Recta Ratio

First, the father of Archbishop O'Malley, Theodore O'Malley died at the age of 89. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen

Second, the Massachusetts Democrat Party has endorsed full gay "marriage" at their convention in Lowell. There wasn't much doubt about that happening, given where that party is. Catholics ought to reward that party by re-registering as Republicans and voting Republican in large numbers.

Yesterday was the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, as well as the memorial of Bl. Julian of Norwich.

Ninth Day: The Gifts of the Holy Ghost
Thou, on those who evermore
Thee confess and Thee adore,
In Thy sevenfold gifts, descend:
Give them comfort when they die;
Give them life with Thee on high;
Give them joy which never ends.
Amen.

Act of Consecration to the Holy Ghost
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly
witnesses, I offer myself soul and body to Thee,
Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy
purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice, and the
might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of
my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire
never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I
pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest
sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought
and grant that I may always watch for Thy light and
listen to Thy voice and follow Thy gracious
inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee
and ask Thee by Thy compassion to watch over me in my
weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and
looking at His Five Wounds and trusting in His
Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and
stricken Heart, I implore Thee Adorable Spirit, helper
of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may
never sin against Thee. Give me grace O Holy Ghost,
Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee
always and everywhere, "Speak Lord, for Thy servant
heareth."
Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into
heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish
Thy work in the souls of Thy Apostles and Disciples,
deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may
perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love.
Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the
perishable things of this world and aspire only after
the things that are eternal, the Spirit of
Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of
Thy divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may
ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining
Heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my
cross with Thee, and that I may overcome with courage
all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit
of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and
grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit
of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and
amiable, the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with
a loving reverence towards God, and may dread in any
way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the
sign of Thy true disciples and animate me in all
things with Thy Spirit.
Amen.

Meditation:
The gifts of the Holy Ghost perfect the supernatural
virtues by enabling us to practice them with greater
docility to divine inspiration. As we grow in the
knowledge and love of God under the direction of the
Holy Ghost, our service becomes more sincere and
generous, the practice of virtue more perfect. Such
acts of virtue leave the heart filled with joy and
consolation and are known as Fruits of the Holy Ghost.
These fruits in turn render the practice of virtue
more attractive and become a powerful incentive for
still greater efforts in the service of God, to serve
Whom is to reign.

Prayer:
Come, O Divine Spirit, fill my heart with Thy heavenly
fruits, Thy charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity,
goodness, faith, mildness, and temperance, that I may
never weary in the service of God, but by continued
faithful submission to Thy inspiration, may merit to
be united eternally with Thee in the love of the
Father and the Son.
Amen.

1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 7 Glory Be To the Fathers

Prayer to the Holy Ghost
V. Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy
faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
R. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
V. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth
V. Let us pray --- Oh God Who didst instruct the
hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Ghost,
grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and to
ever rejoice in His consolations, through Jesus Christ
Our Lord.
Amen.

I will address thee, O great Mother of God, in the words of St. Bernard: "Speak, O Lady, for thy Son heareth thee, and whatever thou askest thou wilt obtain" ("Loquere, Domina, quia audit Filius tuus; et quaecumque petieris, impetrabis"—Depr. Ad gl. V.)

Speak, speak, then, O Mary, our advocate, in favor of us poor miserable creatures. Remember that it was also for our good that thou didst receive so great power and so high a dignity. A God was pleased to become thy debtor by taking humanity of thee, in order that thou mightest dispense at will the riches of divine mercy to sinners.

We are thy servants, devoted in a special manner to thee; and I am one of these, I trust, even in a higher degree. We glory in living under thy protection. Since thou dost good to all, even to those who neither know nor honor thee, nay, more, to those who outrage and blaspheme thee, how much more may we not hope from thy benignity, which seeks out the wretched in order to relieve them, we who honor, love, and confide in thee?

We are great sinners, but God has enriched thee with compassion and power far exceeding our iniquities. Thou canst, and hast the will to save us; and the greater is our unworthiness, the greater shall be our hope in order to glorify thee the more in heaven, when by thy intercession we get there.

O Mother of mercy, we present thee our souls, once cleansed and rendered beautiful in the blood of Jesus Christ, but, alas, since that time, defiled by sin. To thee do we present them; do thou purify them. Obtain for us true conversion; obtain for us the love of God, perseverance, heaven.

We ask thee for much; but what is it? perhaps thou canst not obtain all? It is perhaps too much for the love God bears thee? Ah, no! for thou hast only to open thy lips and ask thy divine Son; he will deny thee nothing. Pray, then: and we shall with the same certainty obtain the kingdom of heaven.
Amen.

Do your ^@&^#$!*&*# jobs, aggressively patrol the borders, and keep the illegals out!

Make it very likely that anyone trying to sneak across either the Mexican or Canadian border, or come ashore in the hold of a ship, will be caught, detained, and then sent back as quickly as possible. the objective is to protect the integrity the border and catch as many illegals as is humanly possible, not allow enough in so that there is a constant supply of landscapers, servants, other cheap labor and Democrat voters.

For those of you who just can't get enough Pope Benedict, Quodlibeta has unearthed a photo of him in a suit from his days as a university professor.

What, no cassock?

