The Unprofitable Servant: Keeping Priorities Straight and Other Random Thoughts

Monday, February 14, 2011

Keeping Priorities Straight and Other Random Thoughts

What does it say about me that I know almost every line in the Godfathers I and II by heart, while St. Therese practically memorized the entire Imitation of Christ? Not much.

Remember when Tiger Woods held his comeback new conference and announced he was returning to Buddhism? Rachel Maddow could not control her exuberance that Woods, in her words, "did not kowtow to Jesus". Given the level of his play of golf since then, maybe he should rethink that Buddha thing.

I have one sister. My mother and father would like to have had more children, but my mother had a hysterectomy when she was very young, so it was just us two siblings. We fought like cats and dogs. It's still difficult for me to be around her sometimes and keep my mouth zipped. Still, can you imagine one sibling killing another? We complain about the violent society that we live in but look at our roots. Adam and Eve had only just gotten started when Cain murdered Abel. Not very good percentages when you think about it.

The priest gave no homily at Mass this morning. Maybe that's not so unusual for an early morning weekday Mass. At work today, I heard a few people talking about the latest news on the abuse scandal. One woman reported that her pastor gave no Sunday homily. I can't imagine such a thing, and I can only begin to imagine the grief, anger and shame that many priests carried with them to the pulpit this Sunday. I wanted to give my pastor a hug after Mass yesterday, just to let him know we are behind him and feel the burden he carries. But I'm not an outwardly affectionate person and I think he would probably pass out from shock if I did that. I normally only extend my hand to priests. It has everything to do with respect. I wouldn't presume to grab hold of Christ and plant a kiss on His cheek if I saw Him, and I don't feel it's appropriate for me, as a woman, to hug or kiss a priest unless he initiates the gesture. I will bring my daughter with me to the Monday evening Novena tonight and that will be enough of a demonstration of support, as we will offer the prayers for the intention of all our faithful priests as well as those struggling to be faithful to their charism.

Aside from being the opening day of Spring Training in Clearwater, Florida, this is also Valentine's Day. My husband lucked out when he found me, boy. I don't expect a card, flower or chocolates, I don't like jewelry or fur and I wouldn't be caught dead driving a luxury car. I got him an encrusted brie I found at Wegman's, with 3 hearts embossed into the crust. He got me a lobster tail from the bakery. A lobster tail, for the un-itiated, is a pastry filled with whipped cream and raspberry mousse. The pastry is made of the same stuff a sfogiatelle is made from. I look forward to having it when we come back from church.

Happy Opening Day of Spring Training/Valentine's Day.

4 comments:

Mary ChristineFebruary 14, 2011 at 7:01 PM
I don't hug priests either :) But I do pray for them. And shake their hands. I am so sorry this is happening - again.

And Happy Valentine's Day.
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Kathy Felsted UsherFebruary 14, 2011 at 7:56 PM
We celebrated with homemade chocolate milkshakes!

I guess I have hugged our priest but it's usually mutual and one of those one-armed, around the shoulder things. We're actually friends with him though. Being in a small rural parish, he knows us all very well.
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MannyFebruary 14, 2011 at 8:17 PM
I've hugged a priest, but he's a family member...lol.

I've never been to a mass where there was no homily. That must have been stunning. On reflection, it may have been counter productive though. The stain is on the criminal priests, not the church or parishoners.

I got my wife and mother each a dozen roses, my usual. Roses are beautiful if you ask me. Plus they have a long history as symbols in Catholicism.
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TLWFebruary 14, 2011 at 8:22 PM
MC, Happy Valentine's Day to you, too :-D

Kathy, if I lived at your house, I would weigh 20 lbs more than I do now.

Manny, I agree with you, roses are beautiful. Very thoughtful of you (and SMART) to get them for both your mother and your wife.
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Mary, Queen of Peace

