Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness.
-St. John Chrysostom
Happy Feast of St. John Chrysostom!
A while back, before the Coof Putsch, as I was walking to Mass one evening, some jerk sexually propositioned me as I walked past his storefront. This rarely happens to me because I never leave the house dressed in anything other than what modern people literally consider formal-wear, and that sort of dress and comportment rarely receives gutter attention. Dress like a lady, be treated like a lady. Dress like a skank, be treated like a skank. Dress like a slob, be treated like a slob.
After Mass, I stopped into a nice sushi place for a quick dinner, and the owner/manager before seating me leaned in and said, “Can I ask you something?” And I thought, “Here we go again. You’ve gotta be kidding me…”
I was expecting something lascivious having been lasciviously addressed just a couple of hours before. Here is what he said:
“We see you walk past here every day, and you’re always so HAPPY. Why are you so HAPPY?”
“Because I live here, I get to eat sushi, and I get to go to the Latin Mass every day.”
“There is a Latin Mass? Here? Where?”
I told him, and then I ate sushi, as one does.
Unagi roll!!!
The highest prayer is The Mass. Next is the Divine Office. The next highest prayer is the Rosary, which is actually a proxy for the Divine Office in a sense. The Rosary is called “Our Lady’s Psalter” because the 150 Hail Marys (15 Mysteries X 10 Hail Marys per Mystery) map to the 150 Psalms, and thus could be the layman’s participation in the Divine Office.
St. John Chrysostom wasn’t blowing smoke. If you pray, you’re happy, you’re confident, and you’re at ease. Because if you pray, you aren’t scared or worried. You know Who is in charge, and you know that He loves you, and is driving everything toward greater good and ultimately total consummation. You trust Him, and are abandoned totally to His Providence.
St. John Chrysostom, pray for us!
Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us!
Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us!