Here - Redemptorists Limerick

THE CHURCH
ON THE STREETS
LIVING THE GOSPEL TODAY
THE MAGNIFICAT
My soul glorifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her lowliness;
henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
The Almighty works marvels for me.
Holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age
on those who fear him.
He puts forth his arm in strength
and scatters the proud-hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones
and raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things,
sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel his servant,
remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Amen.
THE MEMORARE
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help,
or sought your intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you do I come, before you I stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not my petitions,
but in your mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
A PRAYER TO MARY FROM THE OLD IRISH
Holy Virgin Mary, you are the joy of my soul.
You are the dew of heaven to relieve my
parching thirst.
You are the stream of God’s grace,
flowing out from his heart into mine.
You are the light of my darkened soul.
You are the healing of my wounds.
You are the strength of my weakness.
You are the consolation of my hardship.
You are the easing of my trouble.
You are the loosing of my chains.
You are the help of my salvation.
Hear me, I beg you, O Virgin most faithful.
Take pity on me.
Turn not away from my need.
Let my tears move you.
Let your own compassionate heart move
you.
I cry to you, Mother of God and lover of the
human race.
Hear me, poor sinner that I am, and grant
me the grace I ask from you,
O Mary, my Mother.
Amen.
THE CHURCH ON THE STREETS
LIVING THE GOSPEL TODAY
It can seem that good news is in short supply today. The economy is still
struggling to recover from the terrible collapse of five years ago; many
people remain out of work or in financial difficulty; many others have
been forced to emigrate.
The news from overseas isn’t very positive either. It is dominated by stories
of conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, by worries about the onset of a
new cold war, and concerns about the damaging impact of climate change.
The Church’s struggles continue too, as it tries to deal with the fallout from
the series of scandals that have engulfed it in recent years, as well as cope
with the challenge of a confident and aggressive secularism.
But it isn’t all bad news. For in March 2013 a new public figure appeared
who, by his words and actions, has fascinated people throughout the
world. His name is Francis, bishop of Rome.
Francis hasn’t changed any of the Church’s core teaching, but he has
changed the tone and emphasis. He has pointed the Church back to basics.
He has reminded Catholics and non-Catholics alike of why the Gospel is
good news, especially for the poor and those on the margins. He has
challenged Catholics to leave their comfort zones, to leave the security
of church and sacristy and living room, and go out onto the streets, out
into the periphery, out to where people are lost or hurt or abandoned,
and to stand in solidarity with them as good news people. Everything we
do, he says, must proclaim the good news of the Gospel. Everything we
do must point to God’s crazy love for all.
Jesus of Nazareth was a man of the streets. He walked the dusty roads
of Palestine preaching good news to the poor, to sinners and the street
people everyone else had abandoned.
So also did St Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists. He walked
the mountains and hills around Naples in southern Italy, bringing good
news to the poor.
Pope Francis reminds us that, as followers of Jesus, we must do the same.
We must be street people, who identify with and stand alongside the
weakest in society. This is our vocation. All our words and all our actions
must tell of good news, especially for those who need to hear it most.
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THE WORD
Then Jesus, filled with the power
of the Spirit, returned to Galilee,
HE SENT ME TO BRING THE GOOD NEWS
TO THE POOR
MISSION STATEMENT
and a report about him spread
through all the surrounding
country. He began to teach
in their synagogues and was
praised by everyone. When he
came to Nazareth, where he had
been brought up, he went to the
synagogue on the Sabbath day,
as was his custom. He stood
up to read, and the scroll of
the prophet Isaiah was given
to him. He unrolled the scroll
and found the place where it
was written: “The Spirit of the
Lord is upon me, because he
has anointed me to bring good
news to the poor. He has sent
me to proclaim release to the
captives and recovery of sight to
the blind, to let the oppressed
go free, to proclaim the year of
the Lord’s favour.” And he rolled
up the scroll, gave it back to
the attendant, and sat down.
The eyes of all in the synagogue
were fixed on him. Then he
began to say to them, “Today
this scripture has been fulfilled
in your hearing.” Luke 4:14-21
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THE MESSAGE
As soon as he appeared on the balcony the night he was elected, it
was obvious the new pope was going to bring a different style and
tone to the papacy.
People could see it straight away – how Pope Francis wore only the
simple white cassock and black shoes, how he refused to live in the
papal apartments, how he paid his own hotel bill, how he dispensed
with so many trappings of high office.
