You only become the saint you do not want to become . . . .

"You will never become a saint in the way you imagine or hope. One can become a saint only by accepting a will other than one's own. I often imagine the story of an old, worn man, of an elderly and disappointed woman, whose every good desire has run aground, whom God has constantly hindered in their most generous plans.

Their vocation, put to the test, has been denied; their attempts at the apostolate have failed for miserable reasons of money or machination, their marriage is sterile or their children are dead, their life is useless.

They grow old anxious and lonely, surrounded by ruins. But when, sometimes, on their knees, in a long, mute prayer, they dare to question the impenetrable Providence who has conducted their lives, when they reach out their empty hands towards God, when they offer him their wasted existence, their hearts which have beaten so little, it comes about that they receive a strangely comforting answer. They sometimes come to understand, in a disarming light, that everything is quite as he wanted it, that their own will would have led them to human results, but that God preferred to lead them to him, that he reserved them entirely for himself, so that the witness they bear to him is pure.

"Yes, I have shattered your projects, I have annihilated your pride. Nobody needs you, you live without self-contentment, you are before me like a lamp which shines for the satisfaction of nobody, - you are 'without any purpose.' But you are my love and my glory, I placed my delight in you, you are the portion reserved to me, so well preserved that you are wanted by nobody else, and that you do not even think of being useful, you are my purest reflection because you have become the saints you did not want to become." (L. Evely)

(found here)

The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in Peace.

Árstíðir - Heyr himna smiður

Icelandic hymn from the early 13th century. By the end of the century, the nation had converted from mostly pagan to mostly Catholic.

Heyr himna smiðr
hvers skáldit biðr;
komi mjúk til mín
miskunnin þín.
Því heitk á þik
þú hefr skaptan mik;
ek em þrællinn þinn,
þú est dróttinn minn.

Goð, heitk á þik
at græðir mik;
minzk mildingr mín,
mest þurfum þín;
ryð þú rǫðla gramr,
ríklyndr ok framr,
hǫlds hverri sorg
ór hjarta borg.

Gæt, mildingr, mín
mest þurfum þín
helzt hverja stund
á hǫlða grund;
sett, meyjar mǫgr,
málsefni fǫgr,
ǫll es hjǫ́lp af þér
í hjarta mér.

Hear, Smith of the Heavens,
what the poet asks.
May softly come unto me
Thy mercy.
So I call on Thee,
for Thou hast created me.
I am Thy slave,
Thou art my Lord.

God, I call on Thee
to heal me.
Remember me, Mild One,^*
Most we need Thee.
Drive out, O King of Suns,
generous and great,
every human sorrow
from the fortress of the heart.

Watch over me, Mild One,
Most we need Thee,
truly every moment
in the world of men.
Send us, Son of the Virgin,
good causes,
all aid is from Thee,
in my heart.

This hymn was composed by Kolbeinn Tumason, one of the most powerful chieftains in the Iceland of his time. He helped his wife's uncle (or cousin), his house priest, Guðmundur Arason, to be elected bishop of Hólar, hoping, through him, to increase his power and influence in the north part of the island. Guðmundur, often nicknamed "the good", was generous with the Church's holdings and a community of the poor gathered around him in Hólar. I wonder whether this provoked envy and avarice in Kolbeinn, when he saw Guðmundur giving to the poor instead of to himself, his friend and benefactor. They came into conflict when Kolbeinn accused a priest of owing him money and had him exiled. Guðmundur took the priest into his household in an attempt to preserve the sole right of the Church to judge her clergy. In 1209, Kolbeinn led a group of men to Víðines, near Hólar, to carry out a sentence against another priest. There they fought with followers of the bishop and there the chieftain was fatally injured by a blow to his head with a large rock after which his troops dispersed. Despite the circumstances of his death, Kolbeinn was a believing Christian. Before passing away, he composed this classic Icelandic hymn.

^* Or mild king. This is a pun on the word mildingur.

Sources: 1,2,3,4,5

All Soul's Day

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Grant, we beseech thee, to thy whole Church in paradise and on earth, thy light and thy peace.

