A Litany for King Charles on the Eve of the Coronation

On the eve of the Coronation, of your charity pray for King Charles III; the following litany may prove appropriate - having located the original document I have corrected some misprints and omissions (and since amended yet a few more):

A Litany for King Charles

Cf. Litanies royales pour dire durant les processions en tout temps (1622) [mutat. Ludovicum in Carolum]

Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.

Christe, audi nos. Christe, exaudi nos.

Pater de cælis, Deus, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Ps. 19, 9)

Fili, Redemptor mundi, Deus, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Spiritus Sancte, Deus, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Sancta Trinitas, unus Deus, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex, salvator mundi, Deus, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Joan. 4, 42)

Rex, mundi Creator, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. 2 Mach. 7, 23)

Rex lucis æternæ, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Sap. 7, 26)

Rex cælestis gloriæ, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 23, 7 etc.)

Rex tremendæ Majestatis, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex pacifice, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex Christe Messias, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex, æterne Deus, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Dan. 13, 42)

Rex Sanctorum Agminum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex Angelorum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex Prophetarum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex Apostolorum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex Martyrum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex Confessorum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex sanctarum Virginum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex, Justorum merces, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex, bonitatis origo, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex, fons pietatis, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex, mitis ad ignoscendum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Is. 55, 7)

Rex multæ misericordiæ, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 85, 5 etc.)

Rex, pater totius consolationis, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. 2 Cor. 1, 3)

Rex, sol occasum nesciens, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Is. 60, 20)

Rex, scutum et fides Abraham, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex lapis et pastor Israël, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Gen. 49, 24)

Rex, Fili David, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Matt. 9, 27 etc.)

Rex, spiritus Eliæ, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. 4 Reg. 2, 15)

Rex, Dominus noster, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Is. 33, 22)

Rex, Legifer noster, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Is. 33, 22)

Rex, Salvator noster, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. 1 Par. 16, 35)

Rex cujus misericordiæ non est numerus, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex, Via, Veritas et Vita, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Joan. 14, 6)

Rex, cui vivimus, movemur et sumus, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Act. 17, 28)

Rex, conterens malleum universæ terræ, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Jer. 50, 23)

Rex fortis et potens in prælio, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 23, 8)

Rex, Dominus Deus Sabaoth, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Qui fecisti magnalia Ægypto, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 105, 21)

Qui terribilia in mari rubro, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 105, 22)

Qui mirabilia in terra Chanaan, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 105, 22)

Qui firmasti terram super aquas, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 135, 6)

Qui percussisti Ægyptum cum primogenitis eorum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 135, 10)

Qui posuisti mare in divisiones, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 135, 13)

Qui excussisti Pharaonem cum virtute sua in mari Rubro, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 135, 15)

Qui avertisti captivitatem Jacob, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 84, 2)

Qui educis vinctos in fortitudine, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 67, 7)

Qui traduxisti populum tuum per desertum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 135, 16)

Qui eduxisti mel de petra et oleum de saxo durissimo, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Deut. 32, 13)

Qui cibasti Israël de adipe frumenti, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 80, 17)

Qui convertisti petram in stagna aquarum, et rupem in fontes aquarum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 113, 8)

Qui percussisti Reges magnos, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 135, 17)

Qui das salutem Regibus, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 143, 10)

Qui ponis nubem ascensum tuum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 103, 3)

Qui ascendis super pennas ventorum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 103, 3)

Qui das escam omni carne, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 135, 25)

Qui ponis fines tuos pacem, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 147, 3)

Qui in humilitate nostra memor fuisti nostri, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ps. 135, 23)

Qui solus habes immortalitem, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (1 Tim. 6, 16)

Rex, expectatio gentium, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Gen. 49, 10)

Rex gloriæ Israël, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Luc. 2, 32)

Rex, Verbum caro factum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Joan. 1, 14)

Rex, nobis datus, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Is. 9, 6)

Rex, pro nobis sanguinem fundens, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Ex. 29, 12)

Rex, pro nobis mortem passus, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. 1 Pet. 2, 21)

Rex stimulus mortis, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. 1 Cor. 15, 56)

Rex, morsus inferni, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Os. 13, 14)

Rex, horror dæmonum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex, resurrectio et vita mortuorum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Joan. 11, 25; 1 Cor. 15, 42)

Rex, illuminatio cæcorum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Is. 35, 5)

Rex, auditus surdorum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Is. 35, 5)

Rex, lingua mutorum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Is. 35, 6)

Rex, per quem reges regnant, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Prov. 8, 15)

Rex, vera spes principum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex, clypeus regum, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex, Dominus dominantium, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum. (Cf. Apoc. 19, 16)

Rex, oculus universi orbis, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Rex cæli et terræ, Salvum fac Regem nostrum Carolum.

Propitius esto Regi, Te rogamus audi nos.

Ab omni malo, Libera eum, Domine.

Ab omni peccato, Libera eum, Domine.

Ab ira tua, Libera eum, Domine.

A subitanea et improvisa morte, Libera eum, Domine.

Ab insidiis diaboli, Libera eum, Domine.

Ab odio et omni mala voluntate, Libera eum, Domine.

A fulgura et tempestate, Libera eum, Domine.

