Italian Market Presepio

This is probably the last week the presepio in Di Bruno's window will be on display. I was taking a walk in the wind and slush just now and decided to give one last shot at getting a picture or two. I don't have the right equipment to capture the scenes without the reflection of the Frank Rizzo mural imposing on the characters, so this is the best I could do. Fleisher Art Memorial, which technically owns this 18 and 19th century Venetian collection, has its own display of copyrighted photos at Flickr.

I especially love the angels equipped with censers hanging above the scene.

In the meantime, the hubby is lamenting the loss of the tree. I proposed that we get a miniature fake tree that we could put up in the live tree's place once it starts dropping its needles. He's going to think about it. We could have put it on a platform and get my son's trains out of the attic and the little magnetic ice skaters and carousel and create some eye candy for the bleak January and February days ahead.

Witness for Life on January 22nd

Still not sure about whether the bus trip to D.C. is on or not. In the meantime, here is something closer to home. Saturday January 22nd marks the 38th anniversary of Roe v Wade. In Philadelphia, a prayer service will be held that day outside the Philadelphia Women's Center at the corner of 8th and Cherry Streets at 7:30 am. At the conclusion of the prayer service, participants will process to St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church at 13th and Market Streets for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 9:30 am.

Please also pray not only for the women who are considering abortion but those doctors, nurses and techs who are blind to the error of their ways that they may undergo conversion. Without willing participants, there would be no abortion.

The Day of Dread, Otherwise Known as Taking Down the Tree

Burning the Christmas Greens

by William Carlos Williams (1883-1963)

Their time past, pulled down
cracked and flung to the fire
--go up in a roar

All recognition lost, burnt clean
clean in the flame, the green
dispersed, a living red,
flame red, red as blood wakes
on the ash--

and ebbs to a steady burning
the rekindled bed become
a landscape of flame

At the winter's midnight
we went to the trees, the coarse
holly, the balsam and
the hemlock for their green

At the thick of the dark
the moment of the cold's
deepest plunge we brought branches
cut from the green trees

to fill our need, and over
doorways, about paper Christmas
bells covered with tinfoil
and fastened by red ribbons

we stuck the green prongs
in the windows hung
woven wreaths and above pictures
the living green. On the

mantle we built a green forest
and among those hemlock
sprays put a herd of small
white deer as if they

were walking there. All this!
and it seemed gentle and good
to us. Their time past,
relief! The room bare. We

stuffed the dead grate
with them upon the half burnt out
log's smouldering eye, opening
red and closing under them

and we stood there looking down.
Green is a solace
a promise of peace, a fort
against the cold (though we

did not say so) a challenge
above the snow's
hard shell. Green (we might
have said) that, where

small birds hide and dodge
and lift their plaintive
rallying cries, blocks for them
and knocks down

the unseeing bullets of
the storm. Green spruce boughs
pulled down by a weight of
snow--Transformed!

Violence leaped and appeared.
Recreant! roared to life
as the flame rose through and
our eyes recoiled from it.

In the jagged flames green
to red, instant and alive. Green!
those sure abutments . . . Gone!
lost to mind

and quick in the contracting
tunnel of the grate
appeared a world! Black
mountains, black and red--as

yet uncolored--and ash white,
an infant landscape of shimmering
ash and flame and we, in
that instant, lost,

breathless to be witnesses,
as if we stood
ourselves refreshed among
the shining fauna of that fire.
1944

All God's Children

At a nearby Adoration chapel, there are signs everywhere pleading with folks not to give money to people who solicit. The faithful are implored to direct those asking for money to the friary. There is one recalcitrant individual who is undaunted and preys on the unsuspecting. She once tried to assault an elderly priest as he was sitting in Adoration, and I'm not sure her problems can all be blamed on the ravages of a life of addiction. I can pray for her to be released from that which binds her, but I'm all too aware of her cunning and violent nature to ever be moved into giving her anything.

Then there is this fellow I know from the days of handing out care packages to homeless men and women. In winter, the packages had the additional items of gloves and hats. As I handed this man his gift bag one day, he tore the hat and gloves out of the bag and put them on immediately. Then he gave me a big hug, saying "Miss, do you think you could tell some of these women out here I'm not as bad as they think?" I still laugh when I think about it and particularly every time I see him.

