have the power to impart the breath of life
as you form each of us in our mother’s womb;
Grant, we pray,
that we, whom you have made stewards of creation,
may remain faithful to this sacred trust
and constant in safeguarding the dignity of every human life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. +Amen

Collect B
O God, who adorn creation with splendor and beauty
and fashion human lives in your image and likeness,
Awaken in every heart
reverence for the work of your hands,
and renew among your people
a readiness to nurture and sustain
your precious gift of human life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. +Amen

---

Novena for the Protection of the Unborn also in Spanish

---

Medical Morality Page

A Day of Prayer and Penance for Life in the dioceses of the United States

A Day of Prayer and Penance for Life
in the dioceses of the United States
January 22nd

Visitation
Flemish. Rogier van der Weyden (oil on oak panel, ca 1445)
Museum der Bildenden Künste, Leipzig

A special Mass “For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life” was confirmed by the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments for use in the dioceses of the United States. This Mass may be used on occasions to celebrate the dignity of human life.  The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) §373 was altered to allow this Mass to be said on January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday), the day of penance for abortion:

GIRM 373: In all the Dioceses of the United States of America, January 22 (or January 23, when January 22 falls on a Sunday) shall be observed as a particular day of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life and of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion.

The liturgical celebrations for this day may be the Mass “For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life” (no. 48/1 of the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions), celebrated with white vestments, or the Mass “For the Preservation of Peace and Justice” (no. 30 of the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions), celebrated with violet vestments.”  (American adaptation) 

Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life

Readings: Readings of the day or any readings from the Lectionary for Ritual Masses, the "Mass for Peace and Justice"

Collect A
God our Creator,
We give thanks to you,
Who alone have the power to impart the breath of life
as you form each of us in our mother’s womb;
Grant, we pray,
that we, whom you have made stewards of creation,
may remain faithful to this sacred trust
and constant in safeguarding the dignity of every human life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. +Amen

Collect B
O God, who adorn creation with splendor and beauty
and fashion human lives in your image and likeness,
Awaken in every heart
reverence for the work of your hands,
and renew among your people
a readiness to nurture and sustain
your precious gift of human life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. +Amen

---

Novena for the Protection of the Unborn also in Spanish

---

Medical Morality Page

[johngrace]

Yes.

[redhead]

I've been praying daily for four years for a restoration of America's righteousness. Rosary first thing in the morning, Vespers and Compline at night, followed by Pro-Life meditation from Fr. Pavone's little book, novena prayers to St. Joseph, and a chapter from Imitation of Christ. Sunday at Mass, Father asked us to ADD something for Lent, instead of giving something up. So I'm adding the Litany of the Sacred Heart. He has added Adoration, although it is only one day a week, it's there! Praise God!

[redhead]

(also praying daily for a revival!) Come, Holy Ghost!

[Mad Dawg]

I forget whether I asked you if you wanted to be on the ping list.

[Mad Dawg]

Sorry, gang. I'd like to be cheerful, but I can't. It's not so much SecState’s mendacity as it is the way the Obamatron’s thought she was, as one said, ‘The Secretary of Awesome’.

For We Have Made Lies our Refuge, and in Falsehood we Have Taken Shelter; ...

(Isa 28:14-22 RSV)

14 Therefore hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem!

15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement; when the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not come to us; for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;

16 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am laying in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: `He who believes will not be in haste.’

17 And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plummet; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”

18 Then your covenant with death will be annulled, and your agreement with Sheol will not stand; when the overwhelming scourge passes through you will be beaten down by it.

19 As often as it passes through it will take you; for morning by morning it will pass through, by day and by night; and it will be sheer terror to understand the message.

20 For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on it, and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in it.

21 For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Perazim, he will be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon; to do his deed — strange is his deed! and to work his work — alien is his work!

22 Now therefore do not scoff, lest your bonds be made strong; for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord GOD of hosts upon the whole land.

[Mad Dawg]

(Ping to above.)

[SumProVita]

...for I have heard a decree of destruction from the Lord GOD of hosts upon the whole land.

_______________________________

Many have heard this....and not in a horribly negative way. Rather, this is the MERCY of God working to bring the hearts of His creation back to HIM...that they might LIVE!

The darkness will grow darker before this is all over...and HE will light our way.

[Mad Dawg]

Praise God. I believe that is His way.

First D-Day and the race across France. THEN the Ardennes and the Battle of the Bulge, and only THEN do we take Germany.

Our enemy is fighting hard. The friars here decided to cancel our bus to the March for Life because of the weather.

One of the good things Luther said: One little word will fell him.

[annalex]

SecState’s mendacity

Live in thy blood. ... and thou didst increase and grow great, and advancedst, and camest to woman's ornament: thy breasts were fashioned, and thy hair grew: and thou wast naked, and full of confusion. ... trusting in thy beauty, thou playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and thou hast prostituted thyself to every passenger, to be his. (Ezeckiel 16)

A skilled woman.

