Saturday, March 16, 2024

Prayers Every Catholic Should Memorize?


From  

Catholic Vote - 


Shelby Bland on March 15, 2024


Prayers Every Catholic Should Memorize


Almost all of us know some rote prayers. The one we pray before taking a road trip asking our guardian angels to watch over us. Or the one we pray during Mass as we join our voices with the rest of the congregation, asking the Father to forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.

But those prayers only scratch the surface!

How many prayers do we actually know by heart? Likely fewer than we think. CatholicVote has compiled a list of prayers you may be familiar with but not really know. We challenge you to memorize these prayers as we all strive to pray without ceasing.

The ‘Memorare’


Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

The Jesus Prayer


Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner

Morning Offering


O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart; the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, the reunion of Christians; and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.

St. Michael Prayer


St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.

Eternal Rest


Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. Amen.

Hail Holy Queen


Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O most holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Anima Christi


Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within your wounds hide me.
Never permit me to be parted from you.
From the evil Enemy defend me.
At the hour of my death call me
and bid me come to you,
that with your Saints I may praise you
for age upon age.
Amen.

Nicene Creed


I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Apostles’ Creed


I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.

Pax et bonum

Monday, March 11, 2024

Christian Movie Awards


The Academy Awards were last night. I didn't watch. To be honest, I didn't care as I had seen none of the nominated films. Plus, the program tends to run late, tends to be overly political, and tends to be kind of boring.

When I go to the movies, I prefer ones reflecting Christian values or with uplifting themes, like Sound of Freedom or The Blind.

But I was curious if there were any organizations that give awards for the kinds of movies I actually watch and enjoy.

A quick search online surfaced the Crown Awards of International Christian Visual Media.

Among the 2023 winners were:

Best Picture Sound of Freedom

Best Theatrical Release Gold Crown Award Sound of Freedom

Best Evangelistic Film Gold Crown Award Jesus Revolution

Best Actor Female Gold Crown Winner Anna Grace Barlow as Cathe in Jesus Revolution

Best Actor Male Gold Crown Winner Jonathan Roumie as Lonnie in Jesus Revolution

I actually saw both Sound of Freedom and Jesus Revolution!

The other 2023 winners and nominees can be found here.

Curious, I looked back at some of the earlier best movies.

2022: Sight
2021: Sabina - Tortured for Christ, The Nazi Years
2020: When We Last Spoke
2019: The Least of These: The Graham Staines Story
2018: The Case for Christ
2017  Because of Gracia

Okay, I have to confess I'm not familiar with these previous winners. 

But it is nice to know producers of movies and television with Christian themes can actually get some recognition. 

Pax et bonum

Friday, March 8, 2024

Dickens Goal Met



I just finished The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens, hence completing my goal of reading at least one Dickens book this year.

I enjoyed the book, and now I finally know all about Nell, the public reaction to whose death had become almost legendary.

I could tell it was an earlier Dickens, but it was still a good read. Some memorable characters, and quite a few plot twists.

I might read another Dickens this year, but right now I have other reading goals to meet.

Just taking a break for some lighter fictional fare.

Pax et bonum

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Santa's Diary Progress


Now up to more than 28,000 in my Santa book. The latest entries involve dwarfs.

And I'm up to March 15. 

Pleased ... but I need to focus more on it.

I came across someone who had a challenge of a thousand words a day. Yikes. I would fail that challenged.

In other writing news, submitted three haiku to a contest. Well see.

Pax et bonum

Thursday, February 29, 2024

I'm Not Erma Bombeck


Back in my youth the local newspaper would have two pages of editorials, columns, political cartoons, and letters to the editor. I devoured those pages - particularly the columns. My two favorite columnists Sydney Harris and Art Buchwald. Alas, those days are gone - as are they.

One very popular columnist during those days was Erma Bombeck, though her columns were often put in the feature pages. I'll be honest; as a young man, I was not as interested in columns about being a housewife, raising children, living in the suburbs, losing socks, and so on. But I did read her occasionally, and appreciated her talent and sense of humor.

I recently came across an article about her, and I read a few of her collected columns

They reminded me of some of my own parenting experiences with three daughters.

The time youngest daughters decided to create a snowstorm using baby powder in the nursery. We were finding powder in books, clothes, and the ceiling light for weeks after.

Or the time the girls were taking a bath together and youngest daughter pooped in the tub. Oldest daughter scaled the side of the tub like a screaming spider.

Or the time at Mass oldest daughter needed a diaper change and discovering that we'd forgotten to resupply the diapers in the diaper bag, so she finished the Mass wearing my handkerchief.

Or the many grammar school concerts when some of the musicians actually hit the intended notes.

Or the many cold, snowy nights Christmas caroling door-to-door with their Girl Scout troop.

Or telling them every night a bedtime story (The Trunk Story) I was making up with them as characters, borrowing liberally from every children's book and myth I'd ever read or heard. 

Or the many nights long after bed time growling up the stairs, "I can hear you."

Or the even more middle-of-the-nights holding a crying child while rocking and rocking and sleepily singing "Hush little baby, don't say a word...." 

Or the other many moments of raising three daughters, now grown women living in their own homes.

Looking back, I realize I had had plenty of material for writing could have written columns like Bombeck's, only from the dad's point of view. Alas, I didn't I wasn't Erma. 

Oh, I could still write columns today about having an empty nest, or growing older, or deaing with a new-fangled technical world. Car problems. Dental woes. Noisy neighbors. Realizing the Golden Oldies station is playing songs I used (and sometimes still do) own. Finding all the craft projects and home-made cards created for Father's Day. Being on hold and listening to the same endless tune. Dog adventures while walking around the neighborhood. 

And then, there's always missing socks.  

Pax et bonum