Happy Thanksgiving

Father, all of Creation rightly owes you thanks and praise.

Your justice, love and mercy abound.

We thank you this day for all that you have given us:

For the Passion and Death of your Divine Son,

we thank you Father,

through the Cross, He redeemed the world.

For the Church,

we thank you Father,

it is our beacon for salvation.

For the martyrs and saints who give testimony to your Son,

we thank you Father,

their witness to your Son is our inheritance.

For our loved ones and friends who have died and gone before us,

we thank you Father,

their love abides with us forever.

For loving spouses,

we thank you Father,

together we seek you.

For the gift of children,

we thank you Father,

they are your precious gifts to us and to the world.

For the gift of our families, loved ones and good friends,

we thank you Father,

Through them we see the reflection of your Son.

For jobs, our homes and all that we have,

we thank you Father,

give us only that which we need, as we seek Your Kingdom.

For the bounty we are about to eat,

we thank you through Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

[prayer source]

Appreciation

Hubby spent one night vomitting once an hour, and now he thinks I'm Superwoman. Even though I felt really bad for him (and I wanted him to get better soon), it felt nice that he gained some appreciation for what I went through. After all, this is a guy who I've known to have one other spell like this in the sixteen years we've been together (13 of them married).

Children's Books Meme

I saw this over at My Domestic Church, and though I wasn't tagged, I decided to give it a whirl.

How many have you read? (bolded are ones I've read, + and - denote exceptional feelings about the books one way or the other)

1. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White (Well, I'm in the middle of it now, anyway.)

2. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg +

3. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss +

4. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss +

5. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

6. Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch ----- (This book creeps me out!!)

7. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein +++++

8. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

9. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

10. The Mitten by Jan Brett

11. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown +

12. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

13. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis +

14. Where the Sidewalk Ends: the Poems and Drawing of Shel Silverstein by Shel Silverstein

15. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

16. Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

17. Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss

18. Strega Nona by Tomie De Paola

19. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst +

20. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin, Jr.

21. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

22. The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams +

23. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle +

24. Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

25. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss +

26. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

27. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by John Archambault

28. Little House on the Prarie by Laura Ingalls Wilder +

29. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

30. The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne +

31. The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner

32. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan

33. Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

34. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

35. Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

36. The BFG by Roald Dahl

37. The Giver by Lois Lowry

38. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff

39. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

40. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder +

41. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

42. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien +

43. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

44. Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner

45. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry +

46. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien

47. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

48. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister -

49. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

50. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson ++

51. Corduroy by Don Freeman

52. Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg

53. Math Curse by Jon Scieszka

54. Matilda by Roald Dahl

55. Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls

56. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

57. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

58. The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White

59. Are You My Mother? by Philip D. Eastman

60. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis

61. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

62. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss

63. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

64. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

65. The Napping House by Audrey Wood (**Maybe??**)

66. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig

67. The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter +

68. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

69. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

70. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

71. Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss

72. Basil of Baker Street, by Eve Titus

73. The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

74. The Cay by Theodore Taylor

75. Curious George by Hans Augusto Rey

76. Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox

77. Arthur series by Marc Tolon Brown

78. The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson

79. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

80. Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder

81. The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton

82. The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown +++ (My favorite picture in this book is the one where she is the tree that he comes home to.)

83. Sideways Storiesfrom Wayside School by Louis Sachar

84. Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish

85. Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

86. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

87. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater

88. My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett

89. Stuart Little by E. B. White

90. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

91. The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

92. The Art Lesson by Tomie De Paola

93. Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

94. Clifford, the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell

95. Heidi by Johanna Spyri

96. Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss

97. The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare

98. The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

99. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney +

100. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch

That's quite a few, huh? And I actually own a couple of books on that list that I haven't read yet.

What's for Thanksgiving Dinner This Year?

