Benedicta tu in mulieribus ...

BWAYMUS DEEUS SENYOR In grade school I was an altar boy, and thus knew by rote the entire Mass, which was then said in Latin.  In high-school I took four years of Latin,  and was able to squeak by reading the latin text of  Gallic Wars Book 1 (with a "C-").  Now, 8 days into our 9 day bread & water/ Rosary election fast, I have a problem.  Here's the latin text for the Hail Mary. AVE MARIA, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Iesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc, et in hora mortis nostrae. For the past year I've been trying (weekly, if not daily) to re-memorize those 30 words ... and I can't. While I am more forgetful, my Dr. tells me that it's not unusual for my age (73). Still, it bugs the hell out of me, because, obvioulsy, the dreaded word Alzheimer comes to mind easier than does gratia plena. MoSup tells me that sugar is suspected to be a contributory cause, and I do love my pecan pie.  A good friend of ours is well into Alzheimer's, but still functions.  Talking with him is delightful, until he tells the same story the third time in one sitting. On the plus side, he has not a worry in the world. Always happy, and, so far, no rants about people trying steal his stuff. A life long Liberal Democrat, he doesn't give a rat's ass who wins this election.  Maybe he's the lucky one.