Focus on Christianity?
Then what’s all this focus on
Maryanity?
Oh, I know—it’s the confuse the poor Prottys strategy for world domination! LOL.
ROTFL! About a year ago, a Catholic on FR had accused all Protestants on FR of (and I quote) "collectively and in unified front busying themselves with what the Catholics think and do."
Well, the gig's up, boys! Our secret's out! We might as well 'fess up and admit that the three of us, and all of our Protestant brethren, coordinate our postings on a daily basis as part of Global Protestant Conspiracy against the Catholic Church. Make sure to synchronize your watches and eat your computer monitors after you read this posting, and you'll find the microfilm in the salt shaker!
So back to Harley's earlier point - if this conspiratorial "busying ourselves" isn't "focus", I don't know what is!
Prayer of Pope Pius XII
Composed for the Marian Year, 1954
ENRAPTURED by the splendor of your heavenly beauty, and impelled by the anxieties of the world, we cast ourselves into your arms, O Immaculate Mother of Jesus and our Mother, Mary, confident of finding in your most loving heart appeasement of our ardent desires, and a safe harbor from the tempests which beset us on every side.
THOUGH degraded by our faults and overwhelmed by infinite misery, we admire and praise the peerless richness of sublime gifts with which God has filled you, above every other mere creature, from the first moment of your Conception until the day on which, after your Assumption into heaven, He crowned you Queen of the Universe.
O CRYSTAL Fountain of faith, bathe our minds with the eternal truths! O fragrant Lily of all holiness, captivate our hearts with your heavenly perfume! O Conqueress of evil and death, inspire in us a deep horror of sin which makes the soul detestable to God and a slave of hell!
O WELL-BELOVED of God, hear the ardent cry which rises up from every heart in this year dedicated to you. Bend tenderly over our aching wounds. Convert the wicked, dry the tears of the afflicted and oppressed, comfort the poor and humble, quench hatreds, sweeten harshness, safeguard the flower of purity in youth, protect the holy Church, make all men feel the attraction of Christian goodness. In your name, resounding harmoniously in heaven, may they recognize that they are brothers, and that the nations are members of one family, upon which may there shine forth the sun of a universal and sincere peace.
RECEIVE, O Most Sweet Mother, our humble supplications, and above all obtain for us that, one day, happy with you, we may repeat before your throne that hymn which today is sung on earth around your altars: You are all beautiful, O Mary! You are the glory, you are the joy, you are the honor of our people! Amen.
Prayer of Pope Pius XII
Composed for the Marian Year, 1954