Undusted Texts

 Scripture is obviously the basis for many prayers: the Psalms themselves are prayers, the Our Father are the exact words of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the first half of the Hail Mary is directly from Scripture.  Many prayers in the liturgy are taken from Scripture as well: the Sanctus is from Isaiah, the Agnus Dei is based in the preaching of John the Forerunner and the Book of Revelation, and the prayer immediately before receiving the Eucharist are derived from the words of the faithful centurion.  Many other prayers, from all traditions, have their basis in Scripture, though the passages are not always as well known.  Below are just a few of these. Openings to the Liturgy of the Hours.   Two short prayers of opening,  used at different Hours, are taken directly from the Psalms: "Lord, open my lips / And my mouth will declare Your praise" (Ps 51:15) and "God, come to my assistance. / Lord, make haste to help me" (Ps 70:1). The Franciscan Blessing...

In researching for my recently begun project, The Church Documents Index , I came across The Franciscan Archive , which includes links to a great many papal bulls and other documents regarding the Franciscan Orders. While are large number of these are translated into English or linked to English translations, not all of them are: some are only in Latin, or Spanish, or other languages. Though I do not know Latin, I do know Spanish, so I decided to translate some of these bulls into English in order for those studying the history of Franciscanism to have this resource available. To start with, here are the Bulls Cum Dilecti , Pio Dilectis , and Cum Secundum of Pope Honorius III translated into English: these are some of the earliest papal documents written regarding Franciscanism (they were all written while St. Francis was still alive). Even though these translations will not be perfect (they're translations of translations, after all), I hope they are helpful to you. Pope Hono...

The following are two prayers one of my professors gave us to be used before and after class. Though he usually forgets to pray the latter, we always the pray the former. They are obscure prayers translated, I think, by my professor from a 17th-century Franciscan book. Through the use of them, I hope we can all dedicate all of our work and all of our time to Christ Jesus our Lord. Before Class Most high God of truth, Enlighten our minds. Love of the Holy Trinity, Hasten to help us. May charity set our minds on fire, may truth bring us to love: so that as much as we know you, so much may we love you. To the praise of your glory, Direct our studies: So that after the course of this life We may enjoy you in heaven. R./ Amen. After Class Through you, Jesus, be directed The work of our minds. In you Jesus, be ended The class of this day. O Mary, Good Mother, May our hearts not be cold. But through these sacred studies, Serve better in love. What we have accomplished in...