Grant that all those who have been baptized into Christ's death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to newness of life, and that through the grave and gate of death we may pass with him to our joyful resurrection.

Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that thy Holy Spirit may lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days.

Grant to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind.

Grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in thy fatherly care, that, casting all their grief upon thee, they may know the consolation of thy love.

Give courage and faith to those who are bereaved, that they may have strength to meet the days ahead in the comfort of a reasonable and holy hope, in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love.

Help us, we pray, in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting.

Grant us, with all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, to have our consummation and bliss in thine eternal and everlasting glory, and, with all thy saints, to receive the crown of life which thou dost promise to all who share in the victory of thy Son Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Father of all, we pray to thee for those we love, but see no longer: Grant them thy peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and in thy loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of thy perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, we pray thee to set thy passion, cross, and death, between thy judgement and our souls, now and in the hour of our death. Give mercy and grace to the living, pardon and rest to the dead, to thy holy Church peace and concord, and to us sinners everlasting life and glory; who with the Father and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, now and ever.

Lord Jesus Christ, who by thy death didst take away the sting of death: Grant to us thy servants so to follow in faith where thou hast led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in thee, and awake after thy likeness; for thy tender mercies' sake.

O Almighty God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, who by a voice from heaven didst proclaim, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord: Multiply, we beseech thee, to those who rest in Jesus the manifold blessings of thy love, that the good work which thou didst begin in them may be made perfect unto the day of Jesus Christ. And of thy mercy, O heavenly Father, grant that we, who now serve thee on earth, may at last, together with them, be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; for the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

(found here)

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Corpus Christi

But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

When we enter into God's holy temple, may He mercifully empty our hearts of all malice, all resentment, all anger, all pride, all envy, all despondency, all impurity, all distraction, all gluttony, all sloth, all avarice, all timorousness, all that separates us from the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, all that makes us forget where we are and what we owe our Creator.

May He fill us instead with faith, hope and charity. May we receive Him worthily and become more like to Him Whom we receive, making good use of His gifts to the glory of His holy name. Before we dare to receive, let us carefully examine our consciences as Saint Paul has taught us, and if we cannot receive Him worthily because of sin, may the Lord guide us to true repentance.

Thank you Lord, for all you have given us.

Ember Days

In the Saints Discussion Forums, I just saw a reminder that Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of next week are the Summer Ember Days, traditionally days of fasting and abstinence to sanctify the season and instruct Christians in holiness.

Lesser Rogation Days

The three days preceding Ascension Thursday are the lesser Rogation days, in which we pray for God's mercy.  The prayers that follow are prayed before the start of Mass.  I pray them now for Mary Virginia, my godmother, who will be buried on Saturday...

ANTHEM ¤ Ps. 43. 26

Exsurge, Domine, adjuva nos, et libera nos propter nomen tuum. (Alleluia.) -- Deus auribus nostris audivimus: patres nostri annuntiaverunt nobis. V.: Gloria Patri . . . -- Exsurge, Domine . . .

Arise, O Lord, help us and deliver us for Thy Name's sake. (Alleluia). -- (Ps. 43. 2). We have heard, O God, with our ears; our fathers have told us. V.: Glory be to the Father . . . -- Arise, O Lord . . .