Anyway, this fellow never bothers anyone in the chapel, nor does he ever ask for anything. He sits a few doors away from the church, greetings passersby. He is the one homeless person that I trust will buy himself food if I give him money. Yesterday, when I came out of the church, he was overjoyed to see me, or at least he did a convincing job of making me think so. "Miss!", he yelled, "don't worry about me being crazy. We is all crazy and God still loves us. You crazy too." I couldn't really argue with him about that!

Any time I see him, he reminds me of the hat and gloves and shows me that he still has them. Then I am treated to a profuse stream of "God Bless you".

Today, he appeared to have finally found a woman who he convinced to believe he wasn't "that bad", and he had her do his bidding for him. You could tell she wasn't quite accustomed to asking for money, and she could barely get a word out of her mouth before he'd correct her. Since I had never heard him beg before, I was a bit surprised. Maybe he's too proud to beg, but not too proud to have it someone do it for him?

"Don't ask for tokens - we ain't taking no bus anywhere."

"Don't ask nobody for nothin without sayin' please. And don't forget to say God bless you!"

"When somebody gives you somethin, you say thank you, you hear?"

His companion appeared to be clean and adequately dressed and her presentation was one of a new employee who is being oriented to their first day on the job. She didn't look homeless but perhaps she was new to the streets. Everybody has to start someplace, including the indigent.

I was thinking about how I have been seeing this character around for the past few years and how some others have not been so lucky. Some have perished due to illness, others met a violent end. There is one man that we believe is probably autistic who sits in Adoration at another nearby chapel all day. We think he's autistic because he doesn't speak to anyone and eye contact is difficult for him, yet he seems to understand. At one of the soup kitchens where I volunteered on Saturday mornings, he would be the first to grab a mop to clean up afterward. I've always wondered if the reason he sits in church is simply because it's the one warm place he can go without being asked to leave, or if something else draws him. I'll never know. I can only pray to God to continue to watch over him and those who live on the streets in a world of their own, never harming a soul.

New Book Exposing America's Abortion Factory

As you have have heard, Abby Johnson's book "Unplanned" is being released today. Johnson is the former Planned Parenthood insider who has converted and written an expose of what "choice" really means. Those who saw the webcast last night say it was astounding.

A friend emailed me and asked to help get the word out that if possible, we should try to purchase the book today. First day sales are important and what's more, book chains that see brisk sales of the book will be compelled to give it a prominent display in their stores.

The book is also available through Ignatius Press. I will add to this later if anything else pertinent comes to mind. I was on my way out the door to do some much-needed grocery shopping before the snow hits when I got the email.

Thanks all!

More Thoughts on the Arizona Tragedy

Little Christina Taylor Green was the daughter of former Phillies baseball manager Dallas Green. She was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania in the hours after the September 11 tragedy. The picture of innocence and hope, she's gone all too soon.

By contrast, the shooter, Jared Loughner, had his mugshot plastered all over the media today. He appeared to be smiling, which made the photo all the more chilling. As is typical of tragedies involving the mentally unstable, all kinds of people are coming forward now to say they knew he wasn't quite right. Classmates blogged that he scared them and one person went so far as to say he was the kind of guy who comes to school with a gun and kills people. I haven't seen anything written about his parents, or what kind of childhood he had. The little bit that we do know is that he was rejected by the Army, was unemployed, and was asked to leave his junior college and seek a psychiatric evaluation. And, that somehow, he was able to get his hands on a gun, a gun he used to put a bullet into a woman's head at close range.

It's hard to feel any sympathy for Loughner, but I do. Father Benedict Groeschel once went so far as to say that mental illness is the crown of thorns that those who bear it must suffer. People don't ask to have psychological problems. Unlike childhood cancer or muscular dystrophy, there are no telethons for children who come into the world with a brain that's less than perfect. More often than not, they're singled out by classmates for harassment and left in isolation to deal with their pain. I have no idea if that has been the case with Loughner, but I wouldn't be surprised.

Parents of children who are not quite right mentally also bear a special cross. There are always accusations that they didn't do enough or pay enough attention to the signs. Only they know whether or not that is true. What's more, treatment is exceedingly expensive and often not covered by most health insurance plans. And so-called treatment is often a shot-in-the-dark. There is no panacea for mental illness, no chemotherapy to cure the illness and send it into remission.

