Bruckner’s 9th Symphony for the Weekend

Prayers in Honor of St. Augustine

A Prayer of St. Augustine to the Holy Spirit

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit,
That my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit,
That I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit,
To defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit,
That I always may be holy.

Courtesy of here.

A Prayer to St. Augustine for Virtue

We humbly supplicate and beseech thee, O thrice-blessed Augustine, that thou wouldst be mindful of us poor sinners this day, daily, and at the hour of our death, that by thy merits and prayers we may be delivered from all evils, of soul as well as body, and daily increase in virtue and good works; obtain for us that we may know our God and know ourselves, that in His mercy He may cause us to love Him above all things in life and death; impart to us, we beseech thee, some share of that love with which thou so ardently glow, that our hearts being all inflamed with this divine love, happily departing out of this mortal pilgrimage, we may deserve to praise with thee the loving heart of Jesus for a never-ending eternity.

Courtesy of here. Yesterday was the feast of his mother, Monica; today, appropriately, is the feast day of St. Augustine himself.

A Litany to St. Monica

Litany of Saint Monica

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

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

Holy Trinity, one God,
have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, conceived without stain of original sin,
pray for us and for our children.

Holy Mary, glorious Mother of Jesus Christ,
pray for us and for our children.

St. Monica,
pray for us and for our children.

Model of wives,
pray for us and for our children.

You who converted your unbelieving husband, Mother of St. Augustine,
pray for us and for our children.

Strict and prudent teacher, guardian of your son in all his ways,
pray for us and for our children.

You who carefully watched over his conduct,
pray for us and for our children.

You who were sorely distressed at his erring from the right,
pray for us and for our children.

You who were untiring in your petitions for his soul’s safety,
pray for us and for our children.

You who still hoped on amid the bitterness of your heart and your floods of tears,
pray for us and for our children.

You who were filled with consolation upon his return to God,
pray for us and for our children.

You who died calmly after faithfully fulfilling your duties,
pray for us and for our children.

You who are the prayerful intercessor of all mothers who pray and weep as you did,
pray for us and for our children.

Preserve the innocence of our children,
we beseech you, St. Monica.

Protect them against the deceits of evil men,
we beseech you, St. Monica.

Protect them from the dangers of bad example,
we beseech you, St. Monica.

Watch over the movements of grace in their hearts.
Let the Christian virtues strike deep root in their hearts and bear much fruit.
Redouble your intercession for youth approaching manhood.
Obtain for all in mortal sin true contrition and perfect conversion.
Obtain for all mothers to fulfill their duties steadily and perseveringly.

Commend all mothers to the protection
of the ever-blessed Virgin Mother of Our Lord.
Favorably incline the heart of your beloved son Augustine
to the salvation of our children.

St. Augustine, holy son of a saintly mother,
pray for us and for our children.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
spare us, O Lord!

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
graciously hear us, O Lord!

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us, O Lord!

Pray for us, O holy St. Monica,
That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.

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

Courtesy of here.  Today is her feast day.

Quote for the Week

To show forbearance and gentleness in teaching others; and not to revenge unreasonable conduct — this is the energy of southern regions, and the good man makes it his study. To lie under arms; and meet death without regret — this is the energy of northern regions, and the forceful make it their study. Therefore, the superior man cultivates a friendly harmony, without being weak — How firm is he in his energy! He stands erect in the middle, without inclining to either side — How firm is he in his energy! When good principles prevail in the government of his country, he does not change from what he was in retirement. How firm is he in his energy! When bad principles prevail in the country, he maintains his course to death without changing — How firm is he in his energy!

–Confucius, The Doctrine of the Mean; courtesy of Wikiquote.

Roger Zare for the Weekend

 

 

Quote for the Week

time concept, selective focus point, special toned photo f/x

Patience is the guardian of faith, the preserver of peace, the cherisher of love, the teacher of humility; Patience governs the flesh, strengthens the spirit, sweetens the temper, stifles anger, extinguishes envy, subdues pride; she bridles the tongue, refrains the hand, tramples upon temptations, endures persecutions, consummates martyrdom; Patience produces unity in the church, loyalty in the State, harmony in families and societies; she comforts the poor and moderates the rich; she makes us humble in prosperity, cheerful in adversity, unmoved by calumny and reproach; she teaches us to forgive those who have injured us, and to be the first in asking forgiveness of those whom we have injured; she delights the faithful, and invites the unbelieving; she adorns the woman, and approves the man; is loved in a child, praised in a young man, admired in an old man; she is beautiful in either sex and every age.

–Bishop Horne, Discourses on Several Subjects and Occasions Patience Portrayed; courtesy of Wikiquote.

Some Philip Glass for the Weekend

A Prayer for the Assumption

by Pope St. Pius X

O immaculate virgin, mother of God and mother of humanity, we believe with all the fervour of our faith in your triumphal assumption both in body and in soul into heaven where you are acclaimed as queen by all the choirs of angels and all the legions of saints; we unite with them to praise and bless the Lord who has exalted you above all other pure creatures and to offer you the tribute of our devotion and our love.

We know that your gaze, which on earth watched over the humble and suffering humanity of Jesus, in heaven is filled with the vision of that humanity glorified and with the vision of uncreated wisdom, and that the joy of your soul in the direct contemplation of the adorable trinity causes your heart to throb with overwhelming tenderness; and we, poor sinners whose body weights down the flight of the soul, beg you to purify our hearts so that, while we remain below, we may learn to see God and God alone in the beauties of his creatures.

We trust that your merciful eyes may deign to gaze down upon our miseries and anguish, upon our struggles and our weaknesses; that your countenance may smile upon our joys and our victories; that you may hear the voice of Jesus saying to you of each one of us, as he once said to you of his beloved disciple:

“Behold your son,” and we who call upon you as our mother, we, like John, take you as the guide, strength and consolation of our mortal life.

We are inspired by the certainty that your eyes, which wept over the earth crimsoned by the blood of Jesus, are yet turned toward this world racked by wars and persecutions, the oppression of the just and the weak. From the shadows of this vale of tears, we seek in your heavenly assistance, tender mercy, comfort for our aching hearts, and help in the trials of Church and country.

We believe finally that in the glory where you reign, clothed with the sun and crowned with stars, you are, after Jesus, the joy and gladness of all the angels and the saints, and from this earth, over which we tread as pilgrims, comforted by our faith in the future resurrection, we look to you our life, our sweetness, our hope; draw us onward with the sweetness of your voice, so that one day, after our exile, you may show us Jesus, the blessed fruit of your womb.

O clement, O loving,
O sweet Virgin Mary.

Amen.

Courtesy of here.  Today is the Feast of the Assumption.

Quote for the Week

“Hope” is the thing with feathers —
That perches in the soul —
And sings the tune without the words —
And never stops — at all —
And sweetest — in the Gale — is heard —
And sore must be the storm —
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm —

–Emily Dickinson, Poem 254 in The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson (1960), edited by Thomas H. Johnson; courtesy of Wikiquote.

Prayers in Honor of St. Clare of Assisi

I look up and I behold the Lord,
Clare says to me, “Gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him,
I put this more simply:
behold, hold, enfold.

I behold the Lord
I see His outstretched hands
I see the blood from His wounds.
I see the love in the eyes of Jesus.
I see His gracious acceptance of me.

Jesus has come out of the tomb –
He still has the scars, but now they are glorious, with the glory of heaven.
Still looking at the Lord, I reach out and touch Him.
I hold the Lord – and I am held in His love.

Love enfolds
It is no longer I that live, but Christ that lives in me.
I am secure in the Lord.
I can look out, now, through the Lord’s eyes.
I can see the world as He created it, in His mercy,
I can see my sisters and brothers with His love,
and I can worship the Father through the eyes of the Son
in the Love of the Holy Spirit.

Here is a blessing from St. Clare’s second letter to Blessed Agnes of Prague:
What you hold may you always hold.
What you do, may you always do and never abandon.
But with swift pace, light step and unswerving feet,
so that even your steps stir up no dust,
Go forward, the spirit of our God has called you.

Courtesy of here.

O glorious Saint Clare!

God has given you the power of working miracles continually, and the favor of answering the prayers of those who invoke your assistance in misfortune, anxiety, and distress; we beseech you, obtain for us from Jesus, through Mary, His Blessed Mother, what we beg of you so fervently and hopefully, if it be for the greater honor and glory of God and for the good of our souls.

Saint Clare Pray For Us

Amen.

Courtesy of here.  St. Clare was the founder of the women’s branch of the Franciscans, the Poor Clares, having received the veil from St. Francis himself.  Today is her feast day.