There are lots of photos of Ven. John Paul the Great in mufti floating around. That was because of his fondness for hiking and skiing. But this is the first one I have seen of Pope Benedict.

Archbishop Levada of San Francisco will run the Congregation For the Doctrine of the Faith.

Not a great move if you think he will actually be doing anything more than managing the day-to-day operations of that vital dicastery. Also not a great move if the Holy Father should become incapacitated for a long time, or if Archbishop Levada should stick around there for very long after the Holy Father. Anything that gives him a chance to act outside the shadow of Pope Benedict would be bad.

But, as I said yesterday, I see it as kicking a fairly ineffective pastor upstairs to a position that, though important, will be scrutinized very closely, very, very closely, by the Holy Father. He goes to gain a patch of ground that hath in it no honor but the name. I see his role as essentially office manager and errand boy for Pope Benedict.

And that creates an opening in a major American see, giving the Holy Father a chance to set his stamp on the hapless bench of American bishops. And I think it is no coincidence that His Holiness opted to get someone new into the Archdiocese of San Francisco, a city known as almost ground zero for abberant sexual behaviour. That is a place where a pastor who will speak truth to power, preach against the world, not give in to it, is vitally necessary.

The bad news is that Archbishop Levada will probably get a red hat out of the deal eventually. But it is possible that, if Pope Benedict lives long enough with his present full control, he will reach age 75 in 6 years or so, and find his resignation on reaching the statutory age accepted with alacrity.

On the whole, I don't find this worrying. Did Ronald Reagan ever appoint liberal or moderate Republicans to his Cabinet? Yes he did. In fact there were very few true believers in the Cabinet once you got past Regan, Meese, Watt, Casey, Kirkpatrick, and Weinberger. But Ronald Reagan was a conservative who had paid his dues. In a phrase I have heard many times, he was there, at the meetings with us.

I think the same can be said of our Holy Father based on his writings, and his actions over the last quarter century. He can be trusted. He has put in his time. He is one of us. His intentions are ours, governed always by the dictum that politics (including ecclesiastical politics) is the art of the possible. Don't let your fantasies overwhelm reasonable expectations, and you will not be disappointed by Pope Benedict. He will do well. Let the man do his job.

Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has waived the 5-year waiting period and opened the cause for sainthood of our late Holy Father John Paul the Great.

A very gracious and appropriate action.

Eighth Day: The Gift of Charity
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray!

Act of Consecration to the Holy Ghost
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly
witnesses, I offer myself soul and body to Thee,
Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy
purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice, and the
might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of
my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire
never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I
pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest
sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought
and grant that I may always watch for Thy light and
listen to Thy voice and follow Thy gracious
inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee
and ask Thee by Thy compassion to watch over me in my
weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and
looking at His Five Wounds and trusting in His
Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and
stricken Heart, I implore Thee Adorable Spirit, helper
of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may
never sin against Thee. Give me grace O Holy Ghost,
Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee
always and everywhere, "Speak Lord, for Thy servant
heareth."
Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into
heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish
Thy work in the souls of Thy Apostles and Disciples,
deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may
perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love.
Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the
perishable things of this world and aspire only after
the things that are eternal, the Spirit of
Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of
Thy divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may
ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining
Heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my
cross with Thee, and that I may overcome with courage
all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit
of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and
grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit
of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and
amiable, the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with
a loving reverence towards God, and may dread in any
way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the
sign of Thy true disciples and animate me in all
things with Thy Spirit.
Amen.

Meditation:
Embodying all the other gifts, as charity embraces all
other virtues, Wisdom is the most perfect of the
gifts. Of wisdom it is written "all good things came
to me with her, and innumerable riches through her
hands." It is the gift of Wisdom that strengthens our
faith, fortifies hope, perfects charity, and promotes
the practice of virtue in the highest degree. Wisdom
enlightens the mind to discern and relish things
divine, in the appreciation of which earthly joys lose
their savor, whilst the Cross of Christ yields a
divine sweetness according to the words of the Savior:
"Take up thy cross and follow Me, for My yoke is
sweet, and My burden light."

Prayer:
Come, O Spirit of Wisdom, and reveal to my soul the
mysteries of heavenly things, their exceeding
greatness, power and beauty. Teach me to love them
above and beyond all passing joys and satisfactions of
the earth. Help me to attain them and possess them for
ever.
Amen.

1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 7 Glory Be

Prayer to the Holy Ghost
V. Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy
faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
R. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
V. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth
V. Let us pray --- Oh God Who didst instruct the
hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Ghost,
grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and to
ever rejoice in His consolations, through Jesus Christ
Our Lord.
Amen.

O Queen and Mother of mercy, who dispensest graces to all who have recourse to thee with so much liberality, because thou art a Queen, and with so much love, because thou art our most loving Mother; to thee do I, who am so devoid of merit and virtue, and so loaded with debts to the divine justice, recommend myself this day.

O Mary, thou holdest the keys of all the divine mercies; forget not my miseries, and leave me not in my poverty. Thou art so liberal with all, and givest more than thou art asked for, O, be thus liberal with me.

