Monday in Waikiki

            I drove around the eastern shore of Oahu today.  I drove through the exclusive Kahala neighborhood of expensive mansions.  There are a number of those houses for sale.   I was going to stop and buy one, but it was very windy and started to rain.   So, I decided that I didn’t want to live in that windy area even with its awesome views of the ocean.

            I drove on past Haunamma Bay but didn’t pull in to see all the people snorkeling.   I figured it would be overrun with Asians anyway.   Remember when we saw Master Sergeant Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr making out on that beach?  Or, was that just a movie?

            I did stop at the Blow Hole.   I could barely open my door with the typhoon-like winds and rain.   I managed to walk over and look down at the blow hole, but it was dormant.   So, I jumped back into my car to dry off and drive on.

            I drove through the Waimanalo area.   I remembered that I used to ride my bike on this road from Waikiki the way up to Kaneohe and back.   I must have been crazy to bike on that narrow road.  I also remembered that there were a few car accidents on that road where tourists were killed by local drunk drivers hitting them head on.   I managed to survive since traffic was not too bad in the rain.

            I got to Kaneohe but decided not to go on the base in this wind and rain.   I drove over to Kailua Beach State Park where I used to go on the weekends to play in the surf and sand.   It was still raining.   I did go into the surf to take pictures of a pumpkin that was bouncing around in the surf.   I did walk over and take a picture of Buzz’s Steakhouse across the street.  I remember that I took a couple of dates there and remembered how humid it could be in there.   I wonder what became of those women I dated.   They loved Hawaii and the island life and said they would never live anywhere else, so that was the end of those romances since they didn’t want to travel the world with a military guy.

            I went back to the parking lot to get in my car and out of the light rain, and there were 12 Marines in dress blue deltas standing around my car.   I thought at first that they must have heard that I was in town and came out to worship me.   I sat on a picnic table and waited for them to do something.   They were mostly enlisted with two majors who joined them.   They then move up the hill overlooking the water.   The major reenlisted a sergeant.   The sergeant then gave a speech to the Marines, but I couldn’t hear him over the wind.   I got back in my car and left before they swarmed my car again and asked for my autograph.   I bet they are not happy that their uniforms are messed up from that rain.  

            I drove around Kailua and noticed that a huge new condo development is being built.   I thought that would be a nice place to live until I saw the sign that they are selling new 1, 2, and 3 bedroom condos starting at $700,000.   Yikes!   So, I left town.   I took the H3 Highway back to Honolulu.   I have never been on that highway since it was just being built when I lived here.   That was fun driving on that highway through the mountains with lots of greenery and tunnels and clouds and a light rain.

            I got back to Honolulu as rush hour was starting.  I had to navigate various roads to avoid traffic jams.    I finally got back to the road to the Hale Koa and sat there for several minutes as the construction of the new tower at the Hilton Hawaiian Village has spilled out onto the road with construction crews blocking the road and making it a one lane road.  

            I parked in the spiffy military parking garage and then roamed around the Hale Koa.   There were two little twin toddler boys with their dad looking at the Christmas display near my room.   They were so cute and looked so overwhelmed and in awe of all the Santa stuff they were trying to figure out.    I walked around the pools and saw several people and families wearing Hawaiian shirts and dresses heading to the Luau that was starting at the big pool near the beach.    It was overcast and a very pleasant 71 degrees – an excellent night to go to a luau and eat pig and poi!

            I roamed around the Fort Derussy green grass and smoked a cigar in the twilight.   I felt like a criminal.   I did read on my Hale Koa room key car that smoking is not allowed within 50 feet of the buildings and that there is a designated smoking area in a small parking lot near the Warrior’s Lounge area.   I just walked around the outside of the Army Museum and then along Lewer’s Avenue where I saw a sign that the street is a no smoking area on Lewers and Kalakawa.   Bastards!   So, I headed back over to Fort Derussy and walked around smoking on that federal property that appears to be an island of sanity in the middle of this state’s anti-smoking mania.  I am still amazed that none of these Japanese and Chinese and Korean visitors are smoking – not even the old ones.   What has become of Asia!

I did see a history sign that said Fort Derussy used to be the royal ponds where the royal fish were raised and that the Hawaiians believed that six foot tall,  black monsters lived in the waters.   (So, that explains how a black monster grew up in Hawaii and is now living in the White House!).   The ponds were drained when the Army took over and built coastal fortifications with canons that could fire up to 14 miles out at ships.   The canons were test fired but never fired against any enemy ships.   The gun batteries were torn out except for one battery (Randolph) which was too hard to knock down in 1965.   So, it is now the Army Museum.   There also used to be a lot of military cottages on Fort Derussy which led to the idea of creating a military resort here after it was no longer needed as a defensive base.   Interesting.

            I got back to my room to watch the news from Ferguson.    I liked Obama’s speech about the situation.   Of course, it was all about him, and he had to interject his personal history into the speech.    What an ego.    Would you grow up to be a narcissist if your mother was a white hippie communist slut and your father was a black drunken communist adulterer?   How did that shape his personality?   You would think he would be a self-hating drug scum derelict. 

            This is my last night in the Hale Koa.   I will be checking into the Hilton Grand Waikikian tomorrow.   I hate to leave this large resort and move in with the thousands of Asians next door, but I will have a kitchen and might make some meals and also do my laundry in my own washer/dryer.   I will continue to spend my nights walking around Fort Derussy and smoking in the dark of the Fort Derussy green grass since you can’t smoke elsewhere in this hick town!

Sunday in Honolulu

            I drove down Kalakawa Avenue this morning and parked in the Honolulu Zoo parking lot.   I’m not sure how much I charged to park there.   I walked over to the St. Augustine’s  Church for Mass at 10am.  The church was about 3/4^th full.   The Knights of Columbus paraded in wearing white shirts and cola nut necklaces and sat in the front three rows.   A group of women wearing red muumuus then came forward singing a Hawaiian chant.  The priest then came in with his altar boy.   The announcer gave a short speech about the history of the church and about their two Hawaiian saints – Father Damien and Sister Marianne Cope of the leper colony of Molokai and how they belong to this diocese that has had priests of the Sacred Heart since the 1800s.   I paid the recommended donation of $3 to light a candle for the parents.

            The Mass was fairly typical for the New Order.   The effeminate priest recognized the Knights who have 30 members and want to get more.   He mentioned that 80% of people at Mass are visitors.   Since this is the last mass of this liturgical year before the new year begins next week with the first Sunday of Advent, he talked about the church budget for 2014.    The have a small budget but they support a lot of charities for the local homeless and poor and they only collected 1/4^th of their normal funds to support the poor in 2014.    He also mentioned that they make most of their money from the C&E Catholics who only come to church on Christmas and Easter, and that all that money from those twice a year Catholics keep them from going bankrupt.   The communion was different in that everyone stands for communion instead of kneeling.   After Mass, the ladies in red came up and did a hula dance that had something to do with families, babies, and God according to the narrator.  The priest said and support the ladies by buying their tuna salad sandwiches for $10 each, but I passed on that and just took pictures inside the church of the tributes to Father Damien and Sister Cope.   I just hope I didn’t catch leprosy!

            It was a warm 88 degrees when I got back to my car.  I drove out of Honolulu on Highway 1 toward the west and then took Highway 2 up to Mililani.   I drove to the Mililani Golf course and then to my old townhouse complex next to the golf course.   I parked in my old parking spot next to my condo that I lived in for 3 years.   It actually looked to be in good condition.   I wonder if all those cockroaches and my gecko still live there in my condo.  

            I drove on west to Waimalu past the Dole Pineapple Field and past Matsumoto’s Shave Ice store.   There were a bunch of Asians standing in line to get into Matsumoto’s.    I drove on the Pipeline beach and turned around.    There was a lot of traffic there.   

            I drove back to Mililani.   I drove by my old base at Wheeler Army Airfield and was shocked to see that they have torn out the old run way.    The sign at the main gate said Schofield Army Barracks Wheeler Field.   I didn’t try to drive onto the base.    I also didn’t drive into the nearby Army golf course that was so beautiful and fun to play with my idiot boss years ago.

            I drove back down H2 to H1 and noticed that everything looked a little red from the pineapple field dust.   I drove to downtown Honolulu.   I stopped at the downtown YMCA where I was the only white guy in the building.   I asked for the volksmarching box, and the buy at the front desk  gave me the walking box that had the guide and map for the 10K walk around the historic sites of Honolulu.  I spent a few hours walking around the capital, governor’s mansion, King Kamemama Statue, original mission, and other historic locations.   I smoked a cigar as I walked the streets.    Some older Hawaiian guy said something to me about smoking, but I couldn’t hear him over the music on my iPod.   I assume he was telling me that smoking was not allowed.   Screw him.   I walked by Our Lady of Peace Catholic Cathedral.    Boy, that mall area in front of the cathedral looks rather creepy.   There were only derelicts sitting around and sleeping in that area.   It has seen its better days. 