One thing we can be assured of, and that is the infinite mercy of God. At times like these, I take particular comfort in the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Christ died for the ungodly. We may not be able to think about extending forgiveness to a monster who would kill a nine-year-old child. But that's the foundation of our faith. I think of the image seen on so many memorial cards at funerals that depict Christ on a steep mountain slope, swooping down heroically to scoop up a wayward lamb.

In the aftermath of the Virgina Tech tragedy, the anguish and pain that was the shooter's life came to light. A friend asked me if I thought he had gone to hell. I told her I didn't know, but that I had a recurring image of Christ offering him the only consolation he had ever known in his life. Who knows? None of us do. The only thing we do know is that mercy and forgiveness are there for the taking and we have only to ask. We can take it a step further and beg for it for someone repulsive. Where is the grace in praying only for those we can tolerate?

May God have mercy on those who lost their lives. May those responsible for this seek His mercy and forgiveness.

Pray for Vocations

Parishes around the Archdiocese of Philadelphia were asked to hold an hour of Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament for the intention of praying for more priests and religious this week. Tonight at St. Paul's, this intention will be added to the usual Monday evening Novenas to the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, St. Jude, St. Therese, and St. Padre Pio. The Novenas take place at 7pm and are followed by Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament.


A Prayer Before the Blessed Sacrament for the Increase of Priestly and Religious Vocations

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the eternal Father, Son of the Virgin Mary, we thank you for offering your life in sacrifice on the Cross, and for renewing this sacrifice in every Mass celebrated throughout the world.

In the power of the Holy Spirit we adore you and proclaim your living presence in the Eucharist. We desire to imitate the love you show us in your death and resurrection, by loving and serving one another.

We ask you to call many young people to religious life, and to provide the holy and generous priests that are so needed in your Church today. Lord Jesus, hear our prayer. Amen.
—Cardinal Justin Rigali

Sunday Kitchen II

On Tuesday, I made a huge pot of gravy to take for my last day of work. I wanted to treat my staff to some good old fashioned South Philly cuisine. I took the gravy (see previous post if you wish to argue this point) that wouldn't fit in the crock pot and refrigerated it to use as a base for later. Since my mom isn't feeling well and doesn't want to come here for dinner, that would be today.

For Tuesday, I made meatballs, braciole and pork. For the pork, I took two tenderloins, cut them into stew-sized chunks and sauteed them in olive oil and garlic before adding them to the gravy. No pork today, but I did have meatloaf mix for the meatballs and some flat steaks for the braciole.

To prepare the braciole, take some chopped garlic, some fresh chopped parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper and coat each slice of steak. Roll up the steak and either string together or stick with a toothpick. Brown lightly in some olive oil and then transfer to the simmering gravy to finish.

For the meatballs, I will add a disclaimer here that no one makes them like my mom, but my mom never taught me how to cook. Everything I know, I taught myself pretty much, so mine do not taste exactly like hers, but they're pretty good. Anyway, I had about 2 pounds of meatloaf mix to which I added one jumbo egg, salt and pepper, some chopped onion, chopped garlic, chopped parsley and some plain breadcrumbs. After mixing together, I decided to add a little bit of grated locatelli, just to firm the meat up a bit.

Once shaped into balls, I added the meat to some hot olive oil and browned them on each side, also adding them to the simmering gravy to finish.

I was going to make gnocchi, but I made them earlier this week and I don't feel like making them again, so I'm sticking with the much simpler lasagna. There is a photo here of the gnocchi from the other night. I still have quite a bit of ricotta on hand as well as some no-boil lasagna noodles, so it was an easy decision.

Sunday dinners are always a big deal in our house. I'm not married to eating pasta every week, so a lot of times when we don't go the grandparents, I will make short ribs or a rib roast or something else that roasts in the oven and gives the house that wonderful Sunday scent. Last week, we had a friend of my husband's over and I roasted the brother of the turkey we had for Thanksgiving. This week, our oldest is coming with a friend. I hate the thought of anyone having to eat alone on Sunday, unless of course it's by choice.

BTW, the dogs do the happy dance all day long when they smell a pot of gravy on the stove. My mother has spoiled them and into thinking they're entitled to a meatball of their own. Smart little critters.

Sunday Kitchen

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This being Holy Family Sunday on the Traditional Calendar, I did something special for breakfast this morning. And because Grama is ailing, dinner is at our house today. Watch out Father Z - I have some photos to share of my creme brulee French toast as well as the Sunday gravy. (Warning: if you refer to a tomato sauce cooked with meat as anything other than gravy in these parts, you'll be laughed out of the neighborhood. You want to live in South Philadelphia, you call it gravy. End of discussion!)

