In religion, as in war and everything else, comfort is the one thing you cannot get by looking for it. If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end: if you look for comfort, you will not get neither comfort or truth — only soft and wishful thinking to begin with and, in the end, despair.
CS Lewis in Mere Christianity.
Thanks for FWD from Fr Victor Potapov.
He’s been the head of the Roman Catholic communion ever since I was a Baptist, a senior in high school. Anyone who knows me knows I’m no ecumenist. I’ve never wavered, however, in my belief that Pope John Paul II is a good man. He has led his flock through some tumultuous times. He was the first media Pope. He has stood firm on unpopular positions and still managed to stay in the positive spot light. And travel … my goodness! There’s no comparison, But. Like Reagan and Carson, I’m sure the MSM has bios ready to roll when JP II breathes his last. Yet for now, I’m bold enough to pray God’s mercy and weak enough to covet his prayers.
One of my wife’s coworkers read my post on the SpongeBob controvery — Of Course Sponge Bob is Gay! She enjoyed it so much that she bought me a new SpongeBob SquarePants placemat, much to the envy of my 2 year old. However, being a good sport, she (who’ll be 3 in May) brought it to me last night just before our house blessing. I told her I was going to take it to work with me.
“No! You don’t take it to work, Dad. You sit your plate on it; your fork; and your juice.”
God love her. I can’t clearly see me, sitting down with my other four family members, and I’m the only one with a big bright yellow cartoon placemat. THAT would look queer, no?
Anyway, if we get our act together, Huw Raphael and I will be co-authoring an article about cartoon characters later in the week. Alas, before we’ve even hammered our words out, USA Today is running a pity piece on cartoon characters who are in the closet. Where’s Dave Barry when you need him?
Needless to say, the storm caused by Dr Dobson’s comments certainly “has legs” —
In fact, you may now have to do some serious sleuthing to ever find the truth about the We Are Family organization.
Just by pointing out that Dobson’s (whose show I have never listened to) words may have been twisted out of context, yours truly came under fire by fierce fans of tolerance (scroll down).
Face it, with all the problems in the world, if, after the November elections, THIS is all we have to argue about … life’s pretty good outside Toonville.
Glory to God for all things!
by St Simeon the New Theologian
From sullied lips, from an abominable heart, from a tongue impure, from a soul defiled, accept my supplication, O my Christ, and disdain me not, neither my words, nor my ways, nor my shamelessness. Grant me to say boldly that which I desire, O my Christ. Or rather, teach me what I ought to do and say. I have sinned more than the sinful woman who, having learned where Thou wast lodging, bought myrrh, and came daringly to anoint Thy feet, my God, my Master, and my Christ. As Thou didst not reject her when she drew near from her heart, neither, O Word, be Thou filled with loathing for me, but grant me floods of tears, as with most precious myrrh, dare to anoint them. Wash me with my tears, and purify me with them, O Word; remit also my transgressions, and grant me pardon. Thou knowest the multitude of mine evils, Thou knowest also my sores, and Thou seest my wounds; but also Thou knowest my faith, and Thou beholdest my good intentions, and Thou hearest my sighs. Nothing is hidden from Thee, my God, my Creator, My Redeemer, neither a teardrop, nor a part of a teardrop. My deeds not yet done Thine eyes have seen, and in Thy book even things no yet accomplished are written by Thee. See my lowliness, see my toil, how great it is, and all my sins take from me, O God of all; that with contrite soul I may partake of Thy spotless and most holy Mysteries, by which all that eat and drink in purity of heart are quickened and deified. For Thou O my Master, hast said: Everyone that eateth My Flesh and drinketh My Blood abideth in Me, and I in him. True is every word of my Master and God; for whosoever partaketh of the divine and deifying grace is no more alone, but with Thee, my Christ, the three-sunned Light that enlighteneth the world. And that I may not remain alone without Thee, the Life-giver, my Breath, my Life, my Rejoicing, the Salvation of the world, therefore have I drawn nigh unto Thee, as Thou seest, with tears, and with a contrite soul. O Ransom of mine offenses, I ask Thee to receive me, and that I may partake without condemnation of Thy life-giving and perfect Mysteries, that Thou mayest remain, as Thou hast said, with me, a thrice-wretched one, lest the deceiver, finding me without Thy grace, craftily seize me, and having beguiled me, draw me away from Thy deifying words. Wherefore, I fall down before Thee, and fervently cry unto