A Partial List of the 804 Books I've Read Since March of 2004

1. Through Gates of Splendor – Elisabeth Elliot
2. The White Mountains – John Christopher
3. Rome, Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism – Scott and Kimberly Hahn
4. Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic – Dave Currie
5. The Silmarillion – J.R.R. Tolkien
6. Classic Catholic Converts – Fr. Charles P. Connor
7. The City of Gold and Lead – John Christopher
8. Habits of the Mind: The Intellectual Life as a Christian Calling – James W. Sire
9. Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words – Rod Bennett
10. Anthology of Best-Loved Poems – Andrew Lang, compiler
11. The Pool of Fire – John Christopher
12. C.S. Lewis and the Catholic Church – Joseph Pearce
13. Heretics – G.K. Chesterton
14. Hickory, Dickory, Death – Agatha Christie
15. Homosexuality: The Use of Scientific Research in the Church's Moral Debate – Stanton L. Jones and Mark A. Yarhouse (finished 05-04)
16. Professors Who Believe: The Spiritual Journeys of Christian Faculty – Paul M. Anderson, editor
17. Orthodoxy – G.K. Chesterton
18. Faith on the Edge: Daring to Follow Jesus – Paul Tokunaga, Kevin Blue, Amy Brooke, Robbie Castleman, Bobby Gross, and Jon Tran
19. Understanding the Bible – John R.W. Stott
20. Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina – Michael Casey
21. Peril at End House – Agatha Christie
22. The Body in the Library – Agatha Christie
23. War in Heaven – Charles Williams
24. Green Eggs and Ham – Dr. Seuss
25. Murder in the Mews – Agatha Christie
26. Many Dimensions – Charles Williams
27. Descent into Hell – Charles Williams
28. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – J.R.R. Tolkien
29. The Courage to be Chaste – Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R.
30. Mountain Breezes: The Collected Poems of Amy Carmichael – Robert Delancy, Elinor Rogers, Joann Longton, compilers
31. Father Brown of the Church of Rome: Selected Mystery Stories by G.K. Chesterton – John Peterson, editor
32. Well With My Soul: Four Dramatic Stories of Great Hymn Writers – Rachel Phillips
33. Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did – Mark Shea
34. The Currents of Space – Isaac Asimov
35. Letters to Malcolm, Chiefly on Prayer – C.S. Lewis
36. Little House in the Big Woods – Laura Ingalls-Wilder
37. Murder on the Orient Express – Agatha Christie
38. Pocket Catholic Catechism – Fr. John Hardon S.J.
39. The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume 1, Family Letters, 1905-1931 – Walter Hooper, editor
40. Little House on the Prairie – Laura Ingalls-Wilder
41. Prophetic Untimeliness: A Challenge to the Idol of Relevance – Os Guinness
42. Little House on Plum Creek – Laura Ingalls-Wilder
43. Mary Slessor: Heroine of Calabar – Basil Miller
44. The Bible in Translation: Ancient and English Versions – Bruce Metzger
45. On Being Catholic – Thomas Howard
46. The Uncollected Wodehouse – David A. Jasen, editor
47. Evangelical is Not Enough: Worship of God in Liturgy and Sacrament – Thomas Howard
48. Death in the Air – Agatha Christie
49. Disavowed: A Twentieth-Century Jew and His Experience with Jesus – Steve Cohen
50. Tales of a Seasick Doctor: Life Aboard a Mercy Ship – Christine Aroney-Sine
51. The Man in the Brown Suit – Agatha Christie
52. There Are No Accidents: In All Things Trust God – Fr. Benedict Groeschel and John Bishop
53. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
54. A Matter of Days: Resolving a Creation Controversy – Hugh Ross
55. Star Trek: The Next Generation: Encounter at Farpoint – David Gerrold
56. Star Trek: The Next Generation: Vendetta – Peter David
57. The Murder at the Vicarage – Agatha Christie
58. Charles Spurgeon: Boy Preacher to Christian Theologian – Kathy Triggs
59. Partners in Crime – Agatha Christie
60. Star Trek: The Vulcan Academy Murders – Jean Lorrah
61. Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
62. Monarch Notes: Madame Bovary – Arthur Rozen
63. The Narrow Road: Stories of Those Who Walk This Road Together – Brother Andrew with John and Elizabeth Sherrill
64. Star Trek: Final Frontier – Diane Carey
65. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Trials and Tribble-ations – Diane Carey
66. Lead Kindly Light: My Journey to Rome – Thomas Howard
67. Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Gene Roddenberry
68. Eternity in Their Hearts: Startling Evidence of Belief in the One True God in Hundreds of Cultures Throughout the World – Don Richardson
69. Star Trek: The Wounded Sky – Diane Duane
70. The Spirit of Early Christian Thought: Seeking the Face of God – Robert Louis Wilken
71. Catechism of the Catholic Church – Libreria Editrice Vaticana
72. At the Back of the North Wind – George MacDonald
73. By the Pricking of My Thumbs – Agatha Christie
74. Bunnicula – James Howe
75. Howliday Inn – James Howe
76. The Celery Stalks at Midnight – James Howe
77. Nighty-Nightmare – James Howe
78. Return to Howliday Inn – James Howe
79. Philothea, or An Introduction to the Devout Life – Saint Francis de Sales
80. The Mysterious Affair at Styles – Agatha Christie
81. Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories – Agatha Christie
82. The Hundred Secret Senses – Amy Tan
83. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – Vonda N. McIntyre
84. Murder in Three Acts – Agatha Christie
85. Abbot Francis Pfanner, 1825-1909: A Missionary who Made History – A.L. Balling
86. Easy to Kill – Agatha Christie
87. Eusebius, The Church History: A New Translation with Commentary – Paul L. Maier
88. The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume II, Books, Broadcasts, and the War 1931-1946 – Walter Hooper, editor
89. My Beloved: The Story of a Carmelite Nun – Mother Catherine ThomasThe Complete Idiot's Guide to Classical Mythology (Second Edition) – Kevin Osborn and Dana L. Burgess, Ph.D.
90. The Illumined Heart: The Ancient Christian Path of Transformation – Frederica Mathewes-Green
91. The Magician's Nephew – C.S. Lewis
92. St. Francis of Assisi – G.K. Chesterton
93. The New World of Faith – Avery Cardinal Dulles
94. A Student's Guide to Liberal Learning – James V. Schall
95. Worldwalk: One Man's Four-Year Journey Around the World – Steven M. Newman
96. The Man with the Bird on His Head: The Amazing Fulfillment of a Mysterious Island Prophecy – John Rush and Abbe Anderson
97. Foundation – Isaac Asimov
98. A Student's Guide to the Core Curriculum – Mark C. Henrie
99. Crimson Seeds: Eighteen Pime Martyrs – Mariagrazia Zambon
100. Poking Holes in the Darkness – Jaki Parlier
101. A Student's Guide to Literature – R.V. Young
102. A Student's Guide to the Study of History – John Lukacs
103. A Priest Forever: The Life of Father Eugene Hamilton – Fr. Benedict Groeschel
104. Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on Some Aspects of Christian Meditation – Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
105. Star Trek: New Frontier: House of Cards – Peter David
106. Star Trek: New Frontier: Into the Void – Peter David
107. Star Trek: New Frontier: The Two-Front War – Peter David
108. Star Trek: New Frontier: End Game – Peter David
109. Star Trek: The Romulan Way – Diane Duane and Peter Morwood
