Mourning and Weeping

Whoever thinks the Dominican Chant of Salve Regina is beautiful hasn't heard my chapter sing it.  We make it die.  We sound like a funeral procession moaning dreadfully.

The Salve Regina is a prayer sung after Evening prayer.  Legend has it has composed by angels.  Wikipoedia has it composed by a monk, Hermann of Reichenau  but St. Dominic had his nuns singing it in 1206, which is before his time.

People say it's beautiful, but we are struggling with it.  My chapter of Lay Dominicans is practicing for our Profession Day.  Fr. Nic, our spiritual advisor would like us to sing it.  So we need prayers.

Who is Jesus to You?

Just beginning RCIA, we are discussing Jesus--Who He is? He is:

Teacher   --   John 13:13

Lover      --   John 15:9, 12-13

Friend     --   John 15:15

There's more, but these are the ones that mean most to me.  Could Jesus be whoever you want Him to be?  I don't think so because let's suppose you were crazy and want Jesus to be evil.  That He could never be except inside your misdirected mind.

But to me, Jesus as a teacher, lover and friend helps me relate to others better.  He teaches me to be a better person.  And a better person means I love others.

What is Jesus to you?

Healer?
Servant?
Redeemer?
God?

I Forgive You

It's late September, after all.  There should be a chill in the air.  But 52 degrees!  I had to wear a jacket for the first time in months!  That's why my rosary beads were stolen.

Here's the story.  I wasn't used to wearing a jacket, so I wasn't used to checking the jacket's pockets.  I was going through security at the prison and forgot.  The door opened and I was just about to step through the doorway when I remembered.  One pocket had a packet of tissues.  The other pocket had my rosary beads.  However, the beads were in a little purse that may have looked like a change purse.

I couldn't take the time to go outside to go get money, to pay for a locker, to put in the rosary and tissue packet.  So I just put them on the top of the bank of lockers.  When I came back out, only the packet of tissues were there.

Obviously, all the thieves aren't on the inside.

Somebody probably just snatched the purse and took off.  Later, what did they think when they saw there was no money, just prayer beads?  I hope they feel guilty and obligated for the rest of their life to pray the rosary.

But realistically, they probably just threw them away.  May God forgive them.  I do.

Full Day

My schedule today:

Leave the house at 7:00 AM in order to get to Mass 20 minutes before it starts--I am Lector A.

After Mass meet friends for breakfast.

10:00 AM go to the Hope of Bethany Pro-Chapter's meeting.

Noon give formation to a temporary professed Lay Dominican.

1:00 PM my own Lay Dominican Chapter meeting

4:00 PM watch football with hubby

5:30 make and eat supper

7:00 blog this post

Sundays are my busiest days and I love it.  I prayed Morning Prayer with my brothers and sisters.  And I prayed Evening Prayer with my "cloistered brothers."  It doesn't get any better than that.

Sinister versus Urgent Conviction

How do you speak with urgent conviction and not sound sinister?  That's my assignment as Lector for the first reading for the twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.  (Wisdom 2:12, 17-20)

The wicked say:
    Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us;
    he sets himself against our doings,
    reproaches us for transgressions of the law
    and charges us with violations of our training.
    Let us see whether his words be true;
    let us find out what will happen to him.
    For if the just one be the son of God, God will defend him
    and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
    With revilement and torture let us put the just one to the test
    that we may have proof of his gentleness
    and try his patience.
    Let us condemn him to a shameful death;
    for according to his own words, God will take care of him.

The wicked don't see this as an evil scheme.  They are planning a test to prove a theory.  Look again.  The wicked have the unmitigated gall to concoct a scheme to trick God into taking responsibility.  "God will take care of him." is an excuse for their wickedness, not concern for the wellbeing of the just one.

And I'm not suppose to use a sinister tone!

The Prayer Group's Faith

Father Diotrophes preached on James 2: 14-26.  It was on practical faith. Faith is what the prayer group had.  Yes, indeed!  They had so much faith that it was ridiculous.  They really were too much.  They were overly pious.  But they were genuine; it wasn’t just for show.

But God forgive him, the group just got on his nerves.

Father Diotrophes tried to get across to them that praying wasn’t enough.  They should do some good works.  Faith without works is dead.  Maybe they could help with the parish food pantry.  They could help drive those who can’t drive to Mass.  They could visit nursing homes.

They just smiled and nodded at him like they always did, and continued fingering their rosaries.  Father Diotrophes sighed.  It was no use, they didn't get it.

On his way down the aisle in recession, Father tripped and hurt his back.  Everyone rushed to help but he waved them off.  He was better off alone.  Everyone left him alone, except the prayer group.

They insisted on taking his arms and walking with him—and they walked too fast.  They all tumbled down the church stairs.  It looked like the entire prayer group landed on top of him.

Father didn’t think he could get up.  The prayer group said that he was not to worry, they’d carry him.  That announcement caused Father Diotrophes to get up as fast as he could.  Again they all pulled and pushed him too fast and this time they all almost fell up the rectory stairs.

Finally, Father was in his own home.  The prayer group was getting him a glass of water, pillows for his back, a heating pad, ice bag, taking off his shoes…

ENOUGH!  Father Diotrophes shouted.  “Stop it.  Everyone go home and leave me alone.”

The prayer group reacted like they were slapped.  Their collective expression looked like  scolded puppies.  Father’s tone softened.  “Thank you but I want to be alone.”

“But Father Diotrophes,” their leader explained.  “You said, ‘Faith without works is dead.’”

“We’ll stay and help you.”  That’s all Father Diotrophes heard because he was banging his head on the table.

Plugging Away at the Rosary

I'm still plugging away at the Rosary.  I have a love/hate relationship with this type of prayer.  I just space out and realize that I'm on the last bead and don't remember a darn thing. How did I get here?

I've tried not praying the Rosary, but that made me miserable.  I missed it.  I carry a rosary with me. I absently finger the beads.  They're in my pocket, under my pillow, in my car's cup holder, hanging on my rearview mirror,on the table, next to my chair, and draped over my lamp on my computer table.

So I vary the ways to pray the Rosary, hopefully to keep me alert.  I've tried audio, visual, DVD, praying on my computer, praying the Seven Sorrow Rosary, contemplative rosary, and I'm sure there's others.  Today, I read about the clausular approach to the rosary.   It would work like the following for the Sorrowful Mysteries:

The five Sorrowful Mysteries with the clauses in red.

1st Sorrowful Mystery – Jesus in Agony in the Garden

Our Father…

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus – with whom you suffered at His torment in the garden. – Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be…
O My Jesus…

2nd Sorrowful Mystery – Jesus Scourged at the Pillar

Our Father…

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus – with whom you agonized at His torture at the pillar. – Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be…
O My Jesus…

3rd Sorrowful Mystery – Jesus Crowned With Thorns

Our Father…

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus – with whom you mourned at His ridicule. – Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be…
O My Jesus…

4th Sorrowful Mystery – Jesus Takes up the Cross

Our Father…

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus – with whom you offered yourself as he embraced the cross. – Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be…
O My Jesus…

5th Sorrowful Mystery – Jesus is Crucified

Our Father…

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus – with whom your heart was pierced as He was crucified. – Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Glory Be…
O My Jesus…
Hail Holy Queen…

May your heart bleed with Mary’s heart…and through her eyes come to more fully know what Jesus has done for you.

Read more: http://www.spiritualdirection.com/2015/09/15/praying-the-clausular-rosary-on-the-memorial-of-our-lady-of-sorrows#ixzz3m0PsB6uJ

By myself, I kind of made up a more personal clausular approach.  On every Hail Mary I specifically pray for someone I know personally.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for my son who is looking for a better job, now and at the hour of his death.  Amen.

As long as I pray, as long as I intend to pray, as long as I try, as long as I persevere, Our Lady understands.