Prayer Request

Please keep Senator Ted Kennedy (D) of Massachusetts in your prayers. He has just been diagnosed with brain cancer. He may have anywhere from a few months to a few years to live. He is in great need of our Mother of Perpetual Help.

I know that many Catholics have difficulty with Senator Kennedy because some of his political positions are contrary to Church teaching. Do consider that he is elected to represent a constituency. This puts him between the proverbial rock and hard place. As a politician he must accurately work for the concerns of those whom he represents. As a Catholic he must accept the teaching of the Church. In a perfect world these two facets would not be in opposition. We do not live in a perfect world. And none of us are privy to the struggles of conscience he or any politician must endure in such a situation. So I ask that you not comment on his political or moral positions. Should that happen I will close the comment boxes. This is strictly a devotional blog.

If people offer prayerful support either through the the comment box or the guest book I will transcribe them and forward them to the senator.

Fr. Scott Bailey, C.Ss.R.

May Devotions

At our affiliated blog, Evening Devotions, you will find a daily reflection for the Month of May taken from the Glories of Mary by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori. Please pass this information on to your families and friends as a wonderful way to honor our Blessed Lady during the monthe dedicated to her.

Hymn to Our Mother of Perpetual Succour (Help)

Mary from Thy sacred image, With those eyes so sadly sweet,
Mother of Perpetual Succour See us kneeling at Thy feet.
In Thine arms Thy Child Thou bearest, Source of all Thy joy and woe;
What Thy bliss, how deep Thy sorrows, Mother, Thou Alone canst know.

On Thy face He is not gazing, Nor on us is turned His glance,
For His anxious look He fixes On the Cross, and reed and lance.
To Thy hand His hands are clinging, As a child would cling in fear;
Of that vision of the torment, Of His passion drawing near.

And for Him Thine eyes are pleading, While to us they look and cry,
"Sinners, see My Child, your Saviour, Who for love of you will die!"
Yes, we hear Thy words, sweet Mother But poor sinners we are weak;
At Thy feet Thy helpless children, Thy perpetual succour seek.

Succour us when stormy passions Sudden rise within the heart;
Quell the tempest, calm the billows, Peace secure to us impart.
Through this life of weary exile, Succour us in every need;
And when death shall come to free us, Succour us, ah, then indeed!

Easter Wednesday

The Angel cried to the Lady full of grace: "Rejoice, rejoice of pure Virgin. And again I say, rejoice! On the third day your Son is risen from the tomb, and He has raised up the dead!"

Be glad, O you people! Shine! Shine, O new Jerusalem!

Ode 9 of Resurrection Matins, Eastern Rite Liturgy

Easter Sunday

ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Regina coeli, laetare, alleluja!
Quia quem meruisti portare, alleluja!
Resurrexit, sicut dixit, alleluja!
Ora pro nobis Deum, alleluja!

R. Gaude et lFtare, Virgo Maria, alleluja!
V. Quia surrexit Dominus vere, alleluja!

Oremus.

Deus, qui per resurrectionem Filii tui, Domini nostri Jesu Christi, mundum laetificare dignatus es; praesta, quaesumus; ut, per ejus Genitricem Virginem Mariam, perpetuae capiamus gaudia vitae. Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

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O Queen of Heaven, be joyful, Alleluia!

For the Son whom thou didst merit to bear, Alleluia!

Has Risen as He promised, Alleluia!

Pray to God for us, Alleluia!

R. Rejoice and be glad, Virgin Mary, Alleluia!

V. For the Lord is truly risen, Alleluia!

Let us Pray.

O God, who by the resurrection of thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ has brought joy to the world, grant, we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Throught the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Lady in Desolation

Be sure to spend some time today with Mary, reflecting on how she suffered the death and burial of her only Son.

Requiscat In Pace

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Archbishop Paulo Faraj Rahho of Mosul, Iraq. As reported on Asia News: The Chaldean archbishop of Mosul is dead. Archbishop Faraj Rahho was kidnapped last February 29 after the Stations of the Cross. His kidnappers have given word of his death, indicating to the mediators where they could recover the body of the 67-year-old prelate.

May the Angles lead him to paradise, may the martyrs come to welcome him and take him to the Holy City, the new and eternal Jerusalem.