O Lady, protect me; this is all that I ask of thee. If thou protectest me, I fear nothing. I fear not the evil spirits; for thou art more powerful than all of them. I fear not my sins; for thou by one word canst obtain their full pardon from God. And if I have thy favor, I do not even fear an angry God; for a single prayer of thine will appease him. In fine, if thou protectest me, I hope all; for thou art all-powerful.

O Mother of mercy, I know that thou takest pleasure and dost glory in helping the most miserable, and, provided they are not obstinate, that thou canst help them. I am a sinner, but am not obstinate; I desire to change my life. Thou canst, then, help me; O, help me and save me. I now place myself entirely in thy hands. Tell me what I msut do in order to please God, and I am ready for all, and hope to do all with thy help, O Mary—Mary my Mother, my light, my consolations, my refuge, my hope.
Amen. Amen. Amen.

That a day after I noted here in this blog the hundreds of unsuccessful efforts in the last week to infect my e-mail with assorted viruses, the hopeless effort has stopped cold.

I tend to think it was a trial balloon, and that it got enough flak that it won't happen.

But if it does, though I don't like it, it may not be a disaster. First of all, no matter who is appointed to that position, does anyone seriously think that the Holy Father, who headed that dicastery for 23 years, is about to let anyone really do more than manage it? Of course, if our Holy Father does not serve as long in the papacy as we would like, and Levada holds over, that would be a major problem.

Second, think about the other rumor. "Archbishop Fessio of San Francisco" (despite the fact that he is a Jesuit and they normally don't take ecclesiastical preferment). More than worth the price of kicking Archbishop Levada upstairs to a position where his every move will be under the eyes of Pope Benedict, don't you think?

Even Churchmen need to have a little Machiavelli about them to get on.

The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI
_Accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the diocese of Brooklyn, U.S.A., presented by Bishop Joseph M. Sullivan, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Frs. Joseph J. Tyson, pastor of the parishes of St. Edward, St. George and St. Paul, and Eusebio L. Elizondo M.Sp.S, pastor of the parish of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, as auxiliaries of the archdiocese of Seattle (area 64,269, population 4,755,500, Catholics 904,000, priests 313, permanent deacons 98, religious 585), U.S.A. Bishop-elect Tyson was born at Moses Lake, U.S.A., in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1989. Bishop-elect Elizondo was born in Victoria, Mexico, in 1954 and ordained a priest in 1984.

From the Vatican Information Service.

Seventh Day: The Gift of Counsel
Heal our wounds -- our strength renew;
On our dryness pour Thy dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away!
Act of Consecration to the Holy Ghost
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly
witnesses, I offer myself soul and body to Thee,
Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy
purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice, and the
might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of
my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire
never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I
pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest
sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought
and grant that I may always watch for Thy light and
listen to Thy voice and follow Thy gracious
inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee
and ask Thee by Thy compassion to watch over me in my
weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and
looking at His Five Wounds and trusting in His
Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and
stricken Heart, I implore Thee Adorable Spirit, helper
of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may
never sin against Thee. Give me grace O Holy Ghost,
Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee
always and everywhere, "Speak Lord, for Thy servant
heareth."
Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into
heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish
Thy work in the souls of Thy Apostles and Disciples,
deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may
perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love.
Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the
perishable things of this world and aspire only after
the things that are eternal, the Spirit of
Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of
Thy divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may
ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining
Heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my
cross with Thee, and that I may overcome with courage
all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit
of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and
grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit
of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and
amiable, the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with
a loving reverence towards God, and may dread in any
way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the
sign of Thy true disciples and animate me in all
things with Thy Spirit.
Amen.

Meditation:
The gift of Counsel endows the soul with supernatural
prudence, enabling it to judge promptly and rightly
what must be done, especially in difficult
circumstances. Counsel applies the principles
furnished by Knowledge and Understanding to the
innumerable concrete cases that confront us in the
course of our daily duty as parents, teachers, public
servants and Christian citizens. Counsel is
supernatural common sense, a priceless treasure in the
quest of salvation. "Above all these things, pray to
the Most High, that He may direct thy way in truth."

Prayer:
Come, O Spirit of Counsel, help and guide me in all my
ways, that I may always do Thy holy will. Incline my
heart to that which is good; turn it away from all
that is evil, and direct me by the straight path of
Thy commandments to that goal of eternal life for
which I long.
Amen.

1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 7 Glory Be

Prayer to the Holy Ghost
V. Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy
faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
R. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
V. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth
V. Let us pray --- Oh God Who didst instruct the
hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Ghost,
grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and to
ever rejoice in His consolations, through Jesus Christ
Our Lord.
Amen.

O my soul, see what a sure hope of salvation and eternal life our Lord has given thee, by having in his mercy inspired thee with confidence in the patronage of his mother; and this, notwithstanding that so many times by thy sins thou hast merited his displeasure and hell.

Thank thy God, and thank thy protectress Mary, who has condescended to take thee under her mantle; for of this thou mayest be well convinced, after the many graces that thou hast received by her means. O yes, I do thank thee, my most loving Mother, for all thou hast done for me who am deserving of hell. And from how many dangers hast thou not delivered me, O Queen! How many inspirations and mercies hast thou not obtained for me from God! What service, what honor, have I ever rendered thee, that thou shouldst do so much for me? I know that it is thy sole goodness that has impelled thee.