This year, Hubby told me that his brother and family are coming for a visit on Thanksgiving. Hooray! More people to cook for! I might have never mentioned it, but I love to cook. It's just the clean-up that I could do without. In spite of that, I've been much more adventurous in my selections lately, in part thanks to my sister, who gave me five Weight Watchers cookbooks when I last visited sunny Florida.

So, what's for dinner this year? Well, thanks to several low-fat cookbooks, I've got a fairly decent menu filled with mostly good dieters' food. No, I'm not really dieting (though I could stand to lose about eight pounds to get back to my goal weight from Weight Watchers), but I do want to maintain the figure I worked so hard to get back. So I use a lot of light cooking recipes.

This year, I'm making a turkey (19 1/2 pounds) with stuffing (in the bird - it hasn't killed me yet, you know). The stuffing is my father's recipe, or as close as we can get to it considering he never wrote it down. While boiling the onions, etc., I add the spices that he recalls putting in until it smells like his stuffing. Then I add that to the bread that I dice up on Wednesday night.

In addition to the turkey, I'm making mashed sweet potatoes (third year), garlic mashed potatoes (first time, Weight Watchers' recipe), green bean casserole (first time in years, trying another Weight Watchers' recipe), rolls (Pillsbury low-fat crescents), and some kind of apple-pie-like dessert. The dessert is either a straight-out apple pie recipe off the pie crust box or an apple crisp recipe that I made last year from my Fix It and Forget It Lightly cookbook (a crockpot recipe collection). I haven't decided, but I know I have enough of everything to make either.

For breakfast on Friday, I'm making an overnight egg bake from Weight Watchers. (I am still working on what penance I'll do instead of meatless Friday this week. I have a neat story about that, too, if I remember to write about it.)

For now, I'm off to the store to get a few things, but I might try to put some of the recipes up. In spite of what some people think, most of the low-fat recipes I've encountered have been delicious. In fact, if I don't tell anyone, they typically don't know. One thing is for sure: if it doesn't taste about the same as a regular, high-fat recipe, I won't make it a second time. My tendancy towards gluttony (oh, how I love food!) makes me pretty picky about how things taste. My general opinion is that if it doesn't have flavor enough, I don't want to put it in my mouth. God did give me tastebuds for a reason, you know!

Recipes and a timetable are forthcoming. (The timetable is mostly because I need it, but also because Hubby is currently battling some stomach virus that had him up all night, and Big Girl is feeling queasy today. I am PRAYING that I don't come down with it, especially on Thanksgiving, when I have a houseful of people and a ton of food to cook! Please pray for our family to be healthy in time for our visitors!)

Pre-Christ the King Carnival

Onionboy's got a terrific Carnival put together, and this week has a bonus section of strange submissions he received.

But it looks like it has a wealth of great posts. There are posts on Sir Elton "Religion is Evil" John, Jesus and the ten lepers, some Catholic perspective on The Purpose Driven Life (I'll be checking that out, for sure!), the purpose of the Vatican, and even a terrific post on the Mass that echoes much of how I feel about Mass in the vernacular. I even managed two posts this week.

All in all, a great Carnival (as usual).




[picture source]

Question for the Smarty-Pants Types

Suppose you go to Mass, and you feel queasy. Later, after receiving Communion, you wind up getting sick.

What happens if you throw up before you have completely digested the Eucharist?

This isn't something I'd thought about before, but it has come up (if you'll pardon the expression) this evening.

Just curious...leave answers in the com boxes if you have them. Thanks in advance.

Amazing Video

The girls and I are going to actually pop a water balloon after seeing this. They think this is VERY cool.

Okay, so do I.

slow motion water bollon pop

Add to My Profile | More Videos

(Click here if that didn't work for you.)

Head over here to make one of your own.

Nutritional Information

Ironic Catholic (actually, the Spouse of Ironic Catholic - sic) has the new FDA-approved nutritional label for the Most Blessed Sacrament.

Very clever!

Scarlet and Gray Carnival

It's time once again! The penultimate Carnival for the Liturgical Year is up at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering, so go check it out!

Here Comes the DVD

But Insight Scoop has a lot of information to help you set the record straight. Lots of people who have been waiting will be seeing The DaVinci Code soon. Head over here to get the goods on the Truth!

'Tis the Season...

...for griping about "holidays."

First off, I wasn't planning on discussing the holiday season until we were into Advent. I won't take a serious look at Christmas stuff until then. A big exception is the gigantic, gorgeous, wishing-I-had-$400-to-spend-on-nothing Creche scene that Sam's club is carrying this year. It's not light-up - it's resin - and it is absolutely one of the prettiest non-Fontanini Nativity sets I've seen. But, alas, I havne't got that kind of money to spend.

Oh, yeah, back on topic.

So, I wasn't thinking much about revisiting the big "Holdiay versus Christmas" war for a while, but the griping is already starting.

Some people are refusing to shop where the employees have been instructed not to say "Merry Christmas" to customers. For example, last year, lots of people boycotted Wal Mart because of it. I'll tell you this: I was wished Merry Christmas nearly every time I went to Wal Mart. Why? Because when I was given a "Happy Holidays" by the associate, I smiled warmly and with a cheery voice and love in my heart for her, I said, "Thank you. Merry Christmas." Almost every time (and this went for other stores, too), I was given the same wish back. Did I get my panties in a knot over it? Certainly not! What's the point? The employees of these stores have no control over it, and they are merely following orders not to say it first.

If you've never worked in retail, especially during the Christmas shopping season, you have no idea how really difficult it is. If you are a happy Christmas shopper (like me), you have no clue how truly nasty some people are while looking for gifts for their loved ones. Apparently, it's a chore for them! "I have to get X, Y, and Z for little Jimmy for Christmas because he asked for it all." Golly, just that attitude is a whole different post! (Check back for updates on it! LOL)

But when it comes to us Christians, out shopping for Christmas presents, why are we so concerned about whether or not someone wishes us Merry Christmas as opposed to Happy Holidays? After all, the word holiday comes from "holy day," and we all know which Holy Day of Obligation they are all alluding to, don't we?

On one hand, Christians are busy complaining about the commercialization of Christmas. "It's Jesus' birthday!" we cry. "And the stores are treating it like just another reason to have a sale. Plus, they put up Christmas trees in mid-October, for goodness' sake!"

But on the other hand, while we are out partaking of the absolutely killer sales, shopping to our hearts' content, snapping up gift after gift for our families and friends, we get annoyed that the sales are not labeled as directly related to Jesus' birthday.

Does that make sense?

Think, for a moment, about the Grinch That Stole Christmas. No, not the Jim Carrey, look-into-his-childhood-to-find-that-the-Whos-caused-his-grinchiness version. The original. The one that reminded us that it's not the presents that make Christmas. Do your kids honestly know that? Suppose there were no presents at all this year. Would Christmas be the same?

And, if not - even if it would be only a little different ... even if the kids would only briefly wonder what the deal is - why not? Could it be because the same Christians who complain about the commercialization of the birth of our Savior while also complaining that the birth of our Savior is not tied closely enough with the sale going on a Sears have also bought into the whole secular deal of Christmas?

And I'm not saying that I'm immune, people. Trust me, I make sure we all get presents for Christmas.

But what is our true focus as we approach Christmas? What is our focus as we enter into Advent? Do we use the season to repent and mend our lives, as we are admonished to do at Mass? Is Advent a mirror of Lent for us?

Or is it a month-long shopping spree where we all get together with our Christian friends and complain that Best Buy won't remind us of Jesus when we buy that plasma TV?

Computer Trouble

Our new desktop (well, new in February) would not power on yesterday. No fan, no beep, nothing. Just a blinking orange light on the power button.

So I spent more than two hours chatting on my laptop with Dell. (Which was strange, because my laptop is a Gateway!)