LITANY OF THE SAINTS

Kyrie, eleison.    Christe, eleison.    Kyrie, eleison.    Christe, audi nos.    Christe, exaudi nos.    Pater de couelis Deus, miserere nobis    Fili, Redemptor mundi, Deus, miserere nobis    Spiritus Sanctus, Deus, miserere nobis    Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, miserere nobis    Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis    Sancta Dei Genetrix, ora pro nobis    Sancta Virgo virginum, ora pro nobis    Sancte Michael, ora pro nobis    Sancte Gabriel, ora pro nobis    Sancte Raphael, ora pro nobis    Omnes sancti Angeli et Archangeli, ora pro nobis    Omnes sancti beatorum Spirituum ordines, ora pro nobis    Sancte Joannes Baptista, ora pro nobis    Sancte Joseph, ora pro nobis    Omnes sancti Patriarchae et Prophetae, ora pro nobis    Sancte Petre, ora pro nobis    Sancte Paule, ora pro nobis    Sancte Andrea, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Jacobe, ora pro nobis    Sancte Joannes, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Thoma, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Jacobe, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Philippe, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Bartholomaee, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Matthaee, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Simon, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Thaddaee, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Matthia, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Barnaba, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Luca, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Marce, ora pro nobis    Omnes sancti Apostoli et Evangelistae, ora pro nobis    Omnes sancti Discipuli Domini, orate pro nobis    † Omnes sancti Innocentes, orate pro nobis    Sancte Stephane, ora pro nobis    Sancte Laureni, ora pro nobis    Sancte Vincenti, ora pro nobis    † Sancti Fabiane et Sebastiane, ora pro nobis    † Sancti Joannes et Paule, ora pro nobis    † Sancti Cosma et Damiane, ora pro nobis    † Sancti Gervasi et Protasi, ora pro nobis    Omnes sancti Martyres, orate pro nobis    Sancte Silvester, ora pro nobis    Sancte Gregori, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Ambrosi, ora pro nobis    Sancte Augustine, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Hieronyme, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Martine, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Micolae, ora pro nobis    Omnes sancti Pontifices et Confessores, orate pro nobis    Omnes sancti Doctores, orate pro nobis    Sancte Anttoni, ora pro nobis    Sancte Benedicte, ora pro nobis    † Sancte Bernarde, ora pro nobis    Sancte Dominice, ora pro nobis    Sancte Fransisce, ora pro nobis    Omnes sancti Sacerdotes et Levitae, orate pro nobis    Omnes sancti Monachi et Eremitae, orate pro nobis    Sancta Maria Magdalena, ora pro nobis    Sancta Agatha, ora pro nobis    † Sancta Lucia, ora pro nobis    Sancta Agnes, ora pro nobis    Sancta Cecilia, ora pro nobis    † Sancta Catharina, ora pro nobis    Sancta Anastasia, ora pro nobis    Omnes sanctae Virgines et Viduae, orate pro nobis    Omnes Sancti et Sanctae Dei, intercedite pro nobis    Propitius esto, parce nobis, Domine    Propitius esto, exaudi nos, Domine    Ab omni malo, libera nos, Domine    Ab omni peccato, libera nos, Domine    † Ab ira tua, libera nos, Domine    † A subitanea et improvisa morte, libera nos, Domine    † Ab insidiis diaboli, libera nos, Domine    † Ab ira, et odio, et moni mala voluntate, libera nos, Domine    † A spiritu fornicationis, libera nos, Domine    † A fulgure et tempestate, libera nos, Domine    † A flagello terraemostus, libera nos, Domine    † A peste, fame et bello, libera nos, Domine    A morte perpertua, libera nos, Domine    Per mysterium sanctae Incarnationis tuae, libera nos, Domine    Per adventum tuum, libera nos, Domine    Per nativatatem tuam, libera nos, Domine    Per baptismum et sanctum jejunium tuum, libera nos, Domine    Per crucem et passionem tuam, libera nos, Domine    Per mortem et sepulturam tuam, libera nos, Domine    Per sanctam resurrectionem tuam, libera nos, Domine    Per admirabilem ascensionem tuam, libera nos, Domine    Per adventum Spiritus Sancti Paracliti, libera nos, Domine    In die judicii, libera nos, Domine    Peccatores, te rogamus, audi nos    Ut nobis parcas, te rogamus, audi nos    † Ut nobis indulgeas, te rogamus, audi nos    † Ut ad veram poenitentiam nos perducere digneris, te rogamus, audi nos    Ut Ecclesiam tuam sanctam regere et conservare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos    Ut domnum apostolicum et omnes ecclesiasticos ordines in sancta religione conservare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos    Ut inimicos sanctae Ecclesiae humiliare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos    Ut regibus et principibus christianis, pacem et veram concordiam donare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos    † Ut cuncto populo christiano pacem et unitatem largiri digneris, te rogamus, audi nos    † Ut omnes errantes ad unitatem Ecclesiae revocare, et in fideles universos ad Evangelii lumen perducere digneris, te rogamus, audi nos    Ut nosmetipsos in tuo sancto servitio confortare et conservare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos    † Ut mentes nostras ad caelestia desideria erigas, te rogamus, audi nos    Ut omnibus benefactoribus nostris sempiterna bona retribuas, te rogamus, audi nos    †Ut animas nostras, fratrum, propinquorum, et benefactorum nostrorum ab aeterna damnatione eripias, te rogamus, audi nos    Ut fructus terrae dare et conservare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos    Ut omnibus fidelibus defunctis requiem aeternam donare digneris, te rogamus, audi nos    Ut nos exaudire digneris, te rogamus, audi nos    † Fili Dei, te rogamus, audi nos    Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, parce nobis, Domine.    Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, exaudi nos, Domine.    Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.    Christe, audi nos.    Christe, exaudi nos.    Kyrie, eleison.    Christe, eleison.    Kyrie, eleison.    Pater noster . . . (secreto) V.: Et ne nos inducas in tentationem. R.: Sed libera nos a malo.

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, pray for us    Holy Mother of God, pray for us    Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us    St. Michael, pray for us    St. Gabriel, pray for us    St. Raphael, pray for us    All ye holy Angels and Archangels, pray for us    All ye holy orders of blessed Spirits, pray for us    St. John the Baptist, pray for us    St. Joseph, pray for us    All ye holy Patriarchs and Prophets, pray for us    St. Peter, pray for us    St. Paul, pray for us    St. Andrew, pray for us    † St. James, pray for us    St. John, pray for us    † St. Thomas, pray for us    † St. James, pray for us    † St. Philip, pray for us    † St. Bartholomew, pray for us    † St. Matthew, pray for us    † St. Simon, pray for us    † St. Thaddeus, pray for us    † St. Matthias, pray for us    † St. Barnabas, pray for us    † St. Luke, pray for us    † St. Mark, pray for us    All ye holy Apostles and Evangelists, pray for us    All ye holy Disciples of our Lord, pray for us    † All ye holy Innocents, pray for us    St. Stephen, pray for us    St. Lawrence, pray for us    St. Vincent, pray for us    † St. Fabian and St. Sebastian, pray for us    † St. John and St. Paul, pray for us    † St. Cosmas and St. Damian, pray for us    † St. Gervase and St. Protase, pray for us    All ye holy Martyrs, pray for us    St. Sylvester, pray for us    St. Gregory, pray for us    † St. Ambrose, pray for us    St. Augustine, pray for us    † St. Jerome, pray for us    † St. Marin, pray for us    † St. Nicholas, pray for us    All ye holy Bishops and Confessors, pray for us    All ye holy Doctors, pray for us    St. Anthony, pray for us    St. Benedict, pray for us    † St. Bernard, pray for us    St. Dominic, pray for us    St. Francis, pray for us    All ye holy Priests and Levites, pray for us    All ye holy Monks and Hermits, pray for us    St. Mary Magdalen, pray for us    St. Agatha, pray for us    † St. Lucy, pray for us    St. Agnes, pray for us    St. Cecilia, pray for us    † St. Catharine, pray for us    St. Anastasia, pray for us    All ye holy Virgins and Widows, pray for us    All ye holy Men and Women, Saints of God, pray for us    Be merciful, spare us, O Lord    Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord    From all evil, deliver us, O Lord    From all sin, deliver us, O Lord    † From Thy wrath, deliver us, O Lord    † From sudden and unprovided death, deliver us, O Lord    † From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Lord    † From anger, and hatred, and all ill will, deliver us, O Lord    † From the spirit of fornication, deliver us, O Lord    † From lightning and tempest, deliver us, O Lord    † From the scourge of earthquake, deliver us, O Lord    † From plague, famine, and war, deliver us, O Lord    From everlasting death, deliver us, O Lord    Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation, deliver us, O Lord    Through Thy coming, deliver us, O Lord    Through Thy Nativity, deliver us, O Lord    Through Thy Baptism and holy fasting, deliver us, O Lord    Through Thy Cross and Passion, deliver us, O Lord    Through Thy Death and Burial, deliver us, O Lord    Through Thy holy Resurrection, deliver us, O Lord    Through Thy wonderful Ascension, deliver us, O Lord    Through the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, deliver us, O Lord    In the day of judgment, deliver us, O Lord    We sinners, beseech Thee, to hear us    That Thou wouldst spare us, we beseech Thee, to hear us    † That Thou wouldst pardon us, we beseech Thee, to hear us    † That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance, we beseech Thee, to hear us    That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all orders of the Church in holy religion, we beseech Thee, to hear us    That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church, we beseech Thee, to hear us    That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes, we beseech Thee, to hear us    † That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and unity to all Christian People., we beseech Thee, to hear us    † That Thou wouldst restore to the unity of the Church all who have strayed from the truth, and lead all unbelievers to the light of the Gospel, we beseech Thee, to hear us    That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service, we beseech Thee, to hear us    † That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires, we beseech Thee, to hear us    That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors, we beseech Thee, to hear us    † That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations, and benefactors from eternal damnation, we beseech Thee, to hear us    That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we beseech Thee, to hear us    That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, we beseech Thee, to hear us    That Thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us, we beseech Thee, to hear us    Son of God, we beseech Thee, to hear us    Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.    Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.    Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.    Christ, hear us.    Christ, graciously hear us.    Lord, have mercy on us.    Christ, have mercy on us.    Lord, have mercy on us.    Our Father . . . (secretly) V.: And lead us not into temptation. R.: But deliver us from evil.