He was sending out a clear message – Christians must imitate Jesus
by living as simply and as humbly as possible. Our model must always
be Christ, the servant king.
A second thing that struck people is his language. In his homilies
and speeches, Pope Francis uses simple, direct words. It doesn’t
matter whether he is addressing diplomats or preaching a morning
homily to Vatican employees, he talks like a country pastor, using
images and stories everyone can understand. It is a style made for
the age of twitter.
He knows that it is essential to speak about faith in an uncomplicated
way that even the poorest and most uneducated person can follow.
People notice his humour, too. Francis smiles a lot and uses jokes and
self-deprecating remarks to make his point. The message he is sending
out is that Christians are good news people, who radiate hope.
Everything about us must show that we are bearers of good news.
But what people have noticed above all else is his concern for the
poor. By taking the name Francis in honour of Francis of Assisi – a
name no pope had ever before dared to take - the new bishop of
Rome couldn’t have made a stronger statement of intent: Catholics
are called to care passionately for the least among us, and for all
God’s creation.
Three days after his election, Francis said: “How I would like a poor
church for the poor!” Over and over again, he has expressed a desire
for a commitment to the poor to be at the heart of Christianity’s
role in the world.
What Francis is doing is reminding the Church of its origins, of the
vision set out by Jesus at the start of his public ministry. When he
stood up to read in the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus told his listeners
that he had been sent to proclaim good news to the poor, and liberty
to all who were oppressed. It was his inaugural address as Messiah,
a statement of God’s plan and concern for God’s people, especially
the least of all.
It was this same vision that inspired an Italian priest called Alphonsus
Liguori in the 18th century. Alphonsus could have chosen to live in his
home city of Naples, doing regular priestly work. He didn’t. Instead,
he went out into the mountains to bring good news to the poor, and
to assure them of God’s love. He founded a religious congregation,
called the Redemptorists, to do that same work of preaching good
news to the most abandoned.
But the vision that Jesus spelled out at the start of his ministry isn’t
meant just for official church types like priests and religious. It is for
all the baptised.
As Pope Francis has made clear, all Church members have an
obligation towards each other, and especially towards the poor
and the hurting. Each of us is called to take on board the vision
and mission of Jesus, and to make it a reality in our time and place.
“I prefer a Church which is
bruised, hurting and dirty
because it has been out on the
streets, rather than a Church
which is unhealthy from being
confined and from clinging to
its own security.”
Francis, Bishop of Rome
Our common vocation to live
out Christ’s love in practical
ways is the thread that runs
through the teachings of Pope
Francis and St Alphonsus.
We begin our novena by
reflecting on the missionary
spirit of the Church and our
own responsibility to be part
of this grace-filled endeavour.
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THE WORD
Jesus said, “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in
PAZZO PER AMORE
CRAZY IN LOVE
the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
THE MESSAGE
Over ten years ago, the singer Beyoncé
Son, so that everyone who believes in him may
released a single that immediately reached
not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God
No. 1 in the charts, and has become one of the
did not send the Son into the world to condemn
most performed songs of the last decade. It’s
the world, but in order that the world might
called Crazy in Love. According to Beyoncé, the
song talks “about how, when you are falling in
be saved through him. Those who believe in
love,
you do things that are out of character and
him are not condemned; but those who do
you do not really care because you are just open.”
not believe are condemned already, because
The lyrics refer to a state of romantic obsession.
they have not believed in the name of the
Being crazy in love means that you are prepared to
only Son of God. And this is the judgement,
do crazy things for the person or persons you love.
that the light has come into the world, and
More than two centuries before Beyoncé released
people loved darkness rather than light
her single, an Italian preacher was using the same
language to talk about God. The preacher was St
because their deeds were evil. For all
Alphonsus
Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists, and
who do evil hate the light and do not
he used the phrase “Pazzo per amore” to describe God’s
come to the light, so that their deeds
love for humanity. “Pazzo per amore” means “God’s
may not be exposed. But those who
crazy love.” According to St Alphonsus, God doesn’t just
do what is true come to the light,
love humanity; God is crazy with love for humanity. God
so that it may be clearly seen that
loves us so much God does wild and crazy things, such
as send his own Son among us to show us how to live, to
their deeds have been done in God.”
show us the way to salvation. No words can describe the
John 3:16-21
extent to which God loves us.
This kind of language is uncomfortable for some people. They
find it hard to believe in God’s crazy love. They struggle to
accept that God could possibly love them - weak and sinful
as they think they are, and unworthy of God’s affection. When
they look at themselves, they focus only on the negative. They
cannot believe they could be created in God’s own image.
Others may have grown up with an understanding of God as a
difficult taskmaster, always waiting to catch them out, eager
to pounce when they do wrong.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only
6
“God’s becoming man
is a great mystery! But
the reason for all this is
his love, a love which is
grace, generosity, a desire to
draw near, a love which does
not hesitate to offer itself in
This is something St Alphonsus struggled with himself. Growing up,
sacrifice for the beloved.”
he was taught to see God as a harsh judge, someone who is remote
and to be feared. And it left him full of scruples and anxiety, a
Francis, Bishop of Rome
tortured soul. Slowly, Alphonsus began to alter his image of God.
He began to see God not as a distant judge, eager to condemn,
but as a concerned parent, madly in love with humanity. And he
began to preach and write about this crazy love of God, using
the kind of effusive language that leaves the likes of Beyonce
in the shade.
The extent to which we are loved
This is the good news of the Gospel. God loves us – every one
and cherished by God remains one
of us – crazily, madly, deeply. No matter what we do or don’t
of the most consoling teachings of
do, God loves each of us with an absolute love. God loves
our faith. Let this abundant love of
us unconditionally. Knowing that God loves us means we
God
shape the way we pray. May
need no longer be afraid. We can be completely at ease
it guide us in our works of love for
with our God. It gives us the confidence to do our best to
love God and others in return.
others.
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THE WORD
In those days a decree
STORIES OF GOD’S CRAZY LOVE
SIGNS AND SYMBOLS
went out from Emperor
Augustus that all the world
should be registered. This
was the first registration
and was taken while
Quirinius was governor
of Syria. All went to their
own towns to be registered.
Joseph also went from the
town of Nazareth in Galilee
to Judea, to the city of David
called Bethlehem, because
he was descended from the
house and family of David.
He went to be registered with
THE MESSAGE
On 18 March 1958, a monk was going about his business in a city in
Kentucky when suddenly he had a revelation, a mystical experience.
Describing it later, he said: “In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth
and Walnut, in the center of the shopping district, I was suddenly
overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all those people, that
they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another
even though we were total strangers…” He felt, he said, the immense
joy of being human, a member of a race in which God himself became
incarnate. He longed to tell those people that “they are all walking
around shining like the sun.”
The monk was the famous Trappist, Thomas Merton, and today a
bronze plaque stands at the spot where Merton had his revelation.
Usually such plaques commemorate a political or literary figure, or
an historical event, but the one on that street corner in Louisville
celebrates Merton’s mystical moment. Merton had an intense
Mary, to whom he was engaged
and who was expecting a child.
While they were there, the
time came for her to deliver
her child. And she gave birth to
her firstborn son and wrapped
him in bands of cloth, and laid
him in a manger, because there
was no place for them in the inn.
Luke 2:1-7
THOMAS MERTON
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“Only in Christ crucified and risen can we find
experience of God’s presence and love. He saw the divine
in that ordinary setting on that ordinary day. He saw the
salvation and redemption. With Him, evil,
divine – the image of God - in the ordinary people walking
suffering, and death do not have the last
around him.
word, because he gives us hope and life:
What Thomas Merton realised in a profound way was that
he has transformed the Cross from being
God can be found in the ordinary, that the holy lurks in all of
an instrument of hate, defeat, and death
creation, and that all of creation points to the glory of God.
to being a sign of love, victory, triumph
Merton’s experience was nothing new – the Church has always
seen the world and all that belongs to it as sacramental, as
and life.”
revealing God’s grace and presence. Objects, events, people,
Francis, Bishop of Rome
nature, all have the capability to reveal God’s grace. It’s why
we have statues and holy water, incense and votive candles,
stained glass and crucifixes, saints and feast days, religious
medals and rosary beads, altars and shrines, holy pictures and
icons like that of our Mother of Perpetual Help. They speak to
our senses and emotions, they touch our hearts, they point to
the divine, they draw us into God.
St Alphonsus Liguori knew this instinctively. He knew that religion
isn’t something confined to the head, but to the emotions and
to the heart as well. For him, our God is an intensely passionate
God, who loved us so much he took on human form and died
on a cross for us. And so we need, not just words, but symbols
and images – sounds and smells, silence and music – if we are
to speak to God and hear God speak in the bottom of our heart.
Three of the most powerful symbols for Alphonsus were the crib,
the cross and the Eucharist. He used the image of the baby in the
crib to preach about the incarnation, to point to a God who is with
us and for us, always on our side. He used the image of the cross
to preach about suffering and redemption. Jesus’ humiliation and
To have a contemplative spirit
pain on the cross is heart-wrenching proof of how much God loves
us. He used the image of the Eucharist and the Blessed Sacrament
is to see God in the ordinary
to preach about God’s burning desire to be always accessible to us.
bits and pieces of daily life.
For Alphonsus, all of these symbols point to God’s crazy love. They
Cultivating that spirit of prayer
are tangible signs of the extent to which God loves us. They are
and awareness is a life-long task
reminders that all of creation points to and is infused with the glory
where we constantly remind
of God, as Thomas Merton experienced so intensely on that Louisville
ourselves of God’s abiding
street more than half a century ago.
presence and amazing grace.
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THE WORD
Now all the tax-collectors
GOD WANTS TO SAVE US ALL
NO WEAK LINKS
ST ALPHONSUS LIGUORI
the Church needs most today
is the ability to heal wounds
and sinners were coming
and to warm the hearts of the
near to listen to him. And the
Pharisees and the scribes were
grumbling and saying, “This
fellow welcomes sinners and
eats with them.” So he told
them this parable: “Or what
woman having ten silver coins,
if she loses one of them, does
not light a lamp, sweep the
house, and search carefully
until she finds it? When she
has found it, she calls together
her friends and neighbours,
saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I
have found the coin that I had
lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there
is joy in the presence of the
angels of God over one sinner
who repents.” Luke 15:1-3.8-10
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“I see clearly that the thing
THE MESSAGE
A popular quiz show on BBC television some years ago was called The
Weakest Link. It was a quick fire general knowledge quiz, hosted by
Anne Robinson, in which the contestants had to decide at the end
of each round which of their number should be eliminated. They
voted for the person they considered to be the weakest performer,
whose failure to answer a question would have broken a chain of
correct answers and thus cost the team money. After the person was
voted off, he or she would then by coldly dismissed by Anne with the
cutting phrase: “You are the weakest link. Goodbye.” At which point
the unfortunate weakest link would have to take the embarrassing
walk of shame out of the studio.
In the bible, one of the striking things about the great figures of the
Old and New Testament is their sense of their own weakness. They
had no illusions about how wonderful or worthy they were. Even
though God had chosen them to do great things – to be prophets, to
be Church leaders - they were painfully aware they were not perfect.
St Paul regarded himself as one who had done wrong. “I am the
least of the apostles,” he tells the people of Corinth. “In fact, since I
persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle.”
St Peter, the first pope, was acutely aware of his own sinfulness, too.
After all, he had denied Jesus three times.
The prophets and apostles saw themselves as unworthy servants
of God. They knew all too well just how weak and fragile and sinful
they were.
But they knew something else too: that God had not called them
because they were perfect. Rather, God had called them in spite of
their imperfections. God had chosen them even though they were
sinners. God had seen the goodness in them, their potential, and
that was enough for God.
This is the great truth of our faith: God sees the good in each of us,
God sees the potential in all people, and God loves everybody so
much he wants them to become saints. Nobody – no matter who
faithful; it needs nearness,
proximity. I see the Church as a
field hospital after battle... The
Church sometimes has locked
itself up in small things, in
small-minded rules. The most
important thing is the first
proclamation: Jesus Christ has
saved you.”
Francis, Bishop of Rome
they are or what they have done or what they have failed to do – is
beyond God’s mercy and salvation.
St Alphonsus Liguori knew this. He knew that God isn’t interested in
saving a select few ‘good’ people but wants to save everyone. That’s
why Alphonsus set out to minister to the illiterate poor in the hills
around Naples who had been abandoned by the Church. That’s why
his colleague Fr Sarnelli ministered to the prostitutes of Naples who
had been written off by everybody as outcasts beyond redemption.
Alphonsus and Sarnelli knew that nobody is beyond the reach of God,
and that God wants all to be saved. Every single person is called to
holiness. The key is prayer. If we try to develop a relationship with
God and do our best to live good lives, then God will do the rest.