O, too little would it be in comparison with all that I owe thee, did I shed my blood and give my life for thee; for thou hast delivered me from eternal death; thou hast enabled me, as I hope, to recover divine grace; to thee, in fine, I owe all I have.

My most amiable Lady, I, poor wretch that I am, can make thee no return but that of always loving and praising thee. Disdain not to accept the tender affection of a poor sinner, who is inflamed with love for thy goodness. If my heart is unworthy to love thee, because it is impure and filled with earthly affecgions, it is thou who must change it. Change it, then. Bind me to my God, and bind me so that I may never more have it in my power to separate myself from his love. Thou askest of me that I should love thy Godk, and I ask of thee that thou shouldst obtain this love for me, to love him always; this is all that I desire.
Amen.

Sixth Day: The Gift of Understanding
If Thou take Thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay,
All his good is turn'd to ill.

Act of Consecration to the Holy Ghost
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly
witnesses, I offer myself soul and body to Thee,
Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy
purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice, and the
might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of
my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire
never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I
pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest
sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought
and grant that I may always watch for Thy light and
listen to Thy voice and follow Thy gracious
inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee
and ask Thee by Thy compassion to watch over me in my
weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and
looking at His Five Wounds and trusting in His
Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and
stricken Heart, I implore Thee Adorable Spirit, helper
of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may
never sin against Thee. Give me grace O Holy Ghost,
Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee
always and everywhere, "Speak Lord, for Thy servant
heareth."
Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into
heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish
Thy work in the souls of Thy Apostles and Disciples,
deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may
perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love.
Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the
perishable things of this world and aspire only after
the things that are eternal, the Spirit of
Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of
Thy divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may
ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining
Heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my
cross with Thee, and that I may overcome with courage
all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit
of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and
grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit
of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and
amiable, the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with
a loving reverence towards God, and may dread in any
way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the
sign of Thy true disciples and animate me in all
things with Thy Spirit.
Amen.

Meditation:
Understanding, as a gift of the Holy Ghost, helps us
to grasp the meaning of the truths of our holy
religion. By faith we know them, but by Understanding
we learn to appreciate and relish them. It enables us
to penetrate the inner meaning of revealed truths and
through them to be quickened to newness of life. Our
faith ceases to be sterile and inactive, but inspires
a mode of life that bears eloquent testimony to the
faith that is in us; we begin to "walk worthy of God
in all things pleasing, and increasing in the
knowledge of God."

Prayer:
Come, O Spirit of Understanding, and enlighten our
minds, that we may know and believe all the mysteries
of salvation; and may merit at last to see the eternal
light in Thy light; and in the light of glory to have
a clear vision of Thee and the Father and the Son.
Amen.

1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 7 Glory Be To the Father

Prayer to the Holy Ghost
V. Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy
faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
R. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
V. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth
V. Let us pray --- Oh God Who didst instruct the
hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Ghost,
grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and to
ever rejoice in His consolations, through Jesus Christ
Our Lord.
Amen.

Behold at thy feet, O Mary my hope, a poor sinner, who has so many times been by his own fault the slave of hell. I know that by neglecting to have recourse to thee, my refuge, I allowed myself to be overcome by the devil. Had I always had recourse to thee, had I always invoked thee, I certainly should not have fallen.

I trust, O Lady most worthy of all our love, that through thee I have already escaped from the hands of the devil, and that God has pardoned me. But I tremble lest at some future period I may again fall into the same bonds. I know that my enemies have not lost the hope of again overcoming me, and already they prepare new assaults and temptations for me.

O, my Queen and refuge, do thou assist me. Place me under thy mantle; permit me not again to become their slave. I know that thou wilt help me and give me the victory, provided I invoke thee; but I dread lest in my temptations I may forget thee, and neglect to do so.

The favor, then, that I seek of thee, and which thou must grant me, O most holy Virgin, is that I may never forget thee, and especially in time of temptation; grant that I may then repeatedly invoke thee, saying, "O Mary, help me; O Mary, help me."

And when my last struggle with hell comes, at the moment of death, then, my Queen, help me more than ever, and thou thyself remind me to call on thee more frequently either with my lips or in my heart; that, being thus filled with confidence, I may expire with thy sweet name and that of thy Son Jesus on my lips; that so I may be able to bless thee and praise thee, and not depart from thy feet in Paradise for all eternity.
Amen.

Yep, they are imagining the Vatican thought police hauling them all off to the Gulag where they will be forced to do unfamiliar things like pray the Rosary, adore the Blessed Sacrament, and follow the Stations of the Cross, maybe even make novenas, instead of rapping about ordination for women, changing Church teaching on homosexuality, marriage, the family, contraception, abortion, and on and on down the progessive checklist of desiderata.

The Minutemen Project is going to start patrolling the US/Canada border in Vermont, as well as the US Mexican border. If the INS and Border Patrol can't, or don't want to keep illegals out, others can. And it must be done, or the US will sink into Third World status, and no longer be what it has always been: an extra-continental European power, and the last bastion of traditional western culture and Christendom.

The website of The Catholic League has been hacked.

In a probably unrelated matter, over the last week, I have received hundreds (dozens each day) of efforts to infect the computers I use with various viruses. They all come in labelled "Confirmation Submission," or "Your E-mail Could Not Be Delivered," or "Your Password," or things like that. Pretty unoriginal. Since I send very few e-mails, and join very few things from this account, not bloody likely. It is no coincidence that, of all my e-mail accounts, only the one I use for blogging business is targetted.

Fortunately, I have very good anti-virus software. And Yahoo puts it all in the bulk folder anyway. I doubt very much that it will silence me.

One ordinary's resignation accepted, one auxiliary appointed.

It isn't worth destroying the Church to settle claims, any claims. As worthy as the cause is, it isn't that worthy. The Diocese of St. George's is hoping the faithful will buy back key properties at auction and bail them out.

They are lucky they are not in a major metropolitan area, or the real estate developers would surely outbid any offers the faithful can come up with.

Talk about a roll of the dice!

Saw this one over at Amy Welborn's place.

Fifth Day: The Gift of Knowledge
Light immortal! Light Divine!
Visit Thou these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill.

Act of Consecration to the Holy Ghost
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly
witnesses, I offer myself soul and body to Thee,
Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy
purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice, and the
might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of
my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire
never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I
pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest
sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought
and grant that I may always watch for Thy light and
listen to Thy voice and follow Thy gracious
inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee
and ask Thee by Thy compassion to watch over me in my
weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and
looking at His Five Wounds and trusting in His
Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and
stricken Heart, I implore Thee Adorable Spirit, helper
of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may
never sin against Thee. Give me grace O Holy Ghost,
Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee
always and everywhere, "Speak Lord, for Thy servant
heareth."
Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into
heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish
Thy work in the souls of Thy Apostles and Disciples,
deign to grant the same Holy Ghost to me, that He may
perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love.
Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the
perishable things of this world and aspire only after
the things that are eternal, the Spirit of
Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of
Thy divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may
ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining
Heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my
cross with Thee, and that I may overcome with courage
all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit
of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and
grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit
of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and
amiable, the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with
a loving reverence towards God, and may dread in any
way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the
sign of Thy true disciples and animate me in all
things with Thy Spirit.
Amen.

Meditation:
The gift of Knowledge enables the soul to evaluate
created things at their true worth -- in relation to
God. Knowledge unmasks the pretense of creatures,
reveals their emptiness, and points out their only
true purpose as instruments in the service of God. It
shows us the loving care of God even in adversity, and
directs us to glorify Him in every circumstance of
life. Guided by its light, we put first things first,
and prize the friendship of God beyond all else.
"Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that
possesseth it."

Prayer:
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Knowledge, and grant that I
may perceive the will of the Father; show me the
nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize
their vanity and use them only for Thy glory and my
own salvation, looking ever beyond them to Thee, and
Thy eternal rewards.
Amen.

1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 7 Glory Be To the Fathers

Prayer to the Holy Ghost
V. Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy
faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
R. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
V. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth
V. Let us pray --- Oh God Who didst instruct the
hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Ghost,
grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and to
ever rejoice in His consolations, through Jesus Christ
Our Lord.
Amen.

O Mother of God, Queen of angels and hope of men, give ear to one who calls upon thee and has recourse to thy protection. Behold me this day prostrate at thy feet; I, a miserable slave of hell, devote myself entirely to thee. I desire to be forever thy servant. I offer myself to serve and honor thee to the utmost of my power during the whole of my life.

I know that the service of one so vile and miserable can be no honor to thee, since I have so grievously offended Jesus, thy Son and my Redeemer. But if thou wilt accept one so unworthy for thy servant, and by thy intercession change me, and thus making me worthy, this very mercy will give thee that honor which so miserable a wretch as I can never give thee.

Receive me, then, and reject me not, O my Mother. The Eternal Word came from heaven on earth to seek for lost sheep, and to save them he became thy Son. And when one of them goes to thee to find Jesus, wilt thou despise it?

The price of my salvation is already paid; my Savior has already shed his blood, which suffices to save an infinity of worlds. This blood has only to be applied even to such a one as I am. And that is thy office, O Blessed Virgin; to thee does it belong, as I am told by St. Bernard, to dispense the merits of this blood to whom thou pleasest. To thee does it belong, says St. Bonaventure, to save whomsoever thou willest, "whomsoever thou willest will be saved" ("Quem vis, ipse salvus erit").

Oh, then, help me, my Queen; my Queen, save me. To thee do I this day consecrate my whole soul; do thou save it. O salvation of those who invoke thee, I conclude in the words of the same saint, "O salvation of those who call upon thee, do thou save me" ("O Salus te invocantium!").
Amen.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of his beatification.

EWTN has an excellent essay on Blessed Damien, which I found through the good offices of Father Sistare at Not So Quiet Catholic Corner.

Over at Living Catholicism.

This weekend, I finished Scott Hahn and Ann Taves (both are short works).

Since May 1st, I have been ransacking The Glories of Mary for prayers for this blog. Well, I have always been a little deterred from reading St. Alphonsus because of what I call his stylistic "clucks", his "ahs" instead of "Os", and other emotional outbursts. And then there is the sheer mass of The Glories of Mary, which could put off anyone seeking light reading.

But yesterday I began to check out the chapters I hsve whirred through in search of prayers, and found that I agree that this is a classic devotional work and ought to be read and treasured by every Roman Catholic on the face of the planet.

Here is a link to TAN's editon, which is what I'm reading. I hear they need some financial help. Order from them, if you please.

So says Drudge.

If so, the political wars, which have not been engaging my attention much since the election could become red-hot this summer. Unfortunately, it is one of "our guys" and one fence sitter who may need to be replaced, so there would only be an idealogical shift at the margin, if all goes well in the selection and confirmation (and the latter is fraught with the potential for idealogical warfare with Senate Democrats).

From the Allston-Brighton Tab, and brought to our attention by Papa Ratzi Post.

Like all good satire, thee is more than a slender element of truth in this.

Dale Price points out that there is a Jesuit priest who has been the victim of tyranny on the part of the superiors of his order, who tried to silence him because his views were not considered within the "mainstream" of the order, but that the Jesuit in question was Father Fessio.

Maybe, or maybe just a symbolic Orient, a Crucifix on the altar. Despite its flippant attitude, this LA Times article contributes some good points on the history of the orientation of the priest at Mass.

Thanks to Michael Dubruiel for the heads-up.

That the traditional Latin Mass has returned to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. To the cathedral, no less (at least for now).

Meanwhile, here in Boston, the Archdiocese, in an effort headed up by Bishop Lennon, and with the active complicity of the "pastor" of the Latin Mass community, is vigorously and adamantly trying to kill the Indult Mass without doing so directly, by cramming it into a church that is too small for its needs, has no parking (for a congregation that is almost all folks driving in from the burbs (and many of whom have small children, ruling out public transportation), with no Communion rail, and with the likelihood that we will have to submit to the music program in place in that parish (Haugen and Haas don't go with a Latin High Mass).

Fourth Day: The Gift of Fortitude
Thou in toil art comfort sweet
Pleasant coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.

Act of Consecration to the Holy Ghost
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly
witnesses, I offer myself soul and body to Thee,
Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy
purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice, and the
might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of
my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire
never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I
pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest
sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought
and grant that I may always watch for Thy light and
listen to Thy voice and follow Thy gracious
inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee
and ask Thee by Thy compassion to watch over me in my
weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and
looking at His Five Wounds and trusting in His
Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and
stricken Heart, I implore Thee Adorable Spirit, helper
of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may
never sin against Thee. Give me grace O Holy Ghost,
Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee
always and everywhere, "Speak Lord, for Thy servant
heareth."
Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into
heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish
Thy work in the souls of Thy Apostles and Disciples,
deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may
perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love.
Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the
perishable things of this world and aspire only after
the things that are eternal, the Spirit of
Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of
Thy divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may
ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining
Heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my
cross with Thee, and that I may overcome with courage
all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit
of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and
grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit
of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and
amiable, the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with
a loving reverence towards God, and may dread in any
way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the
sign of Thy true disciples and animate me in all
things with Thy Spirit.
Amen.

Meditation:
By the gift of Fortitude, the soul is strengthened
against natural fear, and supported to the end in the
performance of duty. Fortitude imparts to the will an
impulse and energy which move it to undertake without
hesitancy the most arduous tasks, to face dangers, to
trample under foot human respect, and to endure
without complaint the slow martyrdom of even lifelong
tribulation. "He that shall persevere unto the end, he
shall be saved."

Prayer:
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Fortitude, uphold my soul in
times of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts
after holiness, strengthen my weakness, give me
courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that I
may never be overcome and separated from Thee, my God
and greatest Good.
Amen.

1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 7 Glory Be To the Fathers

Prayer to the Holy Ghost
V. Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy
faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
R. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
V. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth
V. Let us pray --- Oh God Who didst instruct the
hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Ghost,
grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and to
ever rejoice in His consolations, through Jesus Christ
Our Lord.
Amen.

O most pure Virgin Mary, I venerate thy most holy heart, which was the delight and resting-place of God, thy heart overflowing with humility, purity, and divine love.

I, an unhappy sinner, approach thee with a heart all loathsome and wounded. O compassionate Mother, disdain me not on this account; let such a sight rather move thee to greater tenderness, and excite thee to help me. Do not stay to seek virtues or merit in me before assisting me. I am lost, and the only thing I merit is hell. See only my confidence in thee and the purpose I have to amend. Consider all that Jesus has done and suffered for me, and then abandon me if thou canst.

I offer thee all the pains of his life; the cold that he endured in the stable; his journey into Egypt; the blood which he shed; the poverty, sweats, sorrows, and death that he endured for me; and this in thy presence. For the love of Jesus, take charge of my salvation.

O, my Mother, I will not and cannot fear that thou wilt reject me, now that I have recourse to thee and ask thy help. Did I fear this, I should be offering an outrage to thy mercy, which goes in quest of the wretched, in order to help them.

O Lady, deny not thy compassion to one to whom Jesus has not denied his blood. But the merits of this blood will not be applied to me unless thou recommendest me to God. Through thee do I hope for salvation. I ask not for riches, honors, or earthly goods. I seek only the grace of God, love towards thy Son, the accomplishment of his will, and his heavenly kingdom, that I may love him eternally.

