Prayers for 12/10

Today we remember St. Gregory III.

For the Holy Father...

For all bishops, priests, and deacons...

For the repose of the soul of Neal Humiston, and for his family...

For Jeanetta, as she starts a new job...

For the intentions mentioned on Fructris Ventris...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 12/10

Herald, In the Wilderness


Herald, in the wilderness,
Breaking up the road,
Sinking mountains, raising plains,
For the path of God;

Prophet, to the multitudes
Calling to repent,
In the way of righteousness
Unto Israel sent;

Messenger, God’s chosen one
Foremost to proclaim,
Proffered titles passing by,
Pointing to the Lamb.

Captive, for the word of truth
Boldly witnessing;
Then in Herod’s dungeon cave,
Faint and languishing;

Martyr, sacrificed to sin
At that feast of shame;
As his life foreshowed the Lord,
In his death the same—

Holy Jesus, when He heard,
Went apart to pray:
Thus may we our lesson take
From his saint today.

Prayers for 12/9

Today is the feast of St. Juan Diego .

For the native peoples of Mexico...

For those who work with the poor and marginalized...

For the repose of the soul of Roland Beaupre...

For the Fidero family...

For Karl Kohlhase and his family...

For Jennifer and Greg Willits...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 12/9

Arise, The Kingdom Is At Hand

Arise, the kingdom is at hand,
The King is drawing nigh;
Arise with joy, thou faithful band,
To meet the Lord most high!
Look up, ye souls, weighed down with care,
The Sovereign is not far;
Look up, faint hearts, from your despair,
Behold the Morning Star!

Look up, ye drooping hearts, today,
The King is very near;
O cast your griefs and fears away,
For, lo, your help is here!
Hope on, ye broken hearts, at last
The King comes in His might;
He loved us in the ages past
When we lay wrapped in night.

Look up, ye souls weighed down with care,
The Sovereign is not far!
Look up, faint hearts, from your despair,
Behold the Morning Star!
The Lord is with us now,
Who shallThe sinking spirit feed
With strength and comfort at its need
To Whom e’en death shall bow.

Hope, O ye broken hearts, at last!
The King comes on in might,
He loved us in the ages past
When we sat wrapped in night;
Now are our sorrows o’er, and fear
And wrath to joy give place,
Since God hath made us in His grace
His children evermore.

O rich the gifts Thou bringest us,
Thyself made poor and weak;
O love beyond compare that thus
Can foes and sinners seek!
For this we raise a gladsome voice
On high to Thee alone,
And evermore with thanks rejoice
Before Thy glorious throne.

Prayers for the Immaculate Conception

For the peoples of the United States, Brazil, Inner Mongolia, the Phillipines, Portugal, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and all other places who claim Mary Immaculate as their patroness...

For all religious congregations, associations, and movements dedicated to Mary Immaculate...

For the intention mentioned on Fructis Ventris...

For the earthquake victims in the Congo...

For those affected by the volcano in Vanuatu...

For all those affected by job cutbacks...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for the Immaculate Conception

Immaculate Mary, your praises we sing,
You reign now in heaven with Jesus, our King.

(Refrain)

Ave, ave, ave Maria,
Ave, ave, ave Maria.

In heaven, the blessed your glory proclaim:
On earth, we your children invoke your fair name.

(Refrain)

Your name is our power, your virtues our light,
Your love is our comfort, your pleading our might.

(Refrain)

We pray for our mother, the Church upon earth,
And bless, dearest lady, the land of our birth.

(Refrain)

Apology

Blogger was problematic on 12/5, and other commitments kept me from completing the requests for 12/7. My apologies for not posting for 12/6 and 12/7.

Hymn for 12/7

Light of Those Whose Dreary Dwelling


Light of those whose dreary dwelling
Borders on the shades of death,
Come, and by Thy love’s revealing
Dissipate the clouds beneath.

The new heaven and earth’s Creator,
In our deepest darkness rise,
Scattering all the night of nature,
Pouring eyesight on our eyes.

Still we wait for Thine appearing;
Life and joy Thy beams impart,
Chasing all our fears, and cheering
Every poor benighted heart.

Come, and manifest the favor
God hath for our ransomed race;
Come, Thou universal Savior,
Come, and bring the Gospel grace.

Save us in Thy great compassion,
O Thou mild, pacific Prince;
Give the knowledge of salvation,
Give the pardon of our sins.

By Thine all-redeeming merit
Every burdened soul release;
Every weary, wandering spirit
Guide into Thy perfect peace.

Prayers for 12/5

Today marks the feasts of St. Sabas, St. Gerald, St. John Almond, and St. Nicholas Tavelic, among others.

For the peoples of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland...

For Eastern Christian monasteries, especially those in the Holy Land...

For the elderly, the disabled, and all those suffering in mind and body...

For a personal intention...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 12/5

O Come, Divine Messiah

O come, Divine Messiah,
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph,
And sadness flee away.

refrain:

Dear Savior haste!
Come, come to earth.
Dispel the night and show Thy face,
And bid us hail the dawn of grace.
O come, Divine Messiah,
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph,
And sadness flee away.

O Thou whom nations sighed for,
Whom priest and prophet long foretold,
Wilt break the captive fetters,
Redeem the long lost fold.

refrain

Prayers for the Second Sunday of Advent

Today is also the feast day for St. John of Damascus and St. Barbara

For Arab Christians...

For those endure persecution from family for their fidelity to Christ...

For those who will die suddenly, that they may be prepared for their appearance before the Judgement Seat...

For all those affected by winter weather: the elderly, the shut-ins, the homeless, those without heat in their homes, and those who are isolated...

For the repose of the soul of Russell R. Smith, and for his family...

For the Windsor Family...

For David Morrison's father...

For Elliot Bougis' situation...

For all the intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for the Second Sunday of Advent

On Jordan's Bank


On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
Announces that the Lord is nigh;
Come, then, and hearken, for he brings
Glad tidings from the King of kings!

Then cleansed be every breast from sin;
Make straight the way for God within;
Prepare we in our hearts a home,
Where such a mighty Guest may come.

For Thou art our Salvation, Lord,
Our Refuge, and our great Reward.
Without Thy grace our souls must fade
And wither like a flower decayed.

Stretch forth Thine hand, to heal our sore,
And make us rise and fall no more;
Once more upon Thy people shine,
And fill the world with love divine.

To Him Who left the throne of Heaven
To save mankind, all praise be given;
Like praise be to the Father done,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One.

Reminder

I'm republishing the rules and procedures for submitting requests...


1) Please send all requests to oratefratres@yahoo.com . I will post them from there.

2) The Welborn Protocol applies here. If you wish to remain anonymous, or to be known by initials, please state that in your request.

3) Commonsense rules on civility and charity apply. No calling down of heavenly lightning on anyone or anything, no political stumping, no requests for excessive wealth....you get the picture.

4) I ask all visitors to at least say a brief prayer for all those who have posted. I also ask those who celebrate the Hours to make some mention, and I especially ask priests to remember them at the altar.

Thank you, and God bless you!

Prayers for 12/3

Today is the Memorial of St. Francis Xavier

For the members and associates of the Society of Jesus...

For the peoples of India, Japan, and the Philippines...

For all those involved in missionary work...

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and diaconate...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 12/3

Creator of the Stars of Night


Creator of the stars of night,
Thy people’s everlasting light,
Jesu, Redeemer, save us all,
And hear Thy servants when they call.

Thou, grieving that the ancient curse
Should doom to death a universe,
Hast found the medicine, full of grace,
To save and heal a ruined race.

Thou cam’st, the Bridegroom of the bride,
As drew the world to evening-tide;
Proceeding from a virgin shrine,
The spotless Victim all divine.

At Whose dread Name, majestic now,
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
And things celestial Thee shall own,
And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

O Thou Whose coming is with dread
To judge and doom the quick and dead,
Preserve us, while we dwell below,
From every insult of the foe.

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Laud, honor, might, and glory be
From age to age eternally.

Prayers For 12/2

For those with vision problems...

For Banshee's friend and her friend's children....

For Mark Shea's brother-in-law...

For Binky the Web Elf...

For Dick Weiand...

For all of the intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn For 12/2

Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding

Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding;
“Christ is nigh,” it seems to say,
“Cast away the works of darkness,
O ye children of the day.”

Wakened by the solemn warning
Let the earthbound soul arise;
Christ, her Sun, all ill dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.

Lo, the Lamb, so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from Heav’n;
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
One and all to be forgiven.

That when next He comes in glory,
And the world is wrapped in fear,
With His mercy He may shield us,
And with words of love draw near.

Honor, glory, might, and blessing
Be to God: the Father, Son
And the everlasting Spirit,
While eternal ages run.

For 12/1

For the grace to do God's will at all times...

For Suzanne B's father, recently diagnosed with lung cancer...

For all those affected by the recent winter weather across the Great Plains and Upper Midwest...

For all the intentions previously posted on this site...

Today's Hymn

During the seasons of Advent and Christmas, I will be posting a different hymn/antiphon each day.

The Advent of Our God


The advent of our God
Our prayers must now employ,
And we must meet Him on His road
With hymns of holy joy.

The everlasting Son
Incarnate deigns to be;
Himself a servant’s form puts on
To set His people free.

Daughter of Zion, rise
To meet thy lowly King,
Nor let thy faithless heart despise
The peace He comes to bring.

As Judge, on clouds of light,
He soon will come again,
And all His scattered saints unite
With Him in Heaven to reign.

Before the dawning day
Let sin’s dark deeds be gone;
The old man all be put away,
The new man all put on.

All glory to the Son
Who comes to set us free,
With Father, Spirit, ever One,
Through all eternity.

For November 30

Today is the feast of St. Andrew, the first of the Apostles to be called by Jesus.

For the peoples of Scotland, Russia, and Romania...

For the soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen serving overseas...

For R.W., whose sister was killed in a car accident this past Wednesday...

For Basia, hospitalized with numerous health problems, and her family...

For Judeen, hospitalized with spinal problems...

For all the intentions of those who visit this site...