On hiatus

This is Mrs. Dave here.

I'm letting you know that, for personal reasons, Dave is taking an extended hiatus from blogging.

We would really appreciate your prayers. We need them to get through the next few months, as we've fallen on some very hard, very severe times.

Those of you who know Dave can email me through my blog address if you have questions.

Prayers for 11/21

Today we ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as we celebrate her Presentation. We also ask the intercession of St. Gelasius I.

For the Holy Father, and for his personal intentions...

For Gashwin's father...

For the victims of the bus accident in Alabama, and for their families and friends...

For the victims of the fire in Guatemala City...

For the victims of the school shooting in Emsdetten, Germany...

For the victims of the train explosion in West Bengal, India...

For peace in the world...

For personal intentions...

For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

I'll Sing a Hymn to Mary

I'll sing a hymn to Mary, The Mother of my God,
The Virgin of all virgins, Of David's royal blood.
O teach me, Holy Mary, A loving song to frame,
When wicked men blaspheme thee, To love and bless thy name.

O Lily of the Valley, O Mystic Rose, what tree,
Or flower, e'en the fairest, Is half so fair as thee?
O let me, tho' so lowly Recite my Mother's fame.
When wicked men blaspheme thee, I'll love and bless thy name.

O noble Tower of David, Of gold and ivory.
The ark of God's own promise, The gate of Heav'n to me.
To live and not to love thee Would fill my soul with shame.
When wicked men blaspheme thee, I'll love and bless thy name.

Prayers for 11/20

Today we ask the intercession of Sts. Bernward, Edmund of East Anglia, Felix of Valois, and Francis Xavier Can; and Bl. Maria Fortunata Viti.

For the Trinitarians...

For our leaders...

For architects...

For metal workers...

For artists...

For the repose of the soul of Bishop Manuel Moreno...

For the repose of the soul of Gerard Serafin Bugge, and for his family and friends...

For personal intentions...

For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 11/20

Blest Is He Who Loves God's Precepts


Blest is he who loves God’s precepts,
Who from sin restrains his feet,
He who will not stand with sinners,
He who shuns the scorners’ seat.

Blest is he who makes the statutes
Of the Lord his chief delight,
In God’s law, divinely perfect,
Meditating day and night.

He is like a tree well planted
By the flowing river’s side,
Ever green of leaf and fruitful:
Thus shall all his works abide.

Like the driven chaff the wicked
Shall be swept from off the land
With the just they shall not gather,
Nor shall in the judgment stand.

Well the Lord will guard the righteous,
For their way to Him is known;
But the way of evildoers
Shall by Him be overthrown.

Prayers for 11/19

Today we ask the intercession of the Prophet Obadiah; Sts. Odo of Cluny, Rose Philippine Duchesne, and Raphael Kalinowski; and Bls. John Xoun, Karolina Kózkówna, Leonard Kimura, and Salvatore Lilli.

For Lily Clare and her family...

For peace in the world...

For personal intentions...

For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

He Is Coming, He Is Coming


He is coming, He is coming,
Not as once He came before,
Wailing Infant born in weakness
On a lowly stable floor;
But upon His cloud of glory,
In the crimson tinted sky,
Where we see the golden sunrise,
In the rosy distance lie.

He is coming, He is coming,
Not in pain, and shame, and woe,
With the thorn crown on His forehead,
And the blood drops trickling slow;
But with diadem upon Him,
And the scepter in His hand,
And the dead all ranged before Him,
Raised from death, hell, sea and land.

He is coming, He is coming,
Not as once He wandered through
All the hostile land of Judah,
With His followers poor and few;
But with all the holy angels
Waiting round His judgment seat,
And the chosen twelve Apostles,
Sitting crownèd at His feet.

He is coming, He is coming,
Let His lowly first estate,
And His tender love, so teach us
That in faith and hope we wait,
Till in glory eastward burning,
Our redemption draweth near,
And we see the sign in heaven
Of our Judge and Savior dear.

A Note of Apology

Prior commitments kept us from posting for Saturday. We will be including the day's saints in Sunday's post.

Prayers for 11/17

Today we ask the intercession of the Martyrs of Paraguay; Sts. Dionysius of Alexandria, Elizabeth of Hungary, Gregory Thaumaturgus, Hilda, and Hugh of Lincoln; and Bl. Jane of Segna.

For our leaders...

For bakers...

For the poor among us...

For refugees and exiles...

For the homeless...

For the forgotten...

For the sick...

For peace in the world...

For personal intentions...

For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 11/17

Thy Servant, Blessed by Thee

Thy servant, blessed by Thee, shall live
And keep Thy Word with awe;
Lord open Thou mine eyes to see
The wonders of Thy law.

A pilgrim in the earth am I,
Thy will to me reveal;
To know Thy truth my spirit yearns,
Consumed with ardent zeal.

Thou dost rebuke the proud, O Lord,
Who hate Thy holy Name;
But since I keep Thy righteous law,
Deliver me from shame.

I on Thy statutes meditate,
Though evil men deride;
Thy faithful Word is my delight,
My counselor and guide.

Prayers for 11/16

Today we ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary with the feast of the Patronage of Our Lady; Sts. Agnes of Assisi, Edmund Rich of Abingdon, Gertrude the Great, Joseph Moscati, and Margaret of Scotland; and Bls. Domingo Iturrate Zubero and Gratia of Cattaro.