OK, take a loaf of good challah bread, eggs, half and half, butter, brown sugar, vanilla and corn syrup and get busy. Butter a large baking pan, big enough to fit 6 slices of thick challah.



Next, take a cup of loosely packed brown sugar, a stick of butter and 2 TB of corn syrup and melt together in a saucepan.

Meanwhile, beat 5 eggs, add 2 tsp vanilla and mix with 1 1/2 cups half and half.

When the butter brown sugar mixture is done, pour into the buttered baking pan.

Next, slice up the challah and place in the pan, pressing slices to fit as necessary. Pour the egg cream mixture evenly over the bread. It should like like this. Cover with foil and refrigerate over night. Let sit at room temp for 30 minutes before baking in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until slices are golden brown. Remove one slice at a time, and flip so that the carmelized size is facing upwards. Trust me - no one will be asking what time lunch is after having this for breakfast!

Tragedy in Arizona

Here are my thoughts on the tragedy yesterday that resulted in the death of an innocent 9-year-old child and others whose only crime was to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. My comments will not be popular with some, but I feel someone has to say them. So, have at it, if you must.

1. The person ultimately responsible for this is the person who pulled the trigger.

2. Using this tragedy to assess OR deflect blame is equally shameful

3. A person rejected by the US Army as mentally unstable ought not be able to buy a gun.

4. The 2nd Amendment is not one of the 10 Commandments. Stop treating it like it is.

5. The 5th Commandment refers to our words as well as our actions.

6. The politics of personal destruction, whether committed by the right or the left, have no place in Christianity and particularly in Catholicism. Talk radio and cable news opinion shows do nothing except to incite and anger the already-convinced. No liberal ever underwent a conversion by watching Fox News. No conservative ever flipped sides listening to MSNBC. Put the purveyors of hate out of business. Turn off the TV and/or radio and think for yourself.

7. Prayer is always our best resort. Is our first allegiance to God, or to some political party or ideology?

God have mercy on us all.

The Little Things

My daughter has been an altar server for the Novus Ordo at our parish since she was in 4th grade. Now that she's in 9th grade and prefers the Traditional Latin Mass, I thought it was time for her to hang up her alb, but we also didn't want to leave the pastor high and dry because the number of children willing to serve has been almost nil. In October, she was given the charge of training a little boy who himself is now in 4th grade. He is adorable and resembles a cherub with his curls and blue eyes. Rebecca took her charge very seriously and she let him do as much as possible under her tutelage so that, once on his own, he'd be prepared for anything. It was a very endearing thing to watch. She, being twice his height, resembled a loving big sister more than the senior server, directing him to receive the gifts with Father or ring the bells at the Consecration.

Shortly before Christmas, Father decided it was time for the new server to fly solo. There have been a few charming moments and he still needs a bit of direction, but he will figure things out. Tonight I got to see him serve all by himself. Thankfully, our pastor and our weekend assistant are endowed with ample patience and they took everything in stride. It was a beautiful sight.

Another beautiful but wholly unexpected sight took place at Mass this evening as well. Instead of an Extraordinary Minister , our pastor came out at the Agnus Dei, appropriately vested in a beautiful stole, to help the celebrant distribute Holy Communion. It's possible this has happened before and I wasn't there to see it, but I was both surprised and delighted. The EM's at our parish are very well trained, so you don't see the abuses that take place in some other churches, but still - if there's a priest on-hand, I think it's better that he assist the celebrant rather than an EM.

It was also nice to see that so many people were undaunted by the snow and ice and made it to Mass this evening. I will know I'm batting a thousand if the creche is left up until February 2nd. We'll soon see!

Hanging on to Christmas in More Ways Than One

Here are a few not-so-hot shots of the Christmas tree and some of its ornaments. I would love to leave it up until February 2nd, the Feast of the Presentation, but we'll have to play it by ear. The nativity in the front window as well as the two nativity sets in the house will stay up until then.

Make Way for the Unclean!

