Election Novena, Day 8 and Prayer Thread

11/1/04 | Knitting A Conundrum

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom Come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our tresspasses, as we forgive those who tresspass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death, Amen.

Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever more shall be, world without end, Amen.

Lord, into your hands do we commend our country during this time of election. Be with those who vote, be with those who work the polling stations, be with those who count the votes, certify the elections, and all who are involved with the process. Lord, we pray that in our choosing, we may reflect your choice and that our country be in your hands, now and forever, Amen.

O Most gracious Virgin Mary, beloved Mother of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, intercede with him for us that we be granted the favor which we petition for so earnestly in this novena...O Mother of the Word Incarnate, we feel animated with confidence that your prayers in our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God. O Glorious Mother of God, in memory of your joyous Immaculate Conception, hear our prayers and obtain for us our petitions.

that the hand our Our Father guide our country during this upcoming election,

that those who would disrupt and disturb the heritage of freedom and truth be restrained,

and that the hand of God guide, direct and determine our leaders this election cycle and always.

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Mother of Christ, you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth; you have the same influence now in heaven. Pray for us and obtain for us from him the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will. Amen.

St. Thomas More, adorer of Christ's Passion, who put prayer before all else, devoted husband and father, defender of the Church, perfect model of friendship, impervious to all bribery, committed to the common good, who reverenced civil and Divine law, civil judge of unimpeachable integrity patron of those who hold public office, pray for us now at this critical time of election, where so much is at stake, where the lives of the unborn and those most vunerable hang in the balance, where the lives of the downtrodden and defenseless against the terrorist are most at risk. Pray for us, St. Thomas More, martyr for the truth, that with this election, we may draw ever closer to the way God would have our country governed.

Little Souls, children unborn, holy innocents, ripped from your mothers' wombs and now in the hand of our loving Lord, pray for us now, that the election may go to the one most likely to help stem the holocaust of souls of the most vunerable, the one most likely to be the champion of life and set our nation on the right track.

Amen

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Please join me in day 8 of this novena for the election, and join me in this prayer thread. Today, I will be offering up a series of prayers about Christ's passion to help me remember why we struggle so hard for this election and other prayers. Please feel free to add any prayers you want. I hope you will join me in making this a serious prayer vigil today.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Novena ping

[Siobhan]

BUMP BUMP BUMP

[Knitting A Conundrum]

O Lord, today especially we pray for the safety of our country, for those people working so hard to promote the culture of life over the culture of death, and those people working for the reelection of our president. Keep us safe within your hands always, and help us always to be willing witnesses of your light.

Amen.

Blessed Mother, Immaculata, Patroness of the US, O Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our deaths, Amen. Particularly we ask that you keep President Bush and his election staff and his campaign workers under your mantle in a special way this day and until the end of the election. O Mary, Queen of Martyrs, pray that the Lord will empower us who are his hands upon the earth to put an end to the culture of death in this country, and pray that all of those who call ourselves the followers of Christ wake up to realize why this is such an important issue. O Queen of the little souls, let us join our prayers to yours for an end to abortion, euthanasia and all other insults to the sanctity of life.

A meditation: The Two Gardens

Two Gardens

In one garden,
the lie was chosen
over the will of God,
and nature
groaned under the curse
and the grief
and the countless tears
of mankind
that followed.

In one garden,
quietly,
one full moon night
the will of God was chosen
over the lie
and nature knew
the promise of healing
that would free a woeful mankind
of its tears
had begun
in the unfathomable grief of
the one who said yes.

[Siobhan]

Our Lady of the Atonement, pray for us.

[Siobhan]

Our Lady of the Atonement, pray for us.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

O Mary, conceived without sin
Pray for us who have recourse to thee.

