Anytime anyone says “fasting” what do you usually think of? Abstinence from food right? The truth is, the definition of fasting is actually much broader than that, and giving up food is only an aspect of fasting. Fasting can involve a number of actions not limited to food. Isiah mentions another type of fasting more preferred by God than just giving up food.
Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose:releasing those bound unjustly,untying the thongs of the yoke;Setting free the oppressed,breaking off every yoke?Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry,bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house;Clothing the naked when you see them,and not turning your back on your own flesh?
A very similar words to Jesus’ teaching on righteousness and the requirement for God’s kingdom. Doing the work of God by attending to the needs of others is the surest way to show we love God.
The king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:34-36)
Another Type:
Denying ourselves some minor pleasures and comforts from time to time and offering them to God. We can also offer our day-to-day displeasures to God. What this means is when we offer these to God, they no longer belong to us. We cannot complain about them anymore or at least for that day even though this does not prevent us from working hard to be in better condition. It means we give those displeasures to God and carry the cross for the day. This is a powerful way to unite our sufferings with that of Christ and an effective way to fast.
Another type of fasting and you don’t give up food
“I firmly wish that my face reflecting the intimate pains of my soul, the suffering and love of my heart, be more honoured! Whoever gazes upon me already consoles me.”
(Our Lord Jesus Christ to Sister Pierina)
This novena prayer may be said at any time, but especially in the nine days leading up to the Feast of the Holy Face on Shrove Tuesday – i.e. starting two Sundays before the start of Lent. Holy Face Devotion is approved by the Vatican
DAILY PREPARATORY PRAYER
O Most Holy and Blessed Trinity, through the intercession of Holy Mary, whose soul was pierced through by a sword of sorrow at the sight of the passion of her Divine Son, we ask your help in making a perfect Novena of reparation with Jesus, united with all His sorrows, love and total abandonment.
We now implore all the Angels and Saints to intercede for us as we pray this Holy Novena to the Most Holy Face of Jesus and for the glory of the most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
(Start novena)
NOVENA IN HONOUR OF THE MOST HOLY FACE OF JESUS
“All those who, attracted by my love, and venerating my countenance, shall receive, by virtue of my humanity, a brilliant and vivid impression of my divinity. This splendour shall enlighten the depths of their souls, so that in eternal glory the celestial court shall marvel at the marked likeness of their features with my divine countenance.” (Our Lord Jesus Christ to St. Gertrude)
FIRST DAY
(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)
Psalm 51:3-4
Have mercy on me, O God in your goodness,
in your great tenderness wipe away my faults:
wash me clean of my guilt, purify me from my sin.
O most Holy Face of Jesus, look with tenderness on us who are sinners. You are a merciful God, full of love and compassion. Keep us pure of heart, so that we may see Thee always. Mary, our Mother, intercede for us; Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition…………………………………………………. Pardon and mercy.
Prayer to Our Almighty Father
Almighty Father, come into our hearts, and so fill us with your love that forsaking all evil desires, we may embrace you, our only good. Show us, O Lord our God, what you are to us. Say to our souls, I am your salvation, speak so that we may hear. Our hearts are before you; open our ears; let us hasten after your voice. Hide not your Face from us, we beseech you, O Lord. Open our hearts so that you may enter in. Repair the ruined mansions, that you may dwell therein. Hear us, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of your only Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (St. Augustine)
Pray (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Marys, one (1) Glory Be.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine (Three times)
SECOND DAY
(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)
Psalm 51,5-6a.
My offences truly I know them;
My sin is always before me
Against you, you alone, have I sinned; What is evil in your sight I have done.
Most Holy Face of Jesus, we are truly sorry that we have hurt you so much by constantly doing what is wrong; and for all the good works we have failed to do. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Saint Joseph, intercede for us, help us to console the Most Holy Face of Jesus. Pray that we may share in the tremendous love Thou hast for one another, and for the most Holy and Blessed Trinity. Amen.
Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition…………………………………………………. Pardon and mercy.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Come, Holy Spirit, Sanctifier, all powerful God of love, Thou who didst fill the Virgin Mary with grace, Thou who didst wonderfully transform the hearts of the apostles.
Thou who didst endow all Thy martyrs with a miraculous heroism, come and sanctify us, illumine our minds, strengthen our wills, purify our consciences, rectify our judgments, set our hearts on fire and preserve us from the misfortune of resisting Thine inspirations.
We consecrate to Thee our understanding, our heart and our will, our whole being for time and for eternity.
May our understanding be always submissive to Thy heavenly inspirations and to the teachings of Thy Holy Catholic Church, of which Thou art the infallible guide; may our heart he ever inflamed with love of God and neighbour, may our will be ever conformed to the divine will, and may our whole life be a faithful imitation of the life and virtues of our Lord and Saviour.
Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and Thee be honour and glory forever.
Amen.
Pray (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Marys, one (1) Glory Be.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine (Three times)
THIRD DAY
(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)
Psalm 51,6b-7.