My power supply is kaput, and they will be coming here to fix it up for me ASAP. And, thank God, it's all covered under warranty.

So blogging will be VERY light until that happens. Which is a good thing, really. I need to do more around the house anyway.

The Lies of Those Against the Marriage Amendment UPDATED

I hope that people see through the lies. On one hand, they are saying that we don't need the amendment. Same-sex marriage is already against the law here. On the other hand, they are saying that there will be lawsuits and "unintended consequences" because the amendment will change everything.

Make up your mind, people. You can't really have it both ways.

Of course, the reason we are pushing for the amendment is because even if we already have a law that bans homosexual marriage, it won't stop the courts from forcing the homosexual agenda on the rest of us.

Please continue to pray for the outcomes of the elections. God's will be done!

UPDATE #1:

With 25% of the votes tallied, we have a 56% YES vote and 44% NO vote. We are tracking for a win on this one, so keep praying!

Shoulda given you this:

Go here for updates on this amendment.

Go here for all Virginia races. (Sen. Allen is 1% behind right now with 37% of polls reporting.)

UPDATE #2:

Thank You, God!

As of 10:26 p.m., according to the above link:

Constitutional Amendment Define Marriage

Precincts Reporting: 90%

..........................Votes.............Vote %
X....Yes............1,177,512...........58%
........No.............853,716...........42%

(In other words, the Marriage Amendment has passed!)

Praying for Things Passed

Esther has a terrific post up about Saint Padre Pio that contains a wonderful explanation of how we can pray for things in the past. Today, when you pray about the election, it matters not if you are in, say, Hawaii, and the polls are already getting ready to close in Maine or Virginia. You can still pray about the outcome of the elections. Here's a snippet from the post that explains why, but I highly recommend heading over to read the whole article:

The doctor knew that some time had passed since he had received the letter and the girl was at death’s door. He was perplexed by Padre Pio’s assurance that all was done, that the request for prayer would work.

Padre Pio continued, "Maybe you don't know that I can pray even now for the happy death of my great-grandfather."

"But he has been dead for many, many years," replied the doctor."

I know that too,” said Padre Pio. "Let me explain by giving you an example. You and I both die, and through the good fortune and the goodness and mercy of the Lord we are obliged to stay in purgatory for 100 years. During these years nobody prays for us or has a Mass offered for the release of our souls. The 100 years pass and somebody thinks of Padre Pio and the good doctor and has Masses offered. For the Lord, the past does not exist; the future does not exist. Everything is an eternal present. Those prayers had already been taken into account so that even now I can pray for the happy death of my great-grandfather! Do you really think the Lord needs our bureaucracy-- that somebody has to ask for a grace on a piece of paper and bring it to Padre Pio?"

The important moral is that we should always pray for the deceased, even those who have died many years ago, because for God there is neither a past nor a future, but all as one eternal present.

Please remember this as you pray for our country in today's elections.

Catholic Carnival: Election Day Edition

Today is Election Day. Once your vote is secured, take a look at this week's Catholic Carnival, which is being hosted by ...and if not... this week. There are lots of great-looking posts this week.

And don't forget to pray for the election today! Fast, too, if you can!

Miracle?

Santo Subito!

Building a Culture of Life in the Voting Booth

On November 7, we will all have the opportunity to cast votes for various offices. It is our opportunity as Christians to work to build a Culture of Life. It is not about political parties, it's about the Right to Life. In some states, including Virginia, people also have the opportunity to vote on amendments to state constitutions that will define marriage as being between one man and one woman. Believe it or not, this amendment is getting resistance even from some clergy. One "Christian" church in the area has a great, big sign on top of their building encouraging people to vote AGAINST the marriage amendment on Tuesday, and at the parish where the girls and I attended All Souls' Day Mass, the priest was upset because he said that another priest in town told him that he did not support the amendment because it is discriminatory.

