FULLY ALIVE? by Joe Castorino

Song Titles on a Vinyl Record Album

Side One

1. “Happily Playing with Tiny Toy Boats”

2. “The Prodigal Young Man Sows His Wild Oats”

3. “He’s a Showoff and Loves to Brag”

4. “But Work is So Stressful and Life is a Drag”

 

Side Two

1. “Retirement Doesn’t Bring Any Hope”

2. “Health Suddenly Fails and He Cannot Cope”

3. “The Quicksand of Loneliness and Deep Sighs”

4. “What Can Give Life Meaning before He Dies?”

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 23 by Joe Castorino

Cause of Our Joy, together with you I bless

  And praise the great glory of the good God;

Direct my steps toward the Heavenly Homeland,

  And please give me the sweet honey of humility.

 

In danger and doubt, I seek your sincere face,

  Take me by the hand and lead me again to safety;

You swiftly and cleverly lead me out of the wicked

  Woods of temptation and onto the plateau of peace.

 

Draw me into the life-giving light of your Savior-Sun,

  And pray that I enter fully into His limitless love;

Teach me to surrender, to surrender myself to Him,

  To surrender totally, completely, and joyfully.

 

Plead with the Lord that I be purified from affection

  For the useless and dangerous things in my life;

Help me to recognize the evil one’s subtle yet

  Savage plans to maliciously murder my soul.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 22 by Joe Castorino

Holy Mother of God, do not ever forget us --

  Fight for your spiritual family on Earth;

Lead us, your Son’s simple sheep, away from

  The tangled twisted webs of tribulation.

 

The evil enemy, like a boa constrictor,

  Tries to squeeze us with stress;

Do not let the devil deceive us with the

  Empty, plastic promises of pride.

 

May all the evil one’s threats be pulverized

  By the protective power of Christ’s cross;

You gaze in wonder at God’s glorious

  Plan, and your merciful eyes are upon us.

 

Pray to Our Father in Heaven, and ask Him

  To show us the excellence of devotion;

Request that He send choirs of amiable angels

  To aid us in finding the path of purity.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 21 by Joe Castorino

Holy Santa Maria, sweetest guide, save me

By leading me to your Son’s lasting love;

You are the fountain of Christ’s clemency,

Freshly flowing with living water.

You swiftly circle the great globe of Earth,

Eager to show us the easier road to Heaven;

You lead us on the peaceful path to Beauty,

On a way that is lit by your most holy Sun.

Riding on the white charger of chastity,

You protect us with the lance of justice;

Warmed by the Sun’s splendid rays, your

Soul is surrounded by the halo of truth.

Pray wholeheartedly to His Divine Majesty,

And ask that He bestow on us holy devotion;

May the good God grace us with the grand

Gifts and fervent fire of the Holy Spirit.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 20 by Joe Castorino

When we sin, we trust Seduction’s black

Promise, biting into its crunchy red lie;

The fruit’s flesh is sugary sweet, but

Inside slither the worms of wickedness.

After taking the bite, we shudder in guilt,

Dropping the poison apple in fear;

Suddenly our souls are sick at heart, for

Like little Peters we have denied Jesus.

Lady of Love, ask the Lord to show us mercy,

For we admit that we’re just stupid people;

Quickly come to our aid, Morning Star,

That the Light of lights will save us.

Help us make quality time for daily prayer,

And to prioritize this in our everyday lives;

We need to know the necessity of prayer,

For through it we touch the finger of God.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 19 by Joe Castorino

Lovely Lady, protect me from my enemies,

Who hide in the darkest of shadows;

With the explosive grenades of gossip

They seek to kill my reputation.

Yet I rejoice that you will cheerfully guide

Me to the happy hills of Heaven;

I look forward to embracing you there,

Surrounded by goodness and sweetness.

I salute you with joy, most noble Virgin,

You who point me towards the Light;

As the princess of patience and prudence,

You smile as you lead me home.

Pray that my heart will be purged forever,

Cleansed from all evil inclinations;

Help me to recognize the Teacher of Truth,

Help me to recognize the Lord of Love.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 18 by Joe Castorino

Mother Inviolate, together with you,

Let us offer a happy hymn of praise;

We worship the great God for blessing

Us with the fragrance of His love.

Precious Lady, you are the most brilliant

Star in all God’s glorious galaxies;

In your peaceful presence, we sigh

Joyfully and contentedly.

Hoist the hopeful sails of our devout faith,

As we bravely traverse the spiritual ocean;

Lead us safely through the savage storms of

Temptation, and into the harbor of pardon.