In today's Gospel, Jesus cleanses a leper and sends him to show himself to the high priest. In his sermon, the priest described how lepers had to ring a bell and cry "unclean!" to warn the rest of society that an undesirable was passing through. I thought about this today and how I sometimes feel like a leper when I'm among very holy people. Part of me wants them to know how unclean I've been so they don't mistake me for something I'm not, lest they catch the sinfulness that keeps me several rungs below them.

First, there probably isn't a commandment I haven't broken to some degree or another. No need to go into detail, just suffice it to say that I probably been there and done that. Nuff said. What's worse is that some of this took place after I'd had children. I'm not just responsible for getting myself to Heaven but all the little souls that were entrusted to me through matrimony and childhood as well. What a miracle that I made that u-turn when I did.

When I see very large families at the TLM and realize that the mothers don't work outside the home and the fathers willingly support their families, I feel some measure of sadness that my husband and I did not take this route. We were never the kind of family that made the acquisition of material possessions the focus of our lives, but we could have done things better. Believe me, I thank God every day that He sent me the grace to correct the situation before it was too late, but still...

On what may seem like an unrelated note, I was watching a program on EWTN last night and realized I hadn't seen a particular priest host in a few years. Concerned for his health, I did an Internet search and the result was not pretty. Suffice it to say I have added his intention to my novena to St. Therese this month. Just as situations like his can rock our faith to its core, so can conversion stories like mine and others help shore up the faith of others who are struggling. Jesus picked all sorts of characters to be His apostles. He continues to use some of the most unlikely people to spread the Gospel message and be His witnesses in this world, including me.

At Christmas, my sister revealed that she started to go to Mass again on Sundays. When I praised her for this, my oldest wasted no time in pointing out how there was a period in my life when I, too, didn't think going to Mass was important. "I really don't see how you can be one way one day and another the next."

I asked her to consider that perhaps this is how God intended to use me to persuade others to return to the fold. I have a certain credibility to skeptics as a revert that a perfectly faithful person may not. Without leprosy, blindness and lameness, there would be no opportunity for miracles. Perhaps it's the same way with faith and sinners.

First Friday Meditation: St. Therese on the Tender Heart of Jesus

"Tears for God? This must not be! Far less to Him than to creatures ought you to show a mournful face. Our Divine Master comes to us in search of rest - to forget the unceasing complaints of His friends in the world, who, instead of appreciating the value of the Cross, receive it far more often with groans and tears. Would you be as the mediocre souls? Frankly, this is not disinterested love. It is for us to console our Lord, not for Him to console us. His heart is so tender that if you cry, He will dry your tears; but thereafter, He will go away sad, since you did not allow Him to repose tranquilly within you. Our Lord loves the glad of heart, the children who greet Him with a smile. When will you learn to hide your troubles from Him, or tell Him gaily that you are happy to suffer for Him?

"The Good God, Who loves us so much, has pain enough in being obliged to leave us on this earth to fulfill our time of trial, without our constantly telling Him of our discomfort. We must appear not to notice it." - St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Photos From Christmas TLM at St. Paul's

Photography by Mr. Thomas Rudolph and Miss Jennifer Dabovich. Photos originally appeared on the blog "Philadelphia Roamin Catholic" to which TLW expresses her sincere thanks.

The Communion of Saints

This is just some preliminary information on a wonderful event that will be happening in May of 2011. Father Carlos Martin will be headed this way with his collection of relics from nearly 2oo saints. There are plans to have him visit at least four churches throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. St. Rita's at Broad and Ellsworth Street is definitely one of them, and the remaining churches will be announced as plans formalize and finalize. St. Rita's is also spearheading the effort to bring Father Martin here and yours truly is privileged to be part of the group planning for his visit. Father Martin likes to speak to school children and then have them return in the evening with their parents to view the relics, which are spread out on 19 tables so that the faithful can walk around them and venerate them all.

Father Martin's visit will probably coincide with the Novena and Feast of St. Rita, if I have my dates correct, so this will be an opportunity rich with many graces and blessings. In addition to the churches, one in each of the counties that make up the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, there is also discussion about bringing the relics to South Jersey and Delaware and to such places as a Catholic hospital and perhaps even a prison.

I will update this entry as more information becomes available.

St.John Neumann, Bishop of Philadelphia

Today is the Feast of St. John Neumann, who is especially loved by Philadelphia Catholics, as he should be. We owe him a great debt of gratitude. It was St. John who founded the first Catholic system of schools, increasing the number from two to one hundred. He brought religious orders in from all over the world to teach in schools, and he established national parishes to minister to the special needs of immigrants. Perhaps most importantly, he instituted Forty Hours Devotion, which is practiced to this day in nearly every parish church in Philadelphia.