            I went into the cathedral.   There were three derelicts sitting in there sleeping and two Asian people praying.   What a weird church.   The pews don’t face the altar but face the center of the church.   It looks like a piano bar with the piano in the center of the room and the pews facing the piano.   What the hell goes on there during Mass?   The altar is behind a screen area, and I was amazed that I  could walk right up to it where a lady was sitting with her eyes closed and a guy was on his knees praying.   The red light was burning so Jesus was in the tabernacle, but He seems to not be very important in this cathedral.   How bizarre.   I put in $2 and light a candle for the parents.    I left feeling that this mother church for the people of Hawaii is a real New Age travesty.

            My 10K walk took me into Chinatown.   What a dump.   There is a smell of urine on those streets.    I felt like Frank Sinatra in the movie From Here to Eternity; however, I didn’t encounter Donna Reed the prostitute or Ernest Borgnine as Fatso the staff sergeant bully.    I saw some of the old houses of prostitution and the famous Hawaiian movie theater that is now a fancy playhouse with a bunch of Asians coming out after a performance of some play that appears to be a rip-off of the Jersey Boys.   

            I got back to my car at the YMCA and was glad that today was mostly overcast and not too hot.   I finished my water as I drove down the street to O’Toole’s Irish Pub at the end of Nuuanu Street in Chinatown.   That is a small pub.   I watched the Cowboy game and smoked a cigar and had one Tullamore Dew and two Glennfiddich’s.  

            I drove down Ala Moana Avenue to the other cigar bar that I read about.   It is near Pier One in a shopping area.   It was dark with all the shops closed.   In the middle of the complex is a small bar.   It had a bunch of Asians sitting as a group.   No one was smoking.  What has become of Asians now that they don’t all smoke cigarettes constantly like I remember?   I only saw one guy sitting by himself smoking a cigarette.   I saw a humidor of cigars behind the bar.   I was afraid to ask for a cigar and a drink because all those healthy Asians might kick my ass for smoking up the place.   So, I left thinking that I might come back later this week at happy hour to check it out.

            I then drove back to the Hale Koa.   There is some band playing out by the large pool.   The evening is fairly cool now.    I should go out now and tour the area and see if  the Warrior’s Lounge has any activity.

            I took a lot of pictures today and will post them eventually.   

Saturday in Waikiki

            I slept soundly after my two Jameson’s last night.  I had my first cup of coffee this morning on my balcony with a view of the mountains and the Ali Wai Golf Course.

            I had my free breakfast in the basement at the Hilton.  There were too many people there in the executive lounge.  

            After I checked out of the Hilton, I drove over to the Kapiolani Park near the Aquarium.  I parked in the lot where I used to park on the weekends 25 years ago.  You have to get a free parking spot before noon before the lots fill up.   I walked from the Aquarium area to Queens Beach where a Japanese couple was posing for wedding pictures.  Then I walked by the old Natatorium that is still fenced off and off limits.   I walked up the strip to Waikiki Beach.    It would have been nice to have a cigar, but that is now outlawed.  

            I walked along Kalakawa Avenue and noticed that the shops and even the sidewalks became more high class.   So, this is like Vegas.   The east end of the Kalakaua Avenue has the older and more run down hotels, shops, and restaurants.   They become newer the closer you get to the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and the Hilton Hawaiian Village on the west end.    I was amazed how much Lewers Road has changed.   It now has fancy hotels and shops.   The new Hilton Vacation Club is on the corner of Lewers and Kalakaua.    I walked in, and it looked very expensive.   There were Asians at the vacation club desk.  No wonder I couldn’t book a condo there this trip.

            I walked around the Hale Koa – House of the Warrior – military resort.   They now have two towers instead of just the original one.   There is still a lot of green grass near the old Fort Derussy Military Museum.   I went into the PX at the resort.  I will be back here later to buy booze and save money.   I noticed that they sell nice cigars, but where can I go smoke them?

            Like I used to do on weekends 25 years ago, I bought a soda and a Macadamia candy bar.   I then headed back to Kalakaua and walked all the way back to the aquarium area.   I noticed that the old International Market place with all the junk stands is currently closed.  I walked through the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center which now has some very upscale shops. 

            I finished the 5 mile walk and was worn out from the heat and humidity.   I stopped in a hotel gift shop to get a soda to drink to prevent dehydration and kidney stones.

            I drove up over the Diamond Head road where they are putting in some kind of new trail that runs in front of the entrance to the Diamond Head Crater.    I didn’t go into the crater as I was too tired to climb all those steps up to the top.  I kept driving and went back down Monserrat Avenue to Ali Wai Road.    I remembered that I used to run up that Avenue when I was doing the Iron Man Triathlons.   Of course, that was many years and many pounds ago.

            I drove around Ala Moana Park and then around Ala Moana Shopping Center which was very busy and has some major construction going on to increase that mall.  

            I drove around the Hilton Hawaiian Village where they are building another tower, and the road is a mess. 

            I finally drove into the Hale Koa at 2pm.   There is a military MP shack on the ramp going up to the lobby.   The young MP lady said that she was from Denver, and I told her that it was not as humid there.   I checked in early.   I am in the original tower on the 6^th floor with a view of the mountains and the ocean from my balcony.   I walked around the complex which is busy with 4 weddings going on and two conferences.    There are two pools here; the small one near the lobby must be for adults, and the large pool had lots of kids.    There are lots of trees and green grass nearby which is rare in Waikiki.  I may have to sneak out there tonight for a cigar smoke.

            I parked my car in the Fort Derussy parking garage across the street.   I remember when it was just a lot, but now it is a two story garage which was pretty full.   The cost is $7/day for hotel guests and $18/day for all other military folks using that garage.    Next to the garage is the Fort Derussy Chapel, and I went over to see if Mass is offered but they only showed a 9am Protestant service on Sundays.  There was a wedding taking place (Asians of course) in the Fort Derussy Military Chapel.  I walked back across the street to the hotel and looked to see if Mass is offered on the lawn like they used to do it, but I saw that it is only offered in the summer.   So, I will have to drive to the east end of Kalakaua by Waikiki Beach for Mass tomorrow.    I may go to the 5pm Mass like I used to do after a day of running, biking, and swimming in the ocean.   I better not try that tomorrow before Mass or I may end up with a heart attack.  

            I walked around in the dark of the Fort Derussy park area and smoked a cigar.  I noticed that the sign listing all the Do Not’s for this military reservation did not say anything about not smoking.   So, maybe this federal property doesn’t abide the state rules preventing smoking.    After my cigar, I wandered over to the Hilton Hawaiian Village next door.  Boy, that place is overrun with Asians.  The place is packed.   There is a huge wedding party near the lagoon with hula dancing and much noise.  Crazy Asians having a party.

            Back at the Hale Koa, I looked in the Warriors Lounge which was packed earlier during happy hour.  I looked at their drink menu, and I see that beer and well drinks are only $3 during happy hour.  No wonder the place was packed with old, fat, retired military.   I looked in at 8:15pm, and there were only 3 people in there.  The sign said that there was supposed to be a comedian on Saturday nights, but there was no sign of him.  I wonder what happened.  I stopped in the PX again which is six floors below my hotel room.  It was busy.   I bought a bottle of wine that is on sale.  Geez, these military retirees act stupid at the checkout.   They want to chit chat and hold up the line. 

            Now for a night cap of Pinot Noir wine.   

San Francisco to Honolulu

            I got to the TSA Pre-check line and noticed that there were 20 people in that line at security, and there were only 4 people in the other security line used by the lower-class unwashed people.  The guy behind me also noticed, and we talked and laughed about that.   The TSA folks also noticed and quickly opened a second lane for us superior beings who were being made to wait like common humanity!

            The SFO airport is nice, but their WiFi is weak.   I could not get a strong enough signal on my phone, tablet, or laptop.    DEN airport is much better at that.

            OK, don’t airlines have movie screens anymore.  My United flights had no drop down screens or seat back videos.   What’s the deal, United!  I guess that is why they are doing this beta test of their United App to show movies and TV shows.  I ‘m sure they will   charge a fortune for that when they bring official on line.   I see that Internet access cost $10 for the flight from DEN to SFO, and now they want $15 plus taxes for the 5 hour flight from SFO to HNL.  I didn’t buy it, and I spent my time reading through old emails from the past few days and also reading Killing Patton while listening to tunes on my iPod.

