The Church Militant: March 2012

As I meditate on the Sorrowful Mysteries while praying the Holy Rosary this Lent, I have become increasingly aware of how each of my sins adds to Christ's suffering.
- I add to his agony in the garden as he struggles to accept our sins on His sinless Self.
- I add more lashes to his scourging at the pillar.
- I press yet another thorn into his Kingly head. (The mystery of the crowning with thorns actually embarrasses me. How could we mock our loving God in such a way??)
- My sins make the timber's weight all the heavier as our Lord struggles with it on the way to his torturous death.
- Finally, my sins cause ever greater agony as Love Itself hangs on the cross and finally gives up His spirit.

http://praycatholic.wordpress.com/rosary/the-sorrowful-mysteries/

Lift high the cross

The love of Christ proclaim.

Til all the world adore

His sacred Name.

At work tonight that hymn was in my head and convinced me to begin this "blog".

We, the Church militant, must proclaim the love of Christ to the world. While on earth Jesus prepared His Church by giving authority to His disciples and by setting Saint Peter as the Church's head.

There is a job to do. I've been a fan of "The Lord of the Rings" since I first read the trilogy, oh, around about 1980. I mention this story because the hero was a very simple, unassuming being. And yet he was given an assignment fit for a superhero. That is what each one of us has to be willing to do. Take up our crosses daily and be ready to do amazing things.

What sort of amazing things? Maybe something as simple as developing the habit and discipline of daily prayer. One never knows how our prayers may really affect us or others. For example, every time you hear of a death pray for the departed soul.

Never, ever forget that the Church consists of:
1. The Church Militant. (Us struggling here on earth.)
2. The Church Suffering. (The Holy souls in Purgatory.)
3. The Church Triumphant. (The saints and angels and all the heavenly hosts.)

As we suffer and fight here in this life we are never alone. Not only is God always present but we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.
From Hebrews 12 verse 1: Douay-Rheims Bible

And therefore we also having so great a cloud of witnesses over our head, laying aside every weight and sin which surrounds us, let us run by patience to the fight proposed to us

I want to do God's most holy will, and I feel that the Internet, with all the filth and lies freely available, must be cleaned up by any faithful Catholic Christian.

I need help in this endeavour. I am concerned that Satin will encourage pride in me. I shall ask the mother of our Lord for her intercession with her Divine Son, just as she did at the Cana wedding.

Hail Mary full of grace
The Lord is with thee
Blessed art thou amongst women
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners
Now, and at the hour of our death
Amen.

http://lordcalls.com/mother-mary-prayers/hail-mary-prayer

Here's the hymn with the words as I learned them for the the first half century or more of my life.

The Catholic Book of Worship III has made some changes to the lyrics that I have never caught on to. [ You would recognize me at Mass. I'm the guy singing (slightly) different words at the top of his lungs. ]

The Church Militant

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Attende Domine

The Sorrowful Mysteries. A brief meditation.

Lift High the Cross!