Recta Ratio

Saint Rose of Lima, please pray for us!

This year, Summer began and ended with the Baptist. It was a cold Spring, and the weather did not become warm until just about the Nativity of the Baptist, what the Europeans call MidSummer Night. And it is quite cool thus morning as we enter the Labor Day weekend.

Saint Augustine by Sandro Botticelli, 1445

Here is what the Golden Legend has to say about Saint Augustine

Here is a short biography of this great doctor of the Church.

Saint Augustine's Threnus Prayer
It is sometimes called A Prayer For Those In Tribulation
This is one of the very best penitential prayers I have ever come across and it reflects a deep understanding of fallen human nature.
(based on the translation by Michael W. Martin of Thesaurus Preces Latinarum)

We would be wise to place before Thine eyes, O Lord,
Our misdeeds and the wounds we receive.
For if we do, the less we suffer
And the greater we merit.

We feel the punishment for sin,
Yet we do not shun our obstinacy in sinning.

Our fragile nature is shattered by Thy scourges,
Yet our evil ways remain unchanged.

The sick mind is wrenched,
Yet the stiff neck is not bent.

Life sighs in pain,
And yet, it does not amend itself.

If Thou waiteth, we do not reform,
If Thou punisheth, we do not last.

When accused, we admit what we have done,
Yet when punished, we forget.

If Thou punisheth, we make promises;
If Thou holdeth back the sword, we do not carry out our promises.

If Thou striketh us, we cry out that Thou might spare us;
If Thou sparest us, we again provoke Thee to strike us.

If difficulties come, we ask for a time for repentance.
If mercy comes to our aid, we abuse Thy patience which has spared us.

Even when our wounds are scarcely healed,
Our ungrateful mind forgets.

If Thou hearest us quickly, we become haughty from mercy.
If Thou art slow, we complain out of impatience.

We are willing to serve Thee because of what Thou hast done,
Yet we do not fear to neglect what Thou willst have us do.

Thou hast in Thy power, O Lord, we confessed sinners;
Be merciful, for Thou art kind and loving.

We have known that, unless Thou forgiveth us,
Thou shalt justly punish us.

But with Thee is much pity
And abundant forgiveness.

Grant, without any merit on our part, what we ask,
O Thou, who hast made from nothing those who ask Thee.

Have mercy on us crying out to Thee, O Lord.
May the voice of the faithful and of the tearful stir up Thy mercy.

May that forgiveness not consider that we sin,
While it reflects on the fact we ask.

Since it is a great misery that we are accused,
May the fact that we are miserable make Thy mercy be the greater.

We beg Thy help,
And before Thee we place the evils and sorrows of our crimes.

By our prayers we look for Thy mercy,
The very mercy which we have spurned by our sins.

Raise us up in Thy mercy, O Lord our God,
So that in the fellowship of salvation and the joy of charity,

While we long to be saved,
We may rejoice in the faith and peace of all the nations.

Through Christ our Lord Who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.
Amen.

The Five Cardinals who took pen in hand to address the proposals of Walter Cardinal Kasper regarding how the Church deals with divorce and remarriage is now available for pre-order.

Just in time for the October synod of bishops.

Cardinal Burke, Cardinsl Mueller, and Cardinal Brandsmueller are among the authors. Cardinal Burke was fully expected to defend true doctrine. I must say that I had some misgivings when Pope Benedict appointed then Archbishop Mueller to the CDF. But he has allayed my fears and now find him trustworthy in defending the Church's doctrine!

Why not others? Well, too many cooks spoil the soup. My understanding is that there is wide and deep opposition to Kasper's proposals among the Cardinals in general. And with good reason! Good to see 2 German Cardinals countering the influence of Kasper in the Getman bishops' conference.

I wish this book a wide readership and acceptance, for the good of the Church!

Saint Louis, please pray for us!