            My seat was 39J which I paid a lot extra for.   It was next to a door, so there was a lot of room to stretch out until they put a beverage cart in front of me.   There was only one seat next to me, and it was occupied by an older Korean guy who was not friendly and would not even look at me.   He had the aisle, and I was next to the window, however, there is no window in that row, so I had not views leaving SFO or coming into HNL.  Damn!    Again, no movie screens.   I tried the United app again and found that I could watch movie previews with no problems on my tablet and laptop, but I could not watch a movie because of the screen freezes.   The Korean guy next to me watched a Korean movie on his Apple laptop with no problem.  I ordered the tapas snack box that had exotic cheeses, crackers, almonds, and chocolate covered pomegranates.   It went well with my Jim Beam and Sprite, and I pretended that I was having Hawaii food instead of Greek food.    

The flight was 30 minutes late taking off because of paperwork, but we arrived 5 minutes early.  It was a slow process getting the full flight of 300 people off the 777.   We then had to trudge from the United terminal and walk in the 88 degree weather to the main terminal.   Oh, it was humid.   I didn’t see signs for the car rental, but then I noticed people walking across the front street over to the rental car parking lot.    I got my Toyota Corolla and headed to Waikiki.   My phone GPS told me to take Nimitz Highway instead of H1 this time of day, so I drove those slow six miles near the waterfront and tried to recall what used to be there.   Some parts look better, and some parts look worse.   I started to see some of the homeless drifters in their little tents in the small parks near the water.  I saw the Irish Pub that is supposed to be the best cigar bar in town, and I need to get back over there.   There are a lot of new high rises going up with a construction mess closing lanes and merging traffic.   I started to see hordes of tourists in shorts wandering the streets and coming out of the ABC stores.   I finally got to the hotel and had to drive by it as the road was blocked at the entrance.   I had to drive around the blocks and come back and had to end up stopping traffic myself to get into the entrance that was blocked now by hordes of tourists.  

            This Hilton is not on Kalakawu but on the street behind it and behind the Catholic Church that I used to go to on Sunday nights.   That church is all fenced and locked off now with some derelicts sitting around it.  I guess they only open up for Mass.   This Hilton is by the Hyatt and Marriott.   Those hotels look a little newer and nicer.   I see that this Hilton used to be called the Prince Kuhio Hotel.   The lobby was OK.   It cost $25 to valet park my car per night.   I paid $10 to upgrade my room to the 36^th floor with a view of the Ali Wai canal, golf course, and mountains.   It is a nice view, and I read the newspaper on my windy balcony while watching the clouds move  in over the mountains.   They even threw in a nice rainbow over the mountains for me, so that might be a good omen from the Hawaiian gods.

            I walked over to the main Waikiki Beach and thought it was rather humid here.   There were some hula ladies on the beach, but they were just standing around and not dancing.   I took the mandatory tourist photo of Duke Kamama and noticed the Internet TV camera that has that real time video of the beach that I can look at when back in DEN.

            I went back to the Hilton for the evening free cocktails for the Gold and Diamond members.   They had meatballs, sweet potatoes fries, and chips, and sodas.   They had a small sign advertising beers for $6 but there were none to be seen and no bar tender and no bar.   So much for that cocktail hour. 

I did like reading the Honolulu Observer Newspaper.  They sure have a lot of news in that paper.   There were some articles about what to do with the derelicts all over the area; the unemployment rate is now down to only 4 percent.   It was interesting to read that despite the recent hurricane, Oahu has had a steady 86% occupancy rate which is capacity, but they are still increasing hotel profits because hotels keep raising rates every year.  However, there are problems on the big island of Hawaii where there is only 68% occupancy, and even Maui is having declining occupancy in the low 70s.   There is also a problem with the inter-island airfares being too high and discouraging people from getting off Oahu.    The tourist bureau has a new president who is expected to increase tourist business on those islands that are hurting and to get tourists of overcrowded Honolulu.

            After an evening walk in the dark around the neighborhood while smoking a cigar, I went back into the Hilton and sat in the lobby near the bar.  My Jameson’s Irish Whisky was only $9.   That’s a good deal compared to Vegas where some bars charge $14.   I sat and went through emails and webpages on my tablet while listening to a young Asian woman sing with a guy on guitar and a percussion guy banging on a box and shaking some beads.   They were relaxing.  Some young families had little boys who were running around and dancing to the music and talking to the singers which was cute. 

            I went back out for a small mint cigar.   It was finally cool and a little breezy.  It was only 9pm, but it was 11pm SFO time and midnight DEN time.   So, I went to bed in Hawaii for the first time in 25 years.

Denver to San Francisco

            It was nice to use my TSA Pre-check at the DEN airport and sail through security.           

The flight from DEN to SFO was not too bad for a 3 hour flight.   I was in row 7 facing the bulkhead that divided us from first class.   I had the window with some views before we got into the clouds.  

            The lady next to me wanted to chat.  Damn!   She used to travel on her own in her youth, and her favorite place was Nepal but now it is a bad country.   Now she is lame and needs knee surgeries and can’t travel much. 

            I used the United app on my tablet to get the free movies, but all I could get was sound and no picture.   I tried the United app on my phone, and it worked fine but the phone got hot and drained the battery and the screen is too small.   I tried my laptop, and it worked after I downloaded a new program, but it would freeze.    So, the lesson learned here is that my tablet and laptop are too old and need to be replaced.   Also, it is dumb to lug around both a small laptop and a tablet.  I need to buy one of those new tablets that come with a detachable keyboard.   I need to look into the Microsoft Surface Pro 3, but it is so damn expensive at $1300!  

            The shuttle from the airport to the Embassy Suites on the Waterfront was slow in arriving to pick me up.   I had to stand outside for 25 minutes.   The announcement on the shuttle bus said that this hotel had just finished an $8 Million renovation and that there would soon be another upgrade.   It looked OK on the inside.   I was on the Gold level floor, and it was a little warm in the room even with the a/c on full.   The view from the balcony was of the parking lot and the bay with lots of airplanes landing.    I did the free cocktail time with two Grant scotches and snacks.   There were several business women there pursuing their careers on their computers.  

            I tried multiple times to print out my boarding pass for the next day to HNL, but the damn Internet connection was so slow.   I noticed that it was also slow in my room.   So, I gave up.

            I walked along the Bay Trail next  to the hotel in the dark.   I didn’t see any no smoking signs and had a cigar.   I walked over to the Hilton which looked nicer than my Embassy Suites.   I printed my boarding pass there with no delays.

            I saw the BART train running by, and I thought that I might return here and catch that train at the SFO airport into town and spend a few days exploring SFO since I have not been here since that night I hosted President Reagan and Queen Elizabeth at that dinner party in a fancy museum in the park.   I need to find that place again.

            The snacks at the cocktail  hour had filled me up, so I didn’t go into the pub in the hotel for dinner or drinks.   I went back to my room and watched some Fox News about the Evil Emperor Obama the Tyrant and the cowardly Republicans, and I fell asleep dreaming about the golden days when the USA was a free republic.

Hey, Jude!

Solemn Novena to St. Jude

October 28

To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ: mercy unto you, and peace and charity be fulfilled.

~ Letter of St. Jude 1:1-1

You and your family will be included in the prayers and Masses of this Novena.

These special intentions will also be included in this Novena:

-      Our military veterans - living & deceased

-       

PRAYER TO ST. JUDE

Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant
and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and
invokes you universally as the patron of hope.
Please intercede on my behalf. Make use of that
particular privilege given to you to bring
hope, comfort, and help where they are needed most.
Come to my assistance in this great
need that I may receive the consolation
and help of heaven as I work with my
challenges, particularly (here make your request).
I praise God with you and all the saints forever.
I promise, blessed St. Jude, to be ever
mindful of this great favor, to always
honor you as my special and powerful patron
and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.

St. Jude pray for us.

National Shrine of St. Jude

Claretian Missionaries

Chicago, IL
www.shreineofstjude.org

Last Sunday of October

Here is an old prayer against the evils of the Islamic heresy that we should be praying more often today . . .

There comes to mind the traditional prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Pope Leo XIII recited before the Blessed Sacrament on the Last Sunday of October in the traditional Roman calendar, the Feast of Christ the King followed by a Litany and Benediction. This was established by Pius XI in 1925 in his encyclical Quas primas.

Let’s see the prayer:

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but, to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy most Sacred Heart.

Many indeed have never known Thee; many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to Thy Father’s house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.

Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.

Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of the race, once Thy chosen people: of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life.

Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: “Praise be to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever.” Amen.

This prayer has fallen out of favor. It doesn’t pull any punches.  But I like very much the reference to Islamism.

This prayer was also recited at my home parish St. Agnes in St. Paul, MN, every Tuesday evening after the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.  It was great to hear the clauses roll along, recited by the whole congregation, most of whom knew it by heart, as I came to in those days.   These prayers become part of you.  They shape identity.

If you are interested in learning more, I have a 2009 PODCAzT about the prayer and Leo XIII’s Annum sacrum HERE.

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2014/09/be-thou-king-of-all-those-who-are-still-involved-in-the-darkness-of-idolatry-or-of-islamism/