I'm praying for you. August Queen of the Heavens, heavenly Sovereign of the Angels, Thou who from the beginning hast received from God the power and the mission to crush the head of Satan, we humbly beseech Thee to send thy holy legions, so that under Thy command and through Thy power, they may pursue the demons and combat them everywhere, suppress their boldness, and drive them back into the abyss. O good and tender Mother, Thou wilt always be our love and hope! O Divine Mother, send Thy Holy Angels to defend us and to drive far away from us the cruel enemy. Holy Angels and Archangels, defend us, guard us. Amen. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us. Virgin Most Powerful, pray for us. St. Joseph, pray for us. St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us. All You Holy Angels, pray for us. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Join the club. Good news is you are a threat. Keep up the good work and hold fast, brother. You will be on my beads.
Prayers!! Offering up mass tonight. I think the keynote of Pope St John Paul's Pontificate were the very simple words, 'Be not afraid'. If ever a man had reason to be afraid it was that saint. Living under two very, very brutal regimes in which he would himself have been a prime target, he seemed to go about without a care in the world. I read something from his driver one time. He remarks that when St Pope John Paul was summoned to see the Communist Boss he was kept waiting for extended periods outside the Big Office in an effort to humiliate him. But the saint simply used this as a chance to say his rosary. This was the key to the saints facing stress , danger and upset. Prayer. This was the key to all the saints Peace in time of danger. When the founder of Opus Dei , st Jose Maria Escriva lived in Communist held Madrid, on the run, he might have been discovered and murdered at any moment by the Reds. But he went about as peaceful and calm as though on holidays. Again as a result of an intense internal Spirit of Prayer. Though when I read the words of Padre Pio , 'Pray , hope and don't worry, worry is useless' . Something inside me rebels and shouts, 'But How can I not worry, these things are terrible' But I kind of think of it like this. A soldier in war time is often, even constantly , scared and afraid. He would be a fool not to be afraid. For without fear there is no true courage. The brave, true soldier on the other hand does not let that fear, that concern stop him from doing the right thing , carrying on in the right path despite great dangers. ..and this I think is the essential difference to overcoming fear and worry. Not that it does not exist . It does. But overcoming it by continuing to do God's Will, no matter what. By being a brave soldier. Maybe a soldier who shakes from fear. But nevertheless a soldier who presses onwards. Like a wonderful quaking jelly fish, but pressing onwards..
In his prayer "Resta con me" (Stay with me Lord) Padra Pio acknowledges fear......Highlighted below! “Stay with me, Lord” Prayer of St. Padra Pio of Pietrelcina Stay with me, Lord, because I am weak and I need Your strength, that I may not fall so often. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life, without You, I am without fervour. Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light, without You, I am in darkness. Stay with me, Lord, to show me Your will. Stay with me, Lord, so that I can hear Your voice and follow you. Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much, and to be always in Your company. Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You. Stay with me, Lord, for as poor as my soul is, I wish it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of love. Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late; the day is coming to a close and life passes. Death, judgement and eternity approach. It is necessary to renew my strength, so that I will not stop along the way and for that I need You. It is getting late and death approaches. I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need you, my Jesus, in this night of exile! Stay with me, Jesus, because in the darkness, with all its dangers, I need You. Help me to recognise You as Your disciples did at the Breaking of the Bread, so that the Eucharist Communion be the light which disperses darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart. Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death I want to be one with You, and if not by Communion, at least by Your grace and love. Stay with me, Jesus, I do not ask for divine consolations because I do not deserve them, but the gift of Your Presence. Oh yes! I ask this of You. Stay with me, Lord, for I seek You alone, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and I ask for no other reward but to love You more and more. Grant Dear Jesus that I may love You with all my heart while on earth, so that I can continue to love you perfectly throughout all eternity. Amen
What a beautiful quote. I was remembering there, especially St Edith Stein and her sister going into the gas chamber is Aushwitz. They must have known fear, even though it was the gateway to heaven for them.