Through your intercession, Jesus rains down

Goodness and graces upon each of us;

Pray that He may totally cleanse sin’s

Corrosive acid from our sullied souls.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 17 by Joe Castorino

Mother Most Admirable, the evil one

Tries to run me off the Cliff of Confusion;

This beastly brute tries to bully me and

Push me down into the dreadful abyss.

He’s a miserable wild-eyed monster who

Whispers nothing but worthless wickedness;

He relentlessly ridicules me, spitting

Upon me with the dirty drool of his lies.

Pray that my soul may melt in the majestic

Mercy of the Father of Forgiveness;

In His name, take up the sword of truth

So the evil one will flee in total terror.

Teach me always to appreciate the

Good God’s innumerable gifts to me;

Help me to remember and relish all the

Blessings that I so foolishly take for granted.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 16 by Joe Castorino

Cause of Our Joy, together with you I bless

  And praise the great glory of the good God;

Direct my steps toward the Heavenly Homeland,

  And please give me the sweet honey of humility.

 

In danger and doubt, I seek your sincere face,

  Take me by the hand and lead me again to safety;

You swiftly and cleverly lead me out of the wicked

  Woods of temptation and onto the plateau of peace.

 

Draw me into the life-giving light of your Savior-Sun,

  And pray that I enter fully into His limitless love;

Teach me to surrender, to surrender myself to Him,

  To surrender totally, completely, and joyfully.

 

Plead with the Lord that I be purified from affection

  For the useless and dangerous things in my life;

Help me to recognize the evil one’s subtle yet

  Savage plans to maliciously murder my soul.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 15 by Joe Castorino

Seat of Wisdom, Virgin Mary, we love you,

  And we rejoice that you’re our mother;

You cuddle us in your amiable arms as

  Your cherished little babes in the Spirit.

 

Speaking through the dear apostle John,

  Jesus commanded us all to revere you;

Your humble happy obedience to God’s plan

  Inspires us to imitate your praiseworthy virtue.

 

Give us to eat of the fresh fruit of holy faith,

  Which solidly strengthens our confidence;

Give us to drink of His luscious living water,

  Which surges through and sweetens our soul.

 

Pray that we be purified from affection for

  Even the smallest and slightest venial sins;

Shed upon us the radiant rays of your prudence,

  Enlighten us when we read the Word’s words.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 14 by Joe Castorino

Mirror of Justice, I am bountifully blessed

  In your precious and beloved company;

You honor me with your sweet presence,

  And I thank God for His magnificent mercy.

 

Through your priceless prayers, you pour

  Living water into my undeserving soul;

My heart feels like it will explode and burst

  With the inexpressible joy of the Holy Spirit.

 

The evil one blinded me with pretty distractions

  For so many years, and I never appreciated you;

But now, following your example of holy simplicity,

  My life ever so beautifully flowers and blooms.

 

O Treasured Gift of the Light, your exquisite

  Comeliness sweeps over my soul like a wave;

Cleanse me of all desire to sin, take your hand

  In mine, and peacefully lead me to Paradise.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 13 by Joe Castorino

Virgin Most Faithful, embrace us tenderly

  And lovingly with God’s manifold graces;

Be our compassionate consolation and

  Powerful protection in times of stress.

 

We weep with the tears and sobs of sorrow,

  Yet you draw back the drapes of the tempest;

Then we see the most dazzling Son-shine

  And it profoundly pierces our soul with agape.

 

Your holy hand gently clasps our own and

  You show us the shortcut to His Sacred Heart;

Like a trusted guide you safely lead us away

  From the near occasion of sin's seduction.

 

Queen of our hearts, pray that we may make

  A firm resolution to serve God once more;

No matter how many times we fail and fall,

  Point us towards our happy heavenly home.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 12 by Joe Castorino

Virgin Most Merciful, I humbly kneel before

  You, who are truly the Queen of my Heart;

Slam shut the horrifying, hideous gates of hell,

  And deliver me from the dangerous enemy.

 

When the raging rivers of tribulation surround me,

  I seek your calm in the chapel of my heart;

Then when I remember your peaceful presence,

  The Light pierces the darkness in my soul.   

 

The saints sublimely sing to the conquering King

  And my soul sweetly revels in pure jubilation;

Your holy prayers are my perpetual consolation,

  And the Sun’s warmth wonderfully comforts me.

 

O lovely Lady, teach me the value of making a

  Wholehearted general confession to Our Lord;

I wish to make a fresh start in this new year,

  To live in Christmas joy every day of my life.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 11 by Joe Castorino

Virgin Most Venerable, may your cheerful

  Countenance light up our lives with joy;

Let your graceful serenity bring calm to the

  Anxiety of our tangled, troubled minds.

