From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   September 24th - Our Lady of Ransom   
    (also called Our Lady of Mercy. Her Order's establishment 1218)   
      
   The story of Our Lady of Ransom is, at its outset, that of Saint Peter   
   Nolasco, born in Languedoc about 1189. At the age of twenty-five he took a   
   vow of chastity and made over his vast estates to the Church. After making a   
   pilgrimage to Our Lady of Montserrat, he went to Barcelona where he began to   
   practice various works of charity. He conceived the idea of establishing an   
   Order for the redemption of captives seized by the Moors on the seas and in   
   Spain itself; they were being cruelly tormented in their African prisons to   
   make them deny their faith. He spoke of it to the king of Aragon, James I,   
   who knew him well and already respected him as a Saint; for the king had   
   already asked for his prayers when he sent out his armies to combat the   
   Moors, and he attributed his victories to those prayers.   
      
   In effect all the Christians of Europe, and above all of Spain, were praying   
   a great deal to obtain from God the remedy for the great evil that had   
   befallen them. The divine Will was soon manifested. On the same night,   
   August 1, 1218, the Blessed Virgin appeared to Saint Peter, to his   
   confessor, Raymund of Pennafort, and to the king, and through these three   
   servants of God established a work of the most perfect charity, the   
   redemption of captives.   
      
   On that night, while the Church was celebrating the feast of Saint Peter in   
   Chains, She came from Heaven and appeared first to Saint Peter, saying that   
   She indeed desired the establishment of a religious Order bearing the name   
   of Her mercy. Its members would undertake to deliver Christian captives and   
   offer themselves, if necessary, as a gage. Word of the miracle soon spread   
   over the entire kingdom; and on August 10th the king went to the cathedral   
   for a Mass celebrated by the bishop of Barcelona. Saint Raymund went up into   
   the pulpit and narrated his vision, with admirable eloquence and fervor. The   
   king besought the blessing of the bishop for the heaven-sent plan, and the   
   bishop bestowed the habit on Saint Peter, who emitted the solemn vow to give   
   himself as a hostage if necessary.   
      
   The Order, thus solemnly established in Spain, was approved by Gregory IX   
   under the name of Our Lady of Mercy. By the grace of God and under the   
   protection of His Virgin Mother, the Order spread rapidly. Its growth was   
   increased as the charity and piety of its members was observed; they very   
   often followed Her directive to give themselves up to voluntary slavery when   
   necessary, to aid the good work. It was to return thanks to God and the   
   Blessed Virgin that a feast day was instituted and observed on September   
   24th, first in this Order of Our Lady, then everywhere in Spain and France.   
   It was finally extended to the entire Church by Innocent XII.   
      
   Reflection: Saint Peter Nolasco and his knights were not priests, and yet   
   they considered that the salvation of their neighbor was entrusted to them.   
   We, too, can by good counsel and by prayer, but above all by holy example,   
   assist the salvation of our brethren, and thereby secure our own.   
      
   Sources: Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin   
   (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 11; Little Pictorial Lives of the   
   Saints, a compilation based on Butler's Lives of the Saints and other   
   sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894).   
      
      
   Saint Quote:   
   It is not possible ever to exhaust the mind of the Scriptures. It is a well   
   that has no bottom.   
   -St. John Chrysostom   
      
   Bible Quote:   
    Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man,   
   what things God has prepared for those who love Him. I Cor. 2:9   
      
      
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   The Little Office of the Holy Angels   
      
   At Compline (Night Prayer)   
      
    Ant. God has given His angels charge of you, that they keep thee in all thy   
   ways. Amen.   
      
    V. Convert us, O God, our Savior.   
   R. And avert Thy anger from us. O God, incline unto my aid.   
      
     Glory be to the Father, etc. Alleluia.   
      
      
   HYMN   
      
   AND Raphael of the glorious seven who stand   
    Before the throne of Him Who lives and reigns;   
    Angel of health I the Lord has filled thy hand   
   With balm from heaven to soothe or cure our pains   
    Heal or console the victim of disease,   
   And guide our steps when doubtful of our ways.   
      
      
    Ant. O holy angels, our guardians, defend us in the combat, that we perish   
   not in the dreadful judgment.   
      
   V. In sight of Thy angels I will sing to Thee, my God.   
   R. I will adore at Thy holy temple, and confess to Thy. name.   
      
      
   PRAYER   
      
   O God, Who, with unspeakable providence, has granted to appoint Thy holy   
   angels to be our guardians grant to Thy humble suppliants to be always   
   defended by their protection, and to enjoy their everlasting society through   
   Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You forever and   
   ever. Amen.   
      
      
   COMMENDATION   
      
   O Holy guardian at thy feet   
   This wreath of humble flowers I lay;   
   O that their odor were as sweet   
   As he desires, who sings the lay,   
   Protect me at death's awful hour,   
   Receive my soul to thy embrace,   
    Rich with the wonders of thy power,   
    To thank, to praise thee, face to face. Amen.   
      
      
   Antiphon to the Archangel Michael   
      
   HOLY archangel Michael   
   defend us in battle,   
   that we may not perish in the   
   tremendous judgment.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)