- Psalm 40:1-5 -
I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.
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Waiting for God to help us is not easy, but David received four benefits from
waiting: God (1) lifted him out of his despair, (2) set his feet on a rock, (3)
gave him a firm place to stand, and (4) put a new song of praise in his mouth.
Often blessings cannot be received unless we go through the trial of waiting.
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December 20th - Blessed Peter de la Cadireta, OP M (PC)
Born in Moya, Catalonia, Spain; died 1277. Among the martyrs contributed by
the Dominican province of Spain was Peter de la Cadireta. He had been a
companion of Saint Raymond of Peņafort in Barcelona. Raymond had been
especially interested in the conversion of the Moors and other infidels, and
to this end founded a school of Eastern languages to train future
evangelists in Hebrew, Arabic, and others. It could not have made Raymond
happy to know one of his most promising students was almost guaranteed an
early martyrdom: in 1258, Peter was appointed to the office of inquisitor in
his homeland of Spain. His two predecessors, Pons de Planedis and Bernard de
Traversa, were both martyred.
Peter enjoyed the longest career of the three; he worked for 20 years before
his was captured and stoned to death at Urgell in 1277. Thereafter, he was
laid to rest next to the other two in the cathedral, although by this time
there was a Dominican convent in Urgell, of which he had been the prior. It
appears that his relics are now venerated at the church of Saint Dominic in
Urgell (Benedictines, Dorcy).
Saint Quote:
Eating and drinking don't make friendships-such friendship even robbers and
murderers have. But if we are friends, if we truly care for one another,
let's help one
another spiritually....Let's hinder those things that lead our friends away
to hell.
-St. John Chrysostom
Bible Quote:
Woe to the world because of scandals. For it must needs be that scandals
come: but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh. (Mat
18:7)
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Dies Irae
Day of wrath! O day of mourning!
See fulfilled the prophets' warning,
Heaven and earth in ashes burning!
Oh what fear man's bosom rendeth,
when from heaven the Judge descendeth,
on whose sentence all dependeth.
Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth;
through earth's sepulchers it ringeth;
all before the throne it bringeth.
Death is struck, and nature quaking,
all creation is awaking,
to its Judge an answer making.
Lo! the book, exactly worded,
wherein all hath been recorded:
thence shall judgment be awarded.
When the Judge his seat attaineth,
and each hidden deed arraigneth,
nothing unavenged remaineth.
What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
Who for me be interceding,
when the just are mercy needing?
King of Majesty tremendous,
who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us!
Think, good Jesus, my salvation
cost thy wondrous Incarnation;
leave me not to reprobation!
Faint and weary, thou hast sought me,
on the cross of suffering bought me.
shall such grace be vainly brought me?
Righteous Judge! for sin's pollution
grant thy gift of absolution,
ere the day of retribution.
Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
all my shame with anguish owning;
spare, O God, thy suppliant groaning!
Thou the sinful woman savedst;
thou the dying thief forgavest;
and to me a hope vouchsafest.
Worthless are my prayers and sighing,
yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
rescue me from fires undying!
With thy favored sheep O place me;
nor among the goats abase me;
but to thy right hand upraise me.
While the wicked are confounded,
doomed to flames of woe unbounded
call me with thy saints surrounded.
Low I kneel, with heart submission,
see, like ashes, my contrition;
help me in my last condition.
Ah! that day of tears and mourning!
From the dust of earth returning
man for judgment must prepare him;
Spare, O God, in mercy spare him!
Lord, all pitying, Jesus blest,
grant them thine eternal rest. Amen.
Words: Thomas of Celano, 13th cent.;
trans. William J. Irons, 1849
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