Thee: As Thou didst receive the prodigal, and the sinful woman who drew near, so receive me, the prodigal and profligate, O Compassionate One. With contrite soul I now come to Thee. I know, O Saviour, that none other hath sinned against Thee as have I, nor hath wrought the deeds that I have done. But this again I know, that neither the magnitude of mine offenses nor the multitude of my sins surpasseth the abundant long-suffering of my God and His exceeding love for mankind; but with sympathetic mercy Thou dost purify and illumine them that fervently repent, and makest them partakers of the light, sharers of Thy divinity without stint. And, strange to angels and to the minds of men, Thou conversest with them oftimes, as with Thy true friends. These things make me bold, these things give me wings, O Christ. And taking courage from the wealth of Thy benefactions to us, rejoicing and trembling at once, I partake of Fire, I that am grass. And, strange wonder! I am bedewed without being consumed, as the bush of old burned without being consumed. Now with thankful mind, and grateful heart, with thankfulness in my members, my soul and body, I worship and magnify and glorify Thee, my God, for blessed art Thou, both now and unto the ages.
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Taken from the Jordanville Prayer Book, pp.362-366; The Order of Preparation for Holy Communion.
Enter your icon corner with reverence before God.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Glory to thee, O our God, glory to thee.
O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art in all places and fillest all things; Treasury of good things and Giver of life Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O gracious Lord.
+ Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal have mercy on us. (Thrice)
+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
All-holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God visit and heal our infirmities for thy Name’s sake.
Lord have mercy. (Thrice)
+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
+ Our Father …
+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: both now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
+ O Lord and Master of my life,
Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power and idle talk;+ But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to Thy servant.
+ Yea, O Lord and King,
grant me to see my own transgressions and not to judge my brother,
for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen.
(St Ephraim the Syrian – 4th c.)
LIVING
Be mindful, O Lord, of our Archbishop N.; our Bishop N.; our priest N.; the president of the United Sates, our civil authorities and Armed Forces.
Be mindful, O Lord, of my parents, N. and N., of my brothers and sisters, my relatives, friends and enemies, N., N. and N. (name those whom you wish to remember); grant that they may have mercy, life, peace, health, salvation and visitation, and pardon and remission of sins; that they may ever praise and glorify Thy Holy Name.
Be mindful, O Lord, of me, thy humble servant; grant me thy Grace, that I may be diligent and faithful; avoiding evil company and influence, resisting temptation; that I may lead a godly and righteous life, blameless and peaceful, ever serving Thee; that I may be accounted worthy to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.
DEAD
Be mindful, O Lord, of my parents, relatives and friends, N., N. and N. (name those of the dead whom you wish to remember) who have fallen asleep in thy communion in the hope of resurrection unto life eternal, O Lord, lover of mankind. Amen.
TROPARION to the THEOTOKOS
+ It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, who art ever blessed and all blameless, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, thou who without stain barest God the Word, and art truly Theotokos, we magnify thee.
+ Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Lord have mercy. (Thrice)
+ O Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, through the intercessions of thine immaculate Mother, of Saint N. (your patron saint), and of all thy Saints, have mercy on us, and save us, for thou art a merciful God, and lovest mankind. Amen.
Reverence the icon of Christ, the Theotokos, your patron, and others.
+ Through the prayers of our holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
Make three metanias and quietly exit the icon corner.
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The above prayer rule is a shortened form of those found in the Antiochian prayer book. It is intended for non-Orthodox inquirers, some Catechumens, and those who struggle with making time for morning prayers. It is easily memorized, allowing, when necessary, its recitation in other places than one’s home icon corner. As with all such matters, guidance should be sought from one’s priest and/or spiritual father.
