Blessed are you, Lord God,
Father all-holy,
for your boundless love
The tree, once the source of shame
and death for humankind,
has become the cross
of our redemption and life.
When his hour had come to
return to you in glory,
the Lord Jesus,
Our King, our Priest, and our Teacher,
freely mounted the scaffold of the cross
and made it his royal throne,
his altar of sacrifice, his pulpit of truth.
On the cross,
lifted above the earth,
he triumphed over our age-old enemy.
Cloaked in his own blood,
he drew all things to himself.
On the cross,
he opened out his arms
and offered you his life;
the sacrifice of the New Law
that gives to the sacraments
their saving power.
On the cross,
he proved what he had prophesied:
the grain of wheat must die
to bring forth an abundant harvest.
Father,
we honour this cross as the sign
of our redemption.
May we reap the harvest of salvation
planted in pain by Christ Jesus.
May our sins be nailed to his cross,
the power of life released,
pride conquered,
and weakness turned to strength.
May the cross be our comfort in trouble,
our refuge in the face of danger,
our safeguard on life’s journey
until you welcome us to
our heavenly home.
O LORD, Master of my life,
grant that I may not be infected with the
spirit of slothfulness and inquisitiveness,
with the spirit of ambition and vain talking.
{Making a prostration}
Grant instead to me, your servant,
the spirit of purity and of humility,
the spirit of patience and neighborly love.
{Making a third prostration}
O Lord and King,
grant me the grace of being aware of my sins
and of not thinking evil of those of my brethren.
For you are blessed, now and ever, and forever.
Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings,
You have power over life and death.
You know what is secret and hidden,
and neither our thoughts nor our feelings
are concealed from You.
Cure me of duplicity;
I have done evil before You.
Now my life declines from day to day
and my sins increase.
O Lord, God of souls and bodies,
You know the extreme frailty of my soul and my flesh.
Grant me strength in my weakness, O Lord,
and sustain me in my misery.
Give me a grateful soul that I may
never cease to recall Your benefits,
O Lord most bountiful.
Be not mindful of my many sins,
but forgive me all my misdeeds.
O Lord, disdain not my prayer –
the prayer of a wretched sinner;
sustain me with Your grace until the end,
that it may protect me as in the past.
It is Your grace which has taught me wisdom;
blessed are they who follow her ways,
for they shall receive the crown of glory.
In spite of my unworthiness,
I praise You and I glorify You,
O Lord, for Your mercy to me is without limit.
You have been my help and my protection.
May the name of Your majesty be praised forever.
To you, our God, be glory.
Amen.
After the previously-planned interview fell through at the last minute, David sat down to record a solo episode to talk about his newborn son, Sidecar Day, blue flowers in Narnia, and also to make his tongue-in-cheek case as to why C.S. Lewis is better than J.R.R. Tolkien.
The Gray Havens are an American Christian folk pop husband and wife duo, David and Licia Radford, from Crystal Lake, Illinois. On October 8th they will be releasing their new album, Blue Flower, so David Radford came on the show to talk to Andrew and David about how C.S. Lewis inspired their recent work.
As we approach the end of Season 4, David is joined on the show by Michael “Gomer” Gormley. Among other things, they discuss Ted Lasso, tea, and the Atonement. Also, find out what Gomer would do if he ever became the Pope!
New York Times bestselling author, Patti Callahan, returns to the show to talk about her forthcoming book, “Once Upon A Wardrobe”, which will be released on October 19th.
A few months ago, John and Greta from The Tolkien Road podcast did a series of episodes on religion in Tolkien’s Legendarium. David invited him onto the show to talk about those episodes and to encourage the Pints With Jack listeners to listen to them.
Author Rod Bennett joined David to talk about a presentation on he gave at a big Christian rock festival about C.S. Lewis’ relationship to “Pulp Fiction”.
I was on Facebook just now and saw the following claim:
“real names of the demonics are names in most of the characters. You may do your own research.”
Facebook User
I have a deep suspicion that this person’s “research” is just the parroting of what Fr. Ripperger, an otherwise generally reliable source, has said in his talks. Here’s the quotation from one talk I’ve heard:
“One exorcist told me he’s kind of done the footwork. Whether it’s true or not, I don’t know. He said 60% of the names in Harry Potter are actual names of demons that exorcists have booted out of people.”
Fr. Ripperger
So, there are quite a few problems here:
He admits he himself is just repeating a claim he’s heard elsewhere from an unnamed source.
He admits doesn’t know whether or not it’s true. Personally, I would say that therefore repeating such a claim with no knowledge of its veracity is irresponsible.
The claim itself is demonstrably false, even after five minutes of research. Even at a quick glance at the Harry Potter character list, to say that 60% of them are demons is ludicrous as most of the names are fairly ordinary!
Of the more exotic names…
I can see a few names after star constellations, such as Bellatrix.
Some names which sound strange to our ears are also names from the Bible. For example, “Silvanus” was the name of one Paul’s companions.
Rowling seems to have made use of the Dickensian trick of making up a name that applies to someone’s personality. A good example of this is Mundungus which is the same name for an odorous Spanish tobacco.
Lastly, a handful names like Alecto come from Greek and Roman mythology. However, that doesn’t mean that J.K. Rowling is trying to trick people into worshipping Greek/Roman deities (how would that even work, anyway?). If you’re going to exclude Harry Potter on that charge, you’d also have to throw out Narnia since C.S. Lewis has these Pagan gods appear in Prince Caspian.
So, returning to the original claim… where exactly are these names of demons? Can someone actually point out which characters are named after demons and provide evidence that these names are demonic?
When I was living in London, I went to Speaker’s Corner and would often talk with Muslims. It was then that I was surprised to discover that it is often asserted by Muslims that the books of the Jews and Christians have been corrupted, and this is why they so often contradict the Qur’an.
However, after reading the Qur’an, I found such a position inconsistent with the Islamic holy book…
Preservation
Allah’s words can’t be changed
The Qur’an affirms that nobody can change Allah’s words:
When it is said to them, “Believe in what Allah Hath sent down, “they say, “We believe in what was sent down to us:” yet they reject all besides, even if it be Truth confirming what is with them [literally: in between their hands]. Say: “Why then have ye slain the prophets of Allah in times gone by, if ye did indeed believe?”
Say: “O People of the Book! ye have no ground to stand upon unless ye stand fast by the Law, the Gospel, and all the revelation that has come to you from your Lord.” …
The Qur’an is meant to confirm the Torah and the Injil
It is He Who sent down to thee…the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Law (of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong).
Muhammad is described in the Jewish and Christian books
Those who follow the messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom they will find described in the Torah and the Gospel (which are) with them.
Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein.
To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety [literally: a guardian]: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed…To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute
Jesus the son of Mary to the Disciples, “Who will be my helpers to (the work of) Allah?” Said the disciples, “We are Allah’s helpers!” then a portion of the Children of Israel believed, and a portion disbelieved: But We gave power to those who believed, against their enemies, and they became the ones that prevailed.
If Christians aren’t authentic followers of Jesus (assuming they have corrupted scriptures and have committed blasphemy by calling him God), who are these people who should be around today (given that we are not yet at the Day of Resurrection).
Finding out your loved one has a terminal diagnosis is one of the most painful, shocking moments you can experience. When making arrangements for your loved one, you need to think of medical care, legal help, and your well-being. It is a difficult and delicate balance, but it is an important one that you can strive towards. Restless Pilgrim has some suggestions for managing your grief, your loved one’s needs, and your personal well-being.
Start With Medical Arrangements
During the final stages of a terminal illness, you have to accept that your loved one is reaching the end of his or her life. Not only do you have to deal with daily care practices, but you have to make end-of-life decisions.
Medical arrangements should be practical first. For example, if your loved one cannot talk, eat or walk, you may need a medical professional or team to provide 24/7 support. Remember that even those who suffer from memory or cognitive problems still experience the same range of emotions they always did. You need to make plans to ease pain and discomfort, along with enhancing his or her quality of life.
In the final stages, your loved one has the option of hospice care. Hospice care can occur in a hospital, care facility, hospice center, or home. Often, people decide to have hospice care in the comfort of their homes. The point of hospice care is to treat a person’s symptoms rather than the disease.
If you do not live near your loved one, you might consider renting a house or apartment during this process. Smaller apartments in the San Diego area start at around $2,400. You might find it to be more cost effective to rent a small unit than to stay in a hotel for weeks or even months during this process.
Consider the Legalities
When it comes to legal matters involved with end-of-life arrangements, you need to make sure your loved one has a living will and power of attorney. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, power of attorney allows a person to choose a trustworthy person to act if he or she cannot. A power of attorney may be financial or medical. If your loved one has a brain injury or other condition that affects mental function, then someone needs to be able to make decisions on his or her behalf.
A living will, on the other hand, provides a guide for doctors and health care providers and peace to family members and loved ones. The living will include whether a person wants to be given life-saving measures or if he or she wants to be on life support. For end-of-life documents, work with an attorney who specializes in estate planning. They can help ensure you have the right paperwork and provide the legal counsel you need.
Prepare for What Happens After
What will you do after your loved one passes? Do you plan to sell his or her belongings? Will you sell the house? When selling the house, you need to prepare the property for the market. If you want to make the most out of the home, it needs to be in the best possible shape.
The more effort you put into the home, the more likely potential buyers will appreciate it. Most people don’t want a home that requires extensive repairs. Have an inspection performed to find out what types of repairs are required. Make sure that you don’t have any cracked pipes, damaged windows, or problems with the roof. Additionally, try to create a clutter-free and neutral environment. Potential buyers need to be able to see themselves in the home.
If you choose to keep the home, you may want to refinance, especially if you believe the home has increased in value over the years. Look online for the best cash out refinance rates if your loved one has large medical bills or other expenses that you would like to pay off with money from the house. There are financial penalties, but you can cash out part of the equity and possibly still lower the monthly mortgage payment, too.
Don’t Forget Your Emotional Well-Being
Your emotional well-being is important to your overall health. During times of emotional distress, you are more likely to deal with illness. You can find some relief, however, in a variety of coping strategies, including:
Journaling
Meditating
Therapy
You may find it more difficult to focus on the needs of your loved one if you do not prioritize your own.
Coping with a loved one’s terminal illness is a trying time for all individuals involved. Having a plan to deal with the legal, emotional, and medical aspects can help ease some stress. Start by managing your loved one’s medical needs, and then focus on the grief and belongings that will remain. And if you are a spiritual person, reaching out to a higher power could bring you comfort and even reduced anxiety. Restless Pilgrim has resources to help you reach out through prayer. Visit them online to begin your spiritual journey during this difficult time.
Prayer is an integral aspect of the lives of millions of individuals who associate themselves with a religion. It is a way to ask for divine intercession in their lives and establish a relationship with a higher power. However, daily prayer can also benefit an individual’s physical and mental health in the following ways…
Reduces Stress
Chronic stress impacts the cardiovascular, endocrine, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and other body systems, causing them to malfunction. For example, stress increases the body’s production of hormones like cortisol that contribute to inflammation and raise blood sugar levels leading to weight gain. However, prayer lifts the spirit and promotes relaxation, inhibiting the production of stress hormones.
Maximizes Bodily Functions
Stress-reducing prayer can lower blood pressure for better cardiovascular health and improve the function of the digestive, immune, and other body systems when part of a lifestyle routine that incorporates other healthy habits. For example, the latest guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicate that adults who get 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise have a lower risk for developing chronic illnesses. Those with full-time jobs can incorporate movement into their work day by taking stairs instead of elevators, taking brisk walks during lunch breaks, or periodically stretching throughout the day. Praying while performing any physical movement is an excellent way to compound the health benefits of both activities.
Improves Sleep
Through magnetic image resonance technology, researchers can now determine that prayer activates parts of the brain that play an active role in how individuals self-soothe. By promoting relaxation, easing restlessness, and quieting distracting thoughts, prayer helps achieve restorative sleep and minimizes the number and duration of sleep interruptions.
Promotes Self-Control
Impulsivity can lead to a restless mind; therefore, many religions promote practices that improve the ability to focus. For example, prayer steers one’s attention away from unhealthy or devastating behaviors and directs it toward a meaningful and purposeful personal relationship with God. Therefore, many addiction recovery programs throughout the country emphasize the importance of relying upon faith and prayer for maintaining sobriety. For example, they teach The Serenity Prayer to help addicts realize that they cannot eliminate temptation from their lives. Still, they can achieve the power, control, and wisdom to overcome it.
Achieves Forgiveness
Forgiveness is at the heart of all Judeo-Christian traditions because it reflects God’s infinite love for humanity. Prayer is an opportunity for self-reflection and introspection by allowing individuals to share their most intimate thoughts with God and seek and learn forgiveness which impacts physical well-being.
Relieves Depression and Anxiety
Regardless of their social ties, individuals who pray during life’s low points may experience comfort and strength with less depression and anxiety. For example, prayer during challenging times such as the death of a loved one may inspire feelings of attachment despite the loss.
In addition, studies show that prayer can lift the feelings of dread, hopelessness, and uncertainty under anxiety-inducing circumstances or help individuals recover from trauma.
Alleviates Loneliness
Loneliness impacts various aspects of humanity and is a recurring theme in the Bible and the Quran. Medical professionals link loneliness to many physical and mental health complications. Although praying in communities can bond people together, prayer can help relieve feelings of isolation, reminding people that they are not alone.
Whether prayer involves gratitude, supplication, or confession, it has the power to improve physical and mental health and well-being as part of a daily routine.
