The Unprofitable Servant: Prayer Before the Tabernacle: Always There, Waiting

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Prayer Before the Tabernacle: Always There, Waiting

Well, Lord, here I am again. In the end, all I really have is You. I know it is necessary for me to live in the world and sometimes take part in things that hold no value in the spiritual life. You alone know how difficult it has been for me this past week as my oldest and cherished daughter married outside Your Church. I love her and I really love the man she has chosen to spend her life with but my heart is troubled that she has cast You aside. Lord, I also know that while You never stop knocking, You are not one to barge through a door uninvited. So I have taken my lead from You - never insisting, never forcing my will but simply and gently reminding that You are always there, waiting.

I attended the wedding Lord, and when a rainbow suddenly appeared in the sky above the garden where it took place, I wondered if You weren't sending me a sign to say: "It's OK. I understand and will wait for both of them." It hadn't rained Lord and I have never seen a rainbow that wasn't preceded by a storm but I thank You just the same. You know that I never felt further away from You than I did this week, even though I know You are always there, waiting.

And even though Your Most Holy Name was not mentioned or acknowledged even once during all of the speeches, toasts, etc, I know that You shed Your light and Your protection upon us all, bringing us safely through. I know that even if it seems You have been forgotten, You will not forget and will continue to bless my child and her new husband. I know You were happy to see them both when, at the last minute, they decided to attend the Mass that was said for their intention this past week. I put it in Your capable hands to light a spark that leads them to You. May my prayers be the fan that fuel the flame once it's lit.

I thank You Lord, for the blessing of seeing my child so happy and with such a patient, kind and loving young man. But You know this week has been difficult for other reasons. I do not know what the future holds in our parish but I do know that whatever it is, You are always there, waiting and it is never about the priest, my God but only You. Sometimes, we get caught up in the cult of clerical personality. This is a dangerous thing and not what You desire for the priesthood, but it happens. I will wait and give the new pastor my prayerful support. Please grant me the strength and the patience to prayerfully endure whatever the future holds, for Your sake and the sake of Your Holy Church.

Well, Lord, there are tasks to be done and people waiting to see me. Eternity would not be long enough to thank You for the many blessings You have bestowed upon my family. Lord, please bestow one more - keep knocking at the door of their hearts until they open them to You.

10 comments:

MannyJune 1, 2013 at 10:20 PM
I assume congratulations are still in order. I wish your daughter and her new husband the best. And I will say a special prayer for the three of you this week. Many young people come around as they get into mid life. I certainly can attest to that. Children and aging parents brings God front and center into life. Right now they have so many voices and things going on. Unless one is truely called to a religious life, it's nearly impossible for young people today to be moved by God's whisper. God's voice is a whisper and the rest of the world is a scream. If they will truely turn away from God, that decision will probably happen in their thirties and forties. And even then there is always hope. There is always hope. Let's pray.
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TLWJune 2, 2013 at 9:57 PM
Thank you Manny, you are so right about the difficulty in being able to hear God in this world today. I have hope. I am exhausted from this weekend's events but perhaps I'll have more observations to share a little later in the week.
God bless
Joyce
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KellyJune 3, 2013 at 6:57 AM
Congratulations, Joyce! You have gained a family member, and, as you stated, God has not given up on them. I know I said it before, but it helps to remember in my own life, it took me many years to come back to Him. And how my daughter's marrying was a good influence on her life. Your son-in-law sounds like a great guy! Seems like a step in the right direction! Many would not have even bothered to get married. And wonderful that they went to the mass!
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TLWJune 4, 2013 at 11:30 AM
Thanks Kelly. Although it was not what I would have chosen for them, it is very apparent how much they love one another and how much they are loved by their family and friends. They also paid tribute to a friend of theirs who had passed away two summers ago and it was very moving. My daughter never once turned into Bridezilla, which was also a good thing. Now, as I have been advised to do by a priest, I will simply pray for them both to realize how much God loves them and longs for them.
Peace
Joyce
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PatriciaJune 4, 2013 at 8:24 PM
Joyce, congratulations on your daughter marrying someone she loves, and you love as well. I remember in another post how you wrote about talking in-depth with him, and how much you like him. That's such a gift. I know it hurts about them marrying outside of the church. One thing that helps me is remembering how I was in my teens and early twenties. God was hardly on my radar, and although most of us followed tradition then, and married at the expected Nuptial Mass, I certainly wasn't worthy at the time.

God managed to get us back into the fold, didn't He? I know he'll do the same for our children. I can see my son and daughter-in-law slowly coming along. Like Manny mentioned, having children will probably make a huge difference for our kids.

I'm hanging in there with you, and let's just keep the prayers going. Therese won't let us down :) Love and hugs, mother-in-law :)
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TLWJune 5, 2013 at 8:07 PM
Thanks Patricia. Interesting enough when I spoke to a priest about this he said the same thing - that having children might be bound to soften her heart. All I can do is pray and yes, I know Therese won't let us down. I'm sorry I haven't been over to your blog in a few days but I plan to catch up soon. I took a bad spill running the other day and my left hand is better but still giving me fits. Your special intention remains in my prayers :)
Love you
Joyce
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CarolineJune 6, 2013 at 12:46 PM
Joyce, Congratulations to your daughter and son in law.. What a blessing that you love him. That's a gift in itself, though I empathize with the pain in seeing them marry outside the church. You're an example of loving patience to me as this will be my experience in December as well.
Patricia is so right...to think of where I was as a teen and then...being gone from the church for 20 years! It breaks me to think of how much it must have pained my mom, but I'm home, now.

I've not been online much, but you and the ladies are always in my prayers.

Blessings always and +
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TLWJune 7, 2013 at 9:22 AM
Caroline,
Sorry for the delayed response. Gremlins continue to assault my computer (despite installation of a new Norton anti-virus program that was supposed to speed it up) so I can't always respond, write, etc, as I wish.

There are some Catholics who do not believe I should have attended but I don't know what that would have accomplished other than drive a wedge between me and the rest of my family and cement for some folks that we Catholics are a crazy lot. If there's any hope of the couple (and they clearly love each other so much) coming around, my boycotting their wedding wasn't going to do it.

And yes Patricia is right. At least my daughter isn't hostile toward the Church. I can think of a time when I was, and look where I am now? Not where I need to be but on my way and a lot closer than I was 20 years ago!

You, too, are always in my prayers.
Love and hugs
Joyce
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AllisonJune 8, 2013 at 11:42 AM
So beautiful. I join you in prayer.

Also, Micheal contacted me about Fr. Carey. So sorry to hear he was moved. I relayed to Michael that Fr. Ronald Check of Philadelphia often says the Latin Mass for us and told us that there are more priests in your area trained to say the TLM than actual TLMs. Perhaps he can help you?

God bless!!
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TLWJune 8, 2013 at 9:14 PM
Thank you Allison.

I really don't know what's going on with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia concerning the TLM. Fr. Check is exactly the kind of priest I wish we were getting but we're not. Fr. Carbonaro of Our Lady of Consolation was also moved, so now there are two TLM parishes without a TLM priest. It boggles the mind.
Keep praying!
Joyce
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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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The Unprofitable Servant

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Prayer Before the Tabernacle: Always There, Waiting

10 comments:

Mary, Queen of Peace

St Michael the Archangel

St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi

St. Teresa Benedicta of The Cross