[SumProVita]

This seemed so very appropriate this morning (Canticle from Daniel):

But we, Lord, are made the least of all nations.
Today we are brought low over all the earth
on account of our sins.
Today there is no prince
no prophet, no leader,
no holocaust, no sacrifice.
No offering, no incense,
no first-fruits offered to you
– no way to obtain your mercy.
But in our contrite souls,
in a spirit of humility,
accept us, Lord.
Like a holocaust of rams and bulls,
like fat sheep in their thousands,
let our sacrifice be like these before you today.
Bring to fruition the quest of those who follow you,
for those who trust in you can never be confounded.
And now we follow you with all our heart
and we revere you and seek your face.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

[Salvation]

PRAYER FOR OUR COUNTRY

 

O my Jesus, You said, "verily I say to you, whatsoever you shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you."  Behold, in your name I humbly ask our Heavenly Father to protect every man, woman, and child in our great nation from those who want to delete your name from our society, i.e. on our money, in our courts, and in our schools.  Protect us from plans of destruction from which our enemies have plotted. 

 

You, Heavenly Father, are the real foundation of our nation.  I thank you for making me a citizen of this land of freedom and unlimited opportunity...which are the results of its Christian base. 

 

Please surround and protect us, and our military with Your love and mercy...in Jesus' name. 

Amen

[SumProVita]

AMEN!

[Bigg Red]

And maybe there will be a third great awakening for this country.

&&
I pray for this often. See my tagline.

[Bigg Red]

Joining in your prayer. Thank you for the ping. [There is an extra "from" in this sentence, however: Protect us from plans of destruction from which....]

[Mad Dawg]

Wait! It’s enough that I can type at all. You mean I have to be coherent too?

:-)

[Mad Dawg]

(I guess I should say that if you were pinged and want NOT to be or were NOT pinged but want to be, let me know.)

Okay. THIS is long. It's excerpted from a letter to a visionary.

To my non-Catholic friends. First, please be assured of my love and admiration. Then understand, please, that "I paint what I see," and I am -- decidedly if not obnoxiously -- a Catholic Christian. If what I write is helpful, so much the better. If not, pray to God for me that he may amend me.
==============
+++
Praised be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all consolation!
He comforts us in all our afflictions and thus enables us to comfort those who are in trouble, with the same consolation we have received from him.
As we have shared much in the sufferings of Christ, so through Christ do we share abundantly in his consolation.
-- 2 Corinthians 1:3-5( The repellent NAB translation)
+++

Today we commemorate Paul Miki "and companions." They were crucified in 1597 century Japan because they were Christians.

One of the delights of reading Paul is the sense that one is seeing the beginning of Christian thought. Paul is putting words to the mystery of the God who suffers and dies.

Many in the Bible and elsewhere were "brought back" from death. In the Resurrection, the "Anastasis" (from which comes the lovely name "Anastasia") we see for the first time that death is now a way station, a stop on the way forward. There is no "bringing back." There is a newness, something not seen before.

And the baptized (this is not exclusive; we trust a loving God to deal mercifully with the unbaptized) are mystically incorporated into Christ's suffering, dying, being dead, and rising.

This is about your pain viewed in the scheme of a life incorporated into Christ's.

Worshippers of the suffering God cannot reasonably offer refuge from suffering. We cannot say, "follow Christ," and hold out anything else than his tears of mourning at the death of Lazarus or his scourging, humiliation, and crucifixion. One of the obscene perversions of what we preach is the version that says, "Do right and behave yourself, and things will go well for you." And another related perversion is that, in a heaven which is presented as either as an insipid pastoral scene or an unbelievably long church service, you will be rewarded for being a good little girl.

No. We hold out what the Greeks call "divinization." You are offered the highest sort of godliness available to anything that isn't its own origin. If we could see one another as God intends us to be, we would be tempted to fall down in worship.

But the trail has been clearly blazed. The "Way" passes through the Via Dolorosa and up the hill outside Jerusalem -- or Nagasaki, or thousands of other such hills since God became a man. Do not mistake! It does not STOP there. But it passes through there.

Along the way there are comforts and consolations, not in the soft sense, but in the stern sense of, say, the strength to observe and accept the pain as it courses though body and soul, and to offer that all for the purposes of God and the service of one another.

And so we come to Paul's opening doxology in Second Corinthians. We have been given the astonishing gift of being able to bring strength and peace to others. Who, seeing this gift, would not desire it? What joy can compare with bearing joy to others?

Yes, it is not so far wrong to see the pain of our lives as the random sadism of the angels who preferred illusory domination in chaos to true power in the Order of Love. And we cannot deny that at times we have preferred wild chaos to chaste beauty.

But the gift (or a part of it) is this: Even if the origin of our sorrows is found somewhere in an inexplicable preference of rebellious tohu-bohu before beauty, light, justice, mercy, and love, still those same sorrows, offered in love for sanctification, are the very tools with which we strengthen others with the strength to pass through a sea more threatening than that which barred the way between slavery and freedom for our fathers.

It may be that all we see and feel is weak knees, stooped shoulders, faltering steps. It is certain though, that clearer vision sees wings as much greater than the wings of eagles as eagles are greater than toads. You yourself may see this when you look in the eyes of those you serve.