Quick Question - perfect answer

from This Rock

Q: "One of my friends suggests that we should not applaud the choir after the closing hymn. He says that the song should direct souls to the Lord. I find it unnatural if we don't applaud."

A: The church is not a concert hall and the liturgy is not a performance. We are there to direct our attention to God—not to each other. There is a time and place for everything. The church is for prayer—not performances. If you want to convey your appreciation for the music, compliment the director after Mass.

Happy 4th

I know this picture doesn't reflect the prayer posted, but I couldn't resist, it's just soo CUTE!!

I found this prayer at Opinionated Catholic.

Prayer for the GovernmentPrepared by Archbishop John Carroll November 10, 1791

We pray, Thee O Almighty and Eternal God! Who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of Thy mercy, that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of Thy Name.

We pray Thee, who alone art good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, Pope n., the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, n., all other bishops, prelates, and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise amongst us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation.

We pray Thee O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.

We pray for his excellency, the governor of this state , for the members of the assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

Finally, we pray to Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of Thy servants departed who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives, and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

My Queen, My Mother

My Queen, my Mother, I give myself entirely to you. And to show myself devoted to you, I consecrate to to you my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my entire being without reserve. Since I am yours, my good Mother, preserve me, defend me, as your property and possession. Amen.

Pray For Life

Lord, please spare the life of an unborn child who is in danger of abortion. Let him or her be shown love and be given a caring home. If not by the biological parents then by a husband and wife in want of a child.

Daily Actions

I will examine how I perform the ordinary actions of the day.

Have I risen at the sound of the bell and immediately turned my thoughts to God and to the subject of my meditation?

Have I prepared well the points of my meditation, and sincerely tried to make to make a good one; applying my memory, understanding, and will, and taking practical resolutions?

Did I hear Mass with reverence and receive Holy Communion with due preparation and thanksgiving?

Have I recited my prayers with attention and devotion, remembering that I was then praising God in the name of the whole mystical Body of Christ and in union with the saints and angels in heaven?

Have I applied myself seriously and constantly to my duties and occupations, with a right intention, seeing the dispositions of Providence in all circumstances of the day?

Have I avoided sensuality and selfishness in eating and drinking, and attended to the wants of my neighbor at table?

Have I been faithful in my devotions to the Sacred Heart, the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph, my patrons and my guardian angel?

From Catholic Prayer Book

Family Prayer

Lord God, Creator and Sustainer of life, watch over our family gathered in Jesus' name. Guide and Guard us, keep us united in love for one another. Let your grace be our support in whatever emergencies may lie ahead.

Show us, Father, how to put the past behind us, give You our best today, and place our tomoorows in your hands. Bless our laughter and tears, ease our sorrows and fears. Teach us to appriciate every good gist from your paternal heart. Amen.

Prayers for Sean

Tomorrow at 2:30 PM my nephew Sean Michael will be having surgery for an abdominal hernia. Sean is only 9 years old & I'm sure he is pretty scared about the operation since most adults I know get completely freaked out when having to go under.

He's a tough kid & I'm sure he will recover nicely & will be back to playing baseball, football, riding dirt bikes, and all the other activities he loves so much in no time.

While I know all of Sean Michael's family and friends are praying for him, I'd like to ask all of you to offer a prayer for him as well, not only for the outcome of the surgery but for a quick and easy recovery. Every prayer helps.

We love you Sean Michael!

Uncle Paul & I are praying for you.

Sub Tuum Praesidum

We turn to you for protection,

Holy Mother of God.

Listen to our prayers

and help us in our needs.

Save us from every danger,

glorious and blessed Virgin.

This prayer, known in Latin as "Sub tuum Praesidium" and first found in a Greek papyrus, c. 300, is the oldest known prayer to the Virgin.

Preparation

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever faithful to your promises and ever close to your Church: the earth rejoices in hope of the Savior's coming and looks forward with longing to his return at the end of time. Prepare our hearts and remove the sadness that hinders us from feeling the joy and hope which his presence will bestow, for he is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.

Pray For Our Veterans

God of peace, we pray for those who have served our nation and who laid down their lives to protect and defend our freedom.