This election is very important, especially for people who live in states like South Dakota, Missouri, California, Oregon, Virginia, as well as a number of other states. Eight states are going to vote on constitutional amendments to protect marriage from the judiciary system (which is the only way homosexuals are getting their demands met), South Dakota is voting on a total ban on abortion (which, if passed, will be challenged by the very groups that asked for the referrendum - the pro-abortion lobby), and Missouri is voting on an amendment that, if passed, will enshrine clone-and-kill research in their constitution. Missouri is also being lied to by those who are pushing that amendment. Rebecca at Mary Meets Dolly has all the latest on that, and her site is an excellent resource on the issue.

If you're like me, there is no one you know who is not voting pro-life and pro-marriage in this election. So what else can you do?

Well, I was listening to Father Pavone on Friday night give the homily at the daily Mass on EWTN. He talked about fasting and praying. To me, that sounds like an excellent idea. And so that is what I'll be doing. A few people close to me will know (my kids will wonder why I'm not eating if I don't tell them ahead of time), but I'll mainly keep it secret. But I'll also attend Mass and pray there, too. Please join me. Even if you aren't Catholic and won't be attending Mass with me, you can still fast and pray.

Building the Culture of Life is a slow, greuling, painful process. But our sufferings along the way can be efficatious if we join them to Christ's sufferings on the Cross and offer them up for the benefit of the world and all mankind. We mustn't lose hope. We know who wins in the end!

Our country is fighting a great spiritual battle, and the only way we will be victorious is through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Storm heaven with prayers! Invoke the intercession of the saints! Ask everyone you know to pray for us all!

Thank you and God bless you!

Sister Mary Martha

...explains Purgatory and All Souls' Day.

And reminds me to offer it up.

[picture source]

I'm a Potato Head!

Hat tip to Christina for the quiz.

What Type of Homeschooler Are You?

Mr. Potato Head
You have your ideal of how things should look, but youre flexible enough to allow for change. You are not bothered by changing methods, mid-course if necessary. You use an eclectic combination of curriculum sources. Visit my blog: http://www.GuiltFreeHomeschooling.blogspot.com
Take this quiz!








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Looking for a Latin Litany?

Head here. You can buy the CD of it.



This is the Litany that was sung at Pope John Paul II's funeral. (Man, I hope someone buys that DVD for me for Christmas!) An English translation is here.



V. Kyrie, eléison.

R. Christe, eléison.

V. Kyrie, eléison.


V. Christe, audi nos.

R. Christe, exáudi nos.


V. Pater de cælis, Deus.

R. Miserére nobis.


V. Fili, Redémptor mundi, Deus.

R. Miserére nobis.


V. Spíritus Sancte, Deus.

R. Miserére nobis.


V. Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus.

R. Miserére nobis.


V. Sancta Maria.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancta Dei Genitrix.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancta Virgo vírginum.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Michael.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Gabriel.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Raphael.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Omnes sancti Angeli et Archangeli.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Omnes sancti beatórum Spirituum ordines.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Sancte Joánnes Bapista.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Joseph.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Omnes sancti Patriarchæ et Prophetæ.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Sancte Petre.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Paule.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Andrea.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Jacobe.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Joánnes.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Thoma.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Jacobe.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Philippe.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Bartholomæe.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Matthæe.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Simon.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Thaddæe.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Matthia.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Barnaba.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Luca.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Marce.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Omnes sancti Apóstoli et Evangelistæ.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Omnes sancti Discipuli Dómini.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Omnes sancti Innocéntes.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Sancte Stephane.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Laurenti.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Vincenti.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancti Fabiane et Sebastiane.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Sancti Joánnes et Paule.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Sancti Cosma et Damiane.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Sancti Gervasi et Protasi.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Omnes sancti Mártyres.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Sancte Silvester.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Gregóri.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Ambrosi.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Augustine.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Hieronyme.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Martine.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Nicolaë.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Omnes sancti Pontifices et Confessores.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Omnes sancti Doctores.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Sancte Antoni.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Benedicte.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Bernarde.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Dominice.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancte Francisce.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Omnes sancti Sacerdotes et Levitæ.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Omnes sancti Monachi et Eremitæ.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Sancta Maria Magdalena.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancta Agatha.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancta Lucia.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancta Agnes.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancta Cæcilia.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancta Catharina.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Sancta Anastasia.

R. Ora pro nobis.


V. Omnes sanctæ Virgines et Viduæ.

R. Orate pro nobis.


V. Omnes Sancti et Sanctæ Dei.

R. Intercédite pro nobis.


V. Propitius esto.

R. Parce nobis, Dómine.


V. Propitius esto.

R. Exáudi nos, Dómine.


V. Ab omni malo.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Ab omni peccáto.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Ab ira tua.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. A subitanea et improvisa morte.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Ab insídiis diaboli.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Ab ira, et ódio, et omni mala voluntáte.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. A spíritu fornicatiónis.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. A fulgure et tempestate.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. A flagello terræmotus.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. A peste, fame et bello.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. A morte perpetua.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Per mystérium sanctæ Incarnatiónis tuæ.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Per advéntum tuum.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Per nativitátem tuam.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Per baptismum et sanctum jejunium tuum.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Per crucem et passiónem tuam.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Per mortem et sepultúram tuam.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Per sanctam resurrectiónem tuam.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Per admirábilem ascensiónem tuam.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Per advéntum Spíritus Sancti Paracliti.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. In die judicii.

R. Libera nos, Dómine.


V. Peccátores.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut nobis parcas.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut nobis indulgeas.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut ad veram pœniténtiam nos perducere dignéris.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut Ecclésiam tuam sanctam regere et conservare dignéris.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut domnum Apostolicum et omnes ecclésiasticos ordines in sancta religióne conservare dignéris.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut inimícos sanctæ Ecclésiæ humiliare dignéris.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut regibus et principibus christiánis pacem et veram concordiam donare dignéris.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut cuncto pópulo christiáno pacem et unitátem largiri dignéris.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut omnes errántes ad unitátem Ecclésiæ revocare, et infidéles universos ad Evangelii lumen perducere dignéris.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut nosmetipsos in tuo sancto servítio confortare et conservare dignéris.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut mentes nostras ad cælestia desideria erigas.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut ómnibus benefactoribus nostris sempiterna bona retríbuas.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut ánimas nostras, fratrum, propinquorum et benefactórum nostrórum ab æterna damnatióne erípias.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut fructus terræ dare et conservare dignéris.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut ómnibus fidelibus defunctis requiem æternam donare dignéris.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Ut nos exáudire dignéris.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Fili Dei.

R. Te rogamus, audi nos.


V. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi.

R. Parce nobis, Dómine.
V. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi.

R. Exáudi nos, Dómine.
V. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi.

R. Miserére nobis.


V. Christe, audi nos.

R. Christe, exáudi nos.
V. Kyrie, eléison.

R. Christe, eléison.



Kyrie, eléison.


Pater noster. secreto usque ad



V. Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem.

R. Sed líbera nos a malo.


Psalmus 69. Deus, in adjutórium


Deus, in adjutórium meum inténde : * Dómine ad adjuvandum me festina.

2 Confundántur et revereántur, * qui quærunt ánimam meam.

3 Avertántur retrórsum, et erubéscant, * qui volunt mihi mala.

4 Avertántur statim erubescéntes, * qui dicunt mihi : Euge, euge.

5 Exsúltent et læténtur in te omnes qui quærunt te, * et dicant semper : Magnificétur Dóminus : qui díligunt salutáre tuum.

6 Ego vero egenus, et pauper sum : * Deus, adjuva me.

7 Adjútor meus, et liberátor meus es tu : * Dómine, ne moreris.

8 Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto.

9 Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, * et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.


