This

I read yesterday that the USCCB is about to publish a prayer book "to dispel the darkness".

Color me jaded from the 50 years cowardice and error, but I'm suspicious of this project.  I can't help thinking that their idea of "the darkness" is the rabbit hole of heresy they keep trying to drag us into.   I am mystified  that they think their grand larceny of Sanctifying Grace for three generations can be overcome while they continue to Lure Christ's people into mortal sin.

 They better be careful what they pray for, that's a prayer of self-destruction if I ever heard one.

Thanks anyway, but I think we'll be sticking with Fr Ripperger.

In any event, I wanted to share this prayer of St John Paul II with you.   How I love and miss this man and his constant presence in my life.   Especially when I'm in the middle of something and thinking like a mortal, not wanting to bother Christ with something I think is too small to seek His guidance.  St John Paul II's presence manifests itself -- and every time, it rocks my spiritual equilibrium.  He's  prayed more miracles into existence than I could ever remember.  I can't imagine where I would be without his friendship and spiritual mentoring.

Prayer of St John Paul II:

Immaculate Heart! Help us to conquer the menace of evil, which so easily takes root in the hearts of the people of today, and whose immeasurable effects already weigh down upon our modern world and seem to block the paths towards the future!
From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from every kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against the life of man from its very beginning, deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the children of God, deliver us.
From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both national and international, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God, deliver us.
From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of God, deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us, deliver us.
Accept, O Mother of Christ, this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual human beings, laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit to conquer all sin: individual sin and the “sin of the world,” sin in all its manifestations.
Let there be revealed, once more, in the history of the world the infinite saving power of the Redemption: the power of merciful Love! May it put a stop to evil! May it transform consciences! May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of Hope!  Amen.  Pope Saint John Paul II