We pray for those who have fought, whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war, whose nights are haunted by memories too painful for the light of day.

We pray for those who serve us now, especially for those in harm's way. Shield them from danger and bring them home.

Turn the hearts and minds of our leaders and our enemies to the work of justice and a harvest of peace.

Let the peace you left us,the peace you gave us,be the peace that sustains,the peace that saves us.

All Souls' Day

Prayer for the Poor Souls in Purgatory

Latin:

V. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine.

R. Et lux perpetua luceat eis. Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace. Amen


The commemoration of all the faithful departed is celebrated by the Church on 2 November, or, if this be a Sunday or a solemnity, on 3 November. The Office of the Dead must be recited by the clergy and all the Masses are to be of Requiem, except one of the current feast, where this is of obligation.
The theological basis for the feast is the doctrine that the souls which, on departing from the body, are not perfectly cleansed from venial sins, or have not fully atoned for past transgressions, are debarred from the Beatific Vision, and that the faithful on earth can help them by prayers, almsdeeds and especially by the sacrifice of the Mass. ( See PURGATORY.)
In the early days of Christianity the names of the departed brethren were entered in the diptychs. Later, in the sixth century, it was customary in Benedictine monasteries to hold a commemoration of the deceased members at Whitsuntide. In Spain there was such a day on Saturday before Sexagesima or before Pentecost, at the time of St. Isidore (d. 636). In Germany there existed (according to the testimony of Widukind, Abbot of Corvey, c. 980) a time-honoured ceremony of praying to the dead on 1 October. This was accepted and sanctified by the Church. St. Odilo of Cluny (d. 1048) ordered the commemoration of all the faithful departed to he held annually in the monasteries of his congregation. Thence it spread among the other congregations of the Benedictines and among the Carthusians.
Of the dioceses, Liège was the first to adopt it under Bishop Notger (d. 1008). It is then found in the martyrology of St. Protadius of Besançon (1053-66). Bishop Otricus (1120-25) introduced it into Milan for the 15 October. In Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, priests on this day say three Masses. A similar concession for the entire world was asked of Pope Leo XIII . He would not grant the favour but ordered a special Requiem on Sunday, 30 September, 1888.
In the Greek Rite this commemoration is held on the eve of Sexagesima Sunday, or on the eve of Pentecost. The Armenians celebrate the passover of the dead on the day after Easter.

Prayer of St. Ephraim

O Lord and Master of my life,

give me not the spirit of laziness,

despair, lust of power, and idle talk.

But give rather the spirit of sobriety,

humility, patience and love to Thy servant.

Yea, O Lord and King,

grant me to see my own transgressions

and not to judge my brother,

for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages.

Amen

My Work Ethic at Home

We arrived early to Mass yesterday morning and after saying my prayers I decided to open up the Missalette. I started in the back to see what prayers were inside and I immediately focused on the prayer to St. Joseph.

In my previous post I talked about needing help to get through my work week. Some of the things I need help with at work are: not getting frustrated or loosing my patience so easily with those I work with & some I don't, but in the world of workers comp it's sometimes hard to avoid. I also tend to be too particular about clutter, I can't handle working in even a semi-unorganized environment, it makes me crazy. Everything must be in its place!! Not everyone I work with feels the same way, so I find myself in a crazy state most of the time. Even so, I still have lots of fun at work. However, my work ethic (at work) is not lacking & never has.

Now as for my work ethic at home, that isn't always so great. When it comes to house work, I am a major procrastinator. Anything else that comes up is always more important than dishes, laundry, etc. Which is why this particular prayer stood out so much.

This prayer to St. Joseph is a powerful one, and I plan on posting it somewhere I will see it everyday.

Prayer for the Spirit of Work Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who pass their life in labor, obtain for me the grace to work in a spirit of penance to atone for my many sins; to work conscientiously, putting the call of duty above my own inclinations; to work with gratitude and joy, considering it an honor to use and develop by my labor the gifts I have received from God; to work with order, peace, moderation, and patience, without ever recoiling before weariness or difficulties. Help me to work, above all, with purity of intention and with detachment from self, having always before my eyes the hour of death and the accounting which I must render of time lost, talents wasted, good omitted,and vain complacency in success, which is so fatal to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all after your example, O Patriarch Joseph! This shall be my watchword in life and in death.

