Tuesday, December 05, 2006
St. Nicholas
I used to live in Holland where St. Nicholas' feast day is a huge affair. The Saint arrives in Holland from Spain around the middle of November to great fanfare. For the next several weeks he travels around the country checking to see if the children have been good. On his feast day, the Saint leaves gifts including the traditional chocolate initial letter. Children sing song while waiting for the Saint. This is perhaps the most traditional:
Sinterklaas kapoentje,
Gooi wat in mijn schoentje,
Gooi wat in mijn laarsje,
Dank je Sinterklaasje!
Saint-Nicolas Little Rascal,
Put something in my little shoe,
Put something in my little boot,
Thank you little Saint-Nicolas!
Labels: Feast Day
Monday, December 04, 2006
Special prayer request
My sister's mother-in-law is suffering from cancer and will begin a new, aggressive form of chemotheraphy on December 12. The new chemo will either work well or not at all. Please join me in praying the following novena to St. Peregrine, patron of those suffering from cancers, that if it be God's Will, she will respond well to the new treatment and that the cancer goes into remission or is cured altogether.
O Saint Peregrine, you who have been called "The Wonder-Worker" because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you, who for so many years bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more: you who were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction, ask of God and Our Lady the cure of N., whom we entrust to you . Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall praise God for His great goodness and mercy. Amen.
Say three Our Fathers, three Hail Marys and three Glory Be's.
O Saint Peregrine, you who have been called "The Wonder-Worker" because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you, who for so many years bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more: you who were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction, ask of God and Our Lady the cure of N., whom we entrust to you . Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall praise God for His great goodness and mercy. Amen.
Say three Our Fathers, three Hail Marys and three Glory Be's.
Labels: prayer request
Alma redemptoris mater
In advent, the Church sings the Alma redemptoris mater after night prayers in place of the Salve Regina.
Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli
porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,
surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,
natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,
Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore,
sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.
Loving mother of the Redeemer,
gate of heaven, star of the sea,
assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.
To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,
Yet remained a virgin after as before.
You who received Gabriel's joyful greeting,
have pity on us poor sinners.
Alma Redemptoris Mater, quae pervia caeli
porta manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,
surgere qui curat, populo: tu quae genuisti,
natura mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem,
Virgo prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore,
sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.
Loving mother of the Redeemer,
gate of heaven, star of the sea,
assist your people who have fallen yet strive to rise again.
To the wonderment of nature you bore your Creator,
Yet remained a virgin after as before.
You who received Gabriel's joyful greeting,
have pity on us poor sinners.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Rabbit!