[Salvation]

Lord, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. God, the father of heaven,  God the son, redeemer of the world,  God the Holy Ghost,  Holy Trinity, one God,  Holy Mary,  Holy Mother of God,  Holy virgin of virgins, St. Michael,  St. Gabriel,  St. Raphael,  All ye Holy Angels and Archangels,  All ye Holy Orders of Blessed spirits,  St. John the Baptist,  St. Joseph,  All ye Holy Patriarchs and Prophets,  St. Peter,  St. Paul,  St. Andrew,  St. James,  St. John,  St. Thomas,  St. James, St. Philip,  St. Bartholomew,  St. Matthew, . St. Simon, pray for us. St. Thaddeus, pray for us. St. Barnabas, pray for us. St. Luke, pray for us. St. Mark, pray for us. All ye Holy Apostles and Evangelist,  All ye Holy Disciples of Our Lord,  All ye Holy Innocents, . St. Stephen,  St. Lawrence, . St. Vincent,  Ss. Fabian and Sebastian,  Ss. John and Paul,  Ss. Cosmos and Damian,  Ss. Gervase and Protase,  All ye Holy Martyrs,  St. Sylvester,  St. Gregory,  St. Ambrose,  St. Augustine,  St. Jerome,  St. Martin,  St. Nicholas,  All ye Holy Bishops and Confessors, All ye Holy Doctors,  St. Anthony,  St. Benedict,  St. Bernard,  St. Dominic,   St. Francis,  All ye Holy Priest and Levites,  All ye Holy Monks and Hermits, . St. Mary Magdalen,  St. Agatha,  St. Lucy,  St. Agnes,  St. Cecilia,  St. Catherine,  St. Anastasia,  All ye Holy Virgins and Widows,  All ye Men and Women, Saints of God,   Be merciful,  Be merciful,  From all evil,  From all sin,  From thy wrath,  From a sudden and unprovided death,  From the deceits of the devil,  From anger, hatred, and all ill will,  From the spirit of fornication,  From lightning and tempest,  From the scourge of earthquake,  From pestilence, famine, and war,  From everlasting death,  Through the mystery of thy holy incarnation, Through thy coming,  Through thy nativity,  Through thy baptism and holy fasting,  Through thy cross and passion,  Through thy death and burial,  Through thy holy resurrection,  Through thine admirable ascension,  Through the coming of the holy ghost, the paraclete,  In the day of judgment,  That thou wouldst spare us,  That thou wouldst pardon us,  That thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring us to true penance,  That thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve thy holy church....  That thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our apostolic prelate and all ecclesiastical orders in holy religion.  That thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of thy holy church,  That thou wouldst vouch safe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes,   That thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to all Christian people,  That thou wouldst vouchsafe to bring back to the unity of the church all those who have strayed away, and lead to the light of the gospel all unbelievers,  That thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us thy holy service,  That thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires,  That thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors,  That thou wouldst deliver our souls and hose of our brethren, relative, and benefactors from eternal damnation,  That thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth,  That thou wouldst vouchsafe to give eternal rest to all the faithful departed,  That thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us,  Son of God, . Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, o lord Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us....... Lord, have mercy on us....... Lord, have mercy on us.......	Christ, have mercy on us. Christ, graciously hear us. Have mercy on us. Have mercy on us. Have mercy on us. Have mercy on us pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. pray for us. intercede for us. Spare us, O Lord! Graciously hear us, O Lord! O Lord, deliver us. O Lord, deliver us. O Lord, deliver us. O Lord, deliver us. O Lord, deliver us. O Lord, deliver us. O Lord, deliver us. O Lord, deliver us O Lord, deliver us O Lord, deliver us O Lord, deliver us O Lord, deliver us O Lord, deliver us O Lord, deliver us O Lord, deliver us O Lord, deliver us O Lord, deliver us O Lord, deliver us O Lord, deliver us O Lord, deliver us We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. We beseech thee, hear us. Spare us, O Lord. Graciously hear us, O Lord. Have mercy on us. Christ, graciously hear us.... Christ, have mercy on us.......
Our Father (ect.)  ..... V-    And Lead Us Not Into Temptation. R-    But Deliver Us From Evil.                                Psalm LXIX Incline unto my aid, O God. O Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be confounded and ashamed that seek my soul. Let them be turned backward and blush for shame that desire evils to me. Let them be presently turned away blushing for shame that say to me, "Tis well, 'tis well." Let all that seek Thee rejoice and be glad in Thee; and let such as love Thy salvation say always, The Lord be magnified. But I am needy and poor: O God, help me. Thou art my helper and my deliverer; O Lord, make no delay. Glory Be To The Father, (etc)........ V-    Save Thy servants. R-    Trusting in Thee, O my God. V-    Be unto us, O Lord, a tower a strength. R-    From the face of the enemy. V-    Let not the enemy prevail against us. R-    Nor the son of iniquity have power to hurt us. V-    O Lord, do not deal with us according to our sins. R-    Neither reward us according to our iniquities. V-    Let us pray for our chief bishop: (name) R-    The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies. V-    Let us pray for our benefactors. R-    Vouchsafe, O Lord, for Thy name's sake, to reward with eternal life all those who do us good. V-    Let us pray for the faithful departed. R-    Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. V-    May they rest in peace. R-    Amen. V-    For our absent brethren. R-    Save Thy servants who hope in Thee, O my God. V-    Send them help, O Lord, from Thy holy place. R-    And from Sion protect them. V-    O Lord, hear my prayer. R-    And let my cry come unto Thee.
Let us pray-      O God, Whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, receive our petition, that we and all Thy servants who are bound by the chain of sin, may, by the compassion of Thy goodness, mercifully be absolved.      Hear, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the prayers of Thy supplicants, and pardon the sins of those who confess to Thee, that, in Thy bounty, Thou mayest grant us both pardon and peace.      In Thy clemency, O Lord, show Thy unspeakable mercy to us, that so Thou mayest both loose us from all our sins and deliver us from the punishments which we deserve for them.      O God, who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people, who make supplication to Thee, and turn away the scourges of Thine anger, which we deserve for our sins.      O almighty and eternal God, have mercy on Thy servant (Name), our chief bishop, and direct him according to Thy clemency, in the way of everlasting salvation, that, by Thy grace, he may desire the things that are pleasing to Thee, and perform them with all his strength.      O God, from Whom are all holy desires, righteous counsels, and just works, give to Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that, our hearts being disposed to keep Thy commandments, and the fear of enemies taken away, the times, by Thy protection, may be peaceful.      Inflame, O Lord, our reins and hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit; that we may serve Thee with a chaste body, and please Thee with a clean heart.      O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, give to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that through pious supplications they may obtain the pardon they have always desired.      Direct, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy holy inspirations, and carry them on by Thy gracious assistance; that every prayer and work of ours may always begin from Thee, and through Thee be happily ended.      O almighty and eternal God, Who hast dominion over the living and the dead, and art merciful to all who Thou foreknowest will be Thine by faith and good works: we humbly beseech Thee that they for whom we have purposed to offer our prayers, whether this present world still detains them in the flesh or the next world hath already received them divested of their bodies, may, by the intercession of Thy saints and the clemency of Thy   goodness, obtain pardon and full remission of all their sins. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. R-    Amen. V-    O Lord, hear my prayer. R-    And let my cry come unto Thee. V-    May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us. R-    Amen. V-    And my the souls of the faithful departed throught the mercy of God, rest in peace. R-    Amen.