PSALM 69 ¤ O GOD MAKE HASTE TO HELP OUR SOUL

Deus, in adjutorium meum intende: * Domine: ad adjuvandum me festina.    Confundantur et revereantur, * qui quaerunt animam meam:    Avertantur retrorsum, et erubescant, * qui volunt mihi mala:    Avertantur statim erubescentes, * qui dicunt mihi: Euge, euge.    Exsultent et laetentur in te omnes qui quaerunt te, * et dicant semper: Magnificetur Dominus: qui diligunt salutare tuum.    Ego vero egenus, et pauper sum: * Deus, adjuva me.    Adjutor meus, et liberator meus es tu: * Domine, ne moreris.    Gloria Patri, et Filio, * et Spiritui Sancto.    Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, * et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.    V.: Salvos fac servos tuos.    R.: Deus meus, sperantes in te.    V.: Esto nobis, Domine, turris fortitudinis.    R.: A facie inimici.    V.: Nihil proficiat inimicus in nobis.    R.: Et filius iniquitatis non apponat nocere nobis.    V.: Domine, non secundum peccata nostra facias nobis.    R.: Neque secundum iniquitates nostras retribuas nobis.    V.: Oremus pro Pontifice nostro N...    R.: Dominus conservet eum, et vivifice eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum ejus.    V.: Oremus pro benefactoribus nostris    R.: Retribuere dignare Domine, omnibus nobis bona facentibus propter nomen tuum vitam aeternam. Amen.    V.: Oremus pro fidelibus defunctis.    R.: Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.    V.: Requiescant in pace.    R.: Amen.    V.: Pro fratribus nostris absentibus.    R.: Salvos fac servos tuos, Deus meus, sperantes in te.    V.: Mitte eis, Domine, auxilium de sancto.    R.: Et de Sion tuere eos.    V.: Domine, exaudi orationem meam.    R.: Et clamor meus ad te veniat.    V.: Dominus vobiscum.    R.: Et cum spiritu tuo.

