Fr. Z's Blog

There will be no end of sentimentality upon which the Fishwrap will play in support of the LCWR and the Magisterium of Nuns.

Someone sent this to my email and I had to post it.

Here is the – I promise you I am not making this up – Litany of St. Louis Sisters.   I suppose this is geographically focused, mentioning the communities that are in St. Louis (where the LCWR is supposed to meet later in the summer…. coincidence?)

The Fishwrap writer says:

I attended our local vigil in support of Catholic sisters on the last Tuesday in May. There were 100 people in front of the Basilica of St. Louis, young men and women and babies that I didn’t know, and older people who were friends of mine. It filled me with confidence that the church is in good hands.

Below is a litany to sisters’ communities prepared by Marie Andrews, who is a wife, mother and a vigorous activist.

In all of this, watch for a petition that asks God to help the women religious live more faithful lives as religious or live more authenically the evangelical counsels, or be more faithful to the teachings of the Church or be more forthcoming in teaching what the Church teaches, or be ready to obey whatever the Church asks of them. [NB: They may have a different notion of what “church” is!]

Here is just a taste:

Threshold of Life,
Bless the Adorers of the Blood of Christ,
may their roots in the Gospel of Jesus and community life
flourish in empowering others, fostering oneness,
celebrating life, forming right relationships,
and walking as compassionate companions.

WE pray: You are our Light [I think this is a prayer to God, for the sisters.  We are not supposed to be praying to the sisters. Are we?]

O God of other plans,
Bless the Daughters of Charity,
who honor our Lord [A masculine word got in there!] Jesus Christ
as the source and model of all charity,
serving Him corporally and spiritually in the person of the poor.

WE pray: You are our Light

Word Incarnate, [Avoiding masculine images again.]
Bless the Dominican Sisters,
joyous women of prayer and compassion
who proclaim the reign of God
through ministry for justice and reverence for all creation.

[WE INTERRUPT THIS LITANY FOR THE FOLLOWING: Does it seem to you that the sisters are really okay just the way the are?]

WE pray: You are our Light

O Beauty ever Ancient, O beauty ever New,
Bless, the Fransican Sisters of Mary [That “beauty” thing was Augustinian, but… hey!]
who are the presence
of the loving, serving, compassionate, healing Jesus.
Focus the power of their intention
on compassionate care of Creation in collaboration with others.

WE pray: You are our Light

Transforming Presence,
Bless, the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help,
who are a transforming presence in society
through witnessing Gospel values.
May they prophetically respond
to the needs of contemporary society,
As compassionate women, alive in the spirit,
Who enable and empower others to live
the Gospel with hope and joy.

WE pray: You are our Light

Unifying Force, [O electromagnetic and nuclear binding charges!]
Bless the School Sisters of Notre Dame,
who proclaim the Good News
by directing their entire lives toward
that oneness for which Jesus Christ was sent.

WE pray: You are our Light

O Simplicity,
Bless the Congregation of Divine Providence,
impel them by the Spirit of Jesus, [Simplicity might be … God the Father?]
to commit themselves to co-create [!]
a world of compassion, justice and peace.
Nurture in them and in others
a trust and confidence in God’s faithful presence.
Commit them to making God’s providence more visible in our world.  [Okay, that’s closer.]

WE pray: You are our Light

Our way, our truth our life, [That may be the incarnate Son of the Father.]
Bless the Loretto Community
as they continue to stand with Mary [and John]
at the foot of the cross.
Striving to bring
the healing Spirit of God into our world
and committing themselves to extend
the boundaries of learning and justice,
of human dignity and peace,
of active faith and pastoral concern,
and of efforts on behalf of the poor.

WE pray: You are our Light

God of my heart,
Bless the Sisters of Mercy,
who act in solidarity with the economically poor of the world,
especially women and children; [forget about men]
women seeking fullness of life
and equality in church and society;
and one another as they embrace
their multicultural and international reality. [What litany would be complete without a mention of multiculturalism?]

WE pray: You are our Light

Dear Neighbor, [who in cardigan sweaters sings a little song]
Bless the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet,
who rooted in prayer, community living
and the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
commit themselves to the mission of unity and reconciliation,
nonviolence and peacemaking
through concrete efforts toward their goal
of communion with the sacred,
with the Earth, with one another,
with the Church and with all whom we meet.

WE pray: You are our Light

[…]

It calls for commentary. No?

Though this is sort of fun, I think you get it.

How about something like the second part of the Litany of SAINTS?

Let’s review:

All ye holy Saints of God, (Make intercession for us.)
Be merciful, (Spare us, O Lord.)
Be merciful, (Graciously hear us, O Lord.)

From all evil, O Lord (Deliver us)
From all sin,
From Thy wrath,
From sudden and unlooked for death, [ ? REALLY IMPORTANT ONE]
From the snares of the devil,
From anger, and hatred, and every evil will,
From the spirit of fornication,
From lightning and tempest,
From the scourge of earthquakes,
From plague, famine and war,
From everlasting death,
Through the mystery of Thy holy Incarnation,
Through Thy Coming,
Through Thy Birth,
Through Thy Baptism and holy Fasting,
Through Thy Cross and Passion,
Through Thy Death and Burial,
Through Thy holy Resurrection,
Through Thine admirable Ascension,
Through the coming of the Holy Ghost, the Paraclete.
In the day of judgment.

We sinners, (beseech Thee, hear us)
That Thou wouldst spare us,
That Thou wouldst pardon us,
That Thou wouldst bring us to true penance,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to govern and preserve Thy holy Church,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all orders of the Church in holy religion,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to humble the enemies of holy Church,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant peace and unity to the whole Christian world,
That Thou wouldst call back to the unity of the Church all who have strayed from her fold, and to guide all unbelievers into the light of the Gospel
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to confirm and preserve us in Thy holy service,
That Thou wouldst lift up our minds to heavenly desires,
That Thou wouldst render eternal blessings to all our benefactors,
That Thou wouldst deliver our souls, and the souls of our brethren, relations, and benefactors, from eternal damnation,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to give and preserve the fruits of the earth,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed,
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe graciously to hear us,
Son of God,

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, (spare us, O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, (graciously hear us, O Lord.)
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, (have mercy on us.)

Christ, (hear us.)
Christ, (graciously hear us.)
Lord, have mercy, (Lord, have mercy.)
Christ, have mercy, (Christ, have mercy.)
Lord, have mercy, (Lord, have mercy.)

Our Father [inaudibly] … And lead us not into temptation (but deliver us from evil.)

I think I’ll stick to praying the Litany of Saints when from time to time I also pray for the sisters.