V. Salvos fac servos tuos.

R. Deus meus, sperántes in te.


V. Esto nobis, Dómine, turris fortitudinis.

R. A fácie inimíci.


V. Nihil profíciat inimícus in nobis.

R. Et fílius iniquitátis non appónat nocere nobis.


V. Dómine, non secúndum peccáta nostra fácias nobis.

R. Neque secúndum iniquitátes nostras retríbuas nobis.


V. Orémus pro Pontifice nostro N.

R. Dóminus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beátum fáciat eum in terra, et beátum fáciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in ánimam inimicórum ejus.


Vacante Apostolica Sede, Versus cum suo Responsorio præteritur.


V. Orémus pro benefactoribus nostris.

R. Retribuere dignare, Dómine, ómnibus, nobis bona faciéntibus propter nomen tuum, vitam æternam. Amen.


V. Orémus pro fidelibus defunctis.

R. Requiem æternam dona eis, Dómine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.


V. Requiéscant in pace.

R. Amen.


V. Pro frátribus nostris abséntibus.

R. Salvos fac servos tuos, Deus meus, sperántes in te.


V. Mitte eis, Dómine, auxílium de sancto.

R. Et de Sion tuere eos.


V. Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam.

R. Et clamor meus ad te véniat.


V. Dóminus vobíscum.

R. Et cum spíritu tuo.


Oremus. Oratio


Deus, cui proprium est misereri semper et parcere : suscipe deprecatiónem nostram ; ut nos, et omnes famulos tuos, quos delictórum catena constringit, miserátio tuæ pietátis clementer absolvat.


Exáudi, quæsumus, Dómine, supplícium preces, et confiténtium tibi parce peccátis : ut páriter nobis indulgéntiam tríbuas benignus et pacem.


Ineffábilem nobis, Dómine, misericórdiam tuam clementer ostende : ut simul nos et a peccátis ómnibus exuas, et a pœnis, quas pro his meremur, erípias.


Deus, qui culpa offenderis, pœniténtia placaris : preces pópuli tui supplicántis propitius réspice ; et flagélla tuæ iracúndiæ, quæ pro peccátis nostris meremur, averte.


Omnípotens sempiterne Deus, miserére famulo tuo Pontifici nostro N., et dírige eum secúndum tuam cleméntiam in viam salútis ætérnæ : ut, te donante, tibi placita cupiat, et tota virtúte perfíciat.


Deus, a quo sancta desideria, recta consília et justa sunt ópera : da servis tuis illam, quam mundus dare non potest, pacem ; ut et corda nostra mandátis tuis dedita, et, hostium subláta formidine, tempora sint, tua protectióne, tranquilla.


Ure igne Sancti Spíritus renes nostros et cor nostrum, Dómine : ut tibi casto corpore serviamus, et mundo corde placeamus.


Fidelium, Deus, ómnium conditor et redemptor, animabus famulórum famularumque tuárum remissiónem cunctórum tríbue peccatórum : ut indulgéntiam, quam semper optavérunt, piis supplicatiónibus consequántur.


Actiónes nostras, quæsumus, Dómine, aspirando præveni et adjuvando proséquere : ut cuncta nostra orátio et operátio a te semper incipiat et per te cœpta finiátur.


Omnípotens sempiterne Deus, qui vivórum dominaris simul et mortuórum, ómniumque misereris quos tuos fide et opere futuros esse prænoscis : te supplices exorámus ; ut, pro quibus effúndere preces decrevimus, quosque vel præsens sæculum adhuc in carne retinet vel futurum jam exutos corpore suscépit, intercedéntibus ómnibus Sanctis tuis, pietátis tuæ cleméntia, ómnium delictórum suórum veniam consequántur. Per Dóminum nostrum Jesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia sæcula sæculórum.

