Mouse in the House

I've felt compelled to blog something the last couple days, but I really haven't sat down at a computer for more than 5 minutes. Sorry, loyal readers. Work has been keeping me on my toes. I could cry and complain that last week was midterms week - except I don't have midterms anymore. Now I can cry and complain that this week is Notre Dame's fall break, but I don't get a break! The real world is overrated.

Besides work, here is another reason the real world is overrated: Marvin.



Meet Marvin. Yes, that is a mouse - a mouse trapped in a tupperware container.

I never worried about these furry little house guests while living in a dorm. Maybe I should have, but I never did and never encountered any.

Recently one appeared in our house...ok, maybe more than one, but we've only caught one so far.

Housemate A has been scared stiff of the little bugger for the last week and a half. So today I cleaned out the pantry. Then later in the day, when we heard some mouse-like rustling, my brother and I somehow managed to corner him in the pantry. Working like cats (uh, with containers instead of claws) we penned him in (jumpy little guy). Then, as Marvin (named by Housemate C)made what he thought would be his big break, my amazing brother slammed a container down on him.

He was a pretty cute thing and being the humane humans that we are, we elected to release him away from the house. So we got in the car (with the mouse in the container) and drove a little up the road to Highland Cemetery. I let him go and he bounded away...not too far from Knute Rockne's grave.

Sorry Rock!


Don't tell Housemate A, but I know Marvin has a buddy, Mo. I've seen Mo scooting around since the removal of Marvin. But maybe now that Marvin's been taken away, Mo will get the hint and leave on his (her?) own.

In the meantime I might have to look into this:

DEPRECATORY BLESSING AGAINST PESTS

(mice and rats, locusts, worms, etc.)

The priest vests in surplice and purple stole, and coming to the field or place infested with these creatures, says:

Antiphon: Arise, Lord, help us; and deliver us for your kindness' sake.

Ps 43.1: O God, our ears have heard, our fathers have declared to us.

All: Glory be to the Father.

P: As it was in the beginning.

All Ant.: Arise, Lord, help us; and deliver us for your kindness' sake.

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

All: Who made heaven and earth.

P: Lord, heed my prayer.

All: And let my cry be heard by you.

P: The Lord be with you.

All: May He also be with you.
Let us pray.

We entreat you, Lord, be pleased to hear our prayers; and even though we rightly deserve, on account of our sins, this plague of mice (or locusts, worms, etc.), yet mercifully deliver us for your kindness' sake. Let this plague be expelled by your power, and our land and fields be left fertile, so that all it produces redound to your glory and serve our necessities; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Let us pray.

Almighty everlasting God, the donor of all good things, and the most merciful pardoner of our sins; before whom all creatures bow down in adoration, those in heaven, on earth, and below the earth; preserve us sinners by your might, that whatever we undertake with trust in your protection may meet with success by your grace. And now as we utter a curse on these noxious pests, may they be cursed by you; as we seek to destroy them, may they be destroyed by you; as we seek to exterminate them, may they be exterminated by you; so that delivered from this plague by your goodness, we may freely offer thanks to your majesty; through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Exorcism

I cast out you noxious vermin, by God + the Father almighty, by Jesus + Christ, His only-begotten Son, and by the Holy + Spirit. May you speedily be banished from our land and fields, lingering here no longer, but passing on to places where you can do no harm. In the name of the almighty God and the entire heavenly court, as well as in the name of the holy Church of God, we pronounce a curse on you, that wherever you go you may be cursed, decreasing from day to day until you are obliterated. Let no remnant of you remain anywhere, except what might be necessary for the welfare and use of mankind. Be pleased to grant our request, you who are coming to judge both the living and the dead and the world by fire.
All: Amen.

The places infested are sprinkled with holy water.

1962 Rituale Romanum

Harsh stuff. On second thought I feel kind of bad cursing the little guys to obliteration...