Recta Ratio

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, help of Christians, refuge of the human race, victorious in all the battles of God, we prostrate ourselves in supplication before thy throne, in the sure hope of obtaining mercy and of receiving grace and timely aid in our present calamities, not through any merits of our own, on which we do not rely, but only through the immense goodness of thy mother's heart. In thee and in thy Immaculate Heart, at this grave hour of human history, do we put our trust; to thee we consecrate ourselves, not only with all of Holy Church, which is the mystical body of thy Son Jesus, and which is suffering in so many of her members, being subjected to manifold tribulations and persecutions, but also with the whole world, torn by discords, agitated with hatred, the victim of its own iniquities. Be thou moved by the sight of such material and moral degradation, such sorrows, such anguish, so many tormented souls in danger of eternal loss! Do thou, O Mother of mercy, obtain for us from God a Christ-like reconciliation of the nations, as well as those graces which can convert the souls of men in an instant, those graces which prepare the way and make certain the long desired coming of peace on earth. O Queen of peace, pray for us, and grant peace unto the world in the truth, the justice, and the charity of Christ.

Above all, give us peace in our hearts, so that the kingdom of God may spread its borders in the tranquility of order. Accord thy protection to unbelievers and to all those who lie within the shadow of death; cause the Sun of Truth to rise upon them; may they be enabled to join with us in repeating before the Savior of the world: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will."

Give peace to the nations that are separated from us by error or discord, and in a special manner to those peoples who profess a singular devotion toward thee; bring them back to Christ's one fold, under the one true Shepherd. Obtain full freedom for the holy Church of God; defend her from her enemies; check the ever-increasing torrent of immorality, arouse in the faithful a love of purity, a practical Christian life, and an apostolic zeal, so that the multitude of those who serve God may increase in merit and in number.

Finally, even as the Church and all mankind were once consecrated to the Heart of thy Son Jesus, because He was for all those who put their hope in Him an inexhaustible source of victory and salvation, so in like manner do we consecrate ourselves forever to thee also and to thy Immaculate Heart, O Mother of us and Queen of the world; may thy love and patronage hasten the day when the kingdom of God shall be victorious and all the nations, at peace with God and with one another, shall call thee blessed and intone with thee, from the rising of the sun to its going down, the everlasting "Magnificat" of glory, of love, of gratitude to the Heart of Jesus, in which alone we can find truth, life, and peace.

Labels: Our Blessed Lady

My Lord Jesus Christ,
I believe that Thou art really present in this Sacrament.
Night and day Thou remainest here compassionate and loving.
Thou callest, Thou waitest,
Thou welcomest everyone who comes to visit Thee.
I thank Thee, Jesus my Divine Redeemer,
for coming upon the earth for my sake
and for instituting the Adorable Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
in order to remain with me and with all men until the end of the world.
I thank Thee for hiding beneath the Eucharistic species
Thine infinite majesty and beauty,
which Thy Angels delight to behold,
so that I might have courage to approach the throne of Thy mercy.
I thank Thee dear Jesus,
for having become the priceless Victim,
to merit for me the fullness of heavenly favors.
Awaken in me such confidence in Thee
that their fullness may descend ever more fruitfully upon my soul.
I thank Thee for offering Thyself
in thanksgiving to God for all His benefits,
spiritual and temporal
which He has bestowed on me.
Grant me grace and perseverance in Thy faithful service.

Amen.

Labels: Friday At the Foot Of the Cross

Saint George was a Roman soldier and confessed Catholic who was martyred in the early 300s during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian. Saint George is a particular patron of mine, being the patron of England, soldiers, and of men named George. I have an excellent array of name-saint patrons: George, Thomas the Apostle, and John the Evangelist.







The Fifth Regiment of Foot was entitled to wear an image of St. George and the Dragon on its Colours and other accoutrements.


The Cross of St. George is standard for Episcopalian churches in the US

I particularly like the armed saints, like St. Juan de Capistrano, Saint James the Moor-Slayer, St. Michael the Archangel, St. George, and St. Martin of Tours.



Saint George, please pray for us!

Labels: Our Saintly Brethern

In picking tunes that were known in 1775 for posting over the last couple of days, I had to leave out a couple of favorites, because they were written later.

The Minstrel Boy
Written about 1830. The tune might be older though.


Barrett's Privateers
This song was written by Stan Rogers in 1977 about a British privateer in the American War in 1778. It is a favorite around the campfire.


Over The Hills And Far Away (95th Rifles Version)

Labels: Once A Redcoat

Two hundred and thirty-five years ago today, the inhabitants of Boston awoke to find a rebel army some 15,000 strong, and growing hour by hour, encamped outside the town, in a ring from Medford to Roxbury and hemming in the 3,000 regular troops under the command of General (and Governor of Massachusetts) Thomas Gage. So in honor of the opening of the American War of Independence, here are more tunes that would have been familiar to people in 1775.

Lillibulero



The White Cockade




Lass of Richmond Hill




Heart Of Oak



The Girl I Left Behind Me



When The King Enjoys His Own Again



Blow The Candle Out



Scarborough Fair



Greensleeves



The Lusty Young Smith



Down Among the Deadmen




Rule Brittania

Labels: Once A Redcoat

In honor of the Patriots' Day holiday in Massachusetts on Monday April 19th, the actual anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord this year (and the 235th anniversary), here are some songs that were current in 1775.

The British Grenadiers



Barbara Allen



The Rakes Of Mallow



The Ash Grove



The Irish Washerwoman



Over the Hills and Far Away 1702 Version



I'll Fathom the Bowl




The Wild Rover



To Anacreon In Heaven



Nottingham Ale




Johnny Has Gone For A Soldier



Garryowen



The Parting Glass

Labels: Once A Redcoat