Ever glorious and blessed Mary, Queen of Virgins, Mother of Mercy, hope and comfort of dejected and desolate souls, through that sword of sorrow which pierced thy tender heart whilst thine only Son, Christ Jesus, our Lord, suffered death and ignominy on the cross; through that filial tenderness and pure love He had for thee, grieving in thy grief, whilst from His cross He recommended thee to the care and protection of His beloved disciple, St. John, take pity, I beseech thee, on my poverty and necessities; have compassion on my anxieties and cares; assist and comfort me in all my infirmities and miseries, of every kind whatsoever. Thou art the Mother of Mercies, the sweet comforter and only refuge of the needy and the orphan, of the desolate and afflicted. Cast, therefore, an eye of pity on a miserable, forlorn child of Eve, and hear my prayer; for since, in just punishment of my sins, I find myself encompassed by a multitude of evils, and oppressed with much anguish of spirit, wither can I fly for more secure shelter, O amiable Mother of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, than under the wings of thy maternal protection? Attend, therefore, I beseech thee, with an ear of pity and compassion, to my humble and earnest request. I ask it, through the bowels of mercy of thy dear Son; Through that love and condescension wherewith He embraced our nature, when, in compliance with the divine Will, thou gavest thy consent, and whom, after the expiration of nine months thou didst bring forth from the chaste enclosure of thy womb, to visit the world, and bless it with His presence. I ask it, through that anguish of mind wherewith thy beloved Son, our dear Saviour, was overwhelmed on the Mount of Olives, when He besought His eternal Father to remove from Him, if possible, the bitter chalice of His future passion. I ask it, through the threefold repetition of His prayers in the garden, whence afterwards, with dolorous steps and mournful tears, thou didst accompany Him to the doleful theatre of His death and sufferings. I ask it, through the welts and bruises of His virginal flesh, occasioned by the cords and whips wherewith He was bound and scourged, when stripped of His seamless garment, for which His executioners afterwards cast lots. I ask it, through the scoffs and ignominies by which He was insulted; the false accusations and unjust sentence by which He was condemned to death, and which He bore with heavenly patience. I ask it, through His bitter tears and bloody sweat; His silence and resignation; His sadness and grief of heart. I ask it, through the blood which trickled from His royal and Sacred Head, when struck with the sceptre of a reed and pierced with His crown of thorns. I ask it, through the excruciating torments He suffered, when His hands and feet were fastened with gross nails to the tree of the cross. I ask it, through His vehement thirst, and bitter potion of vinegar and gall. I ask it, through His dereliction on the cross when He exclaimed, "My God! my God! why hast Thou forsaken me?" I ask it, through His mercy extended to the good thief, and through His recommending His precious soul and spirit into the hands of His eternal Father before He expired, saying, "It is consummated." I ask it, through the blood mixed with water, which issued from His Sacred Side when pierced with a lance, and whence a flood of grace and mercy has flowed to us. I ask it, through His immaculate life, bitter passion and ignominious death on the cross, at which nature itself was thrown into convulsions, by the bursting of rocks, rending of the veil of the Temple, the earthquake, and the darkness of the sun and moon. I ask it, through His descent into hell, where He confronted the Saints of the old law with His presence, and led the captivity captive. I ask it, through His glorious victory over death, when He arose again to life on the third day, and through the joy which His appearance for forty days after gave thee, His blessed Mother, His Apostles, and the rest of His Disciples; when in thine and their presence He miraculously ascended into heaven. I ask it, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, infused into the hearts of His Disciples, when He descended upon them in the form of fiery tongues, and by which they were inspired with zeal in the conversion of the world, when they went to preach the gospel. I ask it, through the awful appearance of thy Son, at the last dreadful day, when He shall come to judge the living and the dead, and the world, by fire. I ask it, through the compassion He bore thee in His life, and the unspeakable joy thou didst feel at thine assumption into heaven, where thou art eternally absorbed in the sweet contemplation of His divine perfections. O glorious and ever blessed Virgin! comfort the heart of thy supplicant, by obtaining for me, (Mention your prayer intention here...) And as I am persuaded my Divine Saviour doth honour thee as His beloved Mother, to whom He refuses nothing, because thou asketh nothing contrary to His honour, so let me speedily experience the efficacy of thy powerful intercession, according to the tenderness of thy maternal affection, and His filial loving heart, who mercifully granteth the requests and complieth with the desires of those that love and fear Him. Wherefore, O most blessed Virgin, beside the object of my present petition, and whatever else I may stand in need of, obtain for me also of thy dear Son, our Lord and our God, a lively faith, firm hope, perfect charity, true contrition of heart, unfeigned tears of compunction, sincere confession, condign satisfaction, abstinence from sin, love of God and my neighbour, contempt of the world, patience to suffer affronts and ignominies, nay, even, if necessary, an opprobrious death itself, for love of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Obtain likewise for me, O sacred Mother of God, perseverance in good works, performance of good resolutions, mortification of self-will, a pious conversation through life, and, at my last moments, strong and sincere repentance, accompanied by such a lively and attentive presence of mind, as may enable me to receive the last Sacrament of the Church worthily, and die in thy friendship and favour. Lastly, obtain through thy Son, I beseech thee, for the souls of my parents, brethren, relatives and benefactors, both living and dead, life everlasting, from the only Giver of every good and perfect gift, the Lord God Almighty, to Whom be all power now and forever. Amen.

Prayer of St. Bonaventure

Pierce, O most sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of Thy love, and with true, calm and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with entire love and longing for Thee, may yearn for Thee and for thy courts, may long to be dissolved and to be with Thee.
Grant that my soul may hunger after Thee, the Bread of Angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and super substantial bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delightful taste.
May my heart ever hunger after and feed upon Thee, Whom the angels desire to look upon, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of Thy savor; may it ever thirst for Thee, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the fullness of the house of God;
may it ever compass Thee, seek Thee, find Thee, run to Thee, come up to Thee, meditate on Thee, speak of Thee, and do all for the praise and glory of Thy name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, with perseverance to the end; and be Thou alone ever my hope, my entire confidence, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession, my treasure; in Whom may my mind and my heart be ever fixed and firm and rooted immovably. Amen.

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God Bless You!

The Unprofitable Servant

Monday, February 14, 2011

Keeping Priorities Straight and Other Random Thoughts

4 comments:

Mary, Queen of Peace

St Michael the Archangel

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

St. Teresa Benedicta of The Cross