[LibSnubber]

PRAYER TO THE UNITED STATES GUARDIAN ANGEL

O glorious Guardian Angel of the United States, to whom God has entrusted the care of our beloved country, we honor you and thank you for the care and protection you have given to this great nation from the beginning of its history.

O powerful Guardian Angel, whose watchful glance encompasses this vast land from shore to shore, we know that our sins have grieved you and marred the beauty of our heritage. Pray for us, O Holy Angel, before the throne of God. Obtain for us, from the Queen of Heaven, the graces we need to overcome the forces of evil so rampant in our beloved land. Help us, our God-given protector and friend, to respond wholeheartedly to the urgent pleas of the Mother of God at Fatima. Assist us to offer the prayer and sacrifice necessary to bring peace and goodness to our nation. We want to make you known and loved throughout our land, so that with your help we may become once more a "Nation under God".

Amen

(with ecclesiastical permission)

[Knitting A Conundrum]

O Mother of Sorrows,
who in the midst of your pain
becomes the mother of us all
by the gift of your son,
Pray for us
in these days when so many forget,
so many reject,
so many hurt.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not our petitions,
but in your mercy hear and answer us.
Amen.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

O Blessed Mother,
O Mary, Immaculate Heart
that watches over this troubled world
with such infinite patience,
with such steadfast love,
with such kindness and care,

O Mary,
we don't deserve such a mother as you,
but thank you for being willing to share
the love of your son
with each and every one of us.

Thank you for treating us
as your own little children -
how often have you searched and waited for us
like you did when the child Jesus
stayed behind at the Temple.

When we hurt,
thank you for covering us with your mantle,
giving us someone to hug,
a lap to cry on.

Thank you for all the times you have dried our eyes.

And thank your Son
for the great mercy of sharing you with us.

O I pray, dearest Mary, sweet mother,
that every day I can grow a little bit more like you.
__________

O Blessed Mother
today especially,
please pray with us for George Bush and his re-election,
we pray with you for the end of abortion,
the protection of the family.

O Mary, Conceived without Sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

O Lord,
Be with us this day
as our anxiety runs high,
and our fear for the future runs deep.
Be with our president,
and if it is your will,
bring him safely to reelection.



Meditation on Christ's Passion

When you prayed in the garden, Lord,
and the heaviness pressed all around you,
as the full moon's light peaked through the olive trees,
and your apostles snored in the shadows,
and you sweated blood in the depths of your grief,
how heavy did today weigh on your shoulders,
with a war-torn world,
mad with bloodlust,
despising your peace,
hot with hatred and selfish fulfilment
sometimes done in the name of God,
or done in the name of self,
careless with all you have taught?

When they tied you to the pillar, Lord,
and scourged you in the Roman way,
a beating so severe that it alone could take a life,
as the weights at the ends of the whips,
and the heavy slap of the leather tore your flesh,
did you see the babies ripped for profit,
the innocents blown up to make a political statement,
the slaughtered millions killed
because they belonged to the wrong class,
or bloodline,
or culture
or faith
or country?
Which gave you the most pain,
the cruel leather,
or the knowlege how we would reject you?

When you walked that long walk
with the heavy crossbeam tied to your hands
as they paraded you and the others
to the Place of the Skull
amid a phalanx of proud and hard Roman soldiers
who hated the noise and the crowd and the foreignness
of it all,
and took out their spite by tugging your bonds
and watching you fall with arms extended,
and when you saw your Mother there,
and the aching pain passed between you,
did you see all the other mothers
aching in their pain for what evildoers would do
to their sons and daughters in the days to come,
mothers of the disapeared,
mothers of political prisoners,
mothers of those slain by bombers,
mothers of the beaten and kidnapped,
mothers looking for children buried in mass graves,
mothers who watch their children starve for others' gain?

When they nailed you to the cross,
and hung you up to die the slow death
reserved for slaves and foreign traitors,
gradual suffocation
in hot, aching, painful breaths,
did our evil make the pain that much harder?
Did our lack of mercy and love
echo down the centuries like a pressing weight
making your sacrifice all the more painful?

And yet, still you managed to love us,
and gave us all you had left,
your mother,
your compassion,
your heart's blood.

Dear Lord,
Forgive us!

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Lord, once again, here I am,
turning to you
my source,
my strength,
my all,
calling on you for aid.

Be with all those working the polls tomorrow,
all the campaign workers today,
the President, his family,
his staff,
his advisors.

Encourage the hearts of those who should vote
that they make time in their life
for this act,
and may they vote for the man you want for the job.
May there be peace
and not trauma as the results come in.

Be with us who love you,
kindle in us the fire of your love,
and help us to become channels of your blessing,
this day, and always,
Amen.


Ecce Homo: A meditation

You stand there Lord,
before the haughty Roman judge,
bloody,
beaten,
abandoned.

Behold, says Pilate.

So frail you seem,
as you lift your bloodied head
and look upon this gathered crowd,
hungry as jackals.

Bruised and battered, the face
that looks out over the assembly
gazes not with hot hatred
or numb resignation of the broken,
nor self-pity,
but with love
and grief
and an unfathomable caring
that yearns to heal each of us.

Lord, I am not worthy to meet your gaze.
Have I not, like Peter,
denied you?
Or like Judas, betrayed you;
Time after time, have I not
added to your stripes,
pierced your head
with the hard thorns of an unloving heart?

And yet here you stand,
pouring yourself out like a drink offering,
letting the cup be drained
until nothing is left.

