GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.
Archives For November 30, 1999
O LORD, from whom all good things do come: Grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Father of Jesus
Dawn returns, but without thy light within no outward light can profit;
Give me the saving lamp of thy Spirit that I may see thee, the God of my salvation, the delight of my soul, rejoicing over me in love.
I commend my heart to thy watchful care, for I know its treachery and power;
Guard its every portal from the wily enemy, give me quick discernment of his deadly arts, help me to recognize his bold disguise as an angel of light, and bid him begone.
May my words and works allure others to the highest walks of faith and love!
May loiterers be quickened to greater diligence by my example!
May worldlings be won to delight in acquaintance with thee!
May the timid and irresolute be warned of coming doom by my zeal for Jesus!
Cause me to be a mirror of thy grace, to show others the joy of thy service, may my lips be well tuned cymbals sounding thy praise, let a halo of heavenly-mindedness sparkle around me and a lamp of kindness sunbeam my path.
Teach me the happy art of attending to things temporal with a mind intent on things eternal.
Send me forth to have compassion on the ignorant and miserable.
Help me to walk as Jesus walked, my only Savior and perfect model, his mind my inward guest, his meekness my covering garb.
Let my happy place be amongst the poor in spirit, my delight the gentle ranks of the meek.
Let me always esteem others better than myself, and find in true humility an heirdom to two worlds.
James 1:22-27
BE ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Iacobus 1:22-27
estote autem factores verbi et non auditores tantum fallentes vosmet ipsos quia si quis auditor est verbi et non factor hic conparabitur viro consideranti vultum nativitatis suae in speculo consideravit enim se et abiit et statim oblitus est qualis fuerit qui autem perspexerit in lege perfecta libertatis et permanserit non auditor obliviosus factus sed factor operis hic beatus in facto suo erit si quis autem putat se religiosum esse non refrenans linguam suam sed seducens cor suum huius vana est religio religio munda et inmaculata apud Deum et Patrem haec est visitare pupillos et viduas in tribulatione eorum inmaculatum se custodire ab hoc saeculo
“Will you deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; that you may show yourself in all things an example of good works unto others, that the adversary may be ashamed, having nothing to say against you?”
I agree with Hitchens interpretation of great men’s deeds. I think its incredibly foolish to expect for someone to be perfect when we know full well that all men have fallen short in their own way. This is one of the reasons why I admire different things various individuals have done but would never ignore their temptations as well. Nobody is perfect. The article on Mr. Bell was quite interesting and makes me want to learn more about this intelligent and culturally vibrant individual. I agree also that the Anglican church and Episcopalian one are in this day in age laughable because they are content to ascribe to the world’s standards and not God’s.
https://www.firstthings.com/article/2016/11/in-defense-of-george-bell
Reductio ad absurdum. I think this article does an excellent job at summing up New Atheist arguments and why they don’t hold up well in defense of their positions. It does often appear that New Atheists are of the absurd belief that ceasing religion entirely will not bring about any possible negative consequences. Or at least they are not compelled to ponder such possibilities. I will have to do some reading up on A.C. Grayling.
https://www.firstthings.com/article/2010/05/believe-it-or-not
Glória in excélsis Deo
et in terra pax homínibus bonæ voluntátis.
Laudámus te,
benedícimus te,
adorámus te,
glorificámus te,
grátias ágimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam,
Dómine Deus, Rex cæléstis,
Deus Pater omnípotens.
Dómine Fili unigénite, Jesu Christe,
Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris,
qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis;
qui tollis peccáta mundi, súscipe deprecatiónem nostram.
Qui sedes ad déxteram Patris, miserére nobis.
Quóniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dóminus, tu solus Altíssimus,
Jesu Christe, cum Sancto Spíritu: in glória Dei Patris. Amen.
O ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
China has always been rather hostile to anything that could constitute radical change or cause civil unrest. It surprises me to hear that China has not interfered with the church growth in recent years but it does not surprise me that people are drawn to it. The message of Jesus is powerful and can resonate with people in a troubled society like mainland China. The western church would do well to support these churches both financially and spiritually.
Its rather disappointing to see the faith being weaponized by politicians who clearly wouldn’t care otherwise given France’s stance on open displays of religious fervor. Personally I am not sure who I would pick of the three front runners but their personal faiths and stances on religion are likely not going to sway me. I would venture to guess that any meaningful discussion of Christianity and the Catholic faith are not going to be had. I do think the ever growing reach of Islam though is in a sense revitalizing Catholic identities even if its simply national identity and not religious practice.
Religion emerges in secular French politics as presidential campaign heats up
Acerbity [əˈsɜːbɪtɪ] 