Mary's Little Office

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

Lady of The Day

Humbly I will pray in the Heart of Mary.

Lady of The Day


O Most holy and afflicted Virgin! Queen of martyrs! thou who didst stand beneath the Cross, witnessing the agony of thy expiring Son―through the unceasing sufferings of thy life of sorrow, and the bliss which now more than amply repays thee for thy past trials, look down with a mother's tenderness and pity on me, who kneel before thee to venerate thy Dolors, and place my requests with filial confidence, in the sanctuary of thy wounded heart; present them, I beseech thee, on my behalf to Jesus Christ, through the merits of His own most sacred Passion and Death, together with thy sufferings at the foot of the Cross, and through the united efficacy of both, obtain the grant of my present petition. To whom shall I recur my wants and miseries if not to thee, O Mother of mercy, who, having so deeply drunk of the chalice of thy Son, canst compassionate the woes of those who still sigh in the land of exile.  Amen.

Borrowed from - Mary's Seven Sorrows
Publisher - Benedictine Convent of Perpetual Adoration
Clyde, Missouri, 1955

Saturday, January 26, 2019

Prayers for Parents Who Have Passed


Parents Who Have Passed

O God, Who has commanded us to honor our father and mother; in Thy clemency have mercy on the souls of my father and mother, and loose them from their sins; and grant that I may see them in the joy of eternal light. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Dear Lord Jesus, grant them eternal rest. Amen.




Prayer for Self

My Lord God, in sincere love for Thee and with sorrow for my sins, I even now, resignedly and willingly, accept from Thy hand, with all its anxieties, pains, and sufferings, whatever kind of death it shall please Thee to be mine. Amen.

Pray for us, O Most Sorrowful Virgin.
Who didst stand by the Cross of Christ. Amen. 

We beseech Thee, O Lord, may the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose most holy soul the sword pierced in the hour of Thy passion, intercede for us at the hour of our death. Amen.


1,860,317

Friday, January 25, 2019

Our Lady of Guadalupe


The countryside was shrouded in darkness early Saturday morning, the ninth of December, 1531, as a poor and humble Indian named Juan Diego set out for church. Along the way he passed by the foot of Tepeyac Hill. Dawn was breaking. A sudden sound, like a chorus of many song birds, drew his attention to the crest of the hill. The joyous singing surpassed in beauty any earthly melody. The heavenly music ceased. Out of the hushed silence, a tender voice called to him. Juanito, Juan Dieguito.

With a happy heart, Juan hastened to the summit where he found a most beautiful Lady who invited him to draw near. Her garments shone like the sun and the crag upon which Her feet rested gave off rays of light as from a thousand precious stones. Even the barren earth where the heavenly Visitor stood glistened like the soft mist of a rainbow. The lowly bushes and grasses sparkled like emeralds and find turquoise, and the branches and thorns, like shining gold. The endearing voice spoke again.

Juanito, my sweet child, where are you going? Understand, my dear son, that I am the ever-Virgin Mother of the true God, in Whom we live, the Creator and Maker of heaven and earth. It is my urgent desire that a temple be built here to my honor where I shall spread my love, compassion, help and protection.  

I am your Merciful Mother and a loving Mother to your fellow men who love me and trust me and seek my aid. I will listen to their lamentations, and give solace in all their sorrows and their sufferings.

To bring about all that my love demands, go now to the house of the bishop in Mexico City and tell him that I send you to make known my great desire to have a temple built in my name here. Tell him exactly what you have see and heard. Know that I shall be grateful and that I will reward you. I will show you that this labor is worth while. Now you have heard my desire, little son. Go and do your very best.

With a bow, Our Lady's ambassador left to carry out Her wishes. He headed straight for Mexico City where he relayed all to Bishop Juan de Zumárraga. The holy Franciscan prelate hesitated to act immediately, for he wished to test the authenticity of the story. He dismissed Juan Diego, promising to take the matter under careful consideration. 

Crest fallen, Juan returned to Tepeyac Hill to inform the Lady from Heaven of his failure. I can clearly see that the bishop thinks I may have made it up. So I beg You, my Lady, Queen, and my Little Girl, to send one of the nobles who are held in esteem, for I am a man of no importance. Forgive me, my little Virgin, if I grieve You and You are angry with me.

Our Lady replied: My dearest son, you must understand that there are many noble servants to whom I could entrust my message; however, I have chosen you to undertake the task. It is through your help that my purpose will be accomplished. Go again to the bishop tomorrow, speak to him in my name, and inform him that it is my desire that he undertake the erection of the temple which I ask. Tell him that it is I, in person, Holy Mary, ever-Virgin Mother of God, who sends you. Juan Diego promised to try again and to return the following afternoon to give an account of the bishop's answer.  