R. Amen.


V. Dóminus vobíscum.

R. Et cum spíritu tuo.


V. Exáudiat nos omnípotens et misericors Dóminus.

R. Amen.


V. Et fidelium ánimæ † per misericórdiam Dei requiéscant in pace.

R. Amen.



The site also gives this tidbit:

This is the traditional version of the Litany of the Saints, as it was heard in churches and monasteries before 1962. This is the version found in the 1962 edition of the Liber Usualis. Recently, at the funeral of John Paul II, a modernized version was sung (using the same melody). It was in Latin, but several parts were changed from the traditional version found here on this page (and on Chant Compendium 3). It was played again at the start of the Papal Conclave at which our current Pope, Benedict XVI, was elected. Even in its updated form, it is quite powerful because it uses the same centuries-old melody which is perfect for asking assistance from all the saints in heaven for our many needs. The substance, what is prayed for, is also the same— though many items were rephrased, combined or removed.

This prayer is sublime and beautiful; The Church leaves out nothing as it places in our mouths exactly what we should be praying for. For the Church, for our country, for our fellow Catholics, for those outside the Faith, for earthly prosperity, for the faithful departed, it asks for God's mercy in general, it asks forgiveness for our sins. One could scarcely find an important subject that doesn't come under one of the many invocations found after the line, "Peccatores" (We, sinners). At this point in the Litany, the response becomes "Te rogamus, audi nos." (We beseech Thee, hear us.)

You can hear a sample of this Latin prayer here. (You can also download it in two parts from the same site for a small fee.) I get chills every time we sing the Litany.



I love being Catholic! Thank You, Lord, for making me so!

Holy Day of Obligation

Julie has a wonderful post up on All Saints' Day, and how, as Stephen Colbert put it, "... if you’re Roman Catholic and you don’t go to Mass you’ll go to Hell."

But a part I like even better than Stephen's observation is this, from The Bad Catholic's Guide to Good Living:

This feast is a Holy Day of Obligation, which means you are obliged to go to Mass. Yes, skipping church today is in fact a mortal sin -- and one of the dullest in the book. Can you imagine being damned for blowing off the twenty-six-minute lturgy at your parish? You'd be the laughing stock of hell. Personally, we believe in making each of our mortal sins count; each one had better be worth the risk to our souls, the trip to Confession, the time spent purging our sins by reliving Groundhog Day over and over again. You get the idea.

Julie points out that it's tough to get into Mass during the week, what with our schedules and all, but what's worse? That, or spending eternity in Hell?

Besides, you could have gone last night to a Vigil Mass, and most parishes have extra Masses today. My own parish will have Mass at noon (for the lunchtimers) and at 7:30 tonight. And we typically only have Wednesday night Mass during the week. Let's face it, it's not like there aren't choices. So get thee to Mass!

Oh, and don't forget that you can gain an indulgence for going to Mass tomorrow, which is All Souls' Day, providing you qualify yourself with the big three requirements: Confession (and a detachment from sin), Communion (taken care of if you go to Mass), and praying for the Holy Father's intentions. (Thanks, Ma Beck, for the reminder. Hopefully, Hubby can meet us girls for Mass at lunch near his office tomorrow!)

Halloween (updated)

It's picture time!

Here is Big Girl as Shelob. The top one is outside our home, the bottom one is at Hubby's office.

Little Girl dressed as Saint Scholastica. The costume is actually one I made for Big Girl about three years ago, so she could be St. Teresa of Avila for All Saints' Day at our parish. (This was before I realized that some nuns wear something aside from black!) We searched for what order wears black and then for a saint in that order. Viola! The Benedictines do, and Saint Scholastica was! Little Girl rehearsed telling people who Scholastica was, but few asked her much past, "Who are you?" or "Are you a singing nun?" or "Is she the flying nun?" (No, silly, the flying nun wore white.) The habit is in rough shape these days because it is actually a very popular dress-up item in our house.

This one is, as Big Girl put it, Shelob trying to attack Saint Scholastica.

Both girls have expressed a desire to dress as saints next year, so we've got a whole year to learn about different women (and girls) who have been canonized. Hooray!

We'll take back our night, little by little.