A morte perpetua, Libera eum, Domine.

Per mysterium incarnationis tuæ, Libera eum, Domine.

Per adventum tuum, Libera eum, Domine.

Per Nativitatem tuam, Libera eum, Domine.

Per sanctum Baptismum et jejunium tuum, Libera eum, Domine.

Per mortem et sepulturam tuam, Libera eum, Domine.

Per sanctam Resurrectionem tuam, Libera eum, Domine.

Per admirabilem Ascensionem tuam, Libera eum, Domine.

Per Adventum Spiritus sancti Paracleti, Libera eum, Domine.

In die judicii, Libera eum, Domine.

Ut Ecclesiam tuam sanctam tueatur ac protegat, Te rogamus, audi nos.

Ut mentem suam ad cælestia desideria erigat, Te rogamus, audi nos.

Ut victor exeat ab omnibus inimicis suis, Te rogamus, audi nos.

Ut hostes suos superet, Te rogamus, audi nos.

Ut virtutum omnium percipiat incrementa, Te rogamus, audi nos.

Ut pacem suorum regnorum conservare digneris, Te rogamus, audi nos.

Ut omne consilium suum confirmes, Te rogamus, audi nos. (Cf. Ps. 19, 5)

Ut sis memor sacrificii sui, Te rogamus, audi nos. (Cf. Ps. 19, 4)

Ut impleas omnes petitiones illius, Te rogamus, audi nos. (Cf. Ps. 19, 7)

Ut exaudias illum de cælo sancto tuo, Te rogamus, audi nos. (Cf. Ps. 19, 7)

Ut salvum facias illum, Te rogamus, audi nos. (Cf. Ps. 19, 9)

Fili Dei, Salvum fac Regem. (Ps. 19, 9)

Fili Dei, Salvum fac Regem.

Fili Dei, Salvum fac Regem.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, Parce Regi, Domine.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, Exaudi vocem orationis ejus.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, Salvum fac Regem, et exaudi nos in die qua invocaverimus te. (Ps. 19, 9)

Psalmus 19

Exaudiat te Dominus in die tribulationis: protegat te nomen Dei Jacob.

Mittat tibi auxilium de sancto: et de Sion tueatur te.

Memor sit omnis sacrificii tui: et holocaustum tuum pingue fiat.

Tribuat tibi secundum cor tuum: et omne consilium tuum confirmet.

Lætabimur in salutari tuo: et in nomine Dei nostri magnificabimur.

Impleat Dominus omnes petitiones tuas: nunc cognovi quoniam salvum fecit Dominus Christum suum.

Exaudiet illum de cælo sancto suo: in potentatibus salus dexteræ ejus.

Hi in curribus, et hi in equis: nos autem in nomine Domini, Dei nostri invocabimus.

Ipsi obligati sunt, et ceciderunt: nos autem surreximus et erecti sumus.

Domine, salvum fac regem: et exaudi nos in die, qua invocaverimus te.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto.

Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.

V. Domine, salvum fac Regem.

R. Et exaudi nos in die qua invocaverimus te. (Ps. 19, 9)

Oremus.

Oratio.

Quæsumus, omnipotens Deus, ut famulus tuus Carolus Rex noster, qui tua miseratione suscepit regni gubernacula, virtutum etiam omnium percipiat incrementa; quibus decenter ornatus, et vitiorum monstra devitare, hostes superare, et ad te, qui via, veritas et vita es (cf. Joan 14, 6), cum regina consorte et prole regia, gratiosus valeat pervenire. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen.

Again and again in peace let us pray to the Lord!

Of your charity, pray for Ukraine; I have drawn up the following litany from the special petitions being used at the Divine Liturgy by priests of the Ukrainian Catholic Church here in Australia, as exemplified by the services for Cheesefare [see the video recording from 6:19 to 7:05] and Meatfare [see 40:40 to 42:10] Sundays at St Andrew's, Lidcombe, NSW:

A Litany for Ukraine in Time of Invasion

1. That the Lord God grant peace and glory to Ukraine, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

2. That the Lord God grant Ukraine deliverance from the enemy invasion and from all evil attacks, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

3. That the Lord God turn all the sorrows and groans of the people of Ukraine into joy and gladness, and their troubles into lasting peace, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

4. That the Lord God make the people of Ukraine invincible against all hostile attacks, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

5. That the Lord God destroy the shields, weapons and strength of all the forces of the enemy and throw them under the feet of the Christ-loving army of Ukraine, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

6. That the Lord God send Ukraine deliverance from invasion of foreigners, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

7. That the Lord God grant salvation and victory to all the soldiers of Ukraine, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

8. That the Lord God grant lasting peace to the people, church and country of Ukraine, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Litany for the Election of the New Pope

While I mourn for the impeding abdication of Pope Benedict XVI, whose Papacy I prayed would endure still, I can but bow my head in sorrowful acknowledgement of the wisdom of this most humble Servant of the Servants of God, knowing that he, after wrestling in prayer before God, has freely determined in conscience that for the good of the Church and souls it were best for him to abdicate, that the burden now too great for him to bear should be taken up by a new Pope.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant

As of 6 am on Friday the 1st of March (local time here in Eastern Australia), just a fortnight away, the Holy Roman Church will be sede vacante.  All faithful men ought then turn their eyes and lift up hearts and hands to God in heaven, begging the Lord, true Pastor of the Universal Church, to grant us a Pope not according to our sins but according to our dire needs. Certainly he who will have abdicated will be interceding to this end; as Fr Pacwa remarked, it may be more by his prayer and contemplation than even by his Petrine ministry that Benedict shall accomplish what it shall please God to grant (it would be foul Americanism, that detestable heresy, to say otherwise).

