Saturday, September 29, 2007

Feast of St. Michael the Archangel

The FULL Version of the Prayer
O Glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, be our defense in the terrible warfare which we carry on against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, and spirits of evil.
Come to the aid of man, whom God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil.
Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist Thee, nor was there place for them any longer in heaven.
That cruel, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan, who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels.
Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory.
This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men; his depraved mind, corrupt heart, his spirit of lying, impiety, blasphemy, his pestilential breath of impurity and of every vice and iniquity.
These most crafty enemies have filled and inebriated with gall and bitterness the Church, the Spouse of the Immaculate Lamb, and have laid impious hands on her most sacred possessions.
In the Holy Place itself, where has been set up the See of the most holy Peter and the Chair of Truth for the light of the world, they have raised the throne of their abominable impiety, with the iniquitous design that when the Pastor has been struck, the sheep may be scattered.
Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory. They venerate Thee as their protector and patron; in Thee Holy Church glories as her defense against the malicious power of hell; to Thee has God entrusted the souls of men to be established in heavenly beatitude.
Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, do Thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen.
V. Behold the Cross of the Lord; be scattered, hostile powers.
R. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered, the root of David.
V. Let Thy mercies be upon us, O Lord
R. As we have hoped in Thee.
V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come unto Thee
LET US PRAY
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy name, and we humbly implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin Immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious Archangel St. Michael, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all other unclean spirits, who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls. Amen.
Pope Leo XIII, 1888 Raccolta 1933 (300 days indulgence, each day)
Thanks to
Catholic Church Conservation.

Twilight in the Smallish City

It was twilight. Just a few more moments before the sun would set on another glorious day and the wraiths and ghostly forms and teenage hoodlums would come out. I live in the middle of our smallish city, and being an all-girl household, we don't go out afoot after dark.
I sent my 11 yo (#1) and 3 yo (#2) girls outside with our 4 mo puppy for a last hurrah of the day... 5 minutes only. In that small amount of time, my next door neighbor, the immodestly-dressed 50-something yo party animal of a public school teacher (ID50+PAPST), invited my children to attend the local Gay Pride Parade (GROSS). She even told them that if I didn't want to go, she would take them (including 3 yo #2) to the GROSS.
#1 was flabbergasted and disgusted (I guess I'm doing something right). #1 said she told ID50+PAPST that she didn't think her mother would allow them to go to the GROSS and besides none of us were gay. Don't you just love how children are many times more logical than adults.
#1 also told ID50+PAPST that last year we were driving to the mall and accidentally saw a part of the GROSS and it was... well, gross.
ID50+PAPST told #1 that a person didn't have to be Gay to go to the GROSS. That most of "her kids" (she doesn't have any of her own -- these are her school kids) love going to the GROSS because it's fun. #1 still politely declined.
After #1 told me this story, she also told me that ID50+PAPST confided that most of "her kids" end up in prison because most of them end up in gangs selling drugs and killing people. #1, being more logical than ID50+PAPST, put 2 and 2 together and came up with the solution that going to the GROSS, selling drugs, killing people and being in gangs is all part of the insane world in which ID50+PAPST lives and works. I politely agreed and chose NOT to tell #1 that while ID50+PAPST is more off her rocker than the public school system IN GENERAL... she's not much more.
ID50+PAPST is very nice and she's actually a good neighbor. She looks out for the girls and me and our dogs. She is, however, overly concerned with my oldest daughter's socialization (scary). But apparently her idea of socialization is... well, you've been reading, haven't you? I try to limit my children's exposure to ID50+PAPST while maintaining compassion for her as a human so deeply entrenched in a sinful lifestyle that she can't see it. Did I mention that ID50+PAPST is a Catholic? Although lapsed (or never there, really), she doesn't think so. I mean, she has a statue of the BVM in her front yard AND wears a crucifix.

Friday, September 28, 2007

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Nunbox

(from National Geographic, October 2007)
"The idea behind an Italian convent's newfangled box for abandoned babies is as old as the 12th century. In 1198, deploring the number of dead infants found flouting in the Tiber, Pope Innocent III ordered convents to install foundling wheels - revolving compartments to deliver babies anonymously into the care of nuns. Similarly, the box welded onto the gate of Bergamo's Matris Domini Convent in February [below] opens to an insulated cradle. An alarm sounds when a child is placed inside; the sisters call nearby Riuniti Hospital, which picks up the baby within minutes. Foundling wheels fell out of use by the mid-1900s. Germany introduced a latter-day version in 2000 and now has some 80. In Hamburg alone, 38 infants have been left in the city's two 'baby hatches.' In 2006, Italy revived the tradition, hoping to help unwed mothers - often illegal immigrants afraid of the authorities. Says Riuniti's Dr. Regina Barbo: 'Their suffering and fear is as great today as ever.'
Well, as you can see the box is for babies, but that's what my eldest called it and I like both the name and the concept. We need more of them here. The only problem is that we don't have too many urban convents left in the good ole US of A. Our most prominent local convent (I think it's actually a monastery for women) is out from the city a ways and, more tragically, is far too busy holding "ecumenical" retreats (which is code for they dig hanging out with priestesses from other "faiths") for those wanting to learn Reiki and the mysteries of walking the labyrinth.
Pray, pray, pray.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

There But For the Grace of God Go I...


One of the two people who read my blog has complained that I'm not posting enough.

So, I read about the following candid moment this morning:


Thank you Lord for preserving me from this suffering.

Please help all victims of abortion to be repentent and to ask You for healing.

AMEN

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Annie Has Left Us Here at Twisted Valley For Greener Pastures

And we (in the royal sense of that word) are happy for her.
Go visit her over there: http://gimmesomeofyouryouknow.blogspot.com/.
If you don't like pink, you're in trouble.
AMDG,

Monday, September 17, 2007

My New Baby!


This is a photo of my new puppy and me. Her name is Iona and she's cute and feisty.