I see from Fr Finigan's blog that the well-known Jesuit priest Fr Thwaites has gone to his eternal reward:
http://the-hermeneutic-of-continuity.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/fr-hugh-thwaites-rip.html
Having failed to find a photo of Fr Thwaites - who seems to have evaded the camera with consummate skill - I put instead a picture of St Ignatius Loyola.
Fr Thwaites was a loyal Jesuit. He was loyal to his vows, and to his undertakings that he made in the Order. I doubt he would want any other memorial. Except, possibly, to tell us to go often to communion, and to confession, to say the Rosary, and to guard as precious the gift of the Catholic faith.
"Man is created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.
And the other things on the face of the earth are created for man and that they may help
him in prosecuting the end for which he is created.
From this it follows that man is to use them as much as they help him on to his end,
and ought to rid himself of them so far as they hinder him as to it.
For this it is necessary to make ourselves indifferent to all created things in all that is
allowed to the choice of our free will and is not prohibited to it; so that, on our part, we want
not health rather than sickness, riches rather than poverty, honor rather than dishonor, long
rather than short life, and so in all the rest; desiring and choosing only what is most conducive
for us to the end for which we are created."
(The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola)
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Friday, 17 August 2012
Prayers before and After Communion
These few prayers are
taken from the Roman Missal. As the official prayers of the Church, they are to
be preferred to any private devotions. They are all enriched with indulgences.
Prayer of St. Thomas
Aquinas before Communion
Almighty and eternal God, behold, I approach the Sacrament
of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I approach as one who is
sick to the physician of life, as one unclean to the fountain of mercy, as one
blind to the light of eternal brightness, as one poor and needy to the Lord of
heaven and earth. Therefore I beseech Thee, of Thine infinite goodness, to heal
my sickness, to wash away my filth, to enlighten my blindness, to enrich my
poverty, and to clothe my nakedness, that I may receive the Bread of angels,
the King of kings, and the Lord of lords with such reverence and humility, with
such contrition and devotion, with such purity and faith, with such purpose and
intention, as may conduce to the salvation of my soul. Grant, I beseech Thee,
that I may receive not only the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Lord,
but also the fruit and virtue of this Sacrament. O most indulgent God, grant me
so to receive the Body of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, which
He took of the Virgin Mary, that I may be found worthy to be incorporated with
His mystical body and numbered among His members. O most loving Father, grant
that I may one day contemplate for ever, face to face. Thy beloved Son, whom
now on my pilgrimage I am about to receive under the sacramental veils; who
liveth and reigneth with Thee God, world without end. Amen.
Prayer of St. Thomas
Aquinas after Communion
I give Thee thanks, O holy Lord, Father almighty, eternal
God, who hast vouchsafed, not for any
merits of mine, but only out of the condescension of Thy mercy, to satisfy me a
sinner, Thine unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Thy Son our
Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this Holy Communion be not to me a condemnation
unto punishment, but a saving plea unto forgiveness. May it be unto me the
armour of faith and the shield of good will. May it be the emptying out of my
vices, the extinction of all concupiscence and lust, the increase of charity
and patience, humility and obedience, and of all virtues; a strong defence
against the snares of all enemies, visible and invisible; the quieting of all
my evil impulses, both fleshly ghostly; a firm cleaving unto Thee, the one true
God; and a pledge of a blessed destiny. And I beseech Thee, that Thou wouldst
vouchsafe to bring me, a sinner, to that ineffable banquet, where Thou, with
Thy Son and the Holy Ghost, art to Thy saints true light, fulness of content,
eternal joy, gladness without alloy and perfect bliss. Through the same Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Anima Christi.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesu, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.
From the malicious enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death call me,
And bid me come unto Thee.
That with Thy saints I may praise Thee.
For ever and ever. Amen.
Obsecro Te
I beseech Thee, most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, grant that Thy
Passion may be to me a power by which I may be strengthened, protected and
defended. May Thy wounds be to me food and drink, by which I may be nourished,
inebriated and overjoyed. May the sprinkling of Thy Blood be to me an ablution for
all my sins. May Thy death prove to me life everlasting, and Thy cross be to me
an eternal glory. In these be my refreshment, my joy, my preservation and
sweetness of heart. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
Prayer before a
Crucifix
Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself upon my
knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul, I pray and beseech
Thee that Thou wouldst impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope
and charity, with true contrition for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment;
while with deep affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself and mentally
contemplate Thy five wounds, having before my eyes the words which David the
prophet put on Thy lips concerning Thee: “They have pierced My hands and My
feet, they have numbered all My bones” (Ps. 21:17-18).
Translation is from the St Andrew's Daily Missal. Buy your copy now from Bonaventure Publications: http://www.libers.com/sam.htm
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