Novena for Order, Day 2

Darwin is leaving today to speak at a pricing conference, and he'll be gone over the weekend. Historically, I know how this will go: the first day I'll keep things running fairly efficiently (or as efficiently as usual, anyway). The next day everything will start to slip, and by the time he gets back on Sunday the madness will have descended. Some of this is my fault, because I don't run a very tight ship at the best of times, and some of this is my personality, because I depend on Darwin for companionship, paternal enforcement, support, encouragement, decompression buddy, and general adultness. Single parenting is one of the hardest things anyone can do, and I celebrate anyone who has found themselves carrying this heavy burden. And anyone who deliberately sets out to be a single parent -- those who buy a baby from a surrogate, those who spring for in-vitro -- is an idiot, and I don't care who knows I think it.

My goals this week are to have dinner at a reasonable hour -- something that should be easier than usual because we won't be waiting for Darwin to get home from work -- and to get the youngest three to bed promptly, which also ought to be easier because I won't be spending all my evening trying to talk to Darwin. Famous last words those are: "ought to be easy". Sweet Jesus, mercy!

For Ordering a Life Wisely St. Thomas Aquinas O merciful God, grant that I may desire ardently, search prudently, recognize truly, and bring to perfect completion whatever is pleasing to You for the praise and glory of Your name. Put my life in good order, O my God Grant that I may know what You require me to do. Bestow upon me the power to accomplish your will, as is necessary and fitting for the salvation of my soul. Grant to me, O Lord my God, that I may not falter in times of prosperity or adversity, so that I may not be exalted in the former, nor dejected in the latter. May I not rejoice in anything unless it leads me to You; may I not be saddened by anything unless it turns me from You. May I desire to please no one, nor fear to displease anyone, but You. May all transitory things, O Lord, be worthless to me and may all things eternal be ever cherished by me. May any joy without You be burdensome for me and may I not desire anything else besides You. May all work, O Lord delight me when done for Your sake. and may all repose not centered in You be ever wearisome for me. Grant unto me, my God, that I may direct my heart to You and that in my failures I may ever feel remorse for my sins and never lose the resolve to change. O Lord my God, make me submissive without protest, poor without discouragement, chaste without regret,

patient without complaint, humble without posturing, cheerful without frivolity, mature without gloom, and quick-witted without flippancy. O Lord my God, let me fear You without losing hope, be truthful without guile, do good works without presumption, rebuke my neighbor without haughtiness, and -- without hypocrisy -- strengthen him by word and example. Give to me, O Lord God, a watchful heart, which no capricious thought can lure away from You. Give to me, a noble heart, which no unworthy desire can debase. Give to me a resolute heart, which no evil intention can divert. Give to me a stalwart heart, which no tribulation can overcome. Give to me a temperate heart, which no violent passion can enslave. Give to me, O Lord my God, understanding of You, diligence in seeking You, wisdom in finding You, discourse ever pleasing to You, perseverance in waiting for You, and confidence in finally embracing You. Grant that with Your hardships I may be burdened in reparation here, that Your benefits I may use in gratitude upon the way, that in Your joys I may delight by glorifying You in the Kingdom of Heaven. You Who live and reign, God, world without end. Amen. translation by Robert Anderson and Johann Moser