Getting You Through The Day

I posted the Litany of Humility on another thread, and it reminded me of the Litany I use the most. Not one from the Church. Not Blessed or approved, but one that has frequently helped me get through the day.

I first read this in, I think, 1968 or '69, when I got an adult library card. Dad sponsored me since I was under age, so I could read most of the new sci-fi, what we now call the classics.

The very first book I borrowed was Stranger in a Strange Land. The second was Dune. Those 7 lines have pulled me through more crap than I like to think of. Get scared, take a deep breath and mentally recite The Litany Against Fear.

Frank Herbert knew about fear. He served in the Seebees during WW2, armed with only a camera. It shows in the litany he created. The deep understanding that fear kills, but it goes away if you face it, put in a way that anyone can handle.

In terms of prayers widely known, it is probably third behind the Lord's Prayer and the 23rd Psalm.

My pleasure.

Fear is lethal, and we all fear because we are weak. We trust in the Lord, but worry that we are not worthy, not in a state of grace or that we simply cannot handle the trials we are given.

It may be a slightly heretical opinion, but I don’t think God stopped talking to us in biblical times, and he uses what and who he can whenever he can to reassure us.

Thanks for Sharing!

Having just turned 78, I well remember Pearl Harbor,and all those young men leaving for the war, the atomic bombs dropped,
the Korean Conflict (I missed it when I went into the service in 1954) I served mostly under World War 2, and Korean Vets.

We all remember the Assination of President Kennedy, and M.L. King, and Bobby Kennedy, the Waco tragedy, the Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11 etc.

I am reminded: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,.....”(Psalm 23:4a) shadows do not hurt!

And in our Lord’s prayer:”And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:....” (Matthew 6:13a) Most often when I ask why? It seems the Spirit reminds me, that morning I did not pray that prayer.

Now I’m locked in on: “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged, and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6)

At my age I focus on “This do in remembrance of Me.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) and “The last enemy to be destroyed is “death.” (1 Corinthians 15:26)

And in our Lord Jesus Christ we have confidence: “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

We owe you.

For far too long, my generation has been living on yours. Losing our way, failing to teach our children that there are more important things than “me.” That fear is not wrong, the only wrong is in how you face it.
Patriotism became waving a pretty flag, not fighting for what the flag actually means.

There are folks my age who remember what is owed to the Greatest Generation, sure. It seems you find most of them on here, or on the mil boards. Not many, when it is put like that.

Proverbs 16:6 - I remember our old Priest discussing that. He said it has the one word change he would make in the entire Bible - rather a shock to hear a Catholic Priest say that!
He’d change Fear to Love. Fear can drive you. Love compells you. I accept the wording as is, but yeah, I agree with him.

My devout thanks for your service, your grace and your encouragement!

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