St Andrew's Day!

Happy Feastday to all who claim St. Andrew as their patron! (Especially, again, the ones remembered here)

And also a reminder that the "St. Andrew's Novena" begins today:

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

(To be recited fifteen times a day from the feast of St. Andrew until Christmas)

Rosary Rally

On Saturday, the Children of Mary of the University of Notre Dame (a student group independent of the international organization of the same name) and Notre Dame Campus Ministry sponsored a beautiful Rosary Rally on campus.

The email announcement from Children of Mary was as follows:

The first of hopefully many annual Rosary Rallies: Saturday, October 10, 2pm at the Grotto. The prayer begins with the Living Rosary, a devotion zealously promoted by Fr. Patrick Peyton, CSC. 60-some people will each represent a bead of the Rosary, and we'll all join them to pray the Glorious Mysteries, with a sentence from Scripture before each Hail Mary. There will also be hymns to Our Lady after each decade. Then we'll process over to the Alumni Hall chapel for a 'Marian Hour' (or half-hour) of Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The Rally was wonderful! Thanks to Fr. Neil Roy, beloved professor-priest and one of the most popular Canadians on campus, many of us learned a good number of very POD hymns. I think for the majority of the people present, Saturday's rally was their first living rosary. I remember members of the Blue Army coming and sponsoring one at my high school a few times, but it wasn't quite as involved as this Rally.

Unfortunately, due to midterms and the like, attendance wasn't quite as high as anticipated; but a respectable number of students and a few faculty members braved the chilly October weather to celebrate Our Lady's feast.















Photo Credits: me 10/10/09

O Sapientia

O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti,
attingens a fine usque ad finem,
fortiter suaviterque disponens omnia:
veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

St. Lucy's Day

Last night, the Children of Mary group on campus hosted a St. Lucy's Day party. Since I've recently been on something of a baking kick, I decided to back some Santa Lucia Bread. I took the recipe posted over at Catholic Cuisine.

I got a late start, so the bread never actually made an appearance at the party, but it did come to the Post-Trid-Mass brunch in South Dining Hall.

Turned out to be quite lovely, if I may say so - especially with a little literal "sprucing" up.

photo: me 12/14/08

SAINT LUCY, Whose beautiful name Signifies light, By the light of Faith Which God bestowed upon you, Increase and preserve His light in my soul, so that I may avoid evil, Be zealous in the performance of good works, and abhor nothing so much as the blindness and the darkness of evil and sin.

Obtain for me, by your intercession with God, perfect vision for my bodily eyes and the grace to use them for God’s greater honor and glory and the salvation of souls.

St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear my prayers and obtain my petitions.

Amen.

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows - Day 9

Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows


O most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who stood on Mount Calvary when your Son was in agony: by the sword of sorrow which pierced your heart, by the sufferings of your whole life on earth, by your unspeakable joy in Heaven; look down with maternal pity and tenderness as I kneel before you to sympathize with your sorrows, and to place my petition, with childlike confidence, in your wounded heart.
I beg of you, dear Mother, to plead for me with your divine Son, since he can refuse you nothing, and, through the merits of his most sacred Passion and Death, together with your own suffering at the foot of his Cross, so to move his Sacred Heart that I may obtain this request….
To whom shall I go in my need and misery, if not to you, O Mother most merciful, you who pity us poor exiles still sighing in this valley of tears? Offer to Jesus for us but one drop of his most precious blood, but one pang of his loving heart; remind him that you are our life, our sweetness and our hope, and your prayer on my behalf will be heard. Amen.


Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary...

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows - Day 8

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

O most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who stood on Mount Calvary when your Son was in agony: by the sword of sorrow which pierced your heart, by the sufferings of your whole life on earth, by your unspeakable joy in Heaven; look down with maternal pity and tenderness as I kneel before you to sympathize with your sorrows, and to place my petition, with childlike confidence, in your wounded heart.
I beg of you, dear Mother, to plead for me with your divine Son, since he can refuse you nothing, and, through the merits of his most sacred Passion and Death, together with your own suffering at the foot of his Cross, so to move his Sacred Heart that I may obtain this request….
To whom shall I go in my need and misery, if not to you, O Mother most merciful, you who pity us poor exiles still sighing in this valley of tears? Offer to Jesus for us but one drop of his most precious blood, but one pang of his loving heart; remind him that you are our life, our sweetness and our hope, and your prayer on my behalf will be heard. Amen.


Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary...

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows - Day 7

Most sorrowful Virgin, sorrow again filled your heart when the sacred body of Jesus was taken from your arms and placed in the grave.

I wish to join with you in this last sorrow of yours, and ask you to obtain for me, through the sufferings of Jesus, which were the cause of all your sorrow, a sincere sorrow for my sins, a burning love for God, and a tender and practical devotion towards you.