 

Pray that we may humbly raise our heads

  To our most holy Heavenly Father;

Encourage us, Dear Lady, that we may come

  To His Royal Majesty in complete confidence.

 

Your breathtaking beauty and sweet soul

  Inspire us to pursue innocent purity;

Open wide your arms to embrace us with

  God’s grand and glorious graces.

 

Teach us to follow the path that leads to

  The pristine waterfalls of Paradise;

The immaculate incense of your prayers

  Pleasantly perfumes God’s grandiose throne.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 10 by Joe Castorino

Mother of Our Savior, protect us from

  The clever plots of political putrefaction;

The disfigured face of evil is pasted over

  By the pretty mask of political correctness.

 

Please pray to our beloved Jesus for us,

  That goodness may reign in our land again;

May Christ refresh us with the cool water

  Of integrity in this dreary desert of doom.

 

Let not our adversaries tackle us with

  The blind-side blitz of deception;

Help us sprint into the end zone of truth

  With the power sweep of wisdom.

 

Guide those whom we elect to serve us,

  That their actions may please God;

Remind them of Judgment Day, that

  They may courageously choose life.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 9 by Joe Castorino

Mother of Our Creator, do not forget me

  When sudden sickness comes upon me;

Pray that the Master will lead me out of

  This medical maze of woeful weariness.

 

Kindly and gently open my clenched fists

  Which constantly seek complete control;

Help me to serenely surrender to the

  Savior and wholeheartedly trust in Him.

 

I thirst for living water, and you bountifully

  Bring me to the fountain of grace;

My heart leaps as it sees the falling water

  Glistening like strings of liquid diamonds.

 

Help me to prepare daily for death, the

  Bitter bridge leading to everlasting Love;

Guide me towards the Messiah’s golden

  Light, that I may always choose life.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 8 by Joe Castorino

Mother of Good Counsel, teach me to

  Clearly comprehend God’s commandments;

In the storms of daily life, may the bright

  Beacon of His Word help me to choose life.

 

Blessed are your resplendent eyes, which

  Looked with love at the Babe of Bethlehem;

Blessed are the holy hands that compassionately

  Caressed Him in His swaddling clothes.

 

Assembled on the holy hills of Heaven, the

  Communion of saints rejoices in you;

In sunny splendor, the Lord of Light

  Smilingly crowns you as His wondrous one.

 

Pray that our frail feet may be kept far from

  The steep slope that slides down to sin;

Instead, let us find friendly comfort

  In your calm, caring countenance.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 7 by Joe Castorino

Mother Most Amiable, our hearts hail

  The stalwart strength of your friendship;

The soft whisper of your name is calamity

  And confusion to the odious enemy.

 

Our souls are consoled by your comforting

  Compassion and sincere care for us;

With the living water of the most holy Word,

  Cleanse us from the contamination of sin.

 

Pray that our carnal desires may drown

  In the pure, pristine ocean of God’s mercy;

Ask the Divine Captain to swiftly steer

  Our ships through the sweet seas of sanctity.

 

Let us never lose sight of the Lighthouse,

  Whose rays destroy the deadly darkness;

Guide us towards the Heavenly Harbor,

  The destination meant for us all.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 6 by Joe Castorino

Mother Undefiled, awaken me from my

  Slumber, to see the Son-shine again;

Coach me as I wrestle with the wrathful

  Enemy’s deceitful distractions.

 

God’s sword has cut the tangled tentacles

  Of temptation and has freed me;

Sweetly smile upon me, rejoice with me,

  And warmly welcome me home.

 

In my last bittersweet hour, calm me

  With your comforting countenance;

Pray that the Lord will drive away the evil

  One, lashing him with His whip of light.

 

With your words of wisdom, teach me to

  Appreciate God’s grand gift of creation;

Help me to grasp His goodness, that

  He has loved me from all of eternity.

MARIAN SYMPHONY NO. 5 by Joe Castorino

Mother Inviolate, together with you,

  Let us offer a happy hymn of praise;

We worship the great God for blessing

  Us with the fragrance of His love.

 

Precious Lady, you are the most brilliant

  Star in all God’s glorious galaxies;

In your peaceful presence, we sigh

  Joyfully and contentedly.

 

Hoist up the flag of our devout faith,

  As we traverse the spiritual ocean;

Lead us safely through the savage storms of

  Temptation, and into the harbor of pardon.

 

Through your intercession, Jesus rains down

  Goodness and graces upon each of us;

Pray that He may totally cleanse sin’s

  Corrosive acid from our sullied souls.