A Knight of the White Cross: Catholic Death-Row Inmate and Evangelist

04 January 2008

Catholic Death-Row Inmate and Evangelist

In the Catholic Sentinel there is an inspiring story of the conversion of an inmate on Death-Row in Oregon and the saint whom he credits for his conversion.

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Oratio Equitum

Domine Jesu, qui me Militiae Equitum Sancti Ioannis Hierosolymitani participem fieri dignatus es, Te humiliter deprecor, ut, Beata Maria Virgine a Filermo, Sancto Ioanne Baptista, Beato Gerardo cunctisque Sanctis intercedentibus, ad sacra Ordinis nostri instituta servanda benigne me adiuves:
Religionem Catholicam, Apostolicam, Romanam firmiter colam ac adversus impietatem strenue defendam.
Caritatem erga proximum, praesertim erga pauperes atque infirmos, diligenter exerceam.
Concede mihi virtutes, quibus indigeo, ut, ad Evangelii normam, haec pia vota ad maiorem Dei gloriam, totius mundi pacem nostrique Ordinis profectum, mei immemor animoque penitus Christiano, valeam implere.

AMEN

Traits of a Knight

"He ought to be fervent in prayer for the love of Jesus Christ, to have reverence and devotion towards the Church, to be humble in himself, to have reasonable knowledge, to be stable in perseverance and constant in execution, honest in conversation, secret in consultation, discreet in speech, courteous in receiving strangers, liberal in gifts, magnificent and noble in actions, magnanimous in enterprises, continent in purity, abstinent in sobriety, amiable in all good qualities, incomparable in clemency and invincible in patience." "He must be founded in the Catholic faith, which is the source of all graces. That faith is the foundation of justice, it purifies us from our sins, it enlightens our thoughts, it reconciles us to God and accompanies us amidst all the goods of nature."

The Mirror by Giles de Rome

Maxims of Blessed Adrian Fortescue

* Above all things love God with all thy heart.

* Desire His honour more than the health of your own soul.

* Take heed often with all diligence to purge and cleanse thy mind with Confession, and raise thy desire from earthly things.

* Receive Communion with entire devotion.

* Repute not thyself better than any other person, be they never so great sinners, but rather judge and esteem yourself most simplest.

* Judge the best.

* Use much silence, but when thou needs must, speak.

* Delight not in familiarity of persons unknown to thee.

* Be solitary as much as it is convenient with thine estate.

* Banish from thee all judging an detraction, and especially from thy tongue.

* Pray often.

* Also enforce thee to set thy house at quietness.

* Resort to God at every hour.

* Advance not thy words or deeds by any pride.

* Be not too much familiar, but show a serious and prudent countenance with gentleness.

* Show before all people a good example of virtues.

* Be no partial for favor, lucre or malice, but accordig to truth, equity, justice and reasons.

* Give fair language to all persons, and especially the poor and needy.

* Also be diligent in giving of alms.

* In prosperity be meek of heart, and in adversity patient

* And pray continually to God that you may do what is His pleasure.

* Also apply diligently the co-operations of the Holy Ghost whatever thou hast therin to do.

* Pray for perserverace.

* Continue in awe of God, and ever have Him before thine eyes.

* Renew every day thy good purpose.

* What thou has to do, do it diligently.

* Establish thyself always in well-doing.

* If by chance you fall into sin, despair not; and if you keep these precepts, the Holy Spirit will strengthen you in all other things necessary, and, thus doing, you shall be with Christ in Heaven, to Whom be glory, laud, honour, and praise everlasting.

The Eight Beatitudes

* Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
* Blessed are the meek: for they shall posses the land.
* Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
* Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
* Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
* Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
* Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
* Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice's sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Prayers to Blessed Charles of Austria

God our Father, through the gift of Blessed Emperor Karl You have given us an example to follow. In extremely difficult times he performed his burdensome tasks without ever losing his faith. He always followed Your Son, the true King. He led a humble life, sincerely loving the poor and giving himself heart and soul to the search for peace. Even when his life was in danger he trusted in You, putting his life in Your hands. Almighty and Merciful God, by the intercession of Blessed Emperor Karl, we pray that You may give us his unconditional faith to support us in our most difficult situations, and the courage to always follow the example of Your only Son. Open our hearts to the poor, and strengthen our commitment for peace within our families and among all peoples. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Imprimator: Archdiocese of Vienna May 18, 2004 Z1. K787/07 or K788/04 Vicar Apostolic Dr. Franz Schuster
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O Blessed Emperor Karl, you accepted the difficult tasks and burdensome challenges that God gave you during your life. In every thought, decision and action you trusted always in the Holy Trinity. We pray to you to intercede for us with the Lord our God to give us faith and courage, so that even in the most difficult situations of our earthly lives we may not lose heart, but continue faithfully in the footsteps of Christ. Ask for us the grace that our hearts may be moulded into the likeness of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Help us to work with compassion and strength for the poor and needy, to fight with courage for peace in our homes and in the world, and in every situation to trustingly place our lives in the hands of God, until we reach Him, as you did, through Christ our Lord.
Imprimator: Archdiocese of Vienna May 18, 2004 Z1. K787/07 or K788/04 Vicar Apostolic Dr. Franz Schuster

04 January 2008

Catholic Death-Row Inmate and Evangelist

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