At the time of his death, St. John Neumann was on his way to the post office to mail a letter when he collapsed in the snow at 13th and Vine Streets. An indigent man who recognized him came to his aid. The man happened to be wearing one of the bishop's shirts at the time, as St. John Neumann was renowned for his personal generosity. In his pockets were the letter he was about to mail, his keys, and some candy that he always kept on hand for children he might encounter. He was brought to a nearby house where he died shortly thereafter, the result of having suffered a massive stroke. He was just 48 years old.

At the time he was bishop, the diocese of Philadelphia included all of Delaware and parts of New Jersey in addition to the city proper and its suburbs. Historians have written that St. John Neumann sometimes spent 20 hours a day traveling from one place to another. I would think that he is a particularly apt role model and patron saint for parish priests who must labor tirelessly for the good of their flocks.

Traditional Latin Mass at St. Paul's Jan. 6 for the Feast of the Epiphany

A sung Mass in the Extraordinary Form will be offered on Thursday evening at St. Paul's at 7 pm. St. Paul's is located on Christian Street between 9th and 10th Streets in the heart of the Italian Market. Although the schola is very small (typically 4 voices) it is superb. The other-worldly sounds that echo from the choir loft truly help to enhance the already-beautiful Mass. If you haven't been to the Traditional Latin Mass at St. Paul's yet, what are you waiting for? Please join us to observe the Feast of the Epiphany and experience a little slice of Heaven here on earth.

A Good Resolution For All Of Us

This is one of the prayers I try to pray after receiving Holy Communion on Sundays. I hope to commit it to memory. I was thinking the sentiments of this prayer are something all of us can resolve to attain to in the coming year and always.

Prayer of St. Bonaventure

Pierce, O my sweet Lord Jesus, my inmost soul with the most joyous and healthful wound of your love, with true serene and most holy apostolic charity, that my soul may ever languish and melt with love and longing for you, that it may yearn for you and faint for your courts, and long to be dissolved and to be with you. Grant that my soul may hunger after you, the bread of angels, the refreshment of holy souls, our daily and supernatural bread, having all sweetness and savor and every delight of taste; let my heart hunger after and feed upon you, upon whom the angels desire to look, and may my inmost soul be filled with the sweetness of your savor; may it ever thirst after you, the fountain of life, the fountain of wisdom and knowledge, the fountain of eternal light, the torrent of pleasure, the richness of the house of God; may it ever compass you, seek you, find you, run to you, attain you, meditate upon you, speak of you and do all things to the praise and glory of your name, with humility and discretion, with love and delight, with ease and affection, and with perseverance unto the end; may you alone be ever my hope, my entire assistance, my riches, my delight, my pleasure, my joy, my rest and tranquility, my peace, my sweetness, my fragrance, my sweet savor, my food, my refreshment, my refuge, my help, my wisdom, my portion, my possession and my treasure, in whom may my mind and my heart be fixed and firm and rooted immovably, henceforth and forever. Amen.

O Christ The Same

I don't know who wrote this, but it has been used as the recessional hymn at the Traditional Latin Mass for the past two years at our parish on New Year's Day. It is sung to the tune of "Air from County Derry."

O Christ the same, through all our story's pages
Our loves and hopes, our failures and our fears,
Eternal Lord, the king of all the ages,
Unchanging still, amid the passing years.
O living Word, the source of all creation,
Who spread the skies and set the stars ablaze,
O Christ the same, who wrought man's whole salvation,
We bring our thanks for all our yesterdays.

O Christ the same, the friend of sinners, sharing
Our inmost thoughts, the secrets none can hide,
Still as of old upon your body bearing
The marks of love, in triumph glorified.
O Son of Man, who stooped for us from heaven,
O Prince of life, in all your saving power,
O Christ the same, to whom our hearts are given,
We bring our thanks for this the present hour.

O Christ the same, secure within whose keeping
Our lives and loves, our days and years remain,
Our work and rest, our waking and our sleeping,
Our calm and storm, our pleasure and our pain;
O Lord of love, for all our joys and sorrows,
For all our hopes, when earth shall fade and flee,
O Christ the same, beyond our brief tomorrows,
We bring our thanks for all that is to be.