110. Good News at 7:18 – Fr. Piero Gheddo, Pime
111. Coming Out of Homosexuality: New Freedom for Men & Women – Bob Davies & Lori Rentzel
112. Dune – Frank Herbert
113. Charity and Sex and the Young Man – Fr. Herbert J. Raterman, S.J.
114. Loving Homosexuals as Jesus Would: A Fresh Christian Approach – Chad W. Thompson
115. Star Trek: The Final Nexus – Gene DeWeese
116. An Introduction to: The Promise of Saint Joseph: The Challenge of Chastity for Teenagers and Young Adults – Rev. Bartholomew Joseph O'Brien
117. Socrates Meets Jesus: History's Greatest Questioner Confronts the Claims of Christ – Peter Kreeft
118. Superstition – Fr. Herbert Thurston, S.J.
119. St. Anthony of the Desert – Saint Athanasius (translated by Dom J.B. McLaughlin, O.S.B.)
120. Nuts and Bolts: A Practical, How-to Guide for Explaining and Defending the Catholic Faith – Tim Staples
121. Catholic Book of Prayers – Rev. Maurius Fitzgerald, O.F.M.
122. In the Spirit of Happiness – The Monks of New Skete
123. Teaching the Spirit of Mission: Ad Gentes, Continuing Pentecost Today – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
124. Dune Messiah – Frank Herbert
125. Children of Dune – Frank Herbert
126. Paradoxes of Catholicism – Fr. Robert Hugh Benson
127. Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There – Lewis Carroll
128. Surprised by Joy – C.S. Lewis
129. Smoke on the Mountain: An Interpretation of the Ten Commandments – Joy Davidman
130. How to Avoid Purgatory – Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P. (E.D.M.)
131. Reflections on the Psalms – C.S. Lewis
132. Heretics of Dune – Frank Herbert
133. Wise Blood – Flannery O'Connor
134. The Growth of the Gospels – Neil L. McEleny, C.S.P.
135. The Holy Ghost, Our Greatest Friend: He Who Loves Us Best – Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P. (E.D.M.)
136. Bunnicula Strikes Again – James Howe
137. Favorite Prayers to Saint Joseph – TAN Books and Publishers
138. The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind – Mark A. Noll
139. We Signed Away Our Lives: How One Family Gave Everything for the Gospel – Kari Torjesen Malcolm
140. Love Has a Price Tag – Elisabeth Elliot
141. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe – C.S. Lewis
142. Heroes of the Faith: David Livingston: From Africa to Eternity – Sam Wellman
143. Desert Pilgrim: The Story of Mildred Cable's Venture for God in Central Asia – Phyllis Thompson
144. Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia – C.S. Lewis
145. Living on the Devil's Doorstep – Floyd McClung
146. God Emperor of Dune – Frank Herbert
147. And Then There Were None – Agatha Christie
148. The Compendium to the Catechism of the Catholic Church
149. Perpetual Novena in honor of Saint Joseph and Saint Joseph Marello – The Oblates of Saint Joseph
150. Monganga Paul: The Congo Ministry and Martyrdom of Paul Carlson, M.D. – Lois Carlson
151. Surprised by Truth: 11 Converts Give the Biblical and Historical Reasons for Becoming Catholic – Patrick Madrid, editor
152. London After Midnight: A Tour of Its Criminal Haunts – Barnes & Noble Books
153. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd – Agatha Christie
154. The Innocence of Father Brown – G.K. Chesterton
155. Saints Behaving Badly: The Cutthroats, Crooks, Trollops, Con Men, and Devil Worshippers Who Became Saints – Thomas J. Craughwell
156. Brief Memories of the Life of Joseph Marello, Bishop of Acqui, and of the Congregation He Founded – Fr. John Baptist Cortona, O.S.J
157. Lives of Saints: With Excerpts from Their Writings – Fr. Joseph Vann
158. Emma – Jane Austen
159. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Brontë
160. Animal Farm – George Orwell
161. The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde
162. Step Up Close to Jesus: Stations of the Cross for Young People – Sister Mary Terese Donze, ASC
163. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – J.R.R. Tolkien
164. Be Still My Soul – Elisabeth Elliot
165. The Truth about Homosexuality: The Cry of the Faithful – Father John Harvey, O.S.F.S.
166. Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on "Romanism" by Bible Christians" – Karl Keating
167. The Mystery of the Blue Train – Agatha Christie
168. The Bible Jesus Read – Philip Yancey
169. A  Murder is Announced – Agatha Christie
170. Ships of Mercy:  The Remarkable Fleet Bringing Hope to the World's Forgotten Poor – Don Stephens with Lynda Rutledge Stephenson
171. Secure in the Everlasting Arms – Elisabeth Elliot
172. Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America – Mike Yankoski
173. The Magic Bicycle – John Bibee
174. The A.B.C. Murders – Agatha Christie
175. The Toy Campaign – John Bibee
176. The Only Game in Town – John Bibee
177. The Wisdom of Father Brown – G.K. Chesterton
178. Sad Cypress – Agatha Christie
179. Northanger Abbey – Jane Austen
180. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: An Ordinary Christian – Maria Di Lorenzo
181. Poirot Investigates – Agatha Christie
182. Bruchko: The Astonishing True Story of a 19-year-old American, His Capture by the Motilone Indians, and His Adventures in Christianizing the Stone Age Tribe – Bruce Olson
183. The Tuesday Club Murders – Agatha Christie
184. Gulliver's Travels – Jonathan Swift
185. The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis, Volume III: Narnia, Cambridge, and Joy 1950-1963 – Walter Hooper, editor
186. Beyond Gay – David Morrison
187. Murder for Christmas – various
188. Walking from East to West – Ravi Zacharias with R.S.B. Sawyer
189. At Bertram's Hotel – Agatha Christie
190. Hercule Poirot's Christmas – Agatha Christie
191. After the Funeral – Agatha Christie
192. The Hollow – Agatha Christie
193. The Musician's Quest – George MacDonald
194. Post-Rapture Radio: Lost Writings from a Failed Revolution – Russel Rathbun
195. Lights in the Sky & Little Green Men: A Rational Christian Look at UFOs and Extraterrestrials – Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark
196. Honey for a Child's Heart: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life – Gladys Hunt
197. The Autobiography of Saint Therese of Lisieux: The Story of a Soul – Saint Therese of Lisieux, John Beevers, translator
198. Christian Faith and Same-Sex Attraction: Eastern Orthodox Reflections – Thomas Hopko
199. Mariannehill and its Apostolate – St. Joseph Mission Press
200. The Adventurer Monk Among Turks and Zulus – Adalbert Ludwig Balling
201. Mary Poppins – P.L. Travers
202. Mary Poppins Comes Back – P.L. Travers
203. A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle
204. Another Sort of Learning. Selected Contrary Essays on How Finally to Acquire an Education While Still in College or Anywhere Else: Containing Some Belated Advice about How to Employ Your Leisure Time When Ultimate Questions Remain Perplexing in Spite of Your Highest Earned Academic Degree, Together with Sundry Lists Nowhere Else in Captivity to Be Found – James W. Schall, S.J.
205. A Wind in the Door – Madeleine L'Engle
206. A Swiftly Tilting Planet – Madeleine L'Engle
207. Behind the Story: Memoirs, Reflections, and Anecdotes from Wycliffe Author Hugh Steven – Hugh Steven
208. The Smoke of a Thousand Villages…and Other Stories of Real Life Heroes of the Faith – David and Naomi Shibley
209. Philosophers Who Believe: The Spiritual Journeys of 11 Leading Thinkers – Kelly James Clark, editor
210. No One Noticed the Cat – Ann McCaffrey
211. The Man Who Was Thursday – G.K. Chesterton
212. Could You Ever Become a Catholic? – Lorene Hanley Duquin
213. Christianity Rediscovered – Father Vincent J. Donovan
214. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – J.R.R. Tolkien
215. An Acceptable Time – Madeleine L'Engle
216. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
217. Appointment with Death – Agatha Christie
218. Murder in Mesopotamia – Agatha Christie
219. The Canterville Ghost – Oscar Wilde
220. Mansfield Park – Jane Austen
221. Death Comes as the End – Agatha Christie
222. The Boomerang Clue – Agatha Christie
223. Mrs. McGinty's Dread – Agatha Christie
224. Trixie Belden and the Mysterious Visitor – Julie Campbell
225. Space Vulture – Gary K. Wolf and Archbishop John J. Myers
226. A Man of the Beatitudes: Pier Giorgio Frassati – Luciana Frassati
227. Persuasion – Jane Austen
228. Lady Susan – Jane Austen
229. The Children of Hurin – J.R.R. Tolkien
230. The Great Divorce – C.S. Lewis
231. The Screwtape Letters – C.S. Lewis
232. Christian Reflections – C.S. Lewis
233. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle – Betty MacDonald
234. Hello, Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle – Betty MacDonald
235. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle's Magic – Betty MacDonald
236. Murder on the Links – Agatha Christie
237. Meet the Austins – Madeleine L'Engle
238. Black Coffee – Agatha Christie, adapted by Charles Osborne
239. The Moon by Night – Madeleine L'Engle
240. The Young Unicorns – Madeleine L'Engle
241. Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales – Barnes & Noble Books
242. The Club of Queer Trades – G.K. Chesterton
243. Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction – Thomas R. Flynn
244. Searching for God Knows What – Donald Miller
245. The Sari Shop: A Novel – Rupa Bajwa
246. Everyman's Theology – Leo Rudolph, O.S.B.
247. The Big Four – Agatha Christie
248. The Secret Adversary – Agatha Christie
249. Barchester Towers – Anthony Trollope
250. The Secret of Chimneys – Agatha Christie
251. The Seven Dials Mystery – Agatha Christie
252. A Ring of Endless Light – Madeleine L'Engle
253. Troubling a Star – Madeleine L'Engle
254. The Mysterious Mr. Quinn – Agatha Christie
255. The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
256. The Sittaford Mystery – Agatha Christie
257. Murder in the Mews – Agatha Christie
258. The Labors of Hercules – Agatha Christie
259. Out of the Silent Planet – C.S. Lewis
260. A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
261. Mysterious Skin: A Novel – Scott Heim
262. Rumpole and the Reign of Terror: A Novel – John Mortimer
263. Me Talk Pretty One Day – David Sedaris
264. Perelandra: A Novel – C.S. Lewis
265. That Hideous Strength – C.S. Lewis
266. Lord Edgeware Dies – Agatha Christie
267. Farmer Boy – Laura Ingalls-Wilder
268. The Listerdale Mystery and Eleven Other Stories – Agatha Christie
269. Homer Price – Robert McCloskey
270. The Inimitable Jeeves – P.G. Wodehouse
271. Thank You, Jeeves – P.G. Wodehouse
272. Henry Huggins – Beverly Cleary
273. Henry and Beezus – Beverly Cleary
274. Leave it to Psmith – P.G. Wodehouse
275. Henry and Ribsy – Beverly Cleary
276. The Misfits – James Howe
277. The Happy Hollisters and the Old Clipper Ship – Jerry West
278. An Incautious Man: The Life of Gouverneur Morris – Melanie Randolph Miller
279. A Student's Guide to Religious Studies – D.G. Hart
280. Tales of the City – Armistead Maupin
281. Treasure Island – Robert Louis Stevenson
282. More Tales of the City – Armistead Maupin
283. The Story of the Trapp Family Singers – Maria Augusta Trapp
284. Further Tales of the City – Armistead Maupin
285. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds 10 – Dean Wesley Smith and Paula M. Block, editors
286. The Borrowers – Mary Norton
287. Cards on the Table – Agatha Christie
288. Dumb Witness – Agatha Christie
289. Murder is Easy – Agatha Christie
290. The Unlikely Disciple: A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University – Kevin Roose
291. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe – Agatha Christie
292. Third Girl – Agatha Christie
293. Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit – P.G. Wodehouse
294. Towards Zero – Agatha Christie
295. Nemesis – Agatha Christie
296. Star Trek: The Valiant – Michael Jan Friedman
297. Star Trek: The Next Generation: Q-Space – Greg Cox
298. Star Trek: Starfleet Corps. of Engineers: No Surrender – Mike Collins, Ian Edginton, Robert Greenberger, Glenn Hauman, and Jeff Mariotte
299. Star Trek: Enterprise: What Price Honor? – Dave Stern
300. A Pocket Full of Rye – Agatha Christie
301. Passenger to Frankfurt – Agatha Christie
302. Dread Man's Folly – Agatha Christie
303. A Separate Peace – John Knowles
304. Saints Behaving Badly: The Cutthroats, Crooks, Trollops, Con Men, and Devil Worshippers Who Became Saints – Thomas J. Craughwell
305. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Lives of Dax – Marco Palmieri, editor
306. The Cricket in Times Square – George Selden
307. Rapture Ready: Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture – Daniel Radosh
308. Holidays on Ice – David Sedaris
309. The Habit of Being: Letters of Flannery O'Connor – Flannery O'Connor
310. The Complete Stories – Flannery O'Connor
311. Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of it Back – Frank Schaefer
312. Patience with God: Faith for People Who Don't Like Religion {or Atheism} – Frank Schaefer
313. The Violent Bear it Away – Flannery O'Connor
314. The Web of the Romulans – M.S. Murdock
315. Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose – Flannery O'Connor
316. Good Book: The Bizarre, Hilarious, Disturbing, Marvelous, and Inspiring Things I Learned When I Read Every Single Word of the Bible – David Plotz
317. Carry On, Jeeves – P.G. Wodehouse
318. Evil Under the Sun – Agatha Christie
319. Why Catholic Bibles are Bigger: The Untold Story of the Lost Books of the Protestant Bible – Gary G. Michuta
320. Journeys Home – Marcus Grodi, editor and compiler
321. The Chimes – Charles Dickens
322. The Abbess of Andalusia: Flannery O'Connor's Spiritual Journey – Lorraine V. Murray
323. The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible – A.J. Jacobs
324. Portofino – Frank Schaefer
325. Saving Grandma – Frank Schaefer
326. God in the Dock – C.S. Lewis
327. Babycakes – Armistead Maupin
328. Significant Others – Armistead Maupin
329. Sure of You – Armistead Maupin
330. Endless Night – Agatha Christie
331. There is No A God: How the World's Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind – Antony Flew with Roy Abraham Varghese
332. They Came to Baghdad – Agatha Christie
333. Maurice – E. M. Forster
334. Reasons to Believe: One Man's Journey Among the Evangelicals and the Faith He Left Behind – John Marks
335. Postern of Fate – Agatha Christie
336. N or M? – Agatha Christie

Desire of the Everlasting Hills

What a movie! It moves me to pursue chastity ever more faithfully. Honestly, I don't do a very good job of that. I have slacked off terribly in recent years, and allowed lust to master me. One day I hope to be as faithful as Paul, Dan, and Rilene. May it be soon! May God have mercy on me, a sinner, and, through the intercession of St. Joseph the Betrothed, St. Joseph the All-Comely, St. Charles Lwanga, St. Mary of Egypt, St. Augustine of Hippo, and all the saints, may He grant me the grace to live a chaste and celibate life in peace and happiness. And do you, my reading public, also pray for me.

'Desire of the Everlasting Hills is a very well-made documentary, produced by Courage, about the lives of 3 people who experience sexual attractions towards their own sex, and who are seeking to live out Catholic Church teaching on homosexuality in obedience to Jesus Christ. They begin by telling of their early experiences of their sexuality, and tell how they began to live in their twenties and beyond. They discuss what their views on religion were, how they felt about God, their partners, etc. How they began to recognize that their lives were unfulfilling, and how they began to seek peace and answers to their questions in the Catholic Church. Each of them had experience with the Catholic Church, each left, and each came back to Her. Their stories are compelling, and certain of each of their experiences resonate with me. I want to write about this, but I don't have time right now. So let me provide the link, and encourage those who have not yet seen it to do so. It's a little over an hour, and can be viewed for free online.


Desire of the Everlasting Hills

A Scriptural Rosary continued: The Fifth Joyful Mystery.

Review here and here. Another review here, along with the first Joyful mystery.

Let us pray the fifth Joyful Mystery.

Begin
"The fifth Joyful Mystery: Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the temple."

Now, pray one Our Father on bead 52, and pray one Hail Mary with its Bible verse(s)* on each of the beads marked 53-62.

Our Father…

Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.  And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the Feast. (Luke 2:41, 42 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it.  But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. (Luke 2:43, 44 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him. (Luke 2:45 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions. (Luke 2:46 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. (Luke 2:47 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And when they saw Him they were amazed, and His mother said unto Him, "Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us?  Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing." (Luke 2:48 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And He said unto them, "How is it that ye sought Me?  Knew ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" (Luke 2:49 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And they understood not the saying which He spake unto them. (Luke 2:50 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them.  But His mother kept all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:51 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52 KJV)
Hail Mary…

After you've said the above, either keep your fingers on the last bead (#62), or move them to the space between this and the next position (77, 78, 79, 80, 81) and pray the Glory Be:

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

To close, make the sign of the cross. (In the future, I'll have the closing prayers of the rosary listed.)

*In a traditional rosary, one prays 10 Hail Mary's in a decade, which is why some of these have two or three verses listed. But you can pray 1 verse and 1 Hail Mary at a time. If you did so with the above, you would have a "decade" of 12, which is fine. The rosary is an aid to prayer. It is a means, not an end, and you can alter it to make it a more useful aid.

A Scriptural Rosary continued: The Fourth Joyful Mystery.

Review here and here. Another review here, along with the first Joyful mystery.

Let us pray the fourth Joyful Mystery.

Announce the mystery by saying:
"The fourth Joyful Mystery: Jesus is presented in the temple."

Now, pray one Our Father and the following Hail Marys with their Bible verses

Our Father…

And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His name was called Jesus, who was so named by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
(Luke 2:21 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And when the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord
(Luke 2:22 TMB)
Hail Mary…

(as it is written in the law of the Lord: "Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
(Luke 2:23 TMB)
Hail Mary…

and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord: "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."
(Luke 2:24 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him
(Luke 2:25 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
(Luke 2:26 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And he came by the Spirit into the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him after the custom of the Law,
(Luke 2:27 TMB)
Hail Mary…

then took he Him up in his arms, and blessed God...
(Luke 2:28a TMB)
Hail Mary…

…and said, "Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word;"
(Luke 2:28b, 29 TMB)
Hail Mary…

"for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,
(Luke 2:30 TMB)
Hail Mary…

which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people,"
(Luke 2:30 TMB)
Hail Mary…

"a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel."
(Luke 2:32 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.
(Luke 2:33 TMB)
Hail Mary…

And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against
(Luke 2:34 TMB)
Hail Mary…

"(yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
(Luke 2:35 KJV)
Hail Mary…

Now pray the Glory Be:

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

To close, make the sign of the cross. (In a future post, I'll list the full closing prayers of the rosary.)

A Scriptural Rosary continued: The Third Joyful Mystery.

Review here and here. Another review here, along with the first Joyful mystery.

Let us pray the third Joyful Mystery:

Announce the Mystery by saying:
"The third Joyful Mystery: Jesus is born."

Now, pray one Our Father and the following Hail Marys with their Bible verses.

Our Father…

And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
(Luke 2:1 KJV) 
Hail Mary…

(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
(Luke 2:2 KJV)
Hail Mary…

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 
(Luke 2:3 KJV)
Hail Mary…

And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, unto the City of David which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David)
(Luke 2:4 KJV)
Hail Mary…

to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with Child.
(Luke 2:5 KJV)
Hail Mary…

And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 
(Luke 2:6 KJV)
Hail Mary…

And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
(Luke 2:7 KJV)
Hail Mary…

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
(Luke 2:8 KJV)
Hail Mary…

And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
(Luke 2:9 KJV)
Hail Mary…

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."
(Luke 2:10 KJV)
Hail Mary…

"For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
(Luke 2:11 KJV)
Hail Mary…

"And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
(Luke 2:12 KJV)
Hail Mary…

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
(Luke 2:13 KJV)
Hail Mary…

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men."
(Luke 2:14 KJV)
Hail Mary…

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."
(Luke 2:15 KJV)
Hail Mary…

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. (Luke 2:16 KJV)
Hail Mary…

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.
(Luke 1:17 KJV)
Hail Mary…


And all those who heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
(Luke 2:18 KJV)
Hail Mary…

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
(Luke 2:19 KJV)
Hail Mary…

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
(Luke 2:20 KJV)
Hail Mary…

After you've said the above, either keep your fingers on the last bead (#48), or move them to the space between this and the next position (#'s 49, 50, 51) and pray the Glory Be:

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen.

To close, make the sign of the cross. (In the future, I'll have the closing prayers of the rosary listed.)

Monthly Calendar for praying the Psalms

I follow this calendar in praying the Psalms in my daily Morning Prayer Rule. Bonus: read the book of Proverbs every month, too!

31 day months:

 1: Psalm 1-8,  Proverbs 1

 2: Psalm 9-15,  Proverbs 2

 3: Psalm 16-18,  Proverbs 3

 4: Psalm 19-23,  Proverbs 4

 5: Psalm 24-29,  Proverbs 5

 6: Psalm 30-34,  Proverbs 6

 7: Psalm 35-37,  Proverbs 7

 8: Psalm 38-41,  Proverbs 8

 9: Psalm 42-47,  Proverbs 9

 10: Psalm 48-51,  Proverbs 10

 11: Psalm 52-58,  Proverbs 11

 12: Psalm 59-65,  Proverbs 12

 13: Psalm 66-68,  Proverbs 13

 14: Psalm 69-71,  Proverbs 14

 15: Psalm 72-74,  Proverbs 15

 16: Psalm 75-77,  Proverbs 16

 17: Psalm 78-80,  Proverbs 17

 18: Psalm 81-86,  Proverbs 18

 19: Psalm 87-89,  Proverbs 19

 20: Psalm 90-95,  Proverbs 20

 21: Psalm 96-101,  Proverbs 21

 22: Psalm 102-104,  Proverbs 22

 23: Psalm 105-106,  Proverbs 23

 24: Psalm 107-109,  Proverbs 24

 25: Psalm 110-116,  Proverbs 25

 26: Psalm 117-118,  Proverbs 26

 27: Psalm 119,  Proverbs 27

 28: Psalm 120-132,  Proverbs 28

 29: Psalm 133-139,  Proverbs 29

 30: Psalm 140-145,  Proverbs 30

 31: Psalm 146-151,  Proverbs 31

30 day months

 1: Psalm 1-8,  Proverbs 1

 2: Psalm 9-16,  Proverbs 2

 3: Psalm 17-20,  Proverbs 3

 4: Psalm 21-25,  Proverbs 4

 5: Psalm 26-31,  Proverbs 5

 6: Psalm 32-35,  Proverbs 6

 7: Psalm 36-38,  Proverbs 7

 8: Psalm 39-44,  Proverbs 8

 9: Psalm 45-50,  Proverbs 9

 10: Psalm 51-55,  Proverbs 10

 11: Psalm 56-62,  Proverbs 11

 12: Psalm 653-68,  Proverbs 12

 13: Psalm 69-71,  Proverbs 13

 14: Psalm 72-75,  Proverbs 14

 15: Psalm 76-78,  Proverbs 15

 16: Psalm 79-82,  Proverbs 16

 17: Psalm 83-88,  Proverbs 17

 18: Psalm 89-91,  Proverbs 18

 19: Psalm 92-98,  Proverbs 19

 20: Psalm 99-103,  Proverbs 20

 21: Psalm 104-105,  Proverbs 21

 22: Psalm 106-107,  Proverbs 22

 23: Psalm 108-113,  Proverbs 23

 24: Psalm 114-118,  Proverbs 24

 25: Psalm 119,  Proverbs 25

 26: Psalm 120-126,  Proverbs 26

 27: Psalm 127-133,  Proverbs 27

 28: Psalm 134-139,  Proverbs 28

 29: Psalm 140-145  Proverbs 29:1-30:1-16

 30: Psalm 146-151,  Proverbs 30:17-31:31/30

29 day months (leap years)

 1: Psalm 1-8,  Proverbs 1-2

 2: Psalm 9-17,  Proverbs 3

 3: Psalm 18-21,  Proverbs 4-5

 4: Psalm 22-27,  Proverbs 6

 5: Psalm 28-33,  Proverbs 7

 6: Psalm 34-37,  Proverbs 8

 7: Psalm 38-42,  Proverbs 9

 8: Psalm 43-48,  Proverbs 10

 9: Psalm 49-54,  Proverbs 11

 10: Psalm 55-61,  Proverbs 12

 11: Psalm 62-67,  Proverbs 13

 12: Psalm 68-71,  Proverbs 14

 13: Psalm 72-75,  Proverbs 15

 14: Psalm 76-78,  Proverbs 16

 15: Psalm 79-83,  Proverbs 17

 16: Psalm 84-88,  Proverbs 18

 17: Psalm 89-94  Proverbs 19

 18: Psalm 95-102,  Proverbs 20

 19: Psalm 103-105,  Proverbs 21

 20: Psalm 106,  Proverbs 22

 21: Psalm 107,  Proverbs 23

 22: Psalm 108-113,  Proverbs 24

 23: Psalm 114-118,  Proverbs 25

 24: Psalm 119,  Proverbs 26

 25: Psalm 120-129,  Proverbs 27

 26: Psalm 130-135,  Proverbs 28

 27: Psalm 136-140,  Proverbs 39

 28: Psalm 141-145,  Proverbs 30

 29: Psalm 146-151  Proverbs 31

28 day months

 1: Psalm 1-8,  Proverbs 1-2

 2: Psalm 9-17,  Proverbs 3

 3: Psalm 18-21,  Proverbs 4-5

 4: Psalm 22-27,  Proverbs 6

 5: Psalm 28-33,  Proverbs 7

 6: Psalm 34-37,  Proverbs 8

 7: Psalm 38-42,  Proverbs 9

 8: Psalm 43-48,  Proverbs 10

 9: Psalm 49-54,  Proverbs 11

 10: Psalm 55-61,  Proverbs 12

 11: Psalm 62-67,  Proverbs 13

 12: Psalm 68-71,  Proverbs 14

 13: Psalm 72-75,  Proverbs 15

 14: Psalm 76-78,  Proverbs 16

 15: Psalm 79-83,  Proverbs 17

 16: Psalm 84-88,  Proverbs 18-19

 17: Psalm 89-94  Proverbs 20

 18: Psalm 95-102,  Proverbs 21

 19: Psalm 103-105,  Proverbs 22

 20: Psalm 106-107,  Proverbs 23

 21: Psalm 108-113,  Proverbs 24

 22: Psalm 114-118,  Proverbs 25

 23: Psalm 119,  Proverbs 26

 24: Psalm 120-129,  Proverbs 27

 25: Psalm 130-135,  Proverbs 28

 26: Psalm 136-140,  Proverbs 29

 27: Psalm 141-145,  Proverbs 30

 28: Psalm 146-151,  Proverbs 31

My Daily Prayer Rule, Pt. 2

See Part 1 here.

Words and symbols in red indicate an action to perform.

+ : make the sign of the cross.

^ : bow your head.

& : bow deeply from the waist or kneel or prostrate yourself for a few seconds. Do whatever is comfortable for you. This is to engage your body in prayer, and to teach it humility.

Words in green italics offer explanations.

The word "catholic" when spelled with a lower-case "c" means all those Churches which have valid Holy Orders and sacraments, as explained in this post.

1) I numbered the prayers because I found it easier to memorize them this way.

Signum Crucis/The Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

2) 

Glory be to Thee, O our God, glory be to Thee! 

3)*

O heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who art everywhere present and fillest all things, the Treasury of blessings, and Giver of life, come and abide in us, cleanse us from all impurity, and of Thy goodness, save our souls. 

4) 

Holy God. Holy Mighty. Holy Immortal. Have mercy on us. 3 times

5) Bow from "Glory" to "Spirit".

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

6) 

Most holy Trinity, have mercy upon us. O Lord, cleanse us from our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake. 

7) 

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

8) Bow from "Glory" to "Spirit".

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.  

9) 

Pater Noster/The Lord's Prayer 

Sometimes I pray both the Latin and English, but usually just the English.

Pater noster, qui es in caelis: sanctificètur nomen tuum; advèniat regnum tuum; fiat volùntas tua, sicut in caelo, et in terra. Panem nostrum quotidiànum da nobis hòdie; et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimìttimus debitòribus nostris; et ne nos indùcas in tentatiònem; sed libera nos a malo. Quia tuum est regnum, et potèstas, et glòria in sàecula. Amen. 

Our Father, who art in Heaven: hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on Earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 

10)

Morning Prayer to the Holy Trinity

Arising from sleep I thank Thee, O holy Trinity, that, for the sake of Thy great kindness and long-suffering, Thou wast not wroth with me, slothful and sinful as I am; neither hast Thou destroyed me in my transgressions: but in Thy compassion hast raised me up, as I lay in despair; that at dawn I might sing the glories of Thy Majesty. Do Thou  now enlighten the eyes of my understanding. Open my mouth to receive Thy words. Teach me Thy commandments. Help me to do Thy will, confessing Thee from my heart, singing and praising Thine all-holy Name: of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

11)

Credo

The Nicene Creed 

I believe + in one God, 

the Father almighty, 

maker of heaven and earth, 

of all things visible and invisible. 

  

I believe in one Lord ^ Jesus Christ, 

the Only Begotten Son of God, 

born of the Father before all ages. 

God from God, Light from Light, 

true God from true God, 

begotten, not made, 

consubstantial with the Father; 

through Him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation 

He came down from heaven,

&

and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, 

and became man.

Rise

For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, 

He suffered death and was buried, 

and rose again on the third day 

in accordance with the Scriptures. 

He ascended into heaven 

and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 

He will come again in glory 

to judge the living and the dead 

and His kingdom will have no end. 

  

I believe in the Holy Spirit, 

the Lord, the giver of life, 

who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], 

who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, 

who has spoken through the prophets. 

  

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. 

I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins 

and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead 

and the life of the world to come. 

Amen. 

12) 

The Invitatory of the Liturgy of the Hours 

Make the sign of the cross over your lips while reciting "O Lord...lips".

V. O Lord, open Thou my lips, 

R. and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise. 

Recite antiphon**

Repeat antiphon 

This is the text of Psalm 95 as found in the New American Standard Bible (NASB), which is the version I used when I memorized this psalm. Use whatever version you like.

A song of praise of David.

The Masoretic text from which the NASB is translated does not include this title for the psalm. The title comes from the Septuagint.

O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, 

let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. 

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, 

let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. 

Repeat antiphon 

For the Lord is a great God 

and a great King above all gods, 

in whose hand are the depths of the earth, 

the peaks of the mountains are His also. 

The sea is His, for it was He who made it, 

and His hands formed the dry land. 

Repeat antiphon 

& 

Come, let us worship and bow down, 

let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. 

For He is our God, 

and we are the people of His pasture 

and the sheep of His hand. 

Rise

Repeat antiphon 

Today, if you would hear His voice, 

do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, 

As in the day of Massah in the wilderness, 

When your fathers tested Me, 

they tried Me, though they had seen My work. 

Repeat antiphon 

For forty years I loathed that generation, 

and said, "They are a people who err in their heart, 

and they do not know My ways." 

Therefore I swore in My anger, 

"Truly they shall not enter into My rest." 

Repeat antiphon

Bow from "Glory" to "Spirit".

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Repeat antiphon 

13) 

Psalms 

I developed a guide that takes me through the entire book of Psalms in a month. It's here.

Commemoration of the Living 

14) 

Remember, O Lord ^ Jesus Christ our God, Thy mercies and compassions which have been from everlasting, and for the sake of which Thou didst become man and deign to endure crucifixion and death for the salvation of all who rightly believe in Thee. Thou didst rise from the dead and ascend into the heavens and sittest on the right hand of God the Father, and regardest the humble prayers of all who call upon Thee with their whole heart. Incline Thine ear, and hearken to the humble entreaty of me, Thine unprofitable servant, who offer it for an odor of a spiritual savor for all Thy people. Amen. &

15) 

And first, remember Thy One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, which Thou hast purchased through Thy precious Blood. Confirm and strengthen it. Enlarge and multiply it. Keep it in peace and preserve it unconquerable by the gates of Hell forever. Heal the schism of the Churches. Quench the ragings of the heathen. Speedily undo and root out the growths of heresy, and bring them to naught by the power of Thy Holy Spirit. Amen. &

16) 

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon all civil authorities at every level in every land, especially upon our president, (N.), upon our vice president, (N.), upon the members of the President's Cabinet, upon the governors and vice-governors of the several states and the members of their cabinets, upon the members of the federal and state Congresses, upon the justices of the Supreme, federal, state and civil courts, and upon all local authorities. May they be people of good character, integrity, and wisdom, and may they legislate, govern, and adjudicate according to the rule of law, and especially according to the rule of Thy eternal Law. Speak peace and blessing in their hearts for Thy holy Church and for all Thy peoples, that we may live a calm and tranquil life, enjoying the right belief and all virtuous and godly living. Amen. &

17) 

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon Pope (N.), the most holy ecumenical patriarchs, the most reverend metropolitans, the archbishops and bishops, the priests and deacons, and the whole clergy of Thy Church, which Thou hast established to feed the flock of Thy Word, and by their prayers have mercy upon me, and save me, a sinner. Amen. &

18) 

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon my grandparents (N.'s);  my parents, (N.'s); my siblings (N.'s); my [other family members] (N.'s),  and the rest of my kinsmen. Help us to love Thee with our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Call us to become Thy children and to seek the fullness of Thy truth. Bless us with good health, good friendships, and all our daily needs. Grant that we may grow in our love for each other, and serve Thee and each other in humility and gladness. Strengthen our marriages, and nurture our children. May we each search for Thee with all our heart, and ever trust in Thy great mercy. Deliver us from the power of sin and the fear of death, protect us from all harm and danger, and may Thy holy angels be ever watchful over us. Give unto us Thy grace that we may uproot every vice from our lives and grow in every virtue unto the glory of Thy great and holy name. Amen. &

