Saturday, August 5, 2017

Church History and Hagiography

Church history lends a great deal to hagiography and vice versa ... here are some books if you can read well and can afford to buy the books - Saint Ignatius and Saint Cyril




The Didache Bible: With Commentaries Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church by James Socias
The Didache Bible: With Commentaries Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church
by James Socias
Link: http://a.co/dPkJFDm











Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Second Series, Volume VII Cyril of Jerusalem, Gregory Nazianzen by Philip Schaff
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Second Series, Volume VII Cyril of Jerusalem, Gregory Nazianzen
by Philip Schaff
Link: http://a.co/iVhuLhG






wishes for my library ...

The Early Church Fathers--Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: First Series: 14 Volumes (The Early Church Fathers, First Series , So14) by Schaff et al.
The Early Church Fathers--Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: First Series: 14 Volumes (The Early Church Fathers, First Series , So14)
by Schaff et al.
Link: http://a.co/bPAKaOz












Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Second Series by Alexander Roberts et al.
Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Second Series
by Alexander Roberts et al.
Link: http://a.co/1b22657


Monday, May 29, 2017

Memorial Day 2017 in Frostburg - catholic church

The Frosts were the founders of Frostburg.  Their grave is at Saint Michael Catholic Church on Main Street.



Saint of the Day for Monday, May 29, 2017, (Memorial Day in the USA) is Saint Maximinus of Trier

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Happy Valentine's Day !


Happy Valentine's Day (see last year's post http://fbhygp.blogspot.com/2016/02/saint-valentines-day-february-14th.html )

Saint Valentine was just to legendary and more than one Valentine ( http://www.churchyear.net/stvalentine.html ) 

February 14th is also the feast day of Saints Cyril and Methodius ( http://www.liturgies.net/saints/cyrilandmethodius/cyrilandmethodius.htm )

On February 14th was the second apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes ( http://365rosaries.blogspot.com/2013/02/february-14-2013-our-lady-of-lourdes.html )


I did have a valentine.  I gave him Hershey's Kisses for Valentine's Day.  Happy Valentine's Day, Michael, I love you.  Enjoy !



My valentine bought me dinner, and I bought myself to a red heart finger ring.  (my heart finger ring collection got bigger)



Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Feast of Saint Nicholas - December 6

Welcome Christmastide !


"Who is Saint Nicholas? Who is Santa Claus? Are they the same?"
Find out here






Devotions to Saint Nicholas of Myra
Visit the website here
↓ 



pictures of Father and Mother Christmas online; a.k.a. Santa and Mrs. Claus 



It's tough being a reindeer ...




stop in and check out wikipedia - "Legendary Christmas gift-bearing figures including Santa Claus, [Sinterklaas], Father Christmas, Christkind, and Saint Nicholas ..."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Nicholas_Day


Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Year of Mercy Rosary (examples only)

Holy Year of Mercy Rosary
December 8, 2015 – November 20, 2016

For use with the Hirten Franciscan Crown 7-decade Rosary
(unofficial and for personal use only)

Before reciting this rosary, be sure to recite the normal 7-decade rosary (Seven Joys of Mary) - http://www.prayerfulrosary.com/Franciscan.html

On the cross:
Pope Francis' Prayer for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy
Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: "If you knew the gift of God!"

You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.

We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

On the first beadOur Father
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

On the next two beads:  Hail Mary
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen.

On the next beadGlory Be
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

1st time around:  Corporal works of Mercy (large beads); Merciful Like the Father (small beads)

2nd time around:  Spiritual works of Mercy (large beads); Merciful Like the Father (small beads)


Corporal Works of Mercy          Spiritual Works of Mercy
1.  Feed the Hungry                   1.  To instruct the ignorant
                     Merciful like the Father x 10

2.  Give drink to the thirsty        2.  To counsel the doubtful
                     Merciful like the Father x 10

3.  Clothe the naked                    3.  To admonish sinners
                      Merciful like the Father x 10

4.  Shelter the homeless              4.  To bear wrongs patiently
                      Merciful like the Father x 10

5.  Visit the sick                          5.  To forgive offences willingly
                      Merciful like the Father x 10

6.  Visit the imprisoned                6.  To comfort the afflicted
                      Merciful like the Father x 10

7.  Bury the dead                          7.  To pray for the living & the dead
                      Merciful like the Father x 10

Conclude with prayer on the centerpiece:
Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace, Saint Francis Prayer
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life.

... the 8th work of mercy "care for our common home" (Genesis 2:15) spiritual work gratefully contemplating God's world, and corporal work of holy performance to build a better world (see https://cvcomment.org/2016/09/01/pope-declares-care-of-creation-the-eighth-work-of-mercy/ )



another example ...



Holy Year of Mercy Rosary
December 8, 2015 – November 20, 2016

Dominican 5-decade Rosary
unofficial and based on the Threshold Divine Mercy bible study book

Before reciting this rosary, be sure to recite the normal 5-decade rosary - https://www.dummies.com/religion/christianity/catholicism/how-to-pray-the-rosary/


Thirty bible study book chapters divided into six sets of five meditations - two sets shown below (for the remaining four sets, purchase the bible study book)

* Say the Trisagion prayer on the small beads - Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


Threshold Divine Mercy Table of Contents excerpt:


Set #1  (Based on Lessons 1 -5)  Meditations on the large beads:


1.      God Has Ears for the Afflicted (Exodus 2::23 – 3:15)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


2.      A God Rich in Mercy (Exodus 34:4 – 9)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


3.      Remember the Alien, the Orphan, and the Widow (Leviticus 19:9 – 18; Deuteronomy 24:17 – 22)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


4.      God Chose You in Mercy (Deuteronomy 4:27 – 31; Deuteronomy 7:6 – 13)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.


5.      What the Lord Requires of You (Deuteronomy 10:12 – 22)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.



Set #2  (Based on Lessons 6 - 10)  Meditations on the large beads:

1.      The Ultimate Gift of Divine Mercy (2 Maccabees 7:20 – 29)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

2.      God Pursues His Beloved (Hosea 2:14 – 23)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

3.      God Delights in Showing Mercy (Micah 6:6 – 8; Micah 7:18 – 20)  

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

4.      God’s Everlasting Compassion and Mercy (Isaiah 54:4 – 10; Isaiah 55:6 – 9)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

5.      Great Is Your Steadfast Love (Psalm 86:1 – 17)

* Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.



Conclude with Prayer of Saint Dominic on the centerpiece:




May God the Father who made us bless us.
May God the Son send his healing among us.
May God the Holy Spirit move within us
and give us eyes to see with, ears to hear with,
and hands that your work might be done.
May we walk and preach the word of God to all.
May the angel of peace watch over us
and lead us at last by God’s grace to the Kingdom.
Amen


Free printable Saint Dominic Prayer Card at:

http://www.stdominic.org.uk/st_dominic_prayer.pdf


This is a highly recommended bible study course.  Check it out. 


They have an additional bible study book on Mysteries of the Rosary



For Other Abrahamic Religions (more examples) ...



Create your own prayer cards with the

Thirteen Attributes of Mercy in Judaism


Based on Exodus 34:6-7

New American Bible (Revised Edition)


So the Lord passed before him and proclaimed: The Lord, the Lord, a God gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in love and fidelity, continuing his love for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin; yet not declaring the guilty guiltless, but bringing punishment for their parents’ wickedness on children and children’s children to the third and fourth generation!

reference and excerpt combined:


1.     Adonai — compassion before a person sins


– The Lord! (Adonai)–God is merciful before a person sins! Even though aware that future evil lies dormant within him.


2.     Adonai — compassion after a person has sinned

– The Lord! (Adonai)–God is merciful after the sinner has gone astray.


3.     El — mighty in compassion to give all creatures according to their need


– God (El)–a name that denotes power as ruler over nature and humankind, indicating that God’s mercy sometimes surpasses even the degree indicated by this name.

4.     Rachum — merciful, that humankind may not be distressed

– Compassionate (rahum)–God is filled with loving sympathy for human frailty does not put people into situations of extreme temptation, and eases the punishment of the guilty.

5.     VeChanun — and gracious if humankind is already in distress

– Gracious (v’hanun)–God shows mercy even to those who do not deserve it consoling the afflicted and raising up the oppressed.

6.     Erech appayim — slow to anger

– Slow to anger (ereh apayim)–God gives the sinner ample time to reflect, improve, and repent.

7.     VeRav chesed — and plenteous in kindness

– Abundant in Kindness (v’rav hesed)–God is kind toward those who lack personal merits, providing more gifts and blessings than they deserve; if one’s personal behavior is evenly balanced between virtue and sin, God tips the scales of justice toward the good.

