A Hymn to God the Father

Poems are used as an alternative to the hymns in the Night Prayer section of the breviary. The poem for Monday's Night Prayer, A Hymn to God the Father, is attributed to John Donne

The poem is as follows:

Wilt Thou forgive that sin where I begun,
Which was my sin, though it were done before?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,
For I have more.

Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I have won
Others to sin? and made my sin their door?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin which I did shun
A year or two, but wallowed in a score?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done,
For I have more.

I have a sin of fear, that when I have spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
But swear by Thy self, that at my death Thy Son
Shall shine as he shines now and heretofore;
And, having done that, Thou hast done,
I fear no more.

Night Prayer always reminds the faithful of the sins committed during the day. It could be a sin committed by word or by an action. It can also be a sin of omission - the good the person was not able to do. Examination of one's conscience helps in seeing all the sins of commission and omission during the day. One can also examine one's thoughts and feelings. Getting to the root of one's ill thoughts or feelings can help in understanding what vice can be replaced with a good habit of thought. Also, getting at the root of one's feelings of anger, envy or pride can save one from being controlled by these vices.

This poem for Monday's Night Prayer makes all aware of sin in its many dimensions. The first stanza of the poem speaks of both original sin and personal sin. It makes one realize the strong influence of sin, for even when God forgives, it seems that "[He] hast not done", "for I have more". It appears as if man's basic sinfulness overtakes God's mercy and forgiveness.

The second stanza of the poem helps one to realize that one's sins can also lead others to sin. Also, the sin that one has avoided for a long time, can suddenly become a sin again committed many times over. Everyone knows that God forgives, but it feels that "[He] hast not done" because sins multiply in a way that overtakes the forgiveness and mercy of God. In this regard, one can remember what St. Paul said about the law of sin in his soul in one of his epistles: how he is influenced to do what he should not do.

The third stanza of the poem teaches all not to fear dying in sin, but to have access to Jesus' forgiveness. With trust in Christ's mercy - the Divine Mercy - Christ will brightly shine His great mercy to finally conquer the darkness of all sins. And there is no need to fear losing the salvation of one's souls if the direction of one's primordial commitment is to confess one's sins, to do penance and to amend and reform one's life to build the City of God.

Memorial of Saints (January 22)

Bl. Laura Vicuña was 10 years old when she defended her purity from the improper advances of a man - a hacienda owner in Mercedes, Chile. Educated by the Salesian Sisters since 8 years old, Laura learned to value holiness and chastity. After the incident with the hacienda owner, whom she and her mother worked for, they fled from him and from a possible life of concubinage. In 1904 A.D., Laura was beaten into unconsciousness when she refused to go back to the hacienda owner's house. She died a week later (died ca. 1904 A.D.).

St. Vincent Saragossa was a deacon martyred during the persecution of Christians under Dacian, governor of Spain, and under the reign of the Roman Emperor Maximian. Tradition relates his martyrdom as something gruesome - starved to death, racked and roasted on a gridiron. Vincent is the patron saint of Portugal (died ca. 304 A.D.).

St. Vincent Pallotti is the founder of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate - composed of priests, nuns and lay people. Known for his missionary spirit, Vincent organized trade schools for poor boys, worked among the poor, and was a sought-after confessor. St. Vincent brought back many to the Church (died ca. 1850 A.D.).

St. Anastasius was a soldier in the Persian army. Converted to Christianity, he left the army and was baptized in Jerusalem. He then decided to become a monk at Jerusalem in 621 A.D. Traveling to Palestine, he was arrested for preaching against pagan gods. Ordered to recant his Christian faith, Anastasius refused. Unshaken, he was tortured, strangled and then beheaded - the 69th martyr in the reign of King Chosroës in Bethsalre, Assyria (died ca. 628 A.D.).

St. Blesilla got married but her husband died seven months after. She contracted a fever but was cured. This experience led her to live a life of great austerity and holiness. She died suddenly at Rome when only twenty years of age (died ca. 383 A.D.).

St. Dominic of Sora was a Benedictine monk whose birthplace was in Foligno, Etruria, Italy. Nothing much is known of his life save for his building many monasteries in various parts of Italy (died ca. 1031 A.D.).

St. Berhtwald was also a Benedictine monk like Dominic of Sora. He became a bishop of Ramsbury in 1005 A.D. and was reputed to have the gift of visions and prophecies. He was also generous to Glastonbury and Malmesbury abbeys (died ca. 1045 A.D.).

St. Valerius of Saragossa was the bishop who educated St. Vincent the deacon. He was imprisoned because of the persecutions at that time in Spain and in the whole Roman Empire under Emperor Maximian. Nothing much is known of Valerius save for his return from exile (died ca. 304 A.D.).

3rd Sunday of the Year (B)

(Edited) Reflections (From) 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), January 22, 2012

Liturgical readings

Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 25
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20

"Reform your lives and believe in the good news!"

The message of Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry, until the end of His earthly life is clear: a clarion call to reform and believe in Him and the Kingdom of God. Jesus continues the prophetic tradition of His people's faith - calling all Israel to turn away from their sinful ways and to turn back to God. In this mission, Jesus called others to join Him. The gospel passage mentions the first four: Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John. It is amazing to see how they responded: "they immediately abandoned their nets". James and John did not only abandon their fishermen's nets; they also abandoned their father! What was in Jesus and His message that made these men respond in such a radical manner?

The Christian spirit of reform after biblical times has always sparked a revival, renewal and rebirth of Jesus' ideals in the lives of the people in history - both outside and inside the Church. When the faithful's ways of living are misdirected towards a lowering of moral standards, the Spirit of God calls again, in the person of many Saints along the continuum of history, to lead people back to the noble ideals Jesus represented. From St. Benedict in the 5th century to the Cistercians in the 11th century; from the desert monks and hermits of Egypt in the 3rd century to the Hispanic reformers of the 16th century (Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Ignatius of Loyola); and from modern times: Frank Duff, Josemaria Escriva, Sr. Lucia of Fatima, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and John Paul II.

All of the faithful are also called to follow the noble ideals of Christianity in whatever circumstances one's life and faith presents itself. Merely by a resolve to reform one's life, carry it out with patience and perseverance, and fidelity to it till the end, is already important. It may involve some sacrifice that allows God to purge bad habits and vices in one's way of life and work. That is the difficult part; but it is possible with God. Once the discipline is learned well, then the road becomes easier. It is a lifelong task (and a gift) - this continuous conversion of hearts and minds towards God. Believing in Jesus and His good news, will give lives direction, hope and meaning. Christ is the Truth, the Way and Life for us.