Abbey-Roads2

The martyrdom of St. Peter of Verona.

He was butchered with an axe and began writing the Creed in his blood on the ground as he lay dying.  I was so deeply impressed, I had to take him as my Confirmation patron, hence the name Peter, which I hyphenated with my Baptismal name, James-Peter.  So I am really Terrance James-Peter Christian.  Isn’t that cool?

Sr. Vivian, my teacher in 7th grade, hated me.  She knew my mother was a divorced, remarried Catholic and my father was Lutheran, that we were poor, and at the time my dad a nerdowell sort of guy.  Vivian was a very unhappy nun.  Although, she had a pet, Philip was his name, and when it came time for us to stand up and relate the biographies of our Confirmation patrons, Philip was just ahead of me with his presentation.

He chose Peter the Apostle (boring!) because he was first Pope and Philip wanted to be a priest - like I wanted to be a priest too Sister.  (I’m sure he became something else, like a mortician or something.)  Viv was absolutely delighted with his story however, clapping her hands.  Then, narrowing her beady little eyes, tightening her lips, she looked sternly at me and announced, “Well class, Mr. Nelson has chosen the same saint Philip has, so we don’t have to listen to him.  Let’s move on.”  And we moved on to hear someone else.  I just stood there open mouthed, convinced she thought I copied Philip.

Yeah, so that is pretty much why I blog nowadays.

(And Cathy wonders why I tend to be misanthropic.)

Looking down to the ground, I say a lttle prayer for Sister, “I hope you’re happy down there.” 

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I never saw the movie ”Emily Rose” but I’m familiar with the story - especially the 3 AM “demonic witching hour” thing.  According to legend, Judas betrayed Our Lord at 3 AM, hence it has become an hour, or time of night the devil is most active, and much evil is committed.  The Virgin also stated as much in her apparitions in Rwanda.

I know when I was out and about in my night-clubbing days, 3 AM was about the time many wicked things took place.  In the Trappists, I always made certain I was in choir by 3 AM to pray in reparation for the sins committed in that hour.  (Vigils were at 3:30 AM, if I remember correctly.)

I mention all of this because I was awakened suddenly last night at 3 AM.  I was deeply distressed - I did’nt recall the Emily Rose thing until now, instead I thought of the Virgin of Rwanda.  Blessing myself with holy water and holding my rosary, I prayed in reparation for the sins being comitted at that hour, and for the conversion of sinners.  The sense of evil vanished, and I was able to go back to sleep.

What prayers did I use?  The Divine Mercy prayers for 3 PM honoring the Passion of Christ, as well as prayers to the Holy Virgin.  There is also an excellent exorcism prayer to the Holy Face I often use:

“Arise O Lord and let your enemies be scattered, and let those that hate you flee from before your Holy Face!”

Has anyone else experienced similar things during the night?  Please share them in the comments section. 

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Well, Jefferey Smith posted a picture of himself at his site, “Roving Medievalist” - so not to be outdone, I’ll post mine as well.  (Crescat told me she always loved my profile pics on the 1st Abbey-Roads.  I can’t do that here, although if you click on “About” in the header, you can see a better picture of me than this one - at least I have a haircut - I go way too long without a haircut.  I’m also really kind of camera shy.)

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Lectio

“I sought him whom my heart loves - I sought him but did not find him.  I will rise then and go about the city; in the streets and crossings I will seek him whom my heart loves…I sought him but did not find him.

The watchmen came upon me as they made their rounds of the city; ‘Have you seen him whom my heart loves?’  

I had hardly left them, when I found him whom my heart loves…

I took hold of him and would not let him go…

(Then) they struck me, and wounded me, and took my mantle from me, the guardians of the walls.” - Song of Songs

Meditatio

In the Akathistos hymn of the Blessed Virgin, the Angel Gabriel is wont to say things such as; “Rapt in amazement as he beheld your virginity and the splendor of your purity, O Mother of God, he cried out to you: “By what name shall I call you? I am bewildered; I am lost! I shall greet you as I was commanded to do: ‘Hail, O
Woman full of Grace!’”

I feel similarily in this situation when Our Lady encounters Jesus upon the way of sorrows.  What possibly can one say or think, how can my soul even speak to address our Sorrowful Mother in this encounter?  I often recall the scripture, placing these words upon the lips of the Holy Virgin as the Lord is taken away, ”Call me Mara, for the Lord has made it very bitter for me…”  - Ruth 1:20

Hail Mara!  Full of grace and sorrow!

Oratio

O Blessed and inviolable Mother, how can I console you, how can I make reparation to your most sorrowful and Immaculate Heart?  What was the exchange between you and your Divine Son as you gazed into His Holy Face?  “All who pass by clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads.” - Lamentations 2:15.  Yet I can only “sit alone and in silence” to ponder, endeavoring to compassionate your sorrow.  O refuge of sinners, have pity upon us.

Contemplatio

“Let him sit alone and in silence, let him put his mouth to the dust; there may yet be hope.  Let him offer his cheek to be struck, let him be filled with disgrace.” - Lamentations 3:28-30

We adore thee O Christ, and praise thee, for by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world. 

Most sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary…my Mother, my confidence.  

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