Open Letter to Mark Levin (Play Patton's Prayer)

http://www.pattonhq.com/prayer.html ^ | 12/8/1944 | Msgr. James H. O'Neill

[batmast]

Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that, armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies and establish Thy justice among men and nations.

-by Msgr. James H. O'Neill 12/8/1944 (the Chief Chaplain of the Third Army throughout the five campaigns on the Staff of General Patton)

http://www.pattonhq.com/prayer.html

[batmast]

Dear fellow Freepers, Please help me to get "The Great One" Mark Levin (not Jackie Gleason) to play George C. Scott's voiceover of his prayer from the movie "Patton". It's so powerful it'll give you goosebumps. Thanks. http://www.wabcradio.com/contactus.asp

[Cornpone]

For Fallen Comrades Let Us Sing, "To The Mansions of the Lord"



To fallen soldiers let us sing

Where no rockets fly nor bullets wing

Our broken brothers let us bring

To the Mansions of the Lord

No more bleeding, no more fight

No prayers pleading through the night

Just divine embrace, eternal light

In the Mansions of the Lord

Where no mothers cry and no children weep

We will stand and guard though the angels sleep

Through the ages safely keep

The Mansions of the Lord

[mosquewatch.com]

www.pattonhq.com/

Cleaned it up for ya' :)

[KosmicKitty]

Not that this has anything to do w/ this thread, but I just found out today that one of the students in my intro computer class is Patton's great-grandchild.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled discussion :-)

[Finny]

Makes me want to watch the movie "Patton" yet again! I remember how in the movie, when the weather cleared after that prayer was sent, Patton (G.C. Scott) said of the chaplain who wrote it:

"He stands in good with the Lord and I want to see him decorated!"

[AwesomePossum]

Just about every time I hear or read this powerful prayer, I get tears in my eyes....................and I am reminded of Luke 7, and the story of a military leader who sent others to inquire of the Lord to perform a miracle.............in the bible, the miracle was the healing of the centurion's faithful servant who "was sick, and ready to die"................ "When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him(the centurion), and turned him(self) about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel."

What was it that caused the Christ to marvel? It was these words of the centurion delivered to the Lord by the soldier's friends,"Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it."

Patton chose someone else worthy to write the prayer to the Lord, and Chaplain O'Neill used the same wording in the beginning of his petition......"beseech", that the messengers of the centurion acted out about 2,000 years ago. The good chaplain also requested a miracle(lifting of the foul weather)on behalf of a military leader. Both times the miracle occured. It was and still is such a great prayer, that I have no doubt that Chaplain O'Neill was a very serious student of the scriptures, and, I would like to believe that the story of the centurion was among those he most treasured.

Patton showed great faith, believing that if the Lord was approached correctly, and, if it was His will, that the miracle would most certainly take place. The chaplain wrote a bold, but humble prayer, a beautiful prayer. The miracle occured. Just as in the days of old.

To me, the parallels are astonishing.