A Prayer For The Work Day

I've been back to work full time for about 4 weeks now, and after the week I just had I felt the need to find a specific prayer to help me through the week to come. Of all the prayers I found I liked this one best.

Lord Jesus, as I enter this work place, I bring Your presence with me. I speak Your peace, Your grace, and Your perfect order into the atmosphere of this office. I acknowledge Your Lordship over all that will be spoken, thought, decided and accomplished within these walls. Lord Jesus, I thank You for the gifts You have deposited in me.I do not take them lightly, but commit to using them responsibly and well. Give me a fresh supply of truth and beauty; on which to draw as I do my job.Anoint my creativity, my ideas, my energy so that even my smallest task may bring You honor. Lord when I am confused, guide me. When I am weary, energize me. Lord, when I am burned out, infuse me with the light of Your Holy Spirit. May the work that I do and the way I do it, bring hope, life, and courage to all that I come in contact with today. And Oh Lord, even in this day's most stressful moment, may I rest in You. In the Name of my Lord Jesus I Pray, Amen.

I Really Like This One.

"Is Prayer your Steering Wheel or your spare tire?"

~Corrie Ten Boom

Daily Meditation

Dear children, guard yourelves against idols.
-1 Jn 5:21


Reflection. The world knows many idols which it serves. Some of them are: power, esteem, money, pleasure, ambition, and passion for another person or for one's own "ego".
The true Christian know and senses only one: Christ, only Christ, the total Christ. Whom or what do I serve the most?


Prayer. My lord and Savior, free me from every wordly spirit. Let me follow You with faithfulness and total didication.

The Most Holy Rosary (Online)

Click here for an online audio version of the Most Holy Rosary. The Mysteries are already selected based on the date, and you can choose the speed at which the voice you here is speaking.

A Patriotic Moment

Please remember to PRAY for the brave men & women who are risking their lives everyday.

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm."

~George Orwell

My Day In The Garden!

I woke up this morning and thought a lot about the next 40 days, and all of the things I intend to do and not to do for Lent. I already knew the everyday sacrifice I will be making, but what I would do to help me advance spiritually I was still a little unsure of. Then I went to Mass. I went in early, to discuss my plans with Our Lord, and as I had hoped, by the time Mass was over I knew exactly what I would carry out for this Lenten Season.

On my way home I decided to stop by Home Depot to pick up some flowers, pots, and potting soil. I started planting as soon as I arrived at home and I had a blast. Spending quiet time in the garden allowed me extra time to ponder the coming days. It also made for some good alone time with me and God.

These were labeled "Innocence" & they were pretty, so I bought them

These were labeled "breath of heaven", so I bought them

A tomato plant & 3 red bell peppers

Basil

Our Fountain & the 2 plants I potted today, there will be more soon. This is just the beginning.

My Sweeties putting green

Our statue of Our Lady

Our statue of Our Lady (up close)

Our finally unwrapped BBQ. The first counter top we had we absolutely awful, so we kept the BBQ covered until we replaced it, well, it's replaced. We are so excited that we can finally start using it.

Prayer's For Employment

There are many people who either are, or will be, facing some tough financial challenges. There have been stories on the news of people who are so overcome with fear, doubt, and helplessness, that they have taken their own lives.

The most recent story was tonight. A woman who couldn't pay her rent after losing a job, and was evicted after 6months of trying to make mini-payments, she was found inside the property this afternoon. She had lost all hope.

I was told this while listen to a loved one talk about her day at work.

Please keep all of those who have suffered because of the economic situation the world is in today in your prayers and in your hearts.

Prayer to Saint Joseph

Dear Saint Joseph, you were yourself once faced with the responsibility of providing the necessities of life for Jesus and Mary. Look down with fatherly compassion upon me in my anxiety over my present inability to support my family. Please help me to find gainful employment very soon, so that this heavy burden of concern will be lifted from my heart and that I am soon able to provide for those whom God has entrusted to my care.
Help us to guard against bitterness and discouragement, so that we may emerge from this trial spiritually enriched and with even greater blessings from God.

Amen