After Juan reported to Bishop Zuamárraga on Our Lady's second visit, the Bishop informed him that he was unable to act without further evidence and that he needed more than Juan's word to carry out the order. It was necessary that he receive some sign from Heaven.

Just Diego hurried back to Tepeyac Hill. There the Queen of Heaven awaited him. So be it, my son. Come back tomorrow morning so that you may obtain the sign for the the bishop. With my sign he will believe you and no longer will he doubt you or suspect your good faith. Know that I will reward you for your trouble. At dawn tomorrow, I shall await you here.  

Juan Diego's uncle, Juan Bernardino, was very ill and therefore, on the next day, Juan delayed in delivering Our Lady's message to the bishop. So as not to encounter the Queen of Heaven before settling the urgent matter of bringing a priest to give the Last Rites to his dying uncle, Juan took a side path at the foot of Tepeyac Hill. How astonished he was to be greeted there by Our Lady!  What troubles you, my dear son? Where are you going? Listen my son, there is nothing to fear; be neither trouble nor afraid; do not fear this illness or any other sorrow or affliction. Am I not here, I who am your merciful Mother? Have I not taken you unto myself and made you my charge? What more do you need? Let nothing distress or disturb you. As for you're uncle's illness, it is not unto death. At this moment I ask you to believe that he is already cured.  And it happened exactly as Our Lady had promised.

Go, my son, to the summit of the hill where you first saw me. There you will find a great variety of flowers. Gather them and bring them to me. Arriving at the top of the hill, Juan found himself in a heavenly garden just as Our Lady had foretold. Joyfully he gathered the roses, filling his tilma with the celestial blooms.

On his return, Our Lady arranged the flowers in Juan's tilma with Her own hands and sent him on his way, saying. My dear son, these roses are the sign which you must give to the bishop. Tell him in my name that in these roses he will see my will and accomplish it. You are my ambassador and are worthy of my confidence. When you reach the bishop, unfold your tilma and show him what you carry, but only in the presence of the bishop. Tell him all that you have seen and heard, omitting nothing. Tell him that I sent you to the top of the hill and that you gathered the flowers there. Repeat the story completely so that the bishop will believe you and will build the temple for which I have pleaded.

When the servants, who were at first reluctant to let Juan in to see the Bishop, noticed that with bowed head he held something in his tilma, they became curious to see what it was. They forced Juan to open his cloak a bit, but when they went to touch the contents, the magnificent flowers evaded their grasp and seemed to be merely embroidered or painted there. They reported this to the bishop, who had the lowly Indian escorted into his presence.]

Juan opened his tilma, and the roses cascaded gracefully to the floor, filling the room with a heavenly fragrance. The Bishop and all his attendants fell on their knees and wept, for there, miraculously painted on the cloak, was the image of Our Lady, just as She had appeared to Juan Diego. It is the Immaculate One! the Bishop exclaimed. All looked on in silent ecstasy. 

Our Lady got Her magnificent Basilica which remains standing to this day. A modern edifice was later built nearby to house the heavenly image miraculously imprinted on Juan Diego's tilma which can still be seen today in all its unfaded glory as a lasting monument to Mary's graciousness and motherly love.

When the Mother of God had appeared to Juan Bernardino and cured him, She told him, also, that She wanted a temple built at Tepeyac Hill, stating that her image should be called, The Perfect Virgin, Holy Mary of Guadalupe. In the following eight years, through Our Lady's powerful intercession, occurred the astounding miracle of nine million conversions to the Catholic faith.  


Mary Sweet Hope of My Soul
The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
P.O. Box 524
Vienna, Ohio, USA 44474
Telephone: 330-856-9837
For additional copies, please call or write to the above address.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

The Morning Lesson

ENLARGE
Verily, dearly beloved brethren, the Blessed Virgin Mary was a great wonder. What thing greater or more famous than she, hath ever at any time been found, or can be found? She alone is greater than heaven and earth. What thing holier than she hath been, or can be found? Neither Prophets, nor apostles, nor Martyrs, nor Patriarchs, nor angels, nor Thrones, nor Lordships, nor seraphim, nor cherubim, nor any other creature, visible or invisible, can be found that is greater or more excellent than she. She is at once the hand-maid and the parent of God, at once virgin and mother.


Responsory

Who is this that cometh up like the sun? This, comely as Jerusalem? The daughters of Zion saw her, and called her blessed; the queens also, and they praised her. (Alleluia.)

V. And about her it was as the flower of roses in the spring of the year, and lilies of the valleys.
R. The daughters of Zion saw her and called her blessed; the queens also, and they praised her. (Alleluia.)


(The Roman Breviary, William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh & London, 1880).



Wood Engraving by H. Woods: 
Men, women and children praying at a shrine by the roadside during the 1873 cholera epidemic in Poland.


Friday, January 18, 2019

Say an Ave There For Me.






Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.

The summer's gone, and all the roses falling,

It's you, it's you must go and I must bide.

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow,
It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,
Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!

But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,
If I am dead, as dead I well may be,
You'll come and find the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
For you will bend and tell me that you love me,
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!


About the Video:

Here is a scene from 'Because of Him' (1945). Deanna Durbin, a stage-struck waitress who tricks a famous actor, played by Charles Laughton, into giving her his autograph without him knowing he's signing a 'Letter of Introduction'. Using this letter, she fools people into believing Laughton wants her as his leading lady in his next play. He soon rumbles her little scheme however and, finding her lacking in any acting experience, tells her she'll be ready to appear on the stage in a few years time. While he phones for a cab to take her home, Deanna breaks into song with "Danny Boy," causing Laughton to relent and make her his leading lady after all. This was their second film together, their first having been "It Started with Eve" in 1941.

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

Tuesday, January 15, 2019

Scatter Me Here



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





Tribute to Bill



God put that message in Bills thoughts and heart and gave it to us freely through Bill.  I truly believe that!
Curt Jervik
Hawarden, Iowa





Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side.

The summer's gone, and all the roses falling,

It's you, it's you must go and I must bide.

But come ye back when summer's in the meadow,

Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow,

It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow,
Oh, Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so!

But when ye come, and all the flowers are dying,
If I am dead, as dead I well may be,
You'll come and find the place where I am lying,
And kneel and say an Ave there for me.
And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me,
And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be,
For you will bend and tell me that you love me,
And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me!



Monday, January 14, 2019

Rainy Day in St. Moritz

We checked into the hotel room at St. Moritz a bit disappointed that it was a gloomy and rainy day - that is until I opened the window.

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Stabat Mater or Thirteenth Station Devotions

Terrible, pathetic and heart-rending were all the events in our Saviour's Passion and Death as presented to us in the Gospel, but the most touching and humanly appealing scene in the whole sad series is in the Thirteenth Station, which presents the moment when the bruised and mangled body of our Saviour has been taken down from the Cross and laid in the arms of his agonized Mother. 
If the spotless Son of God and His sinless Mother could willingly endure such suffering and grief for our sakes, how cheerful should we bear our own little trials and burdens.  Let us pray . . . .


Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
Stabat Mater - See Bottom

Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us!
Lord have mercy on us.
Jesus hear us.
Jesus graciously hear us!

God the Father of heaven, 
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the living God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, splendor of the Father,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, brightness of eternal light,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of glory,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, the Son of Justice,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Son of the Virgin Mary,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most amiable,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most admirable,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, the mighty God,
Have mercy on us
Jesus, Father of the world to come,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Angel of the great council,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most powerful,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus most patient,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, most obedient,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus meek and humble of heart,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of chastity,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, lover of mankind,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, God of peace,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Author of life,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Model of virtues,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, zealous for souls,
Have mercy on us. 
Jesus, our God,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, our refuge, 
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Father of the poor,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, treasure of the faithful,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, good shepherd,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, true light,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, eternal wisdom,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, infinite goodness,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, our way and our life,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, joy of the angels,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, King of the patriarchs,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Master of the apostles,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, Teacher of the evangelists,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, strength of the martyrs,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, light of confessors,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, purity of virgins,
Have mercy on us.
Jesus, crown of all saints,
Have mercy on us 
Be merciful, Spare us, O Jesus!
From all evil,,
Jesus, deliver us.
From all sin,
Jesus, deliver us.
From thy wrath,
Jesus, deliver us.
From the snares of the devil,
Jesus, deliver us.
From the spirit of fornication,
Jesus, deliver us.
From everlasting death,
Jesus, deliver us.
From neglect of thy inspirations,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through the mystery of Thy Holy Incarnation,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy nativity,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy infancy,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy most divine life,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy labors,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy agony and passion,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy cross and dereliction,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy weariness and faintness,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy death and burial,
Jesus deliver us.
Through Thy resurrection,
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy ascension, 
Jesus, deliver us.
Through Thy joys,
Jesus deliver us.
Through Thy glory,
Jesus deliver us.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, 
     Spare us, O Jesus!
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
     Graciously hear us, O Jesus!
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,
     Have mercy on us, O Jesus!
Jesus hear us.
     Jesus Graciously hear us!

LET US PRAY

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who hast said, "Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you," grant, we beseech Thee, to us who ask the gift of Thy divine love that we may love Thee with our whole heart, in word and work, and never cease from showing forth Thy praise.

Grant, O Lord, that we may have a perpetual fear and love of Thy holy name for thou never failest to direct and govern those whom Thou instructs in Thy true and solid love.
Through Our Lord, Jesus Christ.  Amen.




STABAT MATER
medieval Latin hymn on the suffering of the Virgin Mary at the Crucifixion.


Mater Dolorosa stood,
Weeping sore beside the Rood,
      Whilst on it hung her Son.
Tender moanings told the smart,
Told the anguish of her heart 
Through which a sword was run.

Oh! How doleful and distressed
Was that maiden-mother blest
      Of sole-begotten One.
Vast and deep was her lament.
Keen her grief with anguish blent,
      To see her Son's distress.

Who's the man, with feeling true,
That with tearless eyes could view 
      Christ's mother in such stress?

Who could see that mother mild
Grieving for her peerless Child,
      And not with pity mourn?

For the sins of his own race
She saw Jesus in disgrace,
      And with the scourges torn.

She beheld her only-born
Die forsaken―all forlorn
      Whilst yielding up His soul.

Mother! Fount of love divine.
Make me feel that grief of thine;
      With thee let me condole.

Make my heart with fervor glow,
Make me in Christ's favor grow,
And in His love abide.

Mother dear! This boon I crave;
Deeply in my heart engrave 
      His wounds―the Crucified.

Let me share in thy Son's pains
Who by wounds and torments designs
      To prove His love for me.

Let Me grieve with thee yet more,
And the Crucified deplore
      As long as life shall be.

Near the Cross and by thy side
Willing would I still abide
      A sharer in thy woe.

Virgin Queen of virgin train,
Look not on me with disdain,
      But bid my tears to flow.

Let me in Christ's passions share,
Close His death about me bear,
      And in His sweet wounds dwell.

With His bruises make me sore,
With His Cross and crimson gore
      Inebriate me well.

Screen me, Virgin, judgement-day,
Let me not be cast away,
      To feed the flames of hell.

Lord! When hence I must repair,
Through Thy mother let me bear
      The palm of victory.

When this body turns to earth,
Bid my soul renew its birth,
      In Paradise with Thee.  Amen.  

P.  Pray for us, most Sorrowful Virgin.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.  


LET US PRAY

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus Christ, that the most blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, may intercede for us before the throne of Thy mercy now and at the hour of our death; through whose most holy soul in the hour of Thine Own passion the sword of sorrow passed. Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost forever and ever.  Amen.

Wednesday, January 9, 2019

The Light that Lies in Mary's Eyes

The light that lies in Mary's eyes,
Has been my heart's undoing.  



Mary in Two Minutes


Ever wonder what the big deal is with Catholics and the Virgin Mary? Do they worship her or just pray to her? What’s the Annunciation? What’s the Immaculate Conception? What’s the Assumption? All these questions and more answered in this short two (okay, three) minute video.




Further Thoughts:

There was a moment when the salvation of the world depended on the consent of Mary. Man could not be redeemed, satisfaction could not be made for sin, and grace obtained, without the Incarnation, and the Incarnation could not take place without the free, voluntary consent of this humble Jewish maiden. We cannot help feeling deep gratitude to Mary for the consent she gave. We call her blessed for the great things He that is mighty has done to her, and we bless her also for her own consent to the work of redemption. She gave to that work all she had: she gave her will; she gave her flesh; she gave her own Son to one long Passion of thirty-three years, to the agony in the garden, and to the death on the cross. It is true that God had selected her from all eternity to be his mother, and had filled her with grace; but neither the election nor the grace took away her free will, or diminished the merit of her voluntary consent. She could have refused; and does she deserve no love and gratitude from us, who have hope only through her flesh assumed by the Son of God, that she did not refuse? Can we say, in view of this fact, that she has no peculiar relation to our redemption, no share in the work of our salvation? To say so would be simply to deny that we are redeemed and saved by God in the flesh; that the flesh, of human nature, of our Lord performs any office in the work of redemption and salvation. Wherefore, to refuse to honor Mary as connected with and sharing in that work is to deny that it is in his human nature that God redeems and saves us; which is either to deny redemption and salvation altogether, or to contend that God redeems and saves us in his divinity, that is to contend that the divine nature suffered and died!

Mary is really the mother of our Lord, for our Lord did in reality, not in appearance merely, come in the flesh. He is true God, and true man of the flesh of the Virgin. 

Saint Worship
page 108
Orestes A. Brownson
St. Anthony Guild Press, 1963
1,476,306



Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Lourdes


Lo! Mary is exempt from stain of sin,
Proclaims the pontiff high;
And earth applauding celebrates with joy 
Her triumph far and high.

Unto a lowly timid maid she shows
Her form in beauty fair,
And the Immaculate conception truth
Her sacred Lips declare.

O honored cave, by Mary's smile adorned!
O hallowed rock, whence spring
The living waters of a gushing stream,
The gifts of life to bring.

And thither from the firmest bounds of earth
The pilgrims wend their way,
And suppliant around the Virgin's shrine
Her Powerful help they pray. 





Monday, January 7, 2019

Merciful Jesus

Pie Jesu or Merciful Jesus


Grant me Thy grace most merciful Jesus, that it may be with me and work with me and persevere with me even to the end.
       Grant that I may always desire and will that which is to Thee most acceptable and most dear.
       Let Thy will be mine, and let my will ever follow Thine and agree perfectly with it.
       Let my willing and not-willing be all one with Thine, and let me not be able to will or not will anything else but what Thou willest or willest not.  Amen. 

(Imitation of Christ, bk. 3, ch. 15, v. 3).



Sissel Kyrkjebø - Pie Jesu (merciful Jesus)

"Pie Jesu" Latin Lyrics

Pie Jesu, pie Jesu, pie Jesu, pie Jesu
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Dona eis requiem, dona eis requiem
Pie Jesu, pie Jesu, pie Jesu, pie Jesu
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Dona eis requiem, dona eis requiem
Agnus Dei, Agnus Dei, Agnus Dei, Agnus Dei
Qui tollis peccata mundi
Dona eis Requiem, dona eis requiem
Sempiternal
Sempiternal
Requiem 



"Pie Jesu" English Translation


Merciful Jesus, merciful Jesus, merciful Jesus,
merciful Jesus
Father, who takes away the sins of the world 
Grant them rest, grant them rest
Merciful Jesus, merciful Jesus, merciful Jesus,
Merciful Jesus
Father, who takes away the sins of the world
Grant them rest, grant them rest
Lamb of God, Lamb of God, Lamb of God, Lamb of God
Father, who takes away the sins of the world 
Grant them rest, grant them rest 
everlasting
everlasting
Rest


Saturday, January 5, 2019

Never Give Up!


Wallace Stevens Death Bed Conversion

A letter from Father Arthur Hanley to Professor Janet McCann, dated July 24, 1977, with line breaks, punctuation, spelling, etc. exactly as in the typescript: 
Dear Janet:

The First time he came to the hospital, he expressed
a certain emptiness in his life.
His stay then was two weeks.

Two weeks later, he was in, and he asked the sister to send for me.
We sat and talked a long time.
During his visit this time, I saw him 9 or 10 times.
He was fascinated by the life of Pope Pius X,.
He spoke about a poem for this pope whose family name
was Sartori--- ( Meaning tailor)
At least 3 times, he talked about getting into the fold--
meaning the Catholic Church.
The doctrine of hell was an objection which we later
got thru that alright.

He often remarked about the peace and tranquility that
he experienced in going into a Catholic Church and
spending some time.  He spoke about St. Patrick's Cathedral
in N.Y..
I can't give you the date of his baptism.
I think it might be recorded at the hospital.
He said he had never been baptized.
He was baptized absolutely.

Wallace and his wife had not been on speaking terms for
several years.
So we thought it better not to tell her.
She might cause a scene in the hospital.

Archbishop at the time told me not to make his (Wallace's)
conversion public, but the sister and the nurses on the
floor were all aware of it and were praying for him.

At the time--I did get a copy of his poems and also
a record that he did of some of his poems.
We talked about some of the poems.
I quoted some of the lines of one of them and he was
pleased.
He said if he got well, we would talk a lot more and
if not--he would see me in heaven.

That's about all I can give you now.

[Signed] God's Blessing
Father Hanley

Thursday, January 3, 2019

Pa Rum Pum Pum Pum




The words and music to the Little Drummer Boy were composed by Katherine Davis, Henry Onorati and Harry Simeone in 1958.

The lyrics of Little Drummer Boy consist of no less than 21 rum pum pum pums' - a major part of the song and therefore presenting an apparently easy task for the lyricist! However, Little Drummer Boy has been a huge hit for several artists.

The most notable rendition was created by the most unlikely combination of Bing Crosby and David Bowie. This version of Little Drummer Boy was a massive hit for the artists and was in fact Bing Crosby's most successful recording since the legendary White Christmas.

Little Drummer Boy: Lyrics


Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A new born King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That's fit to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum
On my drum?

Mary nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum