To Your Children's Guardian Angel

Highland Park, Texas - 1947

To the Guardian Angels of Your Teen-agers

Holy angels, guardian of my children, you know that I cannot shield, guide, and direct my older children as when they were younger. They are entrusted to your care. I beg you with the heart of a mother, protect my children today in body and soul; keep them free from harm. Awaken their consciences when they become weak and give them the strength to do what is right. You see the face of the heavenly Father. Ask Him to lead my children along life's way to goodness, so that one day, together with you, we may sing His praise. Amen.

Women Before God

Newman Press, 1961

676,528

Sunday Morning Prayers

I opened my window to the gentle rain 

and said my prayers there.

MORNING PRAYER

On awakening offer your first thoughts and affections to God; make the Sign of the Cross, and say:

 
In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ I arise; bless me, O Lord; defend and govern me this day and for ever, and after this short and miserable pilgrimage, bring me to everlasting happiness with thee.

O God, my Creator and Redeemer, look graciously on thy servant, the work of thy hands; and mercifully grant that all my thoughts, words, and actions, may be directed to the praise and honor of thy name, and the salvation of my own soul.  Amen.  

Rise diligently; dress yourself modestly, and let your first care be to say your morning prayers.

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

Place yourself in the presence of God.

Most holy and august Trinity, one God in three Persons, I believe that thou art here present; I adore thee with sentiments of the most profound humility, and render thee, with all my heart, the homage which is due to thy Sovereign Majesty.

Thank God, and offer yourself to Him.

My God, I thank thee most humbly, for all the favours thou hast bestowed upon me; it is thy goodness which has brought me to the beginning of this day, which I desire to employ only in thy service.

I consecrate to thee all my thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings; bless them, O Lord, that they may be animated by thy love, and tend only to promote thy greater glory.

Resolve to avoid sin, and to practice holiness.

Adorable Jesus, Divine Model of that perfection to which we should aspire, I will endeavour this day, after thy example, to be mild, humble, chaste, zealous, patient, charitable, and resigned; and I will strive particularly to avoid those faults to which I am most subject, and which I sincerely desire to correct.  

Beg the necessary grace.

My God, thou knows my weakness; I can do nothing without the assistance of thy holy grace; do not refuse it to me. O my God, but proportion it to my wants; give me sufficient strength to avoid what thou hast forbidden, to practice the good thou expectest of me, and to suffer patiently all the crosses thou mayest be pleased to send me.

The Lord's Prayer

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 trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.  Amen.

The Hail Mary.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.

The Apostles' Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almightly, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of Saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.  Amen.

The Confiteor.

I CONFESS to Almighty God, to blessed Mary, ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the Saints, that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore I beseech the blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints, to pray to the Lord our God for me.

May Almighty God have mercy on us, and forgive us our sins, and bring us to life everlasting.  Amen.

May the Almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, absolution, and remission of our sins.  Amen.

Act of Faith

MY God, I most firmly believe in thee, and in all that thou hast revealed to thy holy Catholic Church; because thou art truth itself, who neither canst deceive, nor be deceived.  Amen.

Act of Hope

MY God, I most firmly hope in thee, because of all thy promises; and I trust that thou wilt give me eternal life, and all the graces necessary to obtain it, through the merits of my Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Act of Charity

MY God, I love thee with my whole heart and above all things, because thou art the Sovereign Good, and for thy own perfections most worthy of all love; and for thy sake I love my neighbour as myself. Amen.

Ask the Prayers of the Saints.

HOLY Virgin, Mother of God, my mother and patroness, I place myself under thy protection, and I throw myself with confidence into the bosom of thy mercy.

O Mother, most amiable, be my refuge in my necessities, console me in my sufferings, and be my advocate with thy Divine Son, to-day and every day of life, but particularly at the hour of my death.

O Angel of God, who art appointed to be my guardian, enlighten and protect me, direct and govern me.

O all ye blessed Saints who stand around the eternal throne, particularly you whose names I bear, my holy patrons and protectors, defend me and pray for me; that, like you, I may serve God faithfully on earth, and, with you, glorify him eternally in heaven.  Amen.

Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

Jesus, hear us.

Jesus, graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven, 

Have Mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, 

Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost, 

Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God,

Have mercy on us.