Hail Mary...




O most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who stood on Mount Calvary when your Son was in agony: by the sword of sorrow which pierced your heart, by the sufferings of your whole life on earth, by your unspeakable joy in Heaven; look down with maternal pity and tenderness as I kneel before you to sympathize with your sorrows, and to place my petition, with childlike confidence, in your wounded heart.
I beg of you, dear Mother, to plead for me with your divine Son, since he can refuse you nothing, and, through the merits of his most sacred Passion and Death, together with your own suffering at the foot of his Cross, so to move his Sacred Heart that I may obtain this request….
To whom shall I go in my need and misery, if not to you, O Mother most merciful, you who pity us poor exiles still sighing in this valley of tears? Offer to Jesus for us but one drop of his most precious blood, but one pang of his loving heart; remind him that you are our life, our sweetness and our hope, and your prayer on my behalf will be heard. Amen.


Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary...

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows - Day 6

Most Sorrowful Mother, sorrow filled your heart when the adorable body of your divine Son was taken down from the Cross and laid in your arms.

I wish to join with you in this sorrow, and ask you to obtain for me the grace to receive Jesus into my soul before I die, so that I may be perfectly united to him for ever in heaven.

Hail Mary...






O most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who stood on Mount Calvary when your Son was in agony: by the sword of sorrow which pierced your heart, by the sufferings of your whole life on earth, by your unspeakable joy in Heaven; look down with maternal pity and tenderness as I kneel before you to sympathize with your sorrows, and to place my petition, with childlike confidence, in your wounded heart.
I beg of you, dear Mother, to plead for me with your divine Son, since he can refuse you nothing, and, through the merits of his most sacred Passion and Death, together with your own suffering at the foot of his Cross, so to move his Sacred Heart that I may obtain this request….
To whom shall I go in my need and misery, if not to you, O Mother most merciful, you who pity us poor exiles still sighing in this valley of tears? Offer to Jesus for us but one drop of his most precious blood, but one pang of his loving heart; remind him that you are our life, our sweetness and our hope, and your prayer on my behalf will be heard. Amen.


Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary...

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows - Day 5

Most sorrowful Mother, the greatest sorrow filled your heart when you stood near the Cross of Jesus, and watched him die in suffering for the sins of the world, without being able to do anything to help him.

I wish to join with you in this sorrow, and ask you, O Queen of Martyrs, to obtain for me the grace to fight against all my temptations,even though it costs me effort and suffering and death, so that, strengthened by his love when I am dying, I may obtain the grace of a happy death.

Hail Mary…


O most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who stood on Mount Calvary when your Son was in agony: by the sword of sorrow which pierced your heart, by the sufferings of your whole life on earth, by your unspeakable joy in Heaven; look down with maternal pity and tenderness as I kneel before you to sympathize with your sorrows, and to place my petition, with childlike confidence, in your wounded heart.
I beg of you, dear Mother, to plead for me with your divine Son, since he can refuse you nothing, and, through the merits of his most sacred Passion and Death, together with your own suffering at the foot of his Cross, so to move his Sacred Heart that I may obtain this request….
To whom shall I go in my need and misery, if not to you, O Mother most merciful, you who pity us poor exiles still sighing in this valley of tears? Offer to Jesus for us but one drop of his most precious blood, but one pang of his loving heart; remind him that you are our life, our sweetness and our hope, and your prayer on my behalf will be heard. Amen.


Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary...

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows - Day 4

Most sorrowful Mother, sorrow filled your motherly heart when you followed your dear Son to Calvary, and saw him falling under the weight of the Cross.

I wish to join with you in this sorrow, and I ask you, O Queen of Martyrs, to obtain for me the grace to bear with patience whatever cross it will please God to send me.

Hail Mary…


O most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who stood on Mount Calvary when your Son was in agony: by the sword of sorrow which pierced your heart, by the sufferings of your whole life on earth, by your unspeakable joy in Heaven; look down with maternal pity and tenderness as I kneel before you to sympathize with your sorrows, and to place my petition, with childlike confidence, in your wounded heart.
I beg of you, dear Mother, to plead for me with your divine Son, since he can refuse you nothing, and, through the merits of his most sacred Passion and Death, together with your own suffering at the foot of his Cross, so to move his Sacred Heart that I may obtain this request….
To whom shall I go in my need and misery, if not to you, O Mother most merciful, you who pity us poor exiles still sighing in this valley of tears? Offer to Jesus for us but one drop of his most precious blood, but one pang of his loving heart; remind him that you are our life, our sweetness and our hope, and your prayer on my behalf will be heard. Amen.


Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary...

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows - Day 3

Most sorrowful Virgin, sorrow filled your heart when you were separated from your divine Son, who remained lost for three days in Jerusalem while you looked everywhere for him.

