Leonine Prayers

The Leonine Prayers are prayers that were said after Mass from 1884-1964.  Pope Leo aak that these prayers be said, that's why they're called Leonine, after the pope's name.  Legend has it that Pope Leo had a vision where the evil one gave battle to the church.  It gave the pope quite a fright, hence he composed prayers to be said after Mass. 

And for some unknown reason, I feel moved to pray the original prayer to St. Michael the Archangel.
I'm worried because I don't know why I feel that way.  But I will pray it.  Why not?  It wouldn't harm anything. And I also feel that I have to stand up (not kneel) to pray it.

Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

One day, after celebrating Mass, the aged Pope Leo XIII was in conference with the Cardinals when suddenly he sank to the floor in a deep swoon. Physicians who hastened to his side could find no trace of his pulse and feared that he had expired. However, after a short interval the Holy Father regained consciousness and exclaimed with great emotion: "Oh, what a horrible picture I have been permitted to see!" He had been shown a vision of evil spirits who had been released from Hell and their efforts to destroy the Church. But in the midst of the horror the archangel St. Michael appeared and cast Satan and his legions into the abyss of hell. Soon afterward Pope Leo XIII composed the following prayer to Saint Michael, which is the original version: Original - Prayer to St. Michael “O Glorious Prince of the heavenly host, St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the terrible warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits. Come to the aid of man, whom Almighty God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of Satan. “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, 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 of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent 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 the See of Holy Peter and the Chair of Truth has been set up as 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 find mercy in the sight of the Lord; and vanquishing 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 ye 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. O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon Thy holy Name, and as supplicants, we implore Thy clemency, that by the intercession of Mary, ever Virgin Immaculate and our Mother, and of the glorious St. Michael the Archangel, Thou wouldst deign to help us against Satan and all the other unclean spirits who wander about the world for the injury of the human race and the ruin of souls. Amen.”

Bless with Holy Water.

Hearing and Adhering

Guess what the Holy Spirit did today.  He directed me to a hymn that reinforces what I am teaching this weekend.  Saturday and Sunday I am introducing Lectio_Divina.  This is my favorite way of praying.  To me it's simple--think while you pray, but most people don't know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, this morning I opened up my Liturgy of the Hours to begin the Office of Readings for Wednesday, Week II in Ordinary Time.  The Hymn for the Office of Readings is Herr Jesu Christ Dich, Anon.  The melody is Herr Jesu and the Music is Cantionale Germanicum, Dresden, 1628.

I don't understand where the title is in the above, but I've given you all the information there is.
Read this and keep in mind that I'm teaching Lectio Divina

Lord Jesus Christ, be present now,
And let your Holy Spirit bow
All hearts in love and truth today
To hear your word and keep your way.

Give us the grace to grasp your word,
That we may do what we have heard.
Instruct us thru the scriptures, Lord,
As we draw near, O God adored.

May your glad tidings always bring
Good news to men, that they may sing
Of how you came to save all men.
Instruct us till you come again.

To God the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, three in one;
To you, O blessed Trinity,
Be praise thruout eternity.


All I can say is I thank my Lord for His care and love.  

Restorative Justice for Bishops

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon, France, is seen praying in this 2007 file photo.
 (Credit: CNS photo/Mohamed Messare, EPA.)

When I was told that a Novena of Penance and Prayer for the physical and spiritual healing of our diocese, over the sexual abuse and coverup by bishops was going to take place, I exclaimed incredulously, "But we didn't do anything!"

An answer was ready.  "We are a community.  We support each other."

That shut me up but it didn't satisfy my feelings.  So here are my thoughts.

The buck stops at the bishop's crosier.  The abusing priest is sick.  He was the start of the problem.  But instead of fixing the problem, the bishops enabled the problem.  I don't buy that doctors' said that the priests were healed.  For the past 50 years????? 

One priest in my parish was drunk and exposed himself to a woman.  He was taken out of the parish and assigned someone else.  Where?  He became chaplain to an all-female college. 