8.     VeEmet — and truth

– Truth (v’emet)–God never reneges on His word to reward those who serve Him.

9.     Notzer chesed laalafim — keeping kindness unto thousands

– Preserver of kindness for thousands of generations (notzeir hesed la-alafim)–God remembers the deeds of the righteous for thebenefit of their less virtuous generations of offspring (thus we constantly invoke the merit of the Patriarchs).

10.     avon — forgiving iniquity

– Forgiver of iniquity (nosei avon)–God forgives intentional sin resulting from an evil disposition, as long as the sinner repents.

11.     VaFeshah — and transgression

– Forgiver of willful sin (pesha)–God allows even those who commit a sin with the malicious intent of rebelling against and angering Him the opportunity to repent.

12.     VeChata'ah — and sin

– Forgiver of error (v’hata’ah)–God forgives a sin committed out of carelessness, thoughtlessness, or apathy.

13.     VeNakeh — and pardoning

– Who cleanses (v’nakeh)–God is merciful, gracious, and forgiving, wiping away the sins of those who truly repent; however, if one does not repent, God does not cleanse.


References and excerpts from: 
Jewish Publication Society https://amzn.com/0827608829

Want more information on the 13 attributes of mercy in Judaism?





Dua - Muslim Prayers
http://islam.about.com/od/prayer/qt/DuaForgiveness.htm
Islamic Prayer Beads:  Subha
http://islam.about.com/od/prayer/g/Subha.htm
Want more information on Christian, Jewish, and Islamic studies?
https://icjs.org/

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Saint Patrick's Day - March 17th

Rebecca's

Irish Prayer Short Cord

for Saint Patrick’s Day


This prayer short cord consists of 7 beads for 7 prayers and 1 pendant for 1 concluding prayer - three strand braid (four small beads for prayers 1, 3, 5, 7; three large beads for prayers 2, 4, 6; one pendant of a flat five round point flower)  Others are of Irish knots and braids or with a flat four leaf clover pendant - make your own !




Normally, this irish prayer short cord is considered a prayer cord and not a chaplet.  Click here for the Chaplet of Saint Patrick


Saint Patrick Prayer Short Cord

  • May The Blessing Of Light Be On You
May the blessing of Light be on you
Light without and light within,
May the blessed sunlight shine on you
And warm your heart till it glows like
A great peat fire, so that the stranger
May come and warm himself at it,
And also a friend.
And may the light shine out of the two eyes of you,
Like a candle set in two windows of a house,
Bidding the wanderer to come in out of the storm.

And may the blessing of the Rain be on you
The soft sweet rain. May it fall upon your spirit
So that all the little flowers may spring up,
And shed their sweetness on the air.
And may the blessing of the Great Rains be on
You, may they beat upon your spirit
And wash it fair and clean,
And leave there many a shining pool
Where the blue of heaven shines,
And sometimes a star.

And may the blessing of the Earth be on you
The great round earth; may you ever have
A kindly greeting for them you pass
As you're going along the roads.
May the earth be soft under you when you rest upon it,
Tired at the end of the day,
And may it rest easy over you when,
At the last, you lay out under it;
May it rest so lightly over you,
That your soul may be out from under it quickly,
And up, and off, and on its way to God.



  • Saint Patrick's "Breastplate" Prayer
I bind unto myself today
The strong Name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever.
By power of faith, Christ's incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan river;
His death on Cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the cherubim;
The sweet 'well done' in judgment hour,
The service of the seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death wound and the burning,
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till Thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
The strong Name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of Whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
Salvation is of Christ the Lord.



  • An Irish Blessing
May there always be work for your hands to do.
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine on your windowpane.
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.



  • Saint Patrick’s Hymn
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation



  • A Gaelic Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.



  • Prayer for the Faithful by Saint Patrick
May the Strength of God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Shield of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guard us.
- Against the snares of the evil one.

May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!

May Thy Grace, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and forevermore.
Amen.



  • An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!



  • conclude with your favorite prayer





getting married on Saint Patrick's Day ?




Celtic Triquetra Wedding, Handfasting Cord, Irish 
by Divinity Braid 
sold at Amazon http://amzn.com/B0100NAA2E