PRAYER FOR SLEEP

Barbara Scott (sleeping ice skater), Switzerland, 1948
Photo by Walter Sanders

The peace of God is a most profound tranquillity and repose, like the silence of untrodden mountain summits clothed with eternal snows;  or like the lowest depths of the ocean, where the fierce storms that rage on the surface are unfelt, and where the turbulent industry of men can never penetrate.  Nothing can equal that peace.

O Loving Jesus, I offer Thee Thy most peaceful repose in the adorable Sacrament of the Altar, and in the hearts of all the just, and I beseech Thee most earnestly that I may rest this night in Thee so that in the morning I may awake with renewed fervour to love and serve Thee.  Amen.

My Queen and my Mother, bless me with thy pure and holy hand―

     That I may have a good night's rest, 

     That I may wake betimes in the morning, and have the grace and energy to rise promptly and continue the work thy divine and beloved Son has entrusted to my feeble hands.

Amen.

Prayers of an Irish Mother - 19th century

MY MOHTER

Sorrowful Mother Headstone, 
Rapperswil Catholic Cemetery

I put my trust forever,

O Mary, pure, in thee.

Then show thyself a mother,

And daily succour me.

And when death's hand shall touch me,

Thy pity I implore;

Oh, lead me, dearest Mother,

To God―for evermore!

Payers of an Irish Mother

Brian O'Higgins

38 Up. O'Connell Street, Dublin, 1934

                   ⬆︎  ⬆︎

Our Sorrowful Mother's Image was taken at this headstone, Rapperswil, Switzerland, 2015

SINGULAR BRINGER FORTH

Nunnery schol at Wil, Switzerland

Photo by Yale Joel, 1947

SINGULAR BRINGER FORTH

O Most Beautiful Flower of Mount Carmel, Fruitful Vine, Splendour of Heaven, Singular Bringer Forth of the Son of God, assist me in this my necessity.  (Here mention your need).


O Star of the Sea, help me, and show me herein that you are my My Mother.  O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Empress of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart to succour me in this necessity;  there is nothing that can withstand your power.  O, show me herein that you are my Mother.  


O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.  (Three times.)


Sweet Mother, I place this casue in your hands.  (Three times.)

Payers of an Irish Mother

Brian O'Higgins

38 Up. O'Connell Street, Dublin, 1934

TREES

St. Moritz, Switzerland Photo by Alfred Eisensteadt, 1947

St. Moritz, Switzerland
Photo by Alfred Eisensteadt, 1947

Trees

BY JOYCE KILMER - catholic poet

I think that I shall never see 

A poem lovely as a tree. 

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest 

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast; 

A tree that looks at God all day, 

And lifts her leafy arms to pray; 

A tree that may in Summer wear 

A nest of robins in her hair; 

Upon whose bosom snow has lain; 

Who intimately lives with rain. 

Poems are made by fools like me, 

But only God can make a tree.

Source: Poetry (August 1913).

MY MOTHER

'Saint Paulus Catholic Church, Wengen, Switzerland
February, 2016
Photo by Dust Boy

MY MOTHER

                  I put my trust forever,
                  O Mary, pure, in thee.

                  Then show thyself a mother,

                  And daily succour me.

                  And when death's hand shall touch me,

                  Thy pity I implore; 

                  Oh, lead me, dearest Mother,

                  To God―for evermore!

Prayers of an Irish Mother

Brian O'Higgins

38 UP, O'Connell Street, Dublin

1934

My Mothers Rosary

A HOUSE BLESSING

Swiss Evening - December, 1947 - Photo by Yale Joel

BLESS, O Lord Almighty, this place so that in it may reign health, purity, victory, strength, humility, kindness, sweetness, observance of rule and continued acts of thanksgiving to God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  May this blessing remain in this place with all who dwell in it and forever.  Amen.

Prayers of an Irish Mother

Brian O'Higgins

38 UP, O'Connell Street, Dublin

1934

My Mothers Rosary

BENEDICAMUS DOMINO

Near Wengen, Switzerland
Undated.

