Oliver's Blog: March 2025

Tuesday, 4 March 2025

Ludwig Passini, 'A church interior with women at the confessional'

Sunday, 2 March 2025

A dragon lives forever, but not so little boysPainted wings and giant's rings make way for other toys

Cum essem párvulus, loquébar ut párvulus, sapiébam ut párvulus, cogitábam ut párvulus. Quando autem factus sum vir, evacuávi quæ erant párvuli. Vidémus nunc per spéculum in ænígmate: tunc autem fácie ad fáciem. Nunc cognósco ex parte: tunc autem cognóscam, sicut et cógnitus sum. Nunc autem manent fides, spes, cáritas, tria hæc: major autem horum est cáritas.

O Mother of Perpetual Succour, behold me a miserable sinner at thy feet. I have recourse to thee and put my trust in thee. O Mother of Mercy, have pity upon me. I hear thee called by all the refuge and hope of sinners; be then my refuge and my hope. Succour me for the love of Jesus Christ; stretch forth thy hand to me, a poor sinner, who commends and dedicates myself to thee as thy perpetual servant.

I bless and thank God for having in his mercy given me this confidence in thee, a sure pledge of my eternal salvation. Alas, too often in past times have I miserably fallen because I had not recourse to thee. I know that with thy help, I shall conquer; I know you will help me if I commend myself to thee; but I fear lest in the occasions of sin I should cease to call upon thee and so should lose my soul.

This then is the grace I seek from thee and I beg of thee, as far as I can and know how to do; obtain it for me, namely, in the assaults of hell, always to have recourse to thee and to say to thee: O Mary, help me Mother of Perpetual Succour, suffer me not to lose my God.