Here is a slightly updated version of a private Litany I drew up at the time of the last Papal election, in 2005. It certainly worked then! – so may it storm heaven now:

LITANY FOR THE ELECTION OF A POPE

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, 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 Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, Mother of the Church, pray for us.

St Michael Archangel, Protector of the Universal Church, pray for us.

All holy Angels and Archangels, and all holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us.

St Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us.

SS Peter and Paul, Princes of the Apostles, Founders of the Church of Rome, pray for us. 

St Linus, pray for us.

St Cletus, pray for us.

St Clement, pray for us.

St Sixtus, pray for us.

St Cornelius, pray for us.

All Holy Popes and Martyrs, pray for us.

All Martyrs of the Church of Rome, pray for us.

St Leo the Great, pray for us.

St Gregory the Great, pray for us.

St Pius V, pray for us.

St Pius X, pray for us.

Bl Pius IX, pray for us.

Bl John XXIII, pray for us.

Bl John Paul II, pray for us.

All Holy Popes, pray for us.

All Saints of God, holy men and women, pray for us.

Be merciful, Graciously hear us, Lord.

Be merciful, Spare us, Lord.

We sinners, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst deign to rule and preserve thy holy Church, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst not forsake thy Church bereft of her pastor, We beseech thee, hear us.

That the universal Church, spiritually united with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, would persevere with one heart in prayer, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst grant the Church a new Pope as a gift of thy goodness and providence, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst raise up and provide for thy people a shepherd after thine own heart, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst raise up for thyself a faithful priest, who shall act according to thy heart and soul, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst deign to direct the Cardinals of the most holy Roman church by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst enlighten the electors and make them likeminded in their task, We beseech thee, hear us.

That a speedy, harmonious and fruitful election may take place, as the salvation of souls and the good of the whole people of God demand, We beseech thee, hear us.

That thou deign graciously to hear us, We beseech thee, hear us.

Son of God, We beseech thee, hear us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Our Father…

Psalm 122

To thee have I lifted up my eyes, who dwellest in heaven.

Behold as the eyes of the servants are on the hands of their masters, 

As the eyes of the handmaid are on the hands of her mistress: so are our eyes unto the Lord our God, until he have mercy on us.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us: for we are greatly filled with contempt.

For our soul is greatly filled: we are a reproach to the rich, and contempt to the proud.

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.

V/. Our help is in the name of the Lord.

R/. Who made heaven and earth.

V/. Lord, hear our prayer.

R/. And let our cry come unto thee.

Let us pray.

Lord, with humility we entreat thee, that in thy boundless mercy thou wouldst grant the most holy Roman Church a pontiff who, by his zeal for us, may ever be pleasing to thee, and, by his good government, may ever be honoured by thy people, to the glory of thy name.

Grant us, Lord, from the fulness of thy loving kindness, that we may rejoice in a pontiff pleasing to thy majesty to rule over the government of holy Mother Church.

May we, Lord, be gladdened by the wonderful grace of thy majesty in granting us a supreme pontiff, who shall both instruct thy people by his virtues, and fill the minds of the faithful with spiritual fragrance. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

V/. May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us.

R/. Amen.

Customary Litany

The first-fruits of Cranmer's liturgical revolution was his English Litany of 1544.  It was a transitional product, still including invocations of the Saints while praying against "the bishop of Rome". The mediæval English Church was fond of the use of the age-old Litany of the Saints in procession, and Anglican usage retained it, albeit as a devotion said kneeling after Morning Prayer, on all Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays; Cranmer first drastically shortened the invocations of the Saints, then abolished them, but retained the other goodly portions of the ancient Litany in general, while adopting into English many feature's of Luther's German recasting of the Litany. The Anglican Litany, in the form it reached by 1662, is generally uncontroversial (especially since that petition against the Roman Pontiff had long since been deleted); to adapt it for Catholic use in the Customary of Our Lady of Walsingham was a simple matter.

The following adjustments have been made:

1. First, the restoration of Cranmer's telescoped invocations of the Saints (vide infra);
2. The insertion of a petition for the Pope and Ordinary (before that for all the clergy);
3. Moving the petition for all Bishops, Priests and Deacons to a position before that for the Queen (for the avoidance of any appearance of Erastianism);
4. Combining the three petitions for the Queen (rather overblown in their deference to the Royal Person as they are) into one, adding reference to "all set in authority under her" (omitting the two petitions for the Royal Family, and the "Lords of the Council, and all the Nobility" respectively);
5. Revision of that for the Magistrates for more explicitness, by deleting "bless and keep the" and adding instead "guide all Judges and";
6. Addition of the words "or air" (deleting "by") to the petition for all travellers;
7. A strange change (perhaps by mistake?) of the response to "Son of God: we beseech thee to hear us" from a repetition of those same words to the usual "We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord";
8. The insertion of two more petitions immediately before the Agnus Dei, praying for the intercession of the Saints (which seems an odd repetition of the initial invocations) and interceding for the souls of the faithful departed respectively.

Here are the additional texts of the Litany in the Customary, for ease of consultation – firstly, those invocations of the Saints:

Saint Mary, Mother of God, our Saviour Jesus Christ, pray for us.

All holy angels and archangels, and all holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us.

All holy patriarchs and prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors and virgins; and [1544: all*] the blessed company of heaven, pray for us.

*It would appear that the Customary has missed out "all" by mistake, as it evidently makes better sense. 

Next, those for the Pope and Ordinary, and for the Queen and all in authority (between which the petition for all the clergy is placed): 

That it may please thee to bless N., our Pope, and N., our Ordinary, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee so to rule the hearts of thy servant, Elizabeth our Queen, and all set in authority under her, that they may above all things seek thy honour and glory, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 

Lastly, the two final added petitions for the Saints' prayers and the repose of faithful departed:

That it may please thee to grant that, by the intercession of (N. and of) all thy Saints, we may finally attain to thy heavenly kingdom, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to grant to all the faithful departed eternal rest and perpetual light. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.

Litany of Bl Adrian Fortescue

LITANY OF BLESSED ADRIAN FORTESCUE

(For private use only.)

Lord, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy.  Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us.  Christ, 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 Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Saint Dominic our Father, pray for us.

Blessed Adrian Fortescue, pray for us.

Husband and father of resplendent virtue, pray for us.

Brave soldier and courteous gentleman, pray for us.

Lay Dominican and Knight of Malta, pray for us.

Lover of homely wit, pray for us.

Serious and thrifty, pray for us.

Diligent and careful, pray for us.

Prayerful and courageous, pray for us.

Loyal to Holy Church, pray for us.

Scorning the oath of royal supremacy, pray for us.

Suffering loss of liberty and property, pray for us.

Bearing witness unto death, pray for us.

That we may seek fulfilment of the divine good will in everything, pray for us.

That we may always follow the motions of the Holy Spirit in acting, pray for us.

That we may daily renew our good resolutions, pray for us.

That we may diligently accomplish all our duties, pray for us.

That we may remain worthy of our vocations in all circumstances, pray for us.

That we may be faithful witnesses of truth, whatever the cost, pray for us.

That we may never compromise with error nor draw advantage from it, pray for us.

That we may always defend the rights of God and man, pray for us.

That we may avoid scandalizing the weak, pray for us.

That we may imitate your virtues and sacrifices, pray for us.

That we may meditate on your example, pray for us.

That we may beg the grace of perseverance from God, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V/.  Pray for us, blessed Adrian Fortescue.

R/.  That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

O God, you specially strengthened Blessed Adrian with a wonderful spirit of holiness and courage.  Hear the prayers of your people and from his renowned example may we learn to be obedient to you rather than to human authority.  Through Christ our Lord.  R/.  Amen.

or

O God, since all things are within your power, grant through the prayers of blessed Adrian, your martyr, that we who keep his memory today may become stronger in the love of your name and hold to your holy Church even at the cost of our lives.  Through Christ our Lord.  R/.  Amen.  

or

Pour forth upon us, we beseech you, Lord, the spirit of constancy and courage wherewith you strengthened your blessed Martyr Adrian in the defence of the Catholic faith; that, filled therewith, we may deserve to attain a share of his glory in heaven, who rejoice on account of his triumphant contest on earth.  Through Christ our Lord.  R/.  Amen.

Litany of St Cuthbert Mayne

St Cuthbert Mayne, protomartyr of the seminary priests, suffered at Launceston, Cornwall, in late 1577, during the persecution of Elizabeth Tudor.  I regard him as patron of my hometown, the antipodean Launceston, also.  While a relic of him was kept at the Church of the Apostles here for many years, shortly after it was enshrined beneath the new marble forward altar within the last decade, it was stolen by person or persons unknown, and has not been recovered.  When paying a visit to the church, I often look to the now-empty reliquary.

Imagine my pleasure, therefore, when I read that the estimable Fr Hunwicke, he of Liturgical Notes fame (who so kindly shewed a friend and me round his church in Oxford, and even entertained us two rather naive and zealous R.C.'s to a cuppa), has been at Lanherne (once a Recusant stronghold, and latterly a female religious house), where Reservation of the Bl Sacrament has been continuous since the Reformation, and was there permitted by Reverend Mother to venerate their second greatest treasure: a relic of St Cuthbert Mayne.

Here is a litany I composed in his honour; for more expedition, the latter parts (after the invocations to "pray for us" are completed) may be omitted and only the first collect used:

LITANY OF SAINT CUTHBERT MAYNE

Assembled from various sources

(For private use only.)

Lord, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy.  Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us.  Christ, 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.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Queen of the English, pray for us.

Queen of Martyrs, pray for us.

Saint Cuthbert Mayne, pray for us.

Who wast of mild nature and sweet behaviour, pray for us.

Who didst repent of the trappings of false religion, pray for us.

Who didst at length embrace the True Faith, pray for us.

Who didst flee abroad to be priested, pray for us.

Who didst study for the priesthood at Douai, pray for us.

Who wast desirous as a priest to honour God, pray for us.

Who wast desirous to offer reparation for sin, pray for us.

Who wast inflamed with zeal to save souls, pray for us.

Who wast sent in secret to England, pray for us.

Who didst labour in Cornwall, enduring danger and peril, pray for us.

Who didst reconcile so many to the Church, pray for us.

Who wast seized by evil men, pray for us.

Who wast cruelly imprisoned, pray for us.

Who wast wrongfully tried, pray for us.

Who wast unjustly convicted, pray for us.

Who didst refuse to swear the unlawful oath, pray for us.

Who wast condemned to death, pray for us.

Who didst pray so earnestly, pray for us.

Who wast illumined by a great light, pray for us.

Who wast hung, drawn, and quartered, pray for us.

Protomartyr of Launceston, pray for us.

Protomartyr of Douai, pray for us.

Protomartyr of Oxford, pray for us.

Protomartyr of the seminary priests, pray for us.

Of whose converts none ever recanted, pray for us.

Whose relics work miracles, pray for us.

Who dost reign with Christ for ever, pray for us.

All ye holy Martyrs of England and Wales, pray ye for us.

Be merciful, spare us, O Lord.

Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord.

From all evil, deliver us, O Lord.

From all sin, deliver us, O Lord.

From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Lord.

From anger, and hatred, and all ill will, deliver us, O Lord.

From error, dissension, and division, deliver us, O Lord.

From heresy and schism, deliver us, O Lord.

From everlasting death, deliver us, O Lord.

By thine eternal priesthood, deliver us, O Lord.

By that ministry whereby thou didst glorify thy Father upon earth, deliver us, O Lord.

By thine institution of the most holy Eucharist, deliver us, O Lord.

By thy bloody immolation of thyself made once upon the cross, deliver us, O Lord.

By that same sacrifice daily renewed on the altar, deliver us, O Lord.

By that divine power, which thou, the one and invisible priest, dost exercise in thy priests, deliver us, O Lord.

By the triumph of thy grace in all thy holy martyrs, deliver us, O Lord.

We sinners, we beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst deign to rule and preserve thy holy Church, we beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst deign to preserve the Apostolic See, and all ecclesiastical orders, in holy religion, we beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst deign to humble the enemies of holy Church, we beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst deign to grant peace and unity to all Christian people, we beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst deign to recall all the erring to the unity of the Church, and to lead all unbelievers to the light of the Gospel, we beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst deign to send faithful and unshakeable workers into thy harvest, we beseech thee, hear us.

That thou wouldst deign to deliver us from all heresy, faithlessness, and blindness of heart, we beseech thee, hear us.

Son of God, we beseech thee, hear us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.  Christ, graciously hear us.

Lord, have mercy.  Christ, have mercy.  Lord, have mercy.

Our Father… (in secret until)

V/. And lead us not into temptation.

R/. But deliver us from evil.

Ant.  Under the altar of God I heard the voice of the slain saying: Why dost thou not avenge our blood?  And they received the divine response: Wait yet a little while, until the number of your brethren be fulfilled.  (P.T.  Alleluia.)

V/. What torments were suffered by all the saints.

R/. That they might securely come to the palm of martyrdom.

V/. The bodies of the saints are buried in peace.

R/. And their names shall live for evermore.

V/. Precious in the sight of the Lord.

R/. Is the death of his saints.

V/. The saints have entered the kingdom with palms.

R/. They have merited crowns of beauty from the hand of God.

V/. O ye Martyrs of the Lord, bless ye the Lord for ever.

R/. O ye choir of Martyrs, praise ye the Lord in the highest.

V/. Thee the white-robed army of Martyrs praise, O Lord.

R/. Thee the holy Church throughout the world doth confess.

V/. Make us to be numbered with thy saints.

R/. In glory everlasting.

V/. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R/. And let my cry come unto thee.

Let us pray.

O God, who didst grant to blessed Cuthbert before the other seminary priests to run the road of torments for the salvation of souls: grant to us in thy mercy, that inflamed with the same zeal for souls, we may not hesitate to lay down our lives for others.

Increase in us, O Lord, faith in the resurrection, who dost work wonders by the relics of thy Saints: and make us partakers of that immortal glory, a pledge of which we venerate in their ashes.

Stir up in us, O Lord, the Spirit that the blessed Martyrs of Douai obeyed: that being filled with the same, we may study to love what they loved, and to do the works that they taught.

O God, who didst strengthen thy blessed Martyrs Cuthbert and his companions with unconquerable courage, that they might fight for the true faith and the primacy of the Apostolic See: by hearkening unto their prayers, we beseech thee to help our frailty, that, strong in faith, we may be able to resist the enemy even to the end.

O God, who didst raise up thy blessed Martyrs Bishop John, Thomas, and their companions from every walk of life to be champions of the true faith and of the Supreme Pontiff: by their merits and prayers, grant that, by profession of the same faith, all may be made and remain one, as thine own Son prayed.

We beseech thee, O Lord, mercifully to receive the prayers of thy Church: that, all adversities and errors being destroyed, she may serve thee in secure freedom.

O God, who dost correct those who have erred, and dost gather those who were scatttered, and dost preserve those who have been gathered together: we beseech thee, clemently pour forth upon Christian people the grace of union with thee, that, rejecting division, and joining themselves to the true shepherd of thy Church, they may be able to worthily serve thee.  Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son, who with thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.  

R/. Amen.

V/. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R/. And let my cry come unto thee.

V/. By the intercession of blessed Cuthbert, may almighty God bless us, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

R/. Amen.

V/. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

R/. Amen.

The Αἴτησις - II

Yesterday I was just exhausted after work; it was all I could manage to come into presence of Our Lord ethroned upon the altar, and during the Holy Hour (and Low Mass following) finish off the Hours for the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of our Jesus, He Who loves and saves us, and comes to us in the Sacrament and Sacrifice, that He may give us rest.


Today has been a lazy day; must still say Matins of the Queenship of Our Lady (I tend to allow myself the modern help of treating this as an Office of Readings, to be said pro opportunitate, as else its length tends to scare me off and takes away from my devotion to the Office, especially since I rarely have time to fit in Matins AND Lauds and Prime in the morning), and then her Vespers (I was surprised to find, consulting the Ordo, that one only commemorates the Sunday tonight). What is nice about this is that tonight's Compline will have its traditional Psalms - 4, 90, and 133 - which I far prefer to the variable weekday ones; if only the Roman Breviary had kept these invariable!

BTW, I think the Novus Ordo is much more sensible (!) in that it places the feast of the Queenship of Our Lady on the octave day of the Assumption, and moves the feast of her Immaculate Heart from that day to this, that is, to the Saturday following the feast of Our Lord's Sacred Heart on Friday.

But to return to my perusing of the Byzantine Liturgy: here is the Litany of Supplication (Αἴτησις), both in its original Greek, and in the Latin translation made long years past by Erasmus (slightly edited, to match the Greek):

Πληρώσωμεν τὴν [ἑωθινὴν / ἑσπερινὴν] δέησιν ἡμῶν τῷ Κυρίῳ.

Κύριε, ἐλέησον.

Ἀντιλαβοῦ, σῶσον, ἐλέησον καὶ διαφύλαξον ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεὸς τῇ Σῇ χάριτι.

Κύριε, ἐλέησον.

Τὴν ἡμέραν [or, ἑσπέραν] πᾶσαν τελείαν, ἁγίαν, εἰρηνικὴν καὶ ἀναμάρτητον παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου αἰτησώμεθα.

Παράσχου, Κύριε.

Ἄγγελον εἰρήνης, πιστὸν ὁδηγόν, φύλακα τῶν ψυχῶν καὶ τῶν σωμάτων ἡμῶν παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου αἰτησώμεθα.

Παράσχου, Κύριε.

Συγγώμην καὶ ἄφεσιν τῶν ἀμαρτιῶν καὶ τῶν πλημμελημάτων ἡμῶν παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου αἰτησώμεθα.

Παράσχου, Κύριε.

Τὰ καλὰ καὶ συμφέροντα ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἡμῶν καὶ εἰρήνην τῷ κόσμῳ παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου αἰτησώμεθα.

Παράσχου, Κύριε.

Τὸν ὑπόλοιτον χρόνον τῆς ζωῆς ἡμῶν ἐν εἰρήνῃ καὶ μετανοίᾳ ἐκτελέσαι παρὰ τοῦ Κυρίου αἰτησώμεθα.

Παράσχου, Κύριε.

Χριστιανὰ τὰ τέλη τῆς ζωῆς ἡμῶν, ἀνώδυνα, ἀνεπαίσχυντα, εἰρηνικὰ καὶ καλὴν ἀπολογίαν τὴν ἐπὶ τοῦ φοβεροῦ Βήματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ αἰτησώμεθα.

Παράσχου, Κύριε.

Τῆς Παναγίας, ἀχράντου, ὑπερευλογημένης, ἐνδόξου, Δεσποίνης ἡμῶν Θεοτόκου καὶ ἀειπαρθένου Μαρίας, μετὰ πάντων τῶν Ἁγίων μνημονεύσαντες, ἑαυτοὺς καὶ ἀλλήλους καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν ζωὴν ἡμῶν, Χριστῷ τῷ Θεῷ παραθώμεθα.

Σοί, Κύριε.

Ὅτι [ἀγαθὸς καὶ φιλάνθρωπος Θεὸς / Θεὸς ἐλέους, οἰκτιρμῶν, καὶ φιλανθρωπίας] ὑπάρχεις, καὶ σοὶ τὴν δόξαν ἀναπέμπομεν, τῷ Πατρὶ καὶ τῷ Υἱῷ καὶ τῷ Ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων.

Ἀμήν.

******

Compleamus [matutinam / vesperam] precationem nostram Domino.

Domine, miserere.

Suscipe, serva, miserere et custodi nos, Deus, gratia tua.

Domine, miserere.

Diem [or, Vesperum] totum perfectum, [sanctum,] pacificum et sine peccato a Domino petamus.

Concede, Domine.

Angelum pacis, fidelem ducem, custodem animarum et corporum nostrorum a Domino petamus.

Concede, Domine.

Veniam et remissionem peccatorum et delictorum nostrorum a Domino petamus.

Concede, Domine.

Bona et animabus nostris competentia, [Bona et utilia animæ nostræ,…] et pacem mundo a Domino petamus.

Concede, Domine.

Residuum tempus vitæ nostræ in pace et pœnitentia transigere a Domino petamus.

Concede, Domine.

Christianum vitæ nostræ finem, sine dolore et dedecore, pacificam, et bonam ante terribile tribunal [Christi] defensionem petamus.

Concede, Domine.

Sanctissimæ, intemeratæ, super omnes benedictæ, Dominæ nostræ Deiparæ et semper virginis Mariæ cum omnibus sanctis memoriam agentes, nosmetipsos et mutuo, et totam vitam nostram Christo Deo consecremus.

Tibi, Domine.

Quia bonus et benignus Deus es, et tibi gloriam referimus, Patri, et Filio, et sancto Spiritui, nunc et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum.

Amen.

The Αἴτησις

Having finished all my Office earlier (but for Compline, of course) - Matins, Lauds and Prime before work, Terce and Sext in breaks, and, having gone to Glendalough for Confession, None before it and Vespers afterward, coram Sanctissimo - I felt like saying some litanic prayers, and picked up my Byzantine Divine Liturgy book: this is the Litany of Supplication (Αἴτησις) - the first two petitions are not of its special form, but belong with it...

Let us complete our [morning/evening] prayer to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

Help us, save us, have mercy on us, and protect us, O God, by Thy grace.

Lord, have mercy.

1. For this whole day [evening], that it may be perfect, holy, peaceful and sinless, let us ask of the Lord.

Grant this, O Lord.

2. An Angel of peace, a faithful guide, a guardian of our souls and bodies, let us ask of the Lord.

Grant this, O Lord.

3. Forgiveness and remission of our sins and transgressions, let us ask of the Lord.

Grant this, O Lord.

4. Things that are good and profitable for our souls and peace for the world, let us ask of the Lord.

Grant this, O Lord.

*

5. To complete the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, let us ask of the Lord.

Grant this, O Lord.

6. Christian ends to our life, painless, blameless, peaceful, and of good defence before the fearful Judgement Seat of Christ, let us ask of the Lord.

Grant this, O Lord.

Commemorating our All-Holy, spotless, exceedingly blessed, glorified Lady, Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary, with all the Saints, let us commend ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

To Thee, O Lord.

For thou art [a good and philanthropic God / a God of mercy, compassion, and philanthropy], and unto Thee do we send up glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, both now and ever and unto the ages of the ages.

Amen.

Where the asterisk is, I sometimes add the following from Lancelot Andrewes, to make up the number to seven supplications (numero Deus impari gaudet - Virgil):

Whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report,
if there be any virtue
and if there be any praise,
that we may think on these things
and practise these things,
let us ask of the Lord.

Grant this, O Lord.

— Lancelot Andrewes, Preces Privatæ. F.E. Brightman, tr. (London: Methuen & Co., 1903) 24, l. 28 – 25, l. 4. (Cf. Phil. iv, 8.)

I also call to mind the prayer of St Ioannikos (Ioannicius) the monk (d. 846), the Latin for which the Martyrology entry for 3rd November tells us:

Ἡ ἐλπίς μου Πατήρ, καταφυγή μου Υἱός, σκέπη μου τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον, Τριὰς Ἁγία, δόξα σοι. Ἀμήν.

Spes mea Deus, refugium meum Christus, protector meus Spiritus Sanctus. [Trinitas Sancta, gloria tibi. Amen.]

My hope is the Father, my refuge is the Son, my protection is the Holy Ghost. Holy Trinity, glory to Thee. Amen.

Novena to St Philip Neri - 1st Day

Today I'm feeling a bit unwell, and taking things slowly...

However, today I must begin my Novena to St Philip Neri, and intend to do so, first of all, by praying each day the Litany of St Philip Neri, which may be found, together with Newman's Novena to him, here.

However, I also wish to post here, since they aren't otherwise online, some other items referring to Holy Father Philip, such as those of Fr Faber's own sermon notes that can be assembled to make up a Novena; and, since Faber's notes on St Philip only extend to eight in the book I consulted, I choose to begin with his sermon notes for Pentecost, since today is Whit Saturday, and also because these notes refer to St Philip's own unique communion with the Holy Ghost:

GOD A GOD OF FIRE. [Whitsunday, 1858]