I wish to join with you in the sorrow you felt then, and I ask you, O Queen of Martyrs, to obtain for me the grace never to lose Jesus your Son, but always to remain united to him by the help of his grace.

Hail Mary…


O most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who stood on Mount Calvary when your Son was in agony: by the sword of sorrow which pierced your heart, by the sufferings of your whole life on earth, by your unspeakable joy in Heaven; look down with maternal pity and tenderness as I kneel before you to sympathise with your sorrows, and to place my petition, with childlike confidence, in your wounded heart.
I beg of you, dear Mother, to plead for me with your divine Son, since he can refuse you nothing, and, through the merits of his most sacred Passion and Death, together with your own suffering at the foot of his Cross, so to move his Sacred Heart that I may obtain this request….
To whom shall I go in my need and misery, if not to you, O Mother most merciful, you who pity us poor exiles still sighing in this valley of tears? Offer to Jesus for us but one drop of his most precious blood, but one pang of his loving heart; remind him that you are our life, our sweetness and our hope, and your prayer on my behalf will be heard. Amen.


Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary...

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows - Day 2

Most holy and sorrowful Virgin, sorrow filled your motherly heart when you saw your divine Son hated by Herod and you had to flee with him to Egypt, to save him.

I wish to join with you in this sorrow and ask you, O Queen of Martyrs, to obtain for me the grace to avoid all the temptations of my enemies on the difficult road to heaven.

Hail Mary…


O most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who stood on Mount Calvary when your Son was in agony: by the sword of sorrow which pierced your heart, by the sufferings of your whole life on earth, by your unspeakable joy in Heaven; look down with maternal pity and tenderness as I kneel before you to sympathise with your sorrows, and to place my petition, with childlike confidence, in your wounded heart.
I beg of you, dear Mother, to plead for me with your divine Son, since he can refuse you nothing, and, through the merits of his most sacred Passion and Death, together with your own suffering at the foot of his Cross, so to move his Sacred Heart that I may obtain this request….
To whom shall I go in my need and misery, if not to you, O Mother most merciful, you who pity us poor exiles still sighing in this valley of tears? Offer to Jesus for us but one drop of his most precious blood, but one pang of his loving heart; remind him that you are our life, our sweetness and our hope, and your prayer on my behalf will be heard. Amen.


Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary...

Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows -Day 1

Just in case you all don't already read Fr. Michael Wurtz's blog:

Today, Sunday, September 7, 2008 begins a novena to Our Lady of Sorrows, the Patroness of the Congregation of Holy Cross, whose feast falls on September 15th.
The First Sorrow of Mary, the Prophecy of Simeon

Most sorrowful Virgin,
sorrow filled your heart when,
on offering your divine Son in the temple,
holy Simeon told you that a sword would pierce your soul,
and you knew then that you would be asked to suffer with Jesus.
I wish to join with you in this sorrow,
and I ask you, O Queen of Martyrs, to obtain for me
the grace that I may always remember my death, which will help to keep me from all sin.
Hail Mary…

Prayer to our Sorrowful Mother for a particular grace
O most holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs, who stood on Mount Calvary when your Son was in agony: by the sword of sorrow which pierced your heart, by the sufferings of your whole life on earth, by your unspeakable joy in Heaven; look down with maternal pity and tenderness as I kneel before you to sympathise with your sorrows, and to place my petition, with childlike confidence, in your wounded heart.
I beg of you, dear Mother, to plead for me with your divine Son, since he can refuse you nothing, and, through the merits of his most sacred Passion and Death, together with your own suffering at the foot of his Cross, so to move his Sacred Heart that I may obtain this request….
To whom shall I go in my need and misery, if not to you, O Mother most merciful, you who pity us poor exiles still sighing in this valley of tears? Offer to Jesus for us but one drop of his most precious blood, but one pang of his loving heart; remind him that you are our life, our sweetness and our hope, and your prayer on my behalf will be heard. Amen.

The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your clemency, hear and answer me. Amen.

Rosary Around the Lake

The first Rosary Around the Lake of this year.

Every Sunday the Children of Mary meet at 8:00 pm at the Dooley Statue at the Grotto.
All are welcome.

The Last Rosary Around the Lake

Rosary around the Lake is, in my opinion, the most beautiful tradition on this campus and is the one I miss the most.

Each Sunday evening at 8:00pm the Children of Mary gather at the Tom Dooley statue at the Grotto to walk around St. Mary's Lake together while praying the Rosary.

I can think of few devotions that are more beautiful - it has been one that has deeply impacted my life - harmonizing the Dominican and Franciscan in me. Three of the best things in the world are united in a half hour of beauty and joy (yes, even in the dead of winter): God's Creation, Our Lady's Rosary, and good friends who are as dear to me as family.