19) 

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon all of my current and former friends, teachers, classmates, co-workers, fellow church members, neighbors, benefactors, and acquaintances, and all of their families, especially (N.'s) and grant them Thy blessings both here and hereafter. Amen. &

20)

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon the priests and spiritual directors who have assisted me in my faith, and their families, especially (N.'s) and grant them Thy blessings both here and hereafter. Amen. &

21) 

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon the old and the young, the needy, the orphans, and the widows, and all who are in sickness and sorrow, in distress and affliction, in oppression and captivity, in prison and confinement, especially (N.). Have mercy upon those who, though separated from Thy holy Church, are being persecuted because they have faith in ^ Jesus, especially (N.)***. More especially have mercy upon Thy servants who are under persecution for Thy sake and for the sake of the catholic faith at the hands of heathen nations, of apostates, and of heretics, especially (N.)****. Remember them, visit, strengthen, and comfort them, and make haste to grant them by Thy power relief, freedom, and deliverance. Amen. &

22) 

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon all who are sent on duty, especially (N.), all who travel, all who go as missionaries with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and upon all Christians. Amen. &

23)

Save, O Lord, and have mercy upon those who envy and affront my family and me and do or have done us mischief. Let them not perish through me, a sinner. Grant them conversion of heart, and grant that we may forgive them and seek their good. Amen. &

I intentionally do not include names here because I find that doing so feeds my anger towards these people, and makes forgiving them harder.

24)

Those who depart from the True Faith, dazzled by destroying heresies, those who are in schismatic faith communities and heretical sects, and all who are atheists, agnostics, or who follow or believe false religions or philosophies, do Thou enlighten by the light of Thy holy wisdom, and unite them to Thy One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Amen. &

25) 

I beg and beseech Thee, O Lord, grant to all who have gone astray a true knowledge of Thee, so that each and every one may come to know Thy glory. Amen. &

Commemoration of the Dead 

26) 

Remember, O Lord, those who have departed this life, popes, Christian rulers, holy patriarchs, most reverend metropolitans, archbishops and bishops, and all who served Thee in the priesthood and ministry of the Church and in the monastic order; and grant them rest with Thy saints in Thy eternal habitations. Amen. &

27) 

Remember, O Lord, the souls of Thy servants now fallen asleep, especially my kinsmen (N.'s); my friends, acquaintances, and spiritual and material benefactors, especially (N.'s); the Catholics whose lives inspired and influenced me, especially (N.'s); the Protestants whose lives inspired and influenced me, especially (N.'s); the deceased members of Courage and EnCourage; and those who experienced homosexual attractions and struggled with or rebelled against the Christian faith, especially Oscar Wilde, Andy Warhol, and (N.'s); and the deceased family, friends, colleagues, and associates of all the above-mentioned people. Forgive them all their sins wittingly or unwittingly committed; grant them Thy kingdom, and a portion in Thy eternal blessings, and enjoyment of Thine unending life. Amen. &

29) 

Grant, O Lord, to all who have gone before us in faith and in hope of the resurrection, remission of sins. Keep them in everlasting remembrance, and place them with Thy saints, where shineth the light of Thy countenance, for Thou art gracious and lovest mankind. Amen. &

30) 

In the case of all who have passed from this world lacking a virtuous life or having had no faith or having not believed the True Faith, be an advocate for them, Lord, for the sake of the body which Thou didst take from them, so that from the single united body of the world we may offer up praise to Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit in the kingdom of heaven, an unending source of eternal delight. Amen. &

31) 

Prayer at the Beginning of the Day 

O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace. Help me in all things to rely upon Thy holy will. In every hour of the day reveal Thy will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that cometh to me throughout the day with peace of soul, and with firm conviction that Thy will governeth all. In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events let me not forget that all are sent by Thee. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, as a man, without embittering and embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will, teach me to pray, pray Thou Thyself in me. Amen. &

32) 

Prayer to the Holy Guardian Angel 

Dear Angel, in His goodness God gave you to me to guide, protect, and enlighten me, and to bring me back to the right way when I go astray.  Encourage me when I am disheartened, and instruct me when I err in judgment.  Help me to become more Christ-like, and so some day to be accepted into the company of angels and saints in heaven. Amen. No more bows.

33) 

Prayers to the Patron Saint 

O saint of God, Joseph the Betrothed, pray to God for me, for my home, and my family. Amen. 

34) 

Pray to God for me, O Saint Joseph the Betrothed, well-pleasing to God, for I eagerly betake myself to thee, who art the speedy helper and intercessor for my soul. Amen. 

35) 

Benediction 

It is very meet and right to call thee blessed, who didst bring forth God, ever blessed and most pure and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the cherubim, more glorious than the seraphim, who without spot didst bear the Eternal Word, thee, very Mother of God, we laud and magnify. 

36) 

Bow from "Glory" to "Spirit".

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. 

37) 

O Lord ^ Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for the sake of the prayers of Thy most pure Mother, of Saint Joseph the Betrothed, and of all Thy saints, have mercy upon us, and save us, for Thou art a merciful God, and lovest mankind. Amen.  

38) 

Signum Crucis/The Sign of the Cross 

In the name of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

*From Pascha to the Ascension, instead of the "Heavenly King", pray: 

Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life! 3 times 

*From the Ascension to its leavetaking, pray: 

Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, bringing joy to Thy disciples, for Thou didst reassure them through Thy blessing of the promise of the Holy Spirit, for Thou art the Son of God, the Redeemer of the world. 

*On the Saturday before Pentecost, omit "Heavenly King" and go directly to the Trisagion Prayer 

**Note on the antiphon: it changes depending on the day of the week and/or the season of the Church year and/or the feast day on the Church's calendar. In my daily prayers, I use this every day as the antiphon: "Today if you would hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" because I need the daily reminder to not harden my heart against the Holy Spirit.

*** I mention Pastor Saeed Abedini and his family, and was very glad to be able to take Meriam Ibrahim off this list!

**** I mention MetropolitansPaul Yazigi and Youhanna Ibrahim and the Christians of Syria and Iraq.