O God, come to my assistance: O Lord, make haste to help me.    Let them be ashamed and confounded, that seek after my soul.    Let them be turned backward and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.    Let them be turned back with shame, that say unto me, Aha, aha.    Let all those that seek Thee be joyful and glad in Thee, and let such as love Thy salvation say continually: Let the Lord be magnified.    But I am poor and needy: help me, O God.    Thou art my helper and my deliverer: O Lord, make no delay.    Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.    As it was in the beginning, and now, and ever, and to the age of ages. Amen.    V.: Save Thy servants.    R.: Who hope in Thee, O my God.    V.: Be unto us, O Lord, a tower of strength.    R.: From the face of the enemy.    V.: Let not the enemy prevail against us.    R.: Nor the son of wickedness have power to hurt us.    V.: O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins.    R.: Neither requite us according to our iniquities.    V.: Let us pray for our Sovereign Pontiff N...    R.: The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.    V.: Let us pray for our benefactors.    R.: Vouchsafe, O Lord, for Thy Name's sake, to reward with eternal life all those who do us good, Amen.    V.: Let us pray for the faithful departed.    R.: Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.    V.: May they rest in peace.    R.: Amen.    V.: For our absent brethren.    R.: Save Thy servants, who hope in Thee, O my God.    V.: Send them help, O Lord, from the holy place.    R.: And from Sion protect them.    V.: O Lord, hear my prayer.    R.: And let my cry come unto Thee.    V.: The Lord be with you.    R.: And with Thy spirit.

   Let us pray. -- O God, whose property is always to have pity and to spare, receive our humble petition: that we, and all Thy servants who are bound by the chains of sin, may by the compassion of Thy goodness mercifully be absolved.
   Graciously hear, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the prayers of Thy suppliants, and pardon the sins of them that confess to Thee: that, in Thy bounty, Thou mayest grant us both pardon and peace.
   In Thy clemency, O Lord, show unto us Thine unspeakable mercy: that Thou mayest both loose us from all our sins, and deliver us from the punishments which we deserve for them.
   O God, who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy people making supplication to Thee, and turn away the scourges of Thine anger, which we deserve for our sins.
   Almighty, everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant N., our Sovereign Pontiff, and direct him according to Thy clemency into the way of everlasting salvation, that by Thy grace he may both desire those things that are pleasing to Thee, and perform them with all his strength.
   O God, from whom are holy desires, right counsels, and just works, give to Thy servants that peace which the world cannot give: that our hearts being devoted to the keeping of Thy commandments, and the fear of enemies being removed, the times, by Thy protection, may be peaceful.
   Inflame, O Lord, our reins and hearts with the fires of the Holy Ghost: that we may serve Thee with a chaste body and please Thee with a clean heart.
   O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, give to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins: that through devout supplications they may obtain the pardon which they have always desired.
   Direct, we beseech Thee, O Lord, our actions by Thy holy inspirations, and carry them on by Thy gracious assistance: that every prayer and work of ours may begin always from Thee, and through Thee may be happily ended.
   Almighty, everlasting God, who hast dominion over the living and the dead, and art merciful to all, of whom Thou foreknowest that they will be Thine by faith and good works: we humbly beseech Thee, that they for whom we intend to pour forth our prayers, whether this present world still detain them in the flesh, or the world to come hath already received them out of their bodies, may, through the intercession of all Thy Saints, by the clemency of Thy goodness, obtain the remission of all their sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth . . .

R.: Amen.    V.: Dominus vobiscum.    R.: Et cum spiritu tuo.    V.: Exaudiat nos omnipotens et misericors Dominus.    R.: Amen.    V.: Et fidelium animae per misericordiam Dei requiescant in pace.    R.: Amen.

R.: Amen.    V.: The Lord be with you.    R.: And with thy spirit.    V.: May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us.    R.: Amen.    V.: And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.    R.: Amen.

+++
I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence help shall come to me. My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. May he not suffer thy foot to be moved: neither let him slumber that keepeth thee. Behold he shall neither slumber nor sleep, that keepeth Israel. The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy protection upon thy right hand.

The sun shall not burn thee by day: nor the moon by night. The Lord keepeth thee from all evil: may the Lord keep thy soul. May the Lord keep thy coming in and thy going out; from henceforth now and for ever.
Psalm 120

+++
Saint Rita of Cascia, pray for us.
Our Lady, Help of Christians, pray for us.