For my three years here Sundays have been the highlight of every week. In my time here I have come to find the true meaning of the Lord's Day. - early morning Mass (8:00am this year, 7:00am off campus at St. John the Baptist for me in past years), brunch with good friends, recreation, perhaps a little schoolwork or a oft-needed nap, Militia of the Immaculata Meetings at 4:30, dinner with the group at 5:30 which lasts until Vespers (Wespers - the Evening Prayer of the Church! ;-) ) at 7:15, Rosary at 8:00 - and usually some form of socialization afterwards.

8 to 8 - the perfect suspension of a day of prayer, community, reflection, recreation, joy and peace.

And Rosary Around the Lake has been the perfect capstone to each Sunday.

(photo credit: Matt of the Holy Whapping, 4/13/08)

I'll confess - tonight had me near tears most of the way around the Lake. The warm spring evening, the setting sun shining on the lake, the purple blossoms, the gentle breeze, the union of voices proclaiming the angelic salutation and singing the Aves and Salve, the shared journey around the lake as we all share this journey of life, the journey towards God...I'll miss it all. I'll miss it most of all.


I apologize for the disjointed rambling, but at this point I can only stumble over my words.

40 Hours Devotion!

Don't forget, there's 40 Hours Devotion to go along with the Procession!

Children of Mary is sponsoring 40 hours of continuous Eucharistic Adoration in preparation for the Eucharistic Procession at the Univeristy of Notre Dame. It will take place in the chapel of Malloy Hall, following the 5:15 Basilica Mass on Friday 4/18, and ending with Benediction at 9 a.m. on Sunday 4/20. Make sure to use the northwest entrance of Malloy Hall, as this will be the only door open during the weekend.

Please sign up for an hour with Our Lord!

Procession Poster

I thought I had posted this awhile ago (i.e. when I made it), but I guess not. Sorry.

EUCHARSTIC PROCESSION!

EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION AT NOTRE DAME


The Office of Campus Ministry warmly invites you to participate in the Fourth Annual Eucharistic Procession to be celebrated at Notre Dame this Sunday, April 20, beginning at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart following the 11:45 am Mass. The Procession will begin at 1:00 pm and will last approximately one hour.


The Eucharistic Procession will be celebrated on Notre Dame's historic "God quad" and will stop at four altars for hymns, Scripture readings, meditations, prayers, and Benediction. Fr. David Tyson, CSC, Provincial Superior of the Congregation of Holy Cross, will preside. By taking the Blessed Sacrament outside the walls of the Basilica in procession, the students, faculty, religious, and staff of Saint Mary's, Holy Cross, and Notre Dame, as well as all the faithful in attendance, give a vivid and public witness to their faith and devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist and to his saving work in our midst. This Eucharistic Procession also seeks to further the mission of the Congregation of Holy Cross, "to make God known, loved, and served throughout the world." In addition, this Fourth Annual Procession will be a public prayer offered specifically for the following intentions:


* a greater respect for and protection of all human life, from conception until natural death;

* an increase in vocations to the religious life and priesthood, especially in the Congregation of Holy Cross;

* blessings upon the students, faculty, staff, religious, trustees, and administration of our three institutions of higher learning;and

* blessings upon the Holy Father's Pilgrimage to the United States.A picnic lunch will be provided following the Procession through the generosity of the Notre Dame Knights of Columbus Council #1477.


Everyone is invited to pre-register for the Procession (if possible, though it is not required) by visiting the following site: http://www.nd.edu/~adore/procession/signup.htm


In the case of inclement weather, the Procession will be celebrated inside the Basilica immediately following Mass.


For more information about this Fourth Annual Eucharistic Procession, please contact Fr. Kevin Russeau, CSC, at Russeau.3@nd.edu.

Croagh Patrick

In his homily, Bishop D'Arcy spoke of the holy mountain Croagh Patrick which I wrote about back in July.

You can revisit my post here.

The good bishop mentioned an Irish saying that if you climb the mountain 3 times you're good to go for Heaven...guess that makes two more times for me. I'll gladly go back in a heartbeat.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

I have too much to say, and no time to say it thanks to my thesis. But stay tuned.
Bishop D'Arcy offered a lovely Mass at the Basilica today to celebrate St Patrick's Day which is being moved all around because of Holy Week.
Then there was the St Patrick's Day celebration over at Moreau Seminiary - what fun!
As I said, more later. I'm supposed to be working on my thesis at this late hour.

I leave you with one of my favorite prayers. When I ran cross country in high school I never listened to music when I ran, but I would recite the "Christ with me" verse over and over as I ran. It becomes a lovely rhythmic pattern that makes the entire act of running a beautiful prayer.

Lorica of Saint Patrick

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation