Galadriel
Well-Known Member
Memento homo quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris
Remember, man, that you are dust and into dust you shall return...
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
Let us reflect on our frailty and mortality, and the utter dependence we have on God Almighty. Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ showed us the Way--he IS the way, and there is no other name by which we are saved. Our bodies may break and will return to dust, but our souls will endure, and upon our individual deaths must give an account to Jesus Christ of our lives.
"And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27)
Reflect on that.
Let us reflect on our own internal failings and sins, imploring God's mercy, and for Christ's saving grace to sanctify us and fortify us against evil. Let us detest our sins and place ourselves under God's correction and care.
Let us reflect on the evil in this world we must confront--hatred, lies, murders, abortion, sexual perversion, gossiping and backbiting, refusing to forgive, and refusing to have faith. We must ask God for the conversion of sinners.
Let us act as God's priesthood and make sacrifices, and pray for God's mercy for this world. Sometimes the battle is hard, sometimes we are weary and ask, "When, O Lord?" Remember that He stays His hand BECAUSE we His people have been praying for mercy and grace. However, one day there will come a time when the time of mercy will have passed, and this wicked world must enter Judgment. So continue working, continue praying, continue watching.
Saint Michael the Archangel has long been honored by the Church as a protector and defender. So I will end with this petition (The St. Michael Prayer):
[FONT=arial,helvetica]“O Glorious Prince of the heavenly host, St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the terrible warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits. Come to the aid of man, whom Almighty God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of Satan.
“Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in Heaven. That cruel, ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity....
“Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory...Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly find mercy in the sight of the Lord; and vanquishing the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen." [/FONT]
Remember, man, that you are dust and into dust you shall return...
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.
Let us reflect on our frailty and mortality, and the utter dependence we have on God Almighty. Our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ showed us the Way--he IS the way, and there is no other name by which we are saved. Our bodies may break and will return to dust, but our souls will endure, and upon our individual deaths must give an account to Jesus Christ of our lives.
"And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27)
Reflect on that.
Let us reflect on our own internal failings and sins, imploring God's mercy, and for Christ's saving grace to sanctify us and fortify us against evil. Let us detest our sins and place ourselves under God's correction and care.
Let us reflect on the evil in this world we must confront--hatred, lies, murders, abortion, sexual perversion, gossiping and backbiting, refusing to forgive, and refusing to have faith. We must ask God for the conversion of sinners.
Let us act as God's priesthood and make sacrifices, and pray for God's mercy for this world. Sometimes the battle is hard, sometimes we are weary and ask, "When, O Lord?" Remember that He stays His hand BECAUSE we His people have been praying for mercy and grace. However, one day there will come a time when the time of mercy will have passed, and this wicked world must enter Judgment. So continue working, continue praying, continue watching.
Saint Michael the Archangel has long been honored by the Church as a protector and defender. So I will end with this petition (The St. Michael Prayer):
[FONT=arial,helvetica]“O Glorious Prince of the heavenly host, St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the battle and in the terrible warfare that we are waging against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the evil spirits. Come to the aid of man, whom Almighty God created immortal, made in His own image and likeness, and redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of Satan.
“Fight this day the battle of the Lord, together with the holy angels, as already thou hast fought the leader of the proud angels, Lucifer, and his apostate host, who were powerless to resist thee, nor was there place for them any longer in Heaven. That cruel, ancient serpent, who is called the devil or Satan who seduces the whole world, was cast into the abyss with his angels. Behold, this primeval enemy and slayer of men has taken courage. Transformed into an angel of light, he wanders about with all the multitude of wicked spirits, invading the earth in order to blot out the name of God and of His Christ, to seize upon, slay and cast into eternal perdition souls destined for the crown of eternal glory. This wicked dragon pours out, as a most impure flood, the venom of his malice on men of depraved mind and corrupt heart, the spirit of lying, of impiety, of blasphemy, and the pestilent breath of impurity, and of every vice and iniquity....
“Arise then, O invincible Prince, bring help against the attacks of the lost spirits to the people of God, and give them the victory...Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly find mercy in the sight of the Lord; and vanquishing the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations. Amen." [/FONT]