For the promises of Spring,
For the heron on the wing,
For the song the blackbirds sing.
Gracious Lord we thank Thee!

For the Summer's roses red,
For the fragrance sweet they shed,
For the cloudless skies o'erhead,
Gracious Lord we thank Thee!

For the Autumn's purple haze,
For the beauty of her ways,
For the fruitful harvest days
Gracious Lord, we thank Thee!

For the Winter, white and drear,
For the woodlands gaunt and sere,
For the passing of the year,
Gracious Lord, we thank Thee!

Prayers of an Irish Mother

Brian O'Higgins

38 UP, O'Connell Street, Dublin

1934

My Mothers Rosary

SIGHS OF A PENITENT SOUL

Roadside Shrine
Lugano, Switzerland
1940s

Sighs of a Penitent Soul

O Lord my God, I am a miserable sinner, unworthy indeed to live upon the earth;  have mercy upon me and save me.

Ascensiones in Corde - Sighs of a Penitent Soul
A. R. Mowbray & Co. LTD, London 1912.

Meadow Brook

Wengen, Switzerland

Sancta Maria, Ora pro nobis

Holy Mary, Pray for us.

GREETING YOUR FRIENDS

Friends
Lugano, Switzerland - Date unknown

There is no better way for Christian friends to greet and part company than to say , "The Lord be with you." Your friend may rejoin "and with your spirit."  

Now you can learn it in the beautiful language of the Church by using the simple translation below.  The Latin phrase is in blue with the translation directly beneath.  Remember that some words in English are implied in Latin so there is not a word for word translation.

Greeting:
Dóminus,      vobíscum.    
The Lord       you with.     

Response:
Et        cum      spíritu   tuo.
And     with      spirit   your.

Lugano Switzerland
August, 2015
Photo by Dust Boy

SHOULD THIS DAY BE MY LAST

The Barn Corner

Wengen, Switzerland, February, 2016

Photo by Dust Boy

O My God, should this day happen to be my last, I mean to receive this communion, as my viaticum.  I desire my last nourishment may be the body and blood of my Redeemer Jesus Christ; that my last words may be Jesus, Mary and Joseph, that the last affection of my heart may be an act of pure love, accompanied with unfeigned contrition.  Amen.

Notate Bene - 1790

Viaticum is a term used especially in the Catholic Church for the Eucharist (communion) administered, with or without anointing of the sick, to a person who is dying, and is thus a part of the last rites.

Our Lady's Falls - Wengen

Sancta Maria, Ora pro nobis

Holy Mary, Pray for us.

MARY AT THE FALLS

We Left Wengen today but not before trying once more to to capture Our Lady at the Falls.

Sancta Maria, Ora pro nobis

Holy Mary, Pray for us.

AFTER HOLY COMMUNION

Wengen, Switzerland
February, 2016
Photo by Dust Boy

AFTER HOLY COMMUNION

O my Queen, thou hast given me Jesus in thy heart, therefore, now, with the same true heart, entertain Him for me. Adore Him, thank Him, and implore Him for the graces thou knows me to need-in particular . . . . .

ACT OF FAITH

O Jesus, I believe that I have received Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink, because Thou hast said it, and Thy word is true.

ACT OF ADORATION

O Jesus, my God, my Creator, I adore Thee, because from Thy Hands I came and with Thee I am to be happy forever.

ACT OF HUMILITY

O Jesus, I am but dust and ashes, and yet Thou hast come to me, and my poor heart may speak to Thee.

ACT OF LOVE

Sweet Jesus, I love Thee; I love Thee with all my heart. Thou knows that I love Thee, and wish to love Thee daily more and more.

ACT OF THANKSGIVING

My good Jesus, I thank Thee with all my heart. How good, how kind Thou art to me, sweet Jesus. Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

ACT OF OFFERING

O Jesus, receive my poor offering. Jesus Thou hast given Thyself to me, and let me give myself to Thee:

I give Thee my body, that it may be chaste and pure.

I give Thee my soul, that it may be free from sin.