Lord, you said the word to heal me -
let me never forget the price you paid.

[Salvation]

Hi, everyone,
I know this applies to me! (One of those sinners -- continually trying to do God's will.)

May God forgive all my shortcomings.

Have a blessed All Saints' Day.

Salvation

Homily of the Day

Homily of the Day

Title: They Didn’t Start Out As Saints!
Author: Monsignor Dennis Clark, Ph.D.
Date: Monday, November 1, 2004



Feast of All Saints
Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12

As we mark this Feast of All Saints, it’s fascinating to remember where some of the better known saints started out and how their lives proceeded. St. Matthew was a tax collector. St. Mary Magdelene practiced the oldest profession in the world. St. Peter was impetuous and something of a blowhard, and he had to pressed hard before he’d let gentiles become Christians unless they first became Jews! The whole lot of the Apostles ran for the hills when Jesus was taken captive in the Garden of Gethsemane, and that was just a short while after their robust promise that they’d follow Him anywhere and die with Him if need be.

The list could go on and on, but the point is a simple one: none of these great saints started out as saints. Quite the contrary was true. They slowly and painstakingly evolved into holy men and women, with many starts and stops and numerous temporary reversals. And very often, as many of them have testified in their diaries, they suffered from deep discouragement at their lack of progress and their frequent mistakes. St. Paul spoke for them and for us all when said in anguish, “The good that I would do, I do not.” Isn’t it the truth.

There’s a lesson in all this for us who are still struggling along our own roads: Growing up into God’s image and likeness takes a long time. It’s a lifetime work, and God understands that. After all, He’s the one who put us together.

So take heart. Rejoice in the little triumphs as they happen. Each one brings you a step closer to home. Each one brings you a step closer to the embrace of our Father.

[GirlShortstop]

bump

[LibSnubber]

"I have not seen this prayer. Thank you for posting it."

YOU'RE WELCOME! PING

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Once again, Lord, I offer you my prayers for the election tomorrow. May it be a triumph for the light, for the culture of life over the culture of death, and may the day pass in peace.

St. Thomas More, patron of elected officials, pray for us, and all who will vote tomorrow.

St. Perpetua, brave witness for the truth, pray for us and all who will vote tomorrow.

St. Catherine of Siena, counsellor of popes and doctor of the church, pray for us and all who will vote tomorrow

Our Lady of good Counsel, pray for us, especially all who vote tomorrow, now and at the hour of our deaths Amen.

Little souls of the unborn, ripped from your mothers' wombs in darkness and pain before your time, pray for us, and all who vote tomorrow that they may choose life over death.

Amen.

Meditation:

The First Blow

The whip travels in a descending arc,
three thongs carrying weights of lead
double headed cargo
to increase the impact.

The hand that wields is,
the rough and calloused hand
of a soldier doing a duty,
unknowing,
uncaring
of whose back it was in front of him.

Perhaps as he swings,
he thinks of all the looks of disdain,
the women who turn away,
the men who spit when he passes
and they think he does not see,
this strange people
with their strange hates
and strange language
and strange god,
and in retalliation,
he swings harder.

Yet his hand is not alone
on the braided leather of the handle,
his hand,
shadowed by every hand,
my hand,
my arm swinging the leather,
my sin adding to the agony
of that blow,
my darkness slapping against his skin,
causing him to gasp for breath
as it bites
my weakness the lead gouges digging.

Mea culpa,
mea culpa,
mea maxima culpa.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Another prayer:

Dear Lord, be with us this night.

Keep our nation in the palm of your hand.

Guard Mr. Bush and bless his endeavours.

Meditation:

Behold the Man

Behold the Man! say Pilate,
wishing to make you look small,
frail,
worthless,
nothing for the authorities to worry about.

Behold the Man, say the nonbeliever,
wishing to strip you of the power of God,
to make you safe,
ignorable,
worthless,
nothing to worry about.

Behold the Man, say some,
wishing you were the person they want you to be,
ascended master,
apostle of hate,
elder brother,
letting your message be nothing to worry about.

Behold the Man, say I,
Wishing to follow you with all my heart,
True God and true man,
who lovingly laid down his life
to bring us all home,
let me proclaim clearly,
Jesus Christ is Lord!