Is that not the bishop fault?  Even if a million doctors said the priest was OK, why would you take the chance?

BTW, that priest got into trouble at the college.  (I bet you're not surprised.)

Anyway, I lay the blame on the bishops. 

I also don't think we sheep should be doing penance for our shepherds.  We didn't even know about any abuse.  Those who did (Bishops) need to do penance and make reparation. 

Families are a good example.  They certainly are a community.  When one member misbehaves he is given a time-out.  Not everybody--to support him.  That one member alone is standing in a corner where everyone can see him doing his "time."  When a citizen commits a crime, he is sent to prison where the public takes note that he is doing his "time."  Society doesn't accompany the perpetrator to prison.  So why should we do "time"?

I propose that the bishops in the USA do public penance by teaching.  It would be nice if the bishops taught the faith and concretely translated it into action by teaching at least one hour a day.  I envision the bishop teaching a CCD class every day and another RCIA class, additionally. 

Both would benefit.  The bishop would get to know vital sheep in his flock, i.e., children and discerning adults. 

For their penance, bishops should teach a CCD class, every day, for a year.  Additionally, they should teach RCIA for a year, also because RCIA should be year long, anyway.

And in this way, the sheep will get to see and know that their shepherd is humble and contrite.  May God, Who sends the Holy Spirit to spread grace through forgiveness, give pardon and peace to His Holy Church.  Grant this Father, through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

A King Who Serves the People

Lectio:

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Reading 1DN 7:13-14

As the visions during the night continued, I saw
one like a Son of man coming,
on the clouds of heaven;
when he reached the Ancient One
and was presented before him,
the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;
all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not be taken away,
his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Studium:

The book of Daniel was not written by him, rather, it is about him.  The purpose of the book of Daniel is to encourage the people since they were being forced to accept the pagan Greek idols.  This reading from chapter seven is a vision--a classic one where the Son of Man will be proclaimed King.  To us, the Son of Man is Jesus.  He has everlasting dominion.

Meditatio: 

This passage envisions the end-time, Jesus Christ's second coming.  Son of Man is a title known to mean Jesus Christ.  The Ancient One is God the Father.  The Holy Spirit presents Jesus.  Jesus is our King forever no matter what.

Oratio:

Lord, as King, I serve You.  Yet you came to serve me, not to be served.  Help me fathom that concept.

Contemplatio:

Viva Cristo Rey!

The First Step in Prayer

I've been praying all my life and I just learned that I'm doing it wrong.  I know not to harangue God with "Give me"s.  And I pray in thanksgiving and praise, so I thought I had it covered.  Praying, that is.

Well, in this morning's Lectio Divina, I realized that I've missed the listening for God's voice.  I know that's part of meditation and I do meditate and listen to the Lord.  But I never realized that the listening was the very first step!

Is not the Shema the most important prayer in the Jewish faith?  Hear, O Israel! ... (Deuteronomy 6: 4-5)

Did not God look and call out to Adam and Eve, "Where are you?" (Genesis 3: 8-9)

Did not God get Moses attention in the burning bush?  (Exodus 3: 2-4)

Did not God wake Samuel up?  (1 Samuel 3: 3-4)

Did not Jesus talk to the Samaritan woman at the well, first?  (John 4: 7)

Get it?  The first step in praying is to listen.  That's first.  If you hear nothing, start talking to God.  Then listen.  You could try reading and then listening.

You will hear God's voice through your thoughts.  

Missionaries in WWII

Finished!  I finished reading Trapped in Paradise Catholic Nuns in the South Pacific 1940-1943.  This is a true story written in journal form.  Sister Hedda wrote a letter just about every to Mother Superior.  These are the letters.

The first chapters are about the journey to the islands.  Everyone was sea-sick one day or another.  And the journey last four months!

