Quare nunc, Domine?

Joan of Arc
(John Everett Millais, 1829-1896)

God could have had you live in a former age, when the life of the Church was vibrant, when devotions were fervent and piety was a matter of course, when religious vocations were numerous and magnificent cathedrals were shooting out of the ground like mushrooms. But He didn't.

Instead, He wanted you here on earth right now, at this critical moment in the life of the Church, as her houses of prayer and sacrifice are being defiled, as her seminaries and convents are crumbling, as wolves are devouring entire folds and the divine order is being rejected in favor of unspeakable perversions.

The gates of hell have opened wide, vomiting forth the armies of the devil to wage war against the Bride of Christ.

In response, God has sent you.

Pray, gentle reader, that you will be capable of receiving the grace needed to do the great work God has planned for you.

Prayer Request: Richard Collins (Linen on the Hedgerow)

As some of you may already know, Richard Collins, author of the blog Linen on the Hedgerow, is in the last stages of his battle with cancer. Several Catholic bloggers have raised the call for prayer for the intercession of Venerable Pope Pius XII that Richard might be healed. Please take a moment to join us in prayer.

Venerable Pope Pius XII
(1876-1958)

O Jesus, eternal High Priest, Who didst deign to raise Thy faithful servant, Pius XII, to the supreme dignity of Thy Vicar on earth and to grant him the grace to be a fearless defender of the faith, a valiant champion of justice and peace, zealous in proclaiming the glory of Thy most holy Mother, a shining example of charity and all virtues, deign now to grant us, in view of his merits, the graces we ask of Thee; so that, made certain of his efficacious intercession with Thee, we may one day see him raised to the honors of our altars. Amen. 

UPDATE

From Linen on the Hedgerow:

It is with great personal sadness that we, the Collins Family, must inform the loyal followers of Linen on the Hedgerow, that our beautiful father, husband and grandfather, Richard Collins, has died peacefully at home this morning surrounded by those who loved him most.  He was blessed to receive the Last Rites and Holy Mass was celebrated in the Extraordinary Form at his bedside. 

Please pray for the repose of his soul. 

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him.  May he rest in peace. Amen.

Pray, gentle reader, that you and all your loved ones may die with the blessing of having received the sacrament of Last Rites.