I give Thee my heart, that it may always love Thee.

I give Thee every breath that I shall breathe. and especially my last; I give Thee myself in life and in death, that I may be Thine for ever and ever.

O Jesus, wash away my sins with Thy precious Blood.

O Jesus, the struggle against temptation is not yet finished. My Jesus, when temptation comes near me, make me strong against it. In the moment of temptation may I always say, "Jesus, mercy! Mary, help!"

O Jesus, may I lead a good life; may I die a happy death. May I receive Thee before I die. May I say when I am dying, "Jesus, Mary, Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul."

Listen now for a moment to Jesus Christ; perhaps He has something to say to you. There may be some promise you have made and broken, which He wishes you to make again and keep. Answer Jesus in your heart, and tell Him all your troubles. Then pray for others.

O Jesus, have mercy on Thy Holy Church; take care of it.

O Jesus, have pity on poor sinners, and save them from hell.

O Jesus, bless my father, my mother, my brothers and sisters, and all I ought to pray for, as Thy Heart knows how to bless them.

O Jesus, have pity on the poor souls in Purgatory, and give them eternal rest.

Sweet Jesus, I am going away for a time, but trust not without Thee. Thou are with me by Thy grace. I will never leave Thee by mortal sin. I do not fear to do so, though I am so weak, because I have such hope in Thee. Give me grace to persevere. Amen.

Manual for the Children of Mary - 19th century

Our Lady's Falls - Wengen Switzerland.

All images were taken with a Sony A6000 digital camera.

BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION

Ski Lift, Wengen, Switzerland
February 26, 2016
Photo by Dust Boy

BEFORE HOLY COMMUNION

Prayer for Help

O my God help me to make a good Communion. Mary, my dearest Mother, pray to Jesus for me. My dear Angel Guardian, lead me to the Altar of God.

Act of Faith

O God, because Thou hast said it, I believe that I shall receive the Sacred Body of Jesus to eat, and His precious Blood to drink. My God, I believe that with all my heart.

Act of Humility

My God, I confess that I am a poor sinner; I am not worthy to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus on account of my sins. Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter under my roof; say but the word, and my soul shall be healed.

Act of Sorrow

My God, I detest all the sins of my life. I am sorry for them, because they have offended Thee, my God who art so good. I resolve never to commit sin any more. My good God, pity me, have mercy on me, forgive me. Amen.

Act of Adoration

O Jesus great God, present on the Altar, I bow down before Thee, I adore Thee.

Act of Love and Desire

Sweet Jesus, I love Thee. I desire with all my heart to receive Thee. Most sweet Jesus, come into my poor soul, and give me Thy Flesh to eat and Thy Blood to drink. Give me Thy whole self, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, that I may live forever with Thee.

O most sweet Virgin Mary, Mother of God and my Mother, lend me, I beseech thee, thy Immaculate Heart to receive my Jesus: that so I may receive Him by thee, by  whom the world received Him.

O Jesus, I offer Thee Thy sinless Mother's Heart, with its perfect dispositions at the moment of Thy Incarnation and all her communions. Come to me now by her, as I came to Thee by her. With her heart let me receive Thee.

Manual for the Children of Mary - 19th century

Our Lady's Falls - Wengen Switzerland.

Our Lady of Wengen, Pray for us.

All images were taken with a Sony A6000 digital camera.

HAIL TRUE BODY

Our Lady of Wengen - Wengen, Switzerland
February 26, 2016
A Dust Boy Photo

Hail true body, born of the blessed Virgin Mary, which truly sufferedst, and wert offered on the cross for mankind; whose side being pierced with a spear, yielded water and blood; O sweet, O good Jesus, Son of the eternal God, and Son of the blessed Virgin, have mercy on me a sinner; and vouchsafe, that I may worthily receive thee, at the hour of my death.  Amen

Notate Bene, Privately Published, - 1790

Our Lady's Falls - Wengen Switzerland.

Our Lady of Wengen, Pray for us.

All images were taken with a Sony A6000 digital camera.