Is it possible that thou wilt not hear me? No; for already thou has granted my prayer, as I hope; already thou prayest for me; already thou obtainest me the graces that I ask; already thou takest me under thy protection. My Mother, abandon me not. Never, never cease to pray for me, until thou seest me safe in heaven at thy feet, blessing and thanking thee forever.
Amen.

The calendars mostly don't mark it any more, but sixty years ago today, the US & UK celebrated a day of jubilation to mark the defeat of Nazi Germany. That victory was won at the price of much, much blood. In fact we suffered losses in liberating Italy, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, part of Czechoslovakia, and North Africa that would make modern pundits blanch. Eighty thousand Americans were killed, wounded, or captured in the Battle of the Bulge alone. The effort took almost 31/2 years, including the North African and air campaigns.

It has been my privilege to know several men who fought to free Europe from the National Socialist tyranny. My Dad spent V-E in a hospital in England recovering from a gunshot wound he had received a few weeks before in Germany (in the town of Weissenfels, to be specific). William Daly, one of my history professors at BC, spent it recovering after being liberated from a German prisoner-of-war camp (he was a B-17 crewman).

The fighting in Europe was of a scale and ferocity that, thank God, has not been reached since. The entire national effort of the US and Britain needed to be focused on defeating the National Socialists and not only driving them back to their homeland, but taking them out forever. Even the fighting in Vietnam, where roughly 56,000 Americans died over ten years, was light combat by comparison. We lost hundreds of men each day in the ETO in 1944-45. Patton's Third Army, in the time between its glorious encirclement of the German forces in Normandy and its equally glorious riposte against the southern flank the the Bulge in the Ardennes, lost 250,000 casualties in three months in gaining almost no ground in Alsace-Lorraine region.

This V-E Day, as we have the recent experience of liberating another country victimized by a tyrant and by a single-party government, we look back on the accomplishments of the men who fought and won World War II with renewed awe. We need some of the same spirit as Europe faces new crises, the de-Christianization of European society coupled with out-of-control Moslem immigration and a low European birthrate which threatens to turn the heartland of the Church into part of the world of Islam within the next century.

We repeat, again, the words of the Psalmist:

Truly, who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is the rock?
33
This God who girded me with might, kept my way unerring,
34
Who made my feet swift as a deer's, set me safe on the heights,
35
8 Who trained my hands for war, my arms to bend even a bow of bronze.
36
You have given me your protecting shield; your right hand has upheld me; you stooped to make me great.
37
You gave me room to stride; my feet never stumbled.
38
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till I destroyed them.
39
I struck them down; they could not rise; they fell dead at my feet.
40
You girded me with strength for war, subdued adversaries at my feet.
41
My foes you put to flight before me; those who attacked me I destroyed.
42
They cried for help, but no one saved them; cried to the LORD but got no answer.
43
I ground them fine as dust in the wind; like mud in the streets I trampled them down.
44
You rescued me from the strife of peoples; you made me head over nations. A people I had not known became my slaves;
45
as soon as they heard of me they obeyed. Foreigners cringed before me;
46
their courage failed; they came trembling from their fortresses.
47
The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, my savior!
48
O God who granted me vindication, made peoples subject to me,
49
and preserved me from my enemies, Truly you have exalted me above my adversaries, from the violent you have rescued me.
50
Thus I will proclaim you, LORD, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name.
51
You have given great victories to your king, and shown kindness to your anointed, to David and his posterity forever.
Psalm 17/18, 32-51

These two Irish songs, the first a very traditional ballad, the second a comic filk of three different songs are traditions here for Mothers' Day.

A Mother's Love's A Blessing
An Irish boy was leaving, leaving his own native home,
Crossing the broad Atlantic, once more he wished to roam;
And as he was leaving his mother, while standing on the quay,
She threw her arms around his neck and these were the words she said:

A mother's love's a blessing, no matter where you roam,
Keep her while she's living, you'll miss her when she's gone;
Love her as in childhood, though feeble, old and grey,
For you'll never miss your mother when she's buried beneath the clay.

And as the years go onward, I'll settle down in life,
I'll find a nice young Irish girl, and make her my sweet wife;
And as the kids grow older and climb around my knee,
I'll teach them the very same lesson that my mother once taught to me.

A mother's love's a blessing, no matter where you roam,
Keep her while she's living, you'll miss her when she's gone;
Love her as in childhood, though feeble, old and grey,
For you'll never miss your mother when she's buried beneath the clay.

Mom's Lullabye
1 (to the tune of Brahms' Lullabye)

Go to bed, go to bed, I've had enough of your nonsense.
Close your eyes, you little monster, before I blister your behind.
I'll explain. You're a pain when you're tired and cranky.
I get cranky sometimes, too. It's cause I'm sick and tired of you

No, you can't, have one more drink.
No, I won't read you one more story!
I have had, it up to here.
I could use a drink myself.

2 ( to the tune of My Favorite Things)

Pampers and potties and runny red noses,
Babies are seldom a bed full of roses.
Whining and crying and carrying on,
This is what stinks about being a mom.

Babies are cute, but just when they're sleeping.
New mothers don't realize soon they'll be keeping
Hours that Dracula couldn't live on.
This is what stinks about being a mom.

