O
Lord, bless, and preserve the man whom you gave me for my husband.
Grant him a long and holy life, free from domestic troubles.
Make me a blessing and a helpmeet for him; sharing his joys,
comforting him when he is sad, a faithful companion, an assistant
in this world’s vicissitudes. Make me always pleasing in his
eyes, and ever dear to him.
Dear
Lord, unite his heart to mine in a deep and holy love. Unite
my heart to his, in a love that is filled with sweetness and
a mutual desire to please. Preserve me from discontentment.
Make me always sweet-tempered and reasonable. Render me humble
and obedient; useful to my husband, discreet, sensible, and
prudent.
Cause
us to live together in peace and harmony, even as your divine
Word commands us to do! May we together share our love in your
service forever. Amen!
-Cardinal
Vaughan
Herbert
Cardinal Vaughan was born in Gloucester (Great Britain) on April
15th 1832. Priest in 1854, Bishop of Salford in 1872,
Archbishop of Westminster in 1892, Cardinal to the title of
Sts Andrew and Gregory on the Coelian in 1893, he died on June
19th 1903. He came of a family that had been true
to the Catholic Faith, despite the terrible persecutions that
happened after Henry VIII’s schism. His ancestors were imprisoned,
and submitted to the fines and “double tax” imposed on Catholics
by Anglicans. His mother was a model of a Christian wife and
mother. She was spending one hour every day in adoration of
the Blessed Sacrament, begging the Lord to pick her children
as His servants. Her prayer was heard: Her five daughters became
nuns in different convents, and out of her eight sons, six became
Priests, and three of them were even raised to the Episcopacy.
Herbert, her first-born child, became Cardinal. Zealous Priest
and Pontiff, despite a fragile health, an iron circlet was found,
after his death, driven into the flesh of his left arm. (Cf.
Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. XV, New York, 1912, p. 311 ss)
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