You are just when you pass sentence on me,
blameless when you give judgment. You know I was born guilty,
a sinner from the moment of conception.
Prayer of Pope Pius IX
O Jesus! Cast upon us a look of mercy: turn your Face towards each of us as you did to Veronica; not that we may see it with our bodily eyes, for this we do not deserve, but turn it towards our hearts, so that, remembering you, we may ever draw from this fountain of strength the vigour necessary to sustain the combats of life. Amen. Mary, our Mother, and Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition…………………………………………………. Pardon and mercy.
Prayer of Saint Francis
All highest, glorious God, cast your light into the darkness of our hearts, give us true faith, firm hope, perfect charity and profound humility, so that with wisdom, courage and perception, O Lord, we may do what is truly your holy will. Amen.
To the Angels and Saints
We salute you, through the Holy Face and Sacred Heart of Jesus, O all you Holy Angels and Saints of God. [W]e rejoice in your glory, and we give thanks to our Lord for all the benefits which He has showered upon you; we praise Him, and glorify Him, and for an increase of your joy and honour, we offer Him the most Holy Face and gentle Heart of Jesus. Pray that we may become formed according to the heart of God. Amen.
Pray (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Marys, one (1) Glory Be.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine (Three times)
FOURTH DAY
(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)
Psalm 51,8-9.
Indeed you love truth in the heart;
then in the secret of my heart teach me Wisdom. O purify me, then I shall be clean;
O wash me. I shall be whiter than snow.
O Lord Jesus, who has said, learn of me for I am meek and gentle of heart, and who did manifest upon Thy Holy Face the sentiments of Thy divine heart, grant that we may love to come frequently and meditate upon Thy divine features. We may read there Thy gentleness and Thy humility, and learn how to form our hearts in the practice of these two virtues which Thou desires to see shine in Thy servants. Mary our Mother and Saint Joseph help us.
Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition…………………………………………………. Pardon and mercy.
Prayer in Honour of the Dolours of the Blessed Virgin
O Most Holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs! Who stood beneath the cross, witnessing the agony of your dying Son, look down with a mother’s tenderness and pity on us as we kneel before you to venerate your Dolours and place our requests, with filial confidence, in the sanctuary of your wounded heart. Present them on our behalf to Jesus, through the merits of His most sacred Passion and Death, together with your sufferings at the foot of the cross, and through the united efficacy of both, obtain the favour which we humbly ask. To whom shall we go in our wants and miseries if not to you. O Mother of Mercy, who having so deeply drunk of the chalice of your Son, graciously alleviate the sufferings of those who still sigh in this land of exile. Amen.
Prayer to the Souls in Purgatory
My Jesus, by the sorrows you suffered in your agony in the garden, in your scourging and crowning with thorns, in the way to Calvary, in your crucifixion and death, have mercy on the souls in Purgatory, and especially on those that are most forsaken. Deliver them from the dire torments they endure. Call them and admit them to your most sweet embrace in Paradise. Amen.
Pray (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Marys, one (1) Glory Be.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine (Three times)
FIFTH DAY
(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)
Psalm 51,10-11.
Make me hear rejoicing and gladness,
that the bones you have crushed may revive. From my sins turn away your Face,
and blot out all my guilt.
Holy Face of Jesus, Sacred Countenance of God, how great is your patience with humankind, how infinite your forgiveness. We are sinners, yet you love us. This gives us courage. For the glory of your Holy Face and of the Blessed Trinity, hear and answer us. Mary our Mother, intercede for us, Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition…………………………………………………. Pardon and mercy.
Prayer to Saint Joseph
Dear Saint Joseph! Adopt us as thy children, take charge of our salvation; watch over us day and night; preserve us from occasions of sin; obtain for us purity of body and soul, and the spirit of prayer, through thy intercession with Jesus, grant us a spirit of sacrifice, of humility and self-denial; obtain for us a burning love for Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, and a sweet, tender love for Mary, our Mother.
Saint Joseph, be with us in life, be with us in death and obtain for us a favourable judgment from Jesus, our merciful Saviour. Amen.
Pray (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Marys, one (1) Glory Be.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine (Three times)
SIXTH DAY
(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)
Psalm 51,12-13.
A pure heart create for us O God,
put a steadfast spirit within us.
Do not cast us away from your presence nor deprive us of your Holy Spirit.
May our hearts be cleansed, O Lord, by the in pouring of the Holy Spirit, and may He render them fruitful by watering them with His heavenly dew. Mary, the most chaste spouse of the Holy Spirit, intercede for us, Saint Joseph pray for us.
Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition…………………………………………………. Pardon and mercy.
Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel
O Victorious Prince, most humble guardian of the Church of God and of faithful souls, who with such charity and zeal took part in so many conflicts and gained such great victories over the enemy, for the conservation and protection of the honour and glory we all owe to God, as well as for the promotion of our salvation; come, we pray Thee, to our assistance. for we are continually besieged with such great perils by our enemies, the flesh, the world and the devil, and as Thou wast a leader for the people of God through the desert, so also be our faithful leader, and companion through the desert of this world, until Thou conduct us safely into the happy land of the living, in that blessed fatherland from which we are all exiles. Amen. (St. Aloysius)
Pray (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Marys, one (1) Glory Be.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine (Three times)
SEVENTH DAY
(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)
Psalm 51,14-15.