Once I reached Chapter 6, the story became a page-turner.  The sisters were running from hiding place to hiding place to escape Japanese capture.  And there were a couple of times when the sisters met some Japanese face to face and managed to get out of the situations.  Most of the times, however, the sisters were hiding in the jungle and jumping from island to island.

Upon reflection, I am amazed at the glimpses of Divine Providence that was evident.  The times when the sisters were in Japanese control, they were treated with respect.  I mean no one was raped.  Oh sure, they were starved, but so weren’t the Japanese soldiers.  In fact, prisoners weren’t fed; they had to scrounge around for food.

Even the priests weren’t abused.  There was one death.  Father Hennessey was a prisoner on a ship that was attacked and sunk.  Some sisters and brothers died from sickness, or from the bombs being dropped, but no one was sexually abused.

Whereas the same couldn’t be said about the plantation owners.  They were shot immediately upon capture.

Do I recommend the book?  Definitely, I really got a feel for the war in the South Pacific during WWII.  I also saw how missionaries begin a life among a pagan culture.  Do you know that after the war, these sisters went right back to their missions?  The people needed them and the sisters had a job to do.  (Matt 25: 40)

Bro Cadoré: Preaching is the Announcement that God is Coming

Bro Cadoré: Preaching is the announcement that God is coming    I'm promoting this book.  I'll write a review after I get it.

Honoring

I love the rhythm and rhyme of this poem from Poem of the Day.  It is called Invocation and the poet

is new to me, Jane Johnston Schoolcraft. 

Invocation   Jane Johnston Schoolcraft

To my Maternal Grand-father on hearing his descent from Chippewa ancestors misrepresented Rise bravest chief! of the mark of the noble deer,               With eagle glance,               Resume thy lance, And wield again thy warlike spear!               The foes of thy line,               With coward design, Have dared with black envy to garble the truth, And stain with a falsehood thy valorous youth. They say when a child, thou wert ta’en from the Sioux,               And with impotent aim,               To lessen thy fame Thy warlike lineage basely abuse;               For they know that our band,               Tread a far distant land, And thou noble chieftain art nerveless and dead, Thy bow all unstrung, and thy proud spirit fled. Can the sports of thy youth, or thy deeds ever fade?               Or those e’er forget,               Who are mortal men yet, The scenes where so bravely thou’st lifted the blade,               Who have fought by thy side,               And remember thy pride, When rushing to battle, with valour and ire, Thou saw’st the fell foes of thy nation expire? Can the warrior forget how sublimely you rose?               Like a star in the west,               When the sun’s sink to rest, That shines in bright splendour to dazzle our foes?               Thy arm and thy yell,               Once the tale could repel Which slander invented, and minions detail, And still shall thy actions refute the false tale. Rest thou, noblest chief! in thy dark house of clay,               Thy deeds and thy name,               Thy child’s child shall proclaim, And make the dark forests resound with the lay;               Though thy spirit has fled,               To the hills of the dead, Yet thy name shall be held in my heart’s warmest core, And cherish’d till valour and love be no more. Jane was the daughter of an Indian and a Scott Irish man.  She wrote poetry and Ojibwe stories.  She married Henry Rowe Schoolcraft and a few of her poems were published in his handwritten magazine.  In fact, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Song of Hiawatha was inspired by Jane's poetry. Robert Dale Parker  published some of her poetry in The Sound the Stars Make Rushing Through The Sky: The Writings of Jane Johnston Schoolcraft. In 2009, Jane Johnston Schoolcraft was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. By the way, Jane's Ojibwe's name was "The Sound the Stars Make Rushing Through The Sky."

Pachinko

A few years ago, I was tutoring a Korean student in English.  From her, I learned that the Koreans don't have any love for the Japanese.  This is understandable since Korea was occupied by the Japanese during WWII.  But I was surprised to learn from reading Min Jin Lee's book, Pachinko, that the Japanese didn't think much of the Koreans.  The Japanese thought they were less intelligent, dirty, lazy and a burden to society.  Needless to say, the Koreans living in Japan were discriminated against.  Why didn't they leave and come back to Korea?  Korea, in this setting, the early twentieth century, was very poor and had little opportunities to offer.

Pachinko is a novel about the life of a family of immigrants. It is an excellent story.  I couldn't get over how hard the women worked.  The women held the family together, financially, with shrewd planning, moral upbringing, and education.  And the women in the family had no education! 

Pachinko takes the reader through a couple of generations.  It is a page-turner.  And the family goes through ups and downs, happiness and sorrow. I loved the characterization.  Each character was well drawn and fit right into the movement of the plot. Min Jin Lee is such a smooth, effortless writer.  You will find this an easy story to get into and get into is what you will want to do.  

Armchair Vatican Strategists

Many times we read criticisms of our leaders from "armchair strategists."  Do they think they know all the extraneous pressures people are under?  Presently it's questioning why the pope told the USCB to stop plans regarding priestly sexual abuse.  The reason why the stop was put on is that there's a global summit happening in February to discuss and plan actions.

I wonder.  Do the critics miss the adjective global summit?  Tell me, what would be the use of the U.S. bishops deciding on an action plan now and then having to change it in February?

As soon as I heard about the global summit I could understand the pope's ordering a halt.  This was especially brought to mind the other day when I was reading about the role of the church during the French Revolution.  The church almost died.  Rome was occupied by the French.  In fact, the French Revolutionists' aim was to get rid of Christianity and replace it with Reason. There were many Catholics, including religious, priests, bishops even, who agreed, or were at least resigned that the papacy was dying.

What happened was that Napoleon came to power. Napoleon saw a use for the church.  He could use it as a unification factor.  Anyway, the pope had to make some deals that certainly raised eyebrows.  And today, I'm sure the media would be screaming their righteous objections.  (Think agreements with China.)  But we aren't privy to the big picture.  After the French Revolution, the pope had to appoint bishops he didn't want, in order to advance the interests of the future church.  And with what result?  Eventually, after almost dying, by the next century, the church emerged stronger, more unified, and had more of a stronger sense of its own Christ's mandated vision.  

What Are the Holy Days of Obligation? | Catholic Answers

What Are the Holy Days of Obligation? | Catholic Answers



I didn't know that the Holy Days of Obligation differed in each country.  Canada only has two!!!!

Most Men Will Get This Wrong

Many people and most men, will not get the correct nuance in 1 Kings 17:10-16.  I noticed it this morning when I listened to the lector proclaim the first reading for the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Picture this.  You are desperate, almost to the point of being distraught, because you are so poor you don't have enough food for another day.  Weary, depressed, tired and preoccupied with trying to meet your daily obligations when a strange man asks you for a drink of water.  (I know; this is Old Testament; just go along.)  So you give the man a drink of water.

Then!

He has the chutzpah to ask for more!  Now he asks for a cake!?!?!!!!!!!  Here, you can't afford to feed yourself and son, and he wants to take the food out of your mouth!!!!

The translation says that she says, "As the Lord, your God lives, ...." and she explains her dire situation.

I think "As the Lord, your God lives..." is where she lost it.  Depending on how much sleep I had, and how worried I was, I would have sworn at Elijah #@!%^#@*#*.

At the least, I would have said, "For cryin out loud..." and explained my situation like this poor widow did.  

I'm sure my interpretation is correct because you realize Elijah's tone completely changes when he understands the widow's plight.  In fact, he stays with her for a year to help her out.  She was blessed.

Please lectors, put the correct tone of exasperation in your voice.  Do the poor widow justice. Maybe people will fully understand.

Fathers Are Men, Aren't They?

J.D. Flynn's article, Restoring Trust takes the bishops to task, as they convene for their meeting, 2018 Fall General Assembly.  Here is one good take:  the

Since accusations against McCarrick were made public in June, Catholics have decried what appears to be a bureaucratic and privileged culture in which few bishops take personal responsibility, and apologies are couched in corporate and impersonal legalese. The bishops must not begin or conclude their November meeting with more slick-sounding defenses or prepackaged mea culpas.

The bishops must face the truth, tell the truth, and be transparent.

Holy, Holy, Holy

Don't ask me why but I have several bottles of Holy Water.  I bless myself every morning and evening with holy water.  I sprinkle the room of my home with holy water.

I usually fill a bottle as soon as it's empty, but for some reason lately, I've been lazy.  That's why I had a few empty bottles on my dresser.  The other day when my granddaughter was over my house she was playing in my bedroom.  I saw her playing with my statues and didn't say anything; I didn't want to discourage her budding piety.  Later when I looked in the room she was on her knees mumbling her prayers very devoutly.

That night when I was straightening out my dresser I saw that she had made a little shrine.  She had statues and crosses and holy pictures surrounded by candles.  Plus all my bottles of holy water.  They were ALL filled with water.

There was no way to tell which bottles had tap water and which had holy water!

I'm bringing them ALL to a priest to bless them.

A Challenge for All Peoples

The following post is from Jordi Perez, my favorite Lay Dominican postulant.

It isn't merely our literacy that separates us from animals, for plenty of unforgivable crimes by bankers, business people, presidents and self-proclaimed religious have been committed by superior minds. It is our morality that gives value to our intelligence, and our trust and love. God is not so fragile as to fear other faiths. Some religions oblige one to live according to Godly mandates, and some add the obligation to preach and convert. Can we can love enough to accept the rejection of our Truth and our Way? If we can realize that conversion may only happen after 30 years of marriage, or 10 years of friendship, or in the split second that one extends a loving hand, then we can also realize that at no point is intolerance ever acceptable, for we would fail in our call to preach.

Why can't we share our faith along with the faith of others and enjoy a banquet of beliefs and ideas that can enrich us... even if we choose to oblige by our Ten Commandments, 613 Mitzvot, Five Pillars, Five Buddhist Precepts or just Dharma?

We have reached an Age where our Faith should have matured enough to take the next step up the Stairway to Heaven. We cannot expect God to use Elementary School lesson plans on College-Level Students. God knows that better than we do. Read, and pray, for they are the only things that make us human, then read and pray together, for our infinite and communal faiths are greater than our finite and solitary needs.

We need not erase religion, because we are religious animals, and we are human, capable of far more than gibbons. As fun as it is to measure ourselves by how hard we hit or how fast we run, those awards will always go to gorillas and gazelles, not humans.

Our measure is one that no animal can surpass. Our measure is in the Image of God.

The God that allowed us to take and eat, even after He warned us not to. That is the experience of every loving parent with their child, and our response must be equally sacrificial and loving.

We live in a violent and difficult age, but it is us who make it violent and difficult. Only us. And it is us who can make it less violent and less difficult. God is waiting.

Christians, you have studied for 2,000 years. Graduate already. Muslims, you are not far behind. Submit to Peace. Jews, find where we can fit in your Sabbath, since we love and respect the same Prophets. Buddhists, Hindus, we too can find common ground under the orange sun. And none of us need change a single color of our convictions.

Surprise God with love. See what it brings.

You shall not kill.

"...from every animal I will demand it, and from a human being, each one for the blood of another, I will demand an accounting for human life." --Bereshit (Genesis) 9:5

If anyone has killed one person it is as if he had killed all mankind --Quran 5:32

Ahimsa.

--My thoughts after Pittsburgh

*Ptttsburgh is reference for the senseless attack on worshippers in a synagogue by a bigotted madman on October 27, 2018. It was a mass shooting that occurred at Tree of Life -- or L'Simcha Congregation, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania while Shabbat morning services were being held. 

Ten Ways to Prepare for a Holy Death

Ten Ways to Prepare for a Holy Death: The most important moment in our life is the very moment that we die. This will determine our destiny for all eternity. Either we will be saved or damned. Either we will be with God for all eternity or we will be lost for all eternity.



