What Does The Prayer Really Say?
W D T P R S

I just returned from a viewing of the new movie The Children of Men.   The movie is loosely… loosely… based on the book of the same title by P.D. James.

If you harbor any hope that the movie stays close to the book, lose that expectation right now.  The liberal (properly understood) Christian world view which was at the heart of the book has been entirely eradicated.

From the Basilica of St. Cecilia in Trastevere:

Hmmm….

Here is the prayer used for the consecration of the United States of America to the to the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary on Saturday, 11 November at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Prayer for Renewal of Consecration
to Our Patroness of the United States of America, the Immaculate Conception

Most Holy Trinity: Our Father in Heaven, who chose Mary as the fairest of your daughters; Holy Spirit, who chose Mary as Your spouse; God the Son, who chose Mary as Your Mother; in union with Mary, we adore Your majesty and acknowledge Your supreme, eternal dominion and authority.

Most Holy Trinity, we put the United States of America into the hands of Mary Immaculate in order that she may present the country to You. Through her we wish to thank You for the great resources of this land and for the freedom, which has been its heritage. Through the intercession of Mary, have mercy on the Catholic Church in America. Grant us peace. Have mercy on our President and on all the officers of our government. Grant us a fruitful economy born of justice and charity. Have mercy on capital and industry and labor. Protect the family life of the nation. Guard the precious gift of many religious vocations. Through the intercession of our Mother, have mercy on the sick, the poor, the tempted, sinners — on all who are in need.

Mary, Immaculate Virgin, Our Mother, patroness of our land, we praise you and honor you and give our country and ourselves to your sorrowful and immaculate heart. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pierced by the sword of sorrow prophesized by Simeon, save us from degeneration, disaster and war. Protect us from all harm. O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, you who bore the sufferings of your Son in the depths of your heart, be our advocate. Pray for us, that acting always according to your will and the will of your divine Son, we may live and die pleasing to God. Amen.

This is how my day started. How about yours?

We had thunderstorms during the night. This morning, as another wave of the system went through, I caught this.