Give me again the joy of your help,
with a spirit of fervour sustain me,
that I may teach transgressors your ways and sinners may return to you.
Lord Jesus! After contemplating Thy features, disfigured by grief, after meditating upon Thy passion with compunction and love, how can our hearts fail to be inflamed with a holy hatred of sin, which even now outrages Thy Adorable Face!
Lord, suffer us not to be content with mere compassion, but give us grace so closely to follow Thee in this Calvary, so that the opprobrium destined for Thee may fall on us, 0 Jesus, that thus we may have a share, small though it may be, in expiation of sin. Amen.
Mary, our Mother, intercede for us. Saint Joseph pray for us.
Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition…………………………………………………. Pardon and mercy.
Prayer in Honour of Mary
Hail Mary, Daughter of God the Father! [H]ail Mary, Mother of God the Son! Hail Mary, Spouse of the Holy Spirit! [H]ail Mary, Temple of the Most Holy Trinity! Hail Mary, our mistress, our wealth, our mystic rose. Queen of our hearts, our Mother, our life, our sweetness and our dearest hope!
We are all Thine, and all we have is Thine. O Virgin blessed above all things, may Thy soul be in us to magnify the Lord; may Thy spirit be in us to rejoice in God. Place Thyself, 0 faithful Virgin, as a seal upon our hearts, that in Thee and through Thee we may be found faithful to God.
Grant, most gracious Virgin, that we may be numbered among those whom Thou art pleased to love, to teach and to guide, to favour and to protect as Thy children. Grant that with the help of Thy love, we may despise all earthly consolation and cling to heavenly things, until through the Holy Spirit, Thy faithful spouse, and through Thee, His faithful spouse, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, be formed within us for the glory of the Father. Amen. (St. Grignon de Montfort)
Pray (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Marys, one (1) Glory Be.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine (Three times)
EIGHTH DAY
(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)
Psalm 51,16-17.
O rescue me, God my helper,
and my tongue shall ring out your goodness. O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise.
Most merciful Face of Jesus, who in this vale of tears was so moved by our misfortunes to call yourself the healer of the sick, and the good Shepherd of the souls gone astray, allow not Satan to draw us away from you, but keep us always under your loving protection, together with all souls who endeavour to console you. Mary, our Mother, intercede for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition…………………………………………………. Pardon and mercy.
Prayer to Saint Peter
O glorious Saint Peter, who in return for thy lively and generous faith, thy profound and sincere humility and thy burning love, was honoured by Jesus Christ with singular privileges, and in particular, with the leadership of the other apostles and the primacy of the whole church, of which thou was made the foundation stone, do thou obtain for us the grace of a lively faith, that shall not fear to profess itself openly in its entirety and in all of its manifestations, even to the shedding of blood, if occasion should demand it, and to the sacrifice of life itself in preference to surrender.
Obtain for us likewise a sincere loyalty to our Holy Mother the Church. Grant that we may ever remain most closely and sincerely united to the Holy Father, who is the heir of thy faith and of thy authority, the one true visible head of the Catholic Church. Grant, moreover, that we may follow, in all humility and meekness, the Church’s teaching and counsels and may be obedient to all her precepts, in order to be able here on earth to enjoy a peace that is sure and undisturbed, and to attain one day in heaven to everlasting happiness. Amen.
Pray (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Marys, one (1) Glory Be.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine (Three times)
NINTH DAY
(Console Holy Face and recite Daily Preparatory Prayer)
Psalm 51:18-21.
For in sacrifice you take no delight, burnt offering from me you would refuse, my sacrifice a contrite spirit.
A humbled, contrite heart you will not spurn. In your goodness, show favour to Zion, rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will be pleased with lawful sacrifice, holocausts offered on your altar.
Sacred Face of our Lord and our God, what words can we do to express our gratitude? How can we speak of our joy? That you have deigned to hear us, that you have chosen to answer us in our hour of need. We say this because we know that our prayers will be granted. We know that you, in your loving kindness, listened to our pleading hearts, and will give, out of your fullness, the answer to our problems.
Mary, our Mother, thank you for your intercession on our behalf. Saint Joseph, thank you for your prayers.
Through the merits of your precious blood and your Holy Face, O Jesus, grant us our petition…………………………………………………. Pardon and mercy.
Prayer to the Holy Trinity
Most Holy Trinity, Godhead indivisible, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, our first beginning and our last end. Since you have made us after your own image and likeness, grant that all the thoughts of our minds, all the words of our tongues, all the affections of our hearts and all our actions may be always conformed to your most Holy Will, so that after having seen you here on earth in appearances and in a dark manner by the means of faith, we may come at last to contemplate you face to face, in the perfect possession of you forever in paradise. Amen.
