Interestingly, my pastor, who is my usual confessor, was tied up Monday and could not hear my confession. I sought out this sacrament as a means to prepare for my consecration to Our Lady. In the end I went to my own son, Fr. Benjamin, for the very first time since his ordination. For a penance he asked me to pray through the Prayer of Consecration which Bishop Cunningham prayed at the ordination. It is so rich and beautiful, I have included it below; I foresee myself returning to it as a basis for my examen. Bishop Draw near, we pray, Almighty God, giver of every grace, who apportion every order and assign every office; who remain unchanged, but make all things new. In your eternal providence, you make provision for every age, as you order all creation through him who is your word, your power and your wisdom, Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. You grant that the Church, his body, adorned with manifold heavenly graces, drawn together in the diversity of its members, and united by a wondrous bond through the Holy Spirit, should grow and spread forth to build up a new temple and, as once you chose the sons of Levi to minister in the former tabernacle, so now you establish three ranks of ministers in their sacred offices to serve in your name. And so, in the first days of your Church, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, your Son’s Apostles appointed seven men of good repute to assist them in their daily ministry, that they might devote themselves more fully to prayer and preaching of the word. By prayer and the laying on of hands they entrusted to those chosen men the ministry of serving at table. We beseech you, Lord: look with favor on these servants of yours who will minister at your holy altar and whom we now humbly dedicate to the office of deacon. Send forth upon them, Lord, we pray,the Holy Spirit,that they may be strengthened by the gift of your sevenfold grace for the faithful carrying out of the work of the ministry. May there abound in them every Gospel virtue: unfeigned love, concern for the sick and poor,unassuming authority, the purity of innocence, and the observance of spiritual discipline. May your commandments shine forth in their conduct, so that by the example of their way of life they may inspire the imitation of your holy people. In offering the witness of a clear conscience, may they remain strong and steadfast in Christ, so that by imitating on earth your Son, who came not to be served but to serve, they may be found worthy to reign in heaven with him, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Safe Under Mary's Mantle!
You and your wife and whole family are richly blessed So happy for you All those cup of coffee emojis on the forum are starting to make sense now