When a toy breaks, when your back aches,
When you're feeling down,
Real moms ain't depressed when they see a big mess.
They just know there's a child around.

3 (tune of Over the Rainbow)

Let me go to the bathroom
All alone.
Let me watch some TV or talk on the telephone.
I hate Ernie and Burt,
And Barbie too.
I'm sick to death of the Smurfs, so give me a break, tonight.

I know how much you love me and
You know how much I love you dear
But, really!
Please my darling daughter
Won't you go and bug your father
I don't want you near me!

Let me sit down to eat let me rest a while.
I don't know if my feet could survive through another child.

Living with a kid like you
Is like being keeper of a zoo!
You should be in a cage!

Third Day: The Gift of Piety
Thou, of all consolers best,
Visiting the troubled breast
Dost refreshing peace bestow

Act of Consecration to the Holy Ghost
On my knees before the great multitude of heavenly
witnesses, I offer myself soul and body to Thee,
Eternal Spirit of God. I adore the brightness of Thy
purity, the unerring keenness of Thy justice, and the
might of Thy love. Thou art the Strength and Light of
my soul. In Thee I live and move and am. I desire
never to grieve Thee by unfaithfulness to grace, and I
pray with all my heart to be kept from the smallest
sin against Thee. Mercifully guard my every thought
and grant that I may always watch for Thy light and
listen to Thy voice and follow Thy gracious
inspirations. I cling to Thee and give myself to Thee
and ask Thee by Thy compassion to watch over me in my
weakness. Holding the pierced Feet of Jesus and
looking at His Five Wounds and trusting in His
Precious Blood and adoring His opened Side and
stricken Heart, I implore Thee Adorable Spirit, helper
of my infirmity, so to keep me in Thy grace that I may
never sin against Thee. Give me grace O Holy Ghost,
Spirit of the Father and the Son, to say to Thee
always and everywhere, "Speak Lord, for Thy servant
heareth."
Amen.

Prayer for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Ghost
O Lord Jesus Christ, Who, before ascending into
heaven, didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish
Thy work in the souls of Thy Apostles and Disciples,
deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may
perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love.
Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the
perishable things of this world and aspire only after
the things that are eternal, the Spirit of
Understanding to enlighten my mind with the light of
Thy divine truth, the Spirit of Counsel that I may
ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining
Heaven, the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my
cross with Thee, and that I may overcome with courage
all the obstacles that oppose my salvation, the Spirit
of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and
grow perfect in the science of the Saints, the Spirit
of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and
amiable, the Spirit of Fear that I may be filled with
a loving reverence towards God, and may dread in any
way to displease Him. Mark me, dear Lord, with the
sign of Thy true disciples and animate me in all
things with Thy Spirit.
Amen.

Meditation:
The gift of Piety begets in our hearts a filial
affection for God as our most loving Father. It
inspires us to love and respect for His sake persons
and things consecrated to Him, as well as those who
are vested with His authority, His Blessed Mother and
the Saints, the Church and its visible Head, our
parents and superiors, our country and its rulers. He
who is filled with the gift of Piety finds the
practice of his religion, not a burdensome duty, but a
delightful service. Where there is love, there is no
labor.

Prayer:
Come, O Blessed Spirit of Piety, possess my heart.
Enkindle therein such a love for God, that I may find
satisfaction only in His service, and for His sake
lovingly submit to all legitimate authority. Amen.

1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, 7 Glory Be

Prayer to the Holy Ghost
V. Come, O Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy
faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.
R. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created.
V. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth
V. Let us pray --- Oh God Who didst instruct the
hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Ghost,
grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise and to
ever rejoice in His consolations, through Jesus Christ
Our Lord.
Amen.

O Mother of holy love, our life, our refuge, and our hope, thou well knowest that thy son Jesus Christ, not content with being himself our perpetual advocate with the eternal Father, has willed that thou also shouldst interest thyself with him, in order to obtain the divine mercies for us. He has decreed that thy prayers should aid our salvation, and has made them so efficacious that they obtain all that they ask. To thee therefore, who art the hope of the miserable, do I, a wretched sinner, turn my eyes.

I trust, O Lady, that in the first place through the merits of Jesus Christ, and then through thy intercession, I shall be saved. Of this I am certain; and my confidence in thee is such, that if my eternal salvation were in my own hands, I should place it in thine, for I rely more on thy mercy and protection than on all my own works.

My mother and my hope, abandon me not, though I deserve that thou shouldst do so. See my miseries, and, being moved thereby with compassion, help and save me. I own that I have too often closed my heart, by my sins, against the lights and helps that thou hast procured for me from the Lord. But thy compassion for the miserable, and thy power with God, far surpass the number and malice of my sins.

It is well known to all, both in heaven and on earth, that whosoever is protected by thee is certainly saved. All may forget me, provided only that thou dost remember me, O Mother of an omnipotent God. Tell him that I am thy servant; say onl that thou defendest me, and I shall be saved. O mary, I trust in thee; in this hope I live; in it I desire and hope to die, repeating always, "Jesus is my only hope, and after Jesus the most Blessed Virgin Mary" ("Unica spes mea Jesus et post Jesum Virgo Maria").
Amen.