Pray (1) Our Father, three (3) Hail Marys, one (1) Glory Be.
O Bleeding Face, O Face Divine, be every adoration Thine (Three times)
Icon of Saint Veronica (Greek Orthodox) who tradition indicates wiped the Holy Face of Jesus on the Way of the Cross
Recite Act of Consecration.
Act of Consecration to the Holy Face
O Lord Jesus, we believe most firmly in You, we love You. You are the Eternal Son of God and the Son Incarnate of the Blessed Virgin Mary. You are the Lord and Absolute Ruler of all creation. We acknowledge You, therefore, as the Universal Sovereign of all creatures. You are the Lord and Supreme Ruler of all mankind, and we, in acknowledging this Your dominion, consecrate ourselves to You now and forever.
Loving Jesus, we place our family under the protection of Your Holy Face, and of Your Virgin Mother, Mary most sorrowful. We promise to be faithful to You for the rest of our lives and to observe with fidelity Your Holy Commandments. We will never deny before men, You and Your Divine rights over us and all mankind.
Grant us the grace to never sin again
Grant us the grace to never sin again; nevertheless, should we fail, O Divine Saviour, have mercy on us and restore us to Your grace. Radiate Your Divine Countenance upon us and bless us now and forever. Embrace us at the hour of death in Your Kingdom for all eternity, through the intercession of Your Blessed Mother, of all Your Saints who behold You in Heaven, and the just who glorify You on earth. O Jesus, be mindful of us forever and never forsake us; protect our family.
O Mother of Sorrows, by the eternal glory which you enjoy in Heaven, through the merits of your bitter anguish in the Sacred Passion of your Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, obtain for us the grace that the Precious Blood shed by Jesus for the redemption of our souls, be not shed for us in vain. We love you, O Mary. Embrace us and bless us, O Mother. Protect us in life and in death.
Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Devotion the Holy Face centers around the Consecration of the Home as confirmed by St Pius X
As revealed by Sister Pierina, Tuesday is a day of reparation to the Holy Face of Jesus, in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
With the wearing of the medal, (or Holy Face Scapular), one completes the Consecration to the Holy Face and gains the blessings promised.
Transfiguration of the Holy Veil
In the memorable days of Pope Pius IX (now Blessed Pope Pius IX), God deigned, by a touching prodigy, to glorify the Sacred Image venerated at the Vatican. It was during the exile of the Holy Father at Gaeta in 1849, when the Veil of Veronica was allowed to be exposed for veneration from Christmas to the Epiphany. On the third day of the exposition, the Veil hitherto somewhat faded became transfigured, as it were; the sacred features of our Saviour appeared lifelike and surrounded by a mild halo.
Though covered with a piece of silk, which would normally prevent one from distinguishing them, the sacred features could, nevertheless be distinctly seen. The Holy face was of a deathly pallor, the eyes sunken, yet animated with an expression of profound sadness. The canons who were guarding the Veil immediately notified their colleagues and the ecclesiastics of the Basilica. The bells were rung and the faithful flocked to the Vatican. The witnesses of this prodigy were filled with wonder and awe; many were in tears, all were visible affected.
“…. in these times of sensuality and hatred against God and the Church… evil spreads.
…A Divine Remedy is required; and that remedy is the Holy Face of Jesus”.
– Our lady to Blessed M Pierina De Michelli
On the first Friday in Lent 1936 Mother Maria Pierina de Michelli (beatifed 30th May 2010) reported a vision of Jesus. She reported Jesus’ desire of a special feast day on the Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday each year (Shrove Tuesday), to be preceded by a 9 day novena of prayer.
In 1958 Pope Pius XII declared the feast of the Holy Face of Jesus for all Roman Catholics to be the day before Ash Wednesday (Shrove Tuesday)
Strong is God’s love for us;/ he is faithful for ever:
come, let us give thanks and praise! (cf. Ps 117:2)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!
HYMN
The morning breaks, I place my hand in thine,
My God, ’tis thine to lead, to follow mine;
No word deceitful shall I speak the while,
Nor shall I stain my hand with action vile.
Thine be the day with worthy labor filled,
Strong would I stand to do the duty willed;
Nor swayed by restless passion let me be,
That I may give the offspring pure to thee.
PSALM 105:1-10
I will extol you and praise your name;/ For you have fulfilled your wonderful plans of old,/ faithful and true. (Is 25:1)
God is true: he has a long memory for his own promises and a short memory for our failures to keep ours.
Give thanks to the Lord, tell his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
O sing to him, sing his praise;
tell all his wonderful works!
Be proud of his holy name,
let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice.
Consider the Lord and his strength;
constantly seek his face.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, the judgments he spoke.
O children of Abraham, his servant,
O sons of the Jacob he chose.
He, the Lord, is our God:
his judgments prevail in all the earth.
He remembers his covenant for ever,
his promise for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
He confirmed it for Jacob as a law,
for Israel as a covenant for ever.
Glory to the Father….
Word of God (Isaiah 54:10-14)
Though the mountains leave their place/ and the hills be shaken,/ My love shall never leave you/ nor my covenant of peace be shaken,/ says the Lord, who has mercy on you.
O afflicted one, storm-battered and unconsoled,/ I lay your pavements in carnelians,/ and your foundations in sapphires;/ I will make your battlements of rubies,/ your gates of carbuncles,/ and all your walls of precious stones./ All your sons shall be taught by the Lord,/ and great shall be the peace of your children./ In justice you shall be established,/ far from the fear of oppression,/ where destruction cannot come near you.
The Holy One is faithful! (cf. Hos 12:1)
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Cor 1:9)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet
of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father…
INTERCESSIONS
Let us pray with faith to the One who is faithful and true:
R/Remember your people, O Lord.
You promised that the house of the messianic King would last forever:
– grant us the grace to put our trust in your fidelity rather than our own shortsightedness. R/
You have made your promise known in the assembly of the holy ones:
– teach us to hear and to live the words we pray when we are gathered for worship. R/
You have clothed yourself in truth and beauty:
– make us walk in the ways of truth and beauty today. R/
You have created us in your image:
– may the lives of the unborn be protected in our laws. R/
(Personal intentions)
Our Father….
O God, you have kept your covenant with every generation. In a world shadowed by the many infidelities of frail humanity, grant us faith in your enduring love, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Alleluia!
HYMN
O God, Creator of the world,
And King of heaven, sending light
Most beautiful to clothe the day,
And grace of sleep to come by night.
That so in rest our slackened limbs
Grow strong for work as dawns the day,
And wearied minds be fresh again,
As light drives anxious care away.
With bounden thanks, with offered vows,
With prayers and hymns our debt we pay,
Beseeching thee to keep us safe
As night draws nigh, as ends the day.
Psalm 124 (125). The Lord guards his people
The Lord surrounds his people.
Those who trust in the Lord are like the mountain of Zion:
it cannot be shaken, it will stand firm for ever.
Jerusalem – the mountains stand guard over it,
and the Lord stands guard over his people,
both now and for ever.
The sceptre of the wicked shall not rest
upon the inheritance of the just;
lest the just themselves stretch out their hands
and turn to wickedness.
Be good, O Lord, to the good
and the upright of heart.
As for those who turn away to crooked paths,
the Lord shall treat them like the doers of evil.
Peace be on Israel!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The Lord surrounds his people.
Psalm 130 (131). Childlike trust in God
Unless you become like little children you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Lord, I do not puff myself up or stare about,
or walk among the great or seek wonders beyond me.
Truly calm and quiet I have made my spirit:
quiet as a weaned child in its mother’s arms –
like an infant is my soul.
Let Israel hope in the Lord, now and for all time.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Unless you become like little children you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
CANTICLE (Apocalypse 4,5)
The song of the redeemed
Lord, you made us a kingdom and priests to serve our God.
You are worthy, our Lord and our God,
to receive glory and honour and power;
for you made all things,
and it is by your will that they exist and were created.
You are worthy, Lord,
to receive the book and open its seals,
for you were killed,
and with your blood you have ransomed people
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and made them rulers and priests for God;
and they will rule over the earth.
The Lamb is worthy, who was killed,
to receive power and riches and wisdom,
strength and honour, glory and blessing.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
Lord, you made us a kingdom and priests to serve our God.
Short Reading (Romans 12:9-12)
Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying.
Short Responsory
Your word, O Lord, will endure for ever.
– [Y]our word, O Lord, will endure for ever.
Your truth will last from age to age.
– [Y]our word, O Lord, will endure for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
– Your word, O Lord, will endure for ever.
CANTICLE (Magnificat)
My soul rejoices in the Lord
[M]y spirit exults in the Lord God, my saviour.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my salvation.
For he has shown me such favour –
me, his lowly handmaiden.
Now all generations will call me blessed,
because the mighty one has done great things for me.
His name is holy,
his mercy lasts for generation after generation
for those who revere him.
He has put forth his strength:
he has scattered the proud and conceited,
torn princes from their thrones;
but lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
he has remembered his mercy as he promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be, world without end.
Amen.
My spirit exults in the Lord God, my saviour.
Prayers and intercessions
God has established his people in hope. Nothing can break the confidence of those who love him. Let us proclaim:
– Father, our trust is in you.
We give you thanks, Lord God,
for you have made man rich in all wisdom and insight.
– Father, our trust is in you.
Lord God, you know the hearts of all rulers:
May they work for the good of the people they govern.
– Father, our trust is in you.
Lord, you empower mankind to glorify this world with art:
make our work live with vision and true hope.
– Father, our trust is in you.
You do not allow us to be tempted beyond our limits:
strengthen the weak, raise up the fallen.
– Father, our trust is in you.
Father, you have promised men a share in your Son’s resurrection on the last day:
remember those who have gone before us on the path to eternal life.
– Father, our trust is in you.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Let our evening prayer rise up before your throne of mercy, Lord,
and let your blessing come down upon us,
so that now and for ever
your grace may help and save us.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
(one) God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
Do you feel too weak sometimes and can’t just explain why? Say this prayer to Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus to intercede for you so that God will strengthen and Bless you.
O little Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus, who during your short life on earth became a mirror of angelic purity, of love strong as death, and of wholehearted abandonment to God, now that you rejoice in the reward of your virtues, cast a glance of pity on me as I leave all things in your hands.
Make my troubles your own – speak a word for me to our Lady Immaculate, whose flower of special love you were – to that Queen of heaven “who smiled on you at the dawn of life.” Beg her as the Queen of the heart of Jesus to obtain for me by her powerful intercession, the grace I yearn for so ardently at this moment, and that she join with it a blessing that may strengthen me during life.
Defend me at the hour of death, and lead me straight on to a happy eternity. Amen
Our Prayer this Morning is for Christ to mould us in his image, healing the sick and bringing everlasting Joy to those we have lost. Lord hear our Prayers!
Prayer for the Morning
In the morning you hear us, O Lord;/
in the morning we offer you our prayer!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!
HYMN
Heedless soul of mine, bethink thee
Ere thine hours on earth are past—
Ere thou fly to spirit-regions,
If thou reàl treasure hast.
Where will be thine endless dwelling?
Where thine everlasting home?
What thy portion, joy or mourning,
In the world beyond the tomb?
When these eyes shall lose their luster—
Fading with the failing breath,
And roll, lightless, in the conflict,
With inexorable death;
How wilt thou survive the anguish—
How sustain all earthly loss,
If thou know not the Redeemer,
If thou cling not to his cross?
PSALM 90:1-6, 14-15
Make us know the shortness of our life/ that we may gain wisdom of heart. (Ps 90:12)
A human life may sometimes look too short to be worth much, but God, who sees the works of his hands from the perspective of enduring love, clothes even the passing wildflowers with splendor. We are only dust—but beloved dust!
O Lord, you have been our refuge
from one generation to the next.
Before the mountains were born
or the earth or the world brought forth,
you are God, without beginning or end.
You turn men back to dust
and say: “Go back, sons of men.”
To your eyes a thousand years
are like yesterday, come and gone,
no more than a watch in the night.
You sweep men away like a dream,
like grass which springs up in the morning.
In the morning it springs up and flowers:
by evening it withers and fades.
In the morning, fill us with your love;
we shall exult and rejoice all our days.
Give us joy to balance our affliction
for the years when we knew misfortune.
Glory to the Father….
Word of God (Ephesians 2:4-10)
God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved), raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so no one may boast. For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.
You are precious in my eyes. (Is 43:4)
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. (Gn 2:7)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet
of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father…
INTERCESSIONS
The Lord Jesus Christ took on our fragile flesh and made of it a temple for the living God. With joyful confidence, let us pray:
R/Let your favor be upon us, O Lord.
O God, we are the works of your hands:
– shape us in the image of Christ our Lord. R/
O God, we are but a moment in the world’s history:
– teach us to store up treasure in heaven by the good we do on earth. R/
O God, we fear the mortality we cannot cure:
– grant insight and faith to all those who do the work of medical research. R/
O God, we are saddened by the deaths of those we love:
– bring them into the everlasting joy of your presence. R/
(Personal intentions)
Our Father….
O God of wisdom and of love, you have made us as fragile as the flowers of the field, yet you have made us strong in the hope of life everlasting. Teach us to see this day as gift enough, that we may live it for your glory and render it back to you in praise when evening falls, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Prayer for this Morning With Saint Francis: Let us give thanks and praise to God our Father through the Lord Jesus Christ for all he has given to us.
Prayer for the Morning
Praise and exalt God above all for ever!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!
HYMN
All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voices, let us sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
O burning sun with golden beam
And silver moon with softer gleam:
O praise him! O praise him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfolds rich blessings on our way,
O praise him! Alleluia!
The fruits and flow’rs that verdant grow,
Let them his praise abundant show.
O praise him! O praise him!
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
CANTICLE (cf. Daniel 3:57-59, 62-67, 71, 73-76, 78-82, 87)
Let everything that lives and that breathes/ give praise to the Lord. Alleluia! (Ps 150:6)
This biblical litany of praise is echoed in Saint Francis’ famous Canticle of the Sun. Saint Francis’ love for creation was neither sentimental nor superficial. He understood in true humility what glory lies in being a creature of so great and loving a God. From that perspective, there is no greater joy than to give praise and thanks.
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all for ever.
Angels of the Lord: R/ bless the Lord.
You heavens: R/
Sun and moon: R/
Stars of heaven: R/
Every shower and dew: R/
All you winds: R/
Fire and heat: R/
Cold and chill: R/
Nights and days: R/
Lightnings and clouds: R/
Let the earth bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all for ever.
Mountains and hills: R/
Everything growing from the earth: R/
Seas and rivers: R/
You dolphins and all water creatures: R/
All you birds of the air: R/
All you beasts, wild and tame: R/
You sons of men: R/
Holy men of humble heart: R/
Glory to the Father….
Word of God (1 Timothy 4:4-5)
Everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected when received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the invocation of God in prayer.
Give thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. (cf. Eph 5:20)
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. (Gn 1:31)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet
of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father…
INTERCESSIONS
With Saint Francis, let us give thanks and praise to God our Father through the Lord Jesus Christ:
R/We praise and exalt you above all for ever!
For the gifts of earth, sea, and sky, and all that fill them: R/
[F]or the gift of the human body: R/
For the gift of our brothers and sisters throughout the world: R/
For the gift of life and death: R/
(Personal intentions)
Our Father….
O God, you inspired Saint Francis to follow the example of Christ in leading a life of humility and poverty. Instill in us his ardent disciple’s love for the Lord our Savior, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
When said with faith and for a particular spiritual benefit.
Even though Saint Joseph never spoke a word in scripture, his silent example of obedient faithfulness and diligent care for the Holy Family during Jesus’ formative years has made him one of the most beloved saints of Christianity.
Devotion to the foster-father of Jesus is generally traced to the 3rd or 4th century, but according to the Pieta prayer book, there is a prayer to Saint Joseph that dates to the year 50.
This prayer was found in the 50th year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. In 1505, it was sent to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle from the pope. Whoever shall read this prayer or hear it or keep it about themselves, shall never die a sudden death or be drowned, nor shall poison take effect on them; neither shall they fall into the hands of the enemy or be burned in any fire or be overpowered in battle. Say for nine mornings for anything you desire. It has never been known to fail.
Here is the ancient prayer to Saint Joseph, which some claim “has never been known to fail, provided that the request is for one’s spiritual benefit or for those whom we are praying for.”
Prayer to Saint Joseph
O Saint Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interest and desires.
O Saint Joseph, do assist me by your powerful intercession, and obtain for me from your divine Son all spiritual blessings, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So that, having engaged here below your heavenly power, I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of Fathers.
O St. Joseph, I never weary of contemplating you, and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him close in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me. Amen.
Remember, God always answers our prayers. We may not always expect the response we receive.
In Jesus Christ dead and risen lies our salvation:
let us give thanks and praise!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!
HYMN
Living Lord, our praise we render!
His the blood for sinners shed.
In the Father’s power and splendor
Christ is risen from the dead.
Death’s dominion, burst and broken
By that Life which no more dies;
We to whom the Lord has spoken,
One with Christ, in freedom rise.
One with Christ, both dead and risen;
Dead to self and Satan’s claim,
Raised from death and sin’s dark prison,
Life is ours through Jesus’ Name.
PSALM 18:2-7, 17-18
It was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering. (Heb 2:10)
To be “perfect” is to be complete. Through his suffering, Death, and Resurrection, Christ completed our humanity, deformed and stunted as it was by sin. Let us pray for the grace to live in this gift of true maturity, knowing that God will bring it to fullness through our own participation in the mystery of the cross, anticipated and deepened through every Sunday celebration of the Paschal Mystery.
I love you, Lord, my strength,
my rock, my fortress, my savior.
[M]y God is the rock where I take refuge;
my shield, my mighty help, my stronghold.
The Lord is worthy of all praise:
when I call I am saved from my foes.
The waves of death rose about me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
the snares of the grave entangled me;
the traps of death confronted me.
In my anguish I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came to his ears.
From on high he reached down and seized me;
he drew me forth from the mighty waters.
He snatched me from my powerful foe,
from my enemies whose strength I could not match.
Glory to the Father….
Word of God (1 Peter 2:21-24)
To this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps.
“He committed no sin,/ and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
By the grace of God, he tasted death for everyone. (cf. Heb 2:9)
CANTICLE OF ZECHARIAH
For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. (Heb 12:2)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet
of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness
and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory to the Father…
INTERCESSIONS
With grateful joy we pray:
R/Lead us to life, O Lord!
For all who suffer:
– grant them the courage of the cross: R/
For all who struggle with fear, doubt, and purposelessness in their suffering:
– illumine them by the light of the cross: R/
For all those who have lost faith under the burden of suffering:
– restore them to life through the cross: R/
(Personal intentions)
Our Father….
God of all the living, you sent your only Son to deliver us from the power of sin and death through the mystery of the cross. Raise us from darkness to light in him, that we may grow into the holiness he won for us by our participation in the Paschal Mystery. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
5 Things You Should Know About the Sign of the Cross
So many people make the Sign of the Cross without actually thinking about the meaning, history, and spiritual effects of such a loaded gesture.
We usually begin and end our prayers this way, but the question is, what are we doing?
Anytime we make the sign of the Cross we renew our faith in the Blessed Trinity: God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We acknowledge the divine works of creation, salvation, and sanctification. And we bless our whole being as well in God’s name.