I. I am come to cast fire on the earth, and what will I but that it be kindled? [Ignem veni mittere in terram, et quid volo nisi ut accendatur?] — St. Luke xii. 49. How strange this sounds from Jesus, meek and humble of heart! [Cf. St. Matthew xi. 29.]
1. Compare the spirit of it with the night of the Incarnation and the night of Bethlehem.
2. Or the quiet fires in the hearts of Mary and Joseph in the holy House of Nazareth.
3. Or with the abysses of the abjection of the Passion.
4. Or with the secret apparitions of the beautiful Forty Days after the Resurrection.
5. Or with the passive, patient stillness of the Blessed Sacrament.
II. Yet the scene at Pentecost.
1. They wait, Mary in the midst, and the chosen few, for Him Who is to be so much to them that it was well that Jesus should go away. [Cf. Acts i. 13, 14; St John xvi. 7.]
2. They wait for Him, Who is eminently the Spirit of Jesus, and who will bring to mind all he said. [Cf. St. John xiv. 26.]
3. For Him with Whom Jesus in His Human Nature has now been ten days in heaven! Oh, the marvellous occupations of those ten days!
4. He comes to them in the vehement majesty of a mighty wind, and scatters Himself in showers of fire like cloven tongues. [Cf. Acts ii. 2, 3.]
5. So that Mary and the Apostles seemed to the multitudes to be drunk with new wine. [Cf. Acts ii. 13.]
III. God always a God of fire.
1. He calls Himself so: The Lord thy God is a consuming fire. Deut. iv. 24. [& Heb. xii. 29.]
2. He appeared as such to Isaias; as a whirlwind and enfolding fire to Ezekiel. [Cf. Ezech. i. 27.] St. John says (Apoc. i. 14), His eyes were as a flame of fire.
3. Burning Bush: in the inner folds of the desert, and ravines of Horeb, to Moses. [Ex. iii. 2.]
4. (Daniel vii. 9, 10.) His throne like flames; the wheels of it like burning fire, and a swift stream of fire issued forth from before Him: vision seen in the first year of Baltassar, King of Babylon.
5. In these sweet fires we are to dwell eternally. Isaias (xxxiii. 14) asks, which of you can dwell with devouring fire? which of you shall dwell with everlasting burnings? and the answer is, he that walketh in justices.
IV. So our religion is a religion of fire.
1. It was the one will of Jesus to kindle this fire on earth.
2. The Holy Ghost is never otherwise in the heart than as fire.
3. The fires of the Eternal Father are to be our everlasting home.
4. What manner of fire should we have then?
Fiery love, fiery faith, fire consuming self, fire burning the world out of our hearts, fire likely to make men think us drunk or mad.
5. What is the case in reality? Do we burn? Are we vehement? Do our hearts throb and beat tumultuously with the love of God? Do we understand that lifelong broken heart of our great father St. Philip, burst with the ball of fire, which was the Holy Ghost? — Oh if our religion be a moral indifference, a calm bargaining with God, a prudential speculation, a discreet fear of hell, a frigid propriety, a servile keeping of the letter of God’s law, — it may be a religion — but is it the religion written in the Bible? Is it the fire which it was our dearest Lord’s one will to kindle?
Oh that the Divine Person would come down upon us with His fire to-day, would break our hearts with the magnificent excesses of the love of God, would burn us with the pain of the great pleasure of His fire! Sweet, gentle, plaintive, vehement, fiery, enthusiast Spirit! — Oh that He would so light His flames in our hearts that from this hour our whole life should be nothing but an unbroken Pentecost!

[Faber, Frederick William. Notes on Doctrinal and Spiritual Subjects. Volume 1. “Mysteries and Festivals.” 3rd ed. London: Burns & Oates, n.d. [post 1866], pp. 103-5]

This certainly makes for a good examination of conscience!

Furthermore, it corresponds to the heartfelt plea of these chants, readings, and collects used at the Ember Saturday Mass today - or rather, to what should be felt in the heart when praying them:

The charity of God is diffused throughout our hearts, alleluia, by the indwelling of His Spirit in us, alleluia. ... [Introit, from Romans v, 5 (which is also read as part of today's Epistle, and is used also for the Feast of St Philip)]

Mentibus nostris, quæsumus, Domine, Spiritum Sanctum benignus infunde: cujus et sapientia conditi sumus, et providentia gubernamur. Per... in unitate ejusdem Spiritus Sancti...

(Into our minds, we beseech, Lord, the Holy Spirit benignly pour: by Whose wisdom we were created and by Whose providence we are governed. Thro'... in the unity of the same Holy Ghost...)

I will pour out My Spirit over all flesh... And moreover over my servants and handmaids in those days I will pour out my Spirit... [From the 1st Lesson - Joel ii, 28-32]

Illo nos igne, quæsumus, Domine, Spiritus Sanctus inflammet: quem Dominus noster Jesus Christus misit in terram, et voluit vehementer accendi: Qui tecum vivit... in unitate ejusdem...

(May the Holy Ghost inflame us with that fire, we beseech, Lord, that our Lord Jesus Christ sent to earth, and vehemently willed to enkindle: Who with Thee liveth... in the unity of the same... [Cf. St Luke xii, 49])

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful, and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. [Alleluia verse after the fourth lesson]

Veni, Sancte Spiritus,
et emitte cælitus
lucis tuæ radium.

Veni, pater pauperum,
veni, dator munerum
veni, lumen cordium.

Consolator optime,
dulcis hospes animæ,
dulce refrigerium.

In labore requies,
in æstu temperies
in fletu solatium.

O lux beatissima,
reple cordis intima
tuorum fidelium.

Sine tuo numine,
nihil est in homine,
nihil est innoxium.

Lava quod est sordidum,
riga quod est aridum,
sana quod est saucium.

Flecte quod est rigidum,
fove quod est frigidum,
rege quod est devium.

Da tuis fidelibus,
in te confidentibus,
sacrum septenarium.

Da virtutis meritum,
da salutis exitum,
da perenne gaudium.
Amen. Alleluja.

I try to pray to the Holy Spirit in these terms, and will redouble my efforts!