Don't forget to leave a will.

How to Measure Love

You certainly can't measure love with a ruler, or any other tool.  The only way to do it is to measure the sacrifices the lover does for the beloved.

Think of a parent for a child.  Spouses for each other.

Think of Jesus.

What to Do When Visiting a Cemetery

What to Do When Visiting a Cemetery: Here ate some suggestions I've never thought of--especially the last few.  I never heard of The Litany of Holy Souls:





LITANY FOR THE SOULS
IN PURGATORY # 1

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 the souls of the faithful departed.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.

God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.

Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on the souls of the faithful departed.

Holy Mary,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Holy Mother of God,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saint Michael,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saint Gabriel,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy angels and archangels,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saint John the Baptist,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saint Joseph,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy patriarchs and prophets,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saint Peter,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saint Paul,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saint John,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy apostles and evangelists,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saint Stephen,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saint Lawrence,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy martyrs,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saint Gregory,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saint Ambrose,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy bishops and confessors,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saint Mary Magdalen,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

Saint Catherine,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye holy virgins and widows,
Pray for the souls of the faithful departed.

All ye saints of God,
Make intercession for the souls of the faithful departed.

Be merciful, Spare them, O Lord.
Be merciful, Hear them, O Lord.

From all evil,
O Lord, deliver them.

From Thy wrath,
O Lord, deliver them.

From the flame of fire,
O Lord, deliver them.

From the region of the shadow of death,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thine Immaculate Conception,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy Nativity,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy Most Holy Name,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through the multitude of Thy tender mercies,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy most bitter Passion,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy most Sacred Wounds,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thy most Precious Blood,
O Lord, deliver them.

Through Thine ignominious death, by which Thou hast destroyed our death,
O Lord, deliver them.

We sinners,
We beseech Thee, hear us.

O Thou Who didst absolve the sinner woman
and hear the prayer of the good thief,
We beseech Thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst release our deceased parents,
relations and benefactors
from the bonds of their sins
and the punishment for them,
We beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst hasten the day of visiting
Thy faithful detained in the receptacles of sorrow,
and wouldst transport them to the city of eternal peace,
We beseech Thee, hear us.

That Thou wouldst shorten the time of expiation for their sins
and graciously admit them into the holy sanctuary,
into which no unclean thing can enter,
We beseech Thee, hear us.

That through the prayers and alms of Thy Church,
and especially by the inestimable Sacrifice of Thy Holy Altar,
Thou wouldst receive them into the tabernacle of rest
and crown their longing hopes with everlasting fruition, Son of God,
We beseech Thee, hear us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Grant them eternal rest.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Grant them eternal rest.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Grant them eternal rest.

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

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

Lord, have mercy on us.

Pray the "Our Father"

V. And lead us not into temptation,
R. But deliver us from all evil.

Amen.

V. From the gates of Hell,
R. Deliver their souls, O Lord.

V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer,
R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

Let Us Pray

O God, Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant to the souls of Thy departed servants
the remission of all their sins,
that through our pious supplications
they may obtain the pardon which they have always desired.
Through Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

O God, the Giver of pardon
and the Lover of the salvation of men,
we beg Thy clemency on behalf of our brethren,
kinsfolk and benefactors who have departed this life,
that by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary
and of all the saints,
Thou wouldst receive them
into the joys of Thine everlasting kingdom.
Through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

O God, to Whom it belongs always
to have mercy and to spare,
be favorably propitious to the souls of Thy servants
and grant them the remission of all their sins,
that being delivered from the bonds of this mortal life,
they may be admitted to life everlasting.
Through Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

'God has become my light' A Chinese teen's conversion story

'God has become my light' A Chinese teen's conversion story: Beijing, China, Oct 30, 2018 CNA.- The first time Wenxuan Yuan visited a Catholic church in Beijing as a child, she was struck by its beauty. In the courtyard of the church there was a blackboard with words that enthralled her without even under-

standing them.