We are encouraged to make the Sign of the Cross, not only when we pray but also when we are about to leave the house. When we are afraid of something, or any time we are moved to love remembering the gift of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. By this sign, we entrust ourselves to God and reaffirm our commitment to fight under his banner. We remember we are soldiers who are fighting under the cross. The Cross of Christ has vanquished sin, death, and the Devil.
Never leave your house without making the sign of the cross. It will be to you a staff, a weapon, an impregnable fortress. Neither man nor demon will dare to attack you, seeing you covered with such powerful armor. Let this sign teach you that you are a soldier, ready to combat against the demons, and ready to fight for the crown of justice. Are you ignorant of what the cross has done? It has vanquished death, destroyed sin, emptied hell, dethroned Satan, and restored the universe. Would you then doubt its power?
St. John Chrysostom
5 Things You Should Know About the Sign of the Cross
1. It is a sacramental.
Many of us think of sacramentals only when we think about the Rosary, Scapular or other things we can touch. But the Sign of the Cross itself is a Sacrament. And the Catechism of the Church recommends we sanctify our day-to-day life with sacramentals, the most powerful and most accessible of all is the Sign of the Cross. Other Sacramentals are powerful too and we are encouraged to use them: the Crucifix, medals, rosaries, etc.
2. It is powerful and should be made with attention:
When you sign yourself, think of all the mysteries contained in the cross. It is not enough to form it with the finger. You must first make it with faith and good will. . . . When you mark your breast, your eyes, and all your members with the sign of the cross, offer yourself as a victim pleasing to God.
St. John Chrysostom
The ritual of making the sign of the cross—if we aren’t careful—can become quick and sloppy. Every time we make the Sign of the Cross, in private or in public, we need to be attentive to what it is we are doing…Whether we are at Mass or in a restaurant it should be large and deliberate. Large because it is a witness to our faith and deliberate because it keeps our mind engaged on what we are doing.
3. The Sign of the Cross is rooted in ancient tradition.
The Sign of the Cross has its roots as a prayer all the way back to apostolic times. There is evidence from Tertullian who lived from 160 AD – 240AD and this is what he said about the Sign of the Cross:
At every forward step and movement, at every going in and out, when we put on our our clothes and shoes, when we bathe, when we sit at table, when we light the lamps, on seat, in all the ordinary actions of daily life, we trace upon the forehead the sign.
Tertullian,160 – 240 A.D.
And then you bless yourself with the sign of the holy cross. . . . And in this blessing you begin with your hand from the head downward, and then to the left side and after to the right side, in token and belief that Our Lord Jesus Christ came down from the head, that is from the Father into the earth by his holy Incarnation, and from the earth into the left side, that is hell, by his bitter Passion, and from thence unto his Father’s right side by his glorious Ascension.
Mirror of Our Lady (fifteenth century)
And St. Basil (ca. 329 – 79 A.D) said that the Apostles “taught us to mark with the sign of the cross those who put their hope in the Lord,” that is, those who presented themselves for baptism.
Even though the Sign of the Cross was made the way we make at mass with the thumb. This small Sign of the Cross was commonly used by the end of the 4th century and still is in use today at Mass, Baptism, Confirmation and Anointing of the Sick. Even on Ash Wednesday.
Then it continued changing from the thumb to two fingers and three fingers around the 9th century. This became popular because of its Trinitarian significance (the three fingers).
4. It is a Blessing
As a priest does when blessing people, he uses the Sign of the Cross. People also bless their children with the Sign of the Cross and the Church encourages us to do so.
“Through the grace of the sacrament of marriage, parents receive the responsibility and privilege of evangelizing their children. Parents should initiate their children at an early age into the mysteries of the faith of which they are the ‘first heralds’ for their children”
CCC 2225
Even when we make the Sign on ourselves and call on the Name of the Trinity, we bless ourselves as well.
5. The Sign of the Cross is a weapon against the devil.
St. Athanasius wrote that before the coming of Christ, demonic powers used to deceive the pagans into worshipping them and obeying their oracles. “But now,” he observed in the fourth century, “since the divine appearance of the Word (Christ), all this deception has come to an end. For by the Sign of the Cross, if a man will only use it, their deceptions are driven out.”
“The sign of the cross is the most terrible weapon against the Devil. Thus the Church wishes not only that we should have it continually in front of our minds to recall to us just what our souls are worth and what they cost Jesus Christ, but also that we should make it at every juncture ourselves: when we go to bed, when we awaken during the night, when we get up, when we begin any action, and, above all, when we are tempted.
We can say that a Christian who makes the Sign of the Cross with genuine religious sentiments, that is to say, when fully aware of the action which he is performing, makes all Hell tremble. But when we make the Sign of the Cross, we must make it not by habit but with respect, with attention and thinking of what we are doing. Ah, dear Lord, with what devout awe we should be filled when we make the Sign of the Cross upon ourselves and recall that we are pronouncing all that we hold holy and most sacred in our religion!