For the peoples of Scotland and the West Indies...

For women religious...

For our leaders...

For the widowed...

For families who have lost children...

For personal intentions...

For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 11/16

A Little Kingdom I Possess


A little kingdom I possess,
Where thoughts and feelings dwell,
And very hard I find the task
Of governing it well;
For passion tempts and troubles me,
A wayward will misleads,
And selfishness its shadow casts,
On all my will and deeds.

How can I learn to rule myself,
To be the child I should,
Honest and brave, nor ever tire
Of trying to be good?
How can I keep a sunny soul
To shine along life’s way?
How can I tune my little heart,
To sweetly sing all day?

Dear Father, help me with the love
That castest out my fear!
Teach me to lean on Thee and feel
That thou art very near.
That no temptation is unseen,
No childish grief too small,
Since Thou, with patience infinite,
Dost soothe and comfort all.

I do not ask for any crown
But that which all may win;
Nor try to conquer any world
Except the one within.
Be Thou my Guide until I find,
Led by a tender hand,
Thy happy kingdom in myself
And dare to take command.

Prayers for 11/15

Today we ask the intercession of Sts. Albert the Great, Leopold III, and Zachary; and Bls. Hugh Faringdon, John Eynon, John Rugg, John Thorne, Richard Whiting, and Roger James.

For the people of Austria...

For our leaders...

For scientists...

For philosophers...

For students and teachers...

For Greg Popcak...

For personal intentions...

For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 11/15

The King of Love My Shepherd Is

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.

Prayers for 11/14

Today we ask the intercession of St. Lawrence O'Toole; and Bls John Licci, Lucy of Narni, and Maria Teresa of Jesus.

For those suffering from head injuries...

For the U.S. Bishops, as they hold their annual meeting...

For Mike Carter, his co-workers, and his family and friends...

For peace in the world...

For personal intentions...

For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for11/14

Of Him Who Did Salvation Bring


Of Him Who did salvation bring,
I could forever think and sing:
Arise, ye needy, He’ll relieve;
Arise, ye guilty, He’ll forgive.

Ask but His grace, and lo, ’tis given!
Ask, and He turns your hell to heaven;
Though sin and sorrow wound my soul,
Jesus, Thy balm will make it whole.

To shame our sins He blushed in blood;
He closed His eyes to show us God:
Let all the world fall down and know
That none but God such love can show.

Insatiate to this Spring I fly;
I drink, and yet am ever dry;
Ah! who against Thy charm is proof!
Ah! who that loves, can love enough?

Prayers for 11/13

Today we ask the intercession of Sts. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Agostina Petrantoni, Brice, Didacus, Homobonus, Pope Nicholas I, Paterniano, and Stanislaus Kostka.

For the Holy Father, and for his personal intentions...

For victims of domestic abuse...

For Secular Franciscans...

For peace in the world...

For personal intentions...

For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for 11/13

Christ of the Upward Way


Christ of the upward way, my Guide divine,
Where Thou hast set Thy feet, may I place mine;
And move and march wherever Thou hast trod,
Keeping face forward up the hill of God.

Give me the heart to hear Thy voice and will,
That without fault or fear I may fulfill
Thy purpose with a glad and holy zest,
Like one who would not bring less than his best.

Give me the eye to see each chance to serve,
Then send me strength to rise with steady nerve,
And leap at once with kind and helpful deed,
To the sure succor of a soul in need.

Give me the good stout arm to shield the right,
And wield Thy sword of truth with all my might,
That, in the warfare I must wage for Thee,
More than a victor I may ever be.

Christ of the upward way, my Guide divine,
Where Thou hast set Thy feet, may I place mine;
And when Thy last call comes, serene and clear,
Calm may my answer be, “Lord, I am here.”

Prayers for 11/12

Today we ask the intercession of Sts. Astricus, Josaphat, Lebuin, and Livinus; and Bls. Gabriel Ferretti and John Cini della Pace.

For the peoples of Hungary and Ukraine...

For those affected by Typhoon Chebi...

For peace in the world...

For personal intentions...

For the intentions posted on Happy Catholic and Catholic Fire...

For all intentions previously posted on this site...

Hymn for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is Thy Cruse of Comfort Wasting?


Is thy cruse of comfort wasting?
Rise, and with thy brother share.
And through all the years of famine
On its bounty ye shall fare.

Love divine will fill thy storehouse,
Or thy handful still renew;
Scanty fare for one will often
Make a royal feast for two.

For the heart grows rich in giving;
All its wealth is living grain;
Seeds, which mildew in the garner,
Scattered, fill with gold the plain.

Is thy burden hard and heavy,
Do thy steps drag wearily?
Help to bear thy brother’s burden;
God will bear both it and thee.

Numb and weary on the mountains,
Wouldst thou sleep amidst the snow?
Chafe the frozen form beside thee,
And together both shall grow.

Art thou stricken in life’s battle?
Many wounded round thee moan;
Lavish on their wounds thy balsams
And that balm shall heal thine own.

Is the heart a well left empty?
None but God its void can fill;
Nothing but a ceaseless fountain
Can its ceaseless longings still.

Is the heart a living power?
Self entwined, its strength sinks low;
It can only live in loving,
And by serving love will grow.