Jesus, Son of the living God,

Have mercy on us.
Jesus, splendor of the Father,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, brightness of eternal light,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of glory,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Sun of justice,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most amiable,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most admirable,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, mighty God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Father of the world to come,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Angel of great counsel,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most powerful,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most patient,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most obedient,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of chastity,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of us,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, God of peace,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, author of life,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, example of virtues,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, zealous lover of souls,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, our God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, our refuge,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Father of the poor,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, treasure of the faithful,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Good Shepherd,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, true light,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, eternal wisdom,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, infinite goodness, 
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, our way and our life,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, joy of Angels,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of Patriarchs,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Master of Apostles,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Teacher of Evangelists,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, strength of Martyrs,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, light of Confessors,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, purity of virgins,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, crown of all Saints,
Be merciful unto us,
Spare us, O Jesus.
Be merciful unto us,
Graciously hear us, O Jesus.
From all evil,
Jesus, deliver us.
From all sin, 
Jesus, deliver us.
From thy wrath,
Jesus, deliver us.
From the snares of the devil,
Jesus, deliver us.
From the spirit of uncleanness,
Jesus, deliver us.
From everlasting death,
Jesus, deliver us.
From the neglect of thy inspirations,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through the mystery of thy holy Incarnation,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through thy nativity,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through thine infancy,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy most Divine life,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy labours,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through thine agony and passion, 
Jesus deliver us
Through thy cross and dereliction, 
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy faintness and weariness,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through thy death and burial,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through the resurrection,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thine ascension,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy institution of the Most Holy Sacrament,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy joys,
Jesus deliver us.
Through thy glory,
Jesus deliver us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Jesus.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, O Jesus.
Jesus, hear us.
Jesus, graciously hear us.

LET US PRAY

O LORD Jesus Christ, who hast said: Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; give, we beseech thee, to us who ask, the grace of thy most divine love, that with all our hearts, words, and works, we may love thee, and never cease to praise thee.

Make us, O Lord, to have a perpetual fear and love of thy Holy Name; for thou never failest to govern those whom thou dost solidly establish in thy love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Almighty and eternal God, who hast appointed thy only-begotten Son the Saviour of mankind, and hast commanded that he should be called Jesus; mercifully grant that we may enjoy in Heaven the blessed vision of him, whose Holy Name we venerate upon earth. Who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

The "Angelus Domini."
Say it With Us by Clicking Here

To be said morning, noon, and night, in memory of our Saviour's becoming man for us.

The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;
And she conceived by the Holy Ghost.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord,

Be it done to me according to thy word.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.

And the Word was made flesh,

And dwelt amongst us.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst 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.

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

LET US PRAY.

POUR forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may, by his passion and cross, be brought to the glory of his resurrection; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen. 

In Paschal time the Regina Coeli is said instead of the above. 

TRIUMPH, O Queen of Heaven to see; alleluia.
The Sacred Infant born of thee; alleluia.
Return in glory from the tomb; alleluia.
And by thy prayers prevent our doom; alleluia. 
 
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary; alleluia.

R. For the Lord hath risen indeed; alleluia. 

LET US PRAY  

O GOD, who didst vouchsafe to give joy to the world through the resurrection of thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ; grant, we beseech thee, that, through his Mother, the Virgin Mary, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen.  

__________

HAIL! Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; our Life, our Sweetness, and our Hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve, to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious Advocate, thy merciful eyes towards us; and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement! O loving! O sweet Virgin Mary!

Union of Daily Prayer for the Pope

POUR down thy choicest blessings, O Lord, on our Sovereign Pontiff, and rejoice thy Church by the speedy proclamation of universal peace, that, resting in the bosom of unity, our strength against the enemy may be perfected in charity. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  

Lord Jesus, shelter under the protection of thy divine Heart our Holy Father Pope Francis.

(300 days' indulgence each time; plenary once a month. Pius IX. 9th July 1859)

Sunday Morning Storyland

More Farm Boy Photos

"A BOY'S LAST WORDS"

The things which had been spoken concerning Christ were wonderful things. There was the message of the angel to Mary and to the Shepherds. All wonderful things. But listening to the way some children speak of Him, Mary and Joseph must still be wondering. They must be wondering what sort of children they are who take the Name of Jesus in vain. "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." We should respect the Name of Jesus above all names.

Today, we have a problem for you. You will have to think very hard, but then you will find that the answer is really very simple. We begin with a story.

A boy was ill in the hospital, very ill. On examining him, the doctor said, "I'm sorry to tell you this, Sonny. You will have to be very brave. But then I know you can take it. You have cancer of the tongue. The only way we can save your life is to operate. You will never be able to speak again." The boy was very sad, but brave.

When the time for the operation came, the doctor leaned over him and whispered very kindly, "This will be the last time you'll be able to speak, Sonny. Say whatever you want." The boy said something and kept repeating it until he went under the ether.

That is a sad story, but the problem is: If you were in that boy's place, just what would you say? I said that you would have to think very hard, but that the answer was very simple. Try to figure out what you would say.

What the boy in story did was very simple. He just kept repeating over and over again the sacred Name of Jesus. It was a pleasant memory to him in the future years to think that the last words he spoke were the holiest and most sacred ones that he could possibly say. When he gets to Heaven and his body is made perfect again, how sweet it will be for him to look at Our Lord and say this was his last word spoken in life and his first word spoken in eternity―"Jesus, Jesus."

This boy is very different from children who use the sacred Name of Jesus carelessly and in vain. Such action is the result not so much of bad will as of habit. Just the same, it is a very bad habit. Some children fall into the habit because they think it is smart. They think they sound grown up. Real men, however, use the Holy Name of Jesus only in reverence. You will never hear a true gentleman taking the Name of Jesus in vain.

There is a simple cure if you are foolish enough to have fallen into that habit. That is simply to get into the habit of saying something else. There are enough good words with which to relieve your feelings―words which do not make you common or cheap. Pick one of these and use it when you strike out or get caught off second or miss a drop kick. Because you try to hit a home run and miss is not a reason for you to shout God's sacred Name in vain.

It is the name give to His Son by God Himself. An angel told it to Mary. It is a name which tells why He came into the world, for it means "Saviour." To live up to His name, He died for and saved us.

This is what St. Bernard says, "Are you downhearted? Let the Name of Jesus be in your heart, let it be on your lips. Have you been guilty of grievous offense? Call on the Name of Jesus and hope revives. By it, all temptation is overcome, every passion subdued. O my soul, you have a universal remedy in that Holy Name of Jesus, that name so sweet and so powerful."

Sunday Morning Storyland

Sermons for the Children's Mass 

Bruce Publishing Company, 1946

558,169

Morning Prayer

It can be short―if it comes from the heart. It can be quick―if it creates a moment of inner peace. It can be said in common with others―if it isn't just an "exercise." It can even be poetry―as long as it raises your heart to God.  
 

Your Will be Done

Many things will come my way today, O Lord. Some I shall like, others I shall dislike. But I accept all that this day will bring as sent by you. Give me patience in trying situations. Let me realize when I do not see the why or the wherefore, that the reasons for all that happens are known to you. It is sufficient for me to know that I am doing your will when I am doing my best.  Amen

Women Before God

Prayers and Thoughts

Newman Press, 1961

649,000

Two Minus One

I woke up in the night thinking about how different things and thinking are from when I was a kid.  Way back then everyone seemed to know what was right and what was wrong and there wasn't much argument on basic values. 

Today - well this is a whole different world.

240,167

Our Lady of Lourdes

Our Lady of Lourdes by Henri Lasserre, 1869

Most books you read and forget.  They're written from the wrist down.  Others are unforgettable-written from the eyes and heart up. Our Lady of Lourdes is one of these.

Henri Lasserre was nearly blind when he dabbed his eyes and forehead with a cloth saturated with Lourdes water.  His vision was restored instantly and from that moment he became the Apostle of Lourdes spending his fortune and more importantly his rare talent as a writer in order to spread the marvels of Massabielle.  Our Lady of Lourdes, originally published in 1869, created such a demand that it found its way into every nook and cranny of Europe.  Never was there a book that obtained such success or boasted of so many editions.  It was in reality the bugle call that resounded throughout the world, and to which the world responded by flying to Lourdes to honour and invoke the Immaculate Virgin Mary.  

Illustrations - Courtesy of the Lourdes Historical Museum.

Franz Werfel based his book The Song of Bernadette on Our Lady of Lourdes which was later recast by 20th Century Fox.

The Illustrations

The Song of Bernadette - 1943
(click below to view now)

         

Pro Choice Cries Foul on Doritos Commercial

Bishop Barron Comments

More Comments by Bishop Barron

My Girl Kathy

MY GIRL KATHY
 

O My Lord Jesus, I will use time. It will be too late to pray when life is over. There is no prayer in the grave - there is no meriting in Purgatory. Low as I am in Thy all Holy sight, I am strong in Thee, strong through Thy Immaculate Mother, through Thy Saints; and thus I can do much for the Church for the world, for all I love. O let not the blood of souls be on my head. O let me not walk my own way without thinking of Thee. Let me bring everything before Thee, asking Thy leave for everything I do. . . As the dial speaks of the sun, so will I be ruled by thee alone, if Thou will take me and rule me. Be it so, my Lord Jesus, I give myself wholly to Thee. Amen. 

I opened my window to the gentle rain
and said my prayers there.

Her Eyes - A Study

Ave Maria, maiden mild
Oh, listen to a maiden's prayer
For thou canst hear amid the wild
'Tis thou, 'tis thou canst save amid, despair

We slumber safely till the morrow
Though we've by man outcast reviled
Oh maiden, see a maiden's sorrow
Oh mother, hear a suppliant child

Ave Maria

Ave Maria gratia plena
Maria gratia plena
Maria gratia plena
Ave ave dominus, dominus tecum

The murky cavern's air so heavy
Shall breathe of balm if thou hast smiled
Oh maiden, hear a maiden pleadin'
Oh mother, hear a suppliant child

Ave Maria
Ave Maria

Sunday Morning Storyland

"HOW CLOSE CAN YOU COME
TO THE DITCH"

There was once a rich man who was very fond of his aged mother. One day he was going to hire a chauffeur to take her out for a drive every afternoon. Three men asked of the job.

The rich man said to them, "I wouldn't want any accidents to happen while you are taking my mother for a drive. I'll give you all the same test and see how well you can drive. Beside the road, there is a ditch. I want you to see how close you can drive to that without falling in."

The first driver said to himself, "This is easy." He got behind the steering wheel and came zooming down the road to miss the ditch by four inches.

The second man whispered to himself, "I can do better than that." He came zooming down the road and missed the ditch by two inches.

The third man had been thinking very hard in the meantime. He missed the ditch by three feet.

The other two men giggled. But the rich man said to him "The job is yours. I want a man who will drive safely. A safe driver does not come as close to the ditch as he can." 

The lesson is that we must avoid the occasion of sin. We must not see how close we can come to sin without falling into it. We must stay away from it. If, then, whenever you go out with so and so, he tempts you to steal, stay away from him. If when you are with a certain girl, you always backbite someone, stay away from her. Those people are bad company for you. They are occasions of sin and are to be avoided. If you know that you have sinned in someone's company, avoid him in the future. If you curse and swear when you are with a certain group, avoid that group. Do not see how close you can come to the ditch of sin without falling in. Stay in your lane. The man who was hiring the chauffeurs knew that if they drove close to the ditch all the time they would fall into it some day.

The devil tries to tempt you to come close to sin. He knows that you will fall into it if you do. You can fool him if you want simply by staying in your own lane and by not driving close to the ditch. Stay away from the occasions of sin. Root sin out of your soul and you will be preparing the way of the Lord.

Sunday Morning Storyland

Sermons for the Children's Mass 

Bruce Publishing Company, 1946

557,418

Mr. Lambert

St. Peter Catholic Church, Jefferson, South Dakota

Years ago while visiting my mother-in-law at Holy Spirit nursing home in Sioux City, Iowa,  I struck up a friendship with Mr. Lambert who was also a resident there.  He was losing his memory but as bad as it became over the years that I knew him, he always greeted me in the language of his altar boy days. 

You too, can learn this beautiful greeting which my friendship with Mr. Lambert began.
Remember that some words in English are implied in Latin so there is not a word for word translation.

Greeting:
Dóminus,      vobiscum
The Lord       be with you.

Response:
Et        cum      spíritu   tuo.
And     with      your spirit.

 Where Mr. Lambert spent his altar boy days.

Mr. Lambert is buried in the cemetery shown on the left.

 Mr. Lambert, pray for us. 

550,814

Did You Know? - There is More. . .

Lourdes, 2016

Click on Mary's Crown ♕ to Open the Links Below

1. My Mother Mary - Facebook  ♕
2. My Mother's Rosary  ♕
3. My Daily Prayers  ♕
4. Mary's Little Office  ♕
5. Her Eyes - A Study  ♕
6. My Mother's Radio  ♕
7. Mary's Map  ♕
8. Divine Mercy Chaplet  ♕
9. My Mother's Movies  ♕
10. My Mother's Angelus  ♕
11. Little Visits to Jesus & Mary  ♕
12. My Daily Meditations  ♕
13. My Mother's Way Home  ♕
14. The Lightning Storm  ♕
15. The Thirty Day's Prayer  ♕
16. My Mother's Litany  ♕
17. My Mother's Feast Days  ♕
18. My Mother's First Fridays  ♕
19. My Mother's Photo Album  ♕
20. Where Roses Fall  ♕
21. Our Journey to Lourdes  ♕
22. Sacred Heart Novena  ♕
23. Our Lady of Wengen  ♕
24. My Mother's Bookshelf  ♕
25. The Pilgrim on His Way to Eternity  ♕
26. Being Catholic  ♕
27. Write This Down  ♕
28. Our Lady of Lourdes - H. Lasserre  ♕
29. Dust Boy  ♕

542,627

Add any of the Above Links to your iPhone in three easy steps.

1. Browse for the URL address.

2. Click on the Up Arrow at the bottom of your iPhone screen.

3. Click on Add to Home screen & Voilà.

O My Lady, you have done so much for me.  Little indeed will it be if I can wear myself out and use up my life for you and your dear Son Jesus.

Your ever loving Dust Boy