Unlike the unfortunate contestants in that quiz show, in God’s eyes
there are no weakest links, no hopeless cases, no lost souls. God
never gives up on anyone. He reaches out in love and mercy to each
and every human being. All we have to do is respond.
To know we are forgiven and to
feel we are loved are powerful
forces in our lives. When we
fail to see the goodness within
ourselves, God fills the void
with love and mercy. God sees
the potential in each one of us.
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THE WORD
Jesus said to his disciples, “Pray then
OUR RESPONSE – PRAYER
PRAY AS YOU ARE
in this way: Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name. Your kingdom
come. Your will be done, on earth as it
is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread. And forgive us our debts, as we
also have forgiven our debtors. And
do not bring us to the time of trial,
but rescue us from the evil one.”
Matthew 6:9-13
THE MESSAGE
Anne McClean was raised a Catholic and brought her children
up in the faith, “but it didn’t mean anything,” she says. She had
parted mentally from the Church years earlier as a child, when
a priest in confession told her to “speak up or get out.” She left.
Years later, she realised she had everything she could want a wonderful husband, children, career, cars, holidays, and yet
“something was missing.”
One day through her work, she was introduced to a priest, called
Fr Tom. After a while she invited him home to meet her husband
and family. She was fascinated by the way he spoke of “my prayer.”
Over dinner, he told her husband about a form of contemplative
prayer that he used, called Centering Prayer. “In miniscule detail I
remember everything he said,” she recounts.
The next day, without telling anyone, Anne started to do the prayer.
It became a daily practise. Three months later her husband turned to
her and said, “There is something different about you.”
“He had noticed differences I hadn’t noticed myself,” she says.
And she has changed. At work, she is no longer the ‘ice queen’ but
accessible to all, and trauma resulting from a childhood marred by an
alcoholic father has been healed.
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“How do we pray? Do we
Ten years on from her meeting with Fr Tom, her life is firmly rooted in
prayer. Each morning she rises at 6.10 am and goes to her ‘sacred space’
pray piously and calmly
in a living room. “I quiet myself down and take a piece of scripture,
out of habit or do we place
often the Gospel of the day. Then I pray for 30 minutes.”
ourselves courageously
In the evening, when she comes home after a hectic day at work, her
before the Lord to ask for
first stop is the sacred space, for more prayer. “I am on my own, but
grace,
to ask for what we are
I feel connected to everyone else.” In her spare time she now also
praying for? Prayer that is not
works as a spiritual director, and has a great love for the Eucharist.
Anne discovered the power of prayer and it has changed her life.
courageous is not real prayer.”
The method she uses is called Centering Prayer – a form of silent
Francis, Bishop of Rome
contemplation. But there are lots of different ways to pray. In fact,
how we pray and the amount of time we spend praying are not
nearly as important as that we do pray.
Prayer is necessary because it is how we connect with God. It’s how
we relate to the one who has created us and loves us with a crazy
love. A relationship cannot exist if there is no communication.
It’s like knowing about a relative who lives in another town or
country but never contacting that person. For a relationship to
exist, to develop and to grow, there has to be regular contact.
Prayer is how we connect with the God who has shaped us
into life.
Prayer is necessary because we depend on God. We know
that God created us, and that all we have and are, we owe to
God. Prayer is how we express thanks and praise; it is how we
give glory to God, and how we seek God’s help. Like the child
dependent on its parent, we turn to our heavenly parent for
all we need. Prayer is the proper response to the God who
loves us with a crazy love.
Prayer changes us. As Anne discovered, nurturing a
relationship with God changes how you relate to God and
how you relate to those around you. You develop a deeper
Prayer is a conversation with God
awareness of God’s presence. You become less focused on
where we talk and God listens and
yourself and more tuned into the needs of others and of
God’s creation. You see things differently. You love more.
God talks and we listen. We connect
You trust more. You thank more. You become a new person.
with God today in focusing on the Our
That’s the promise and the reward of a prayer relationship
Father, which centres our minds on the
with our God of love.
grace of God’s presence.
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THE WORD
Now before the
OUR RESPONSE – SERVICE
FOOT-WASHERS
festival of the Passover,
THE MESSAGE
Jesus knew that his hour
On Holy Thursday 2013, just a few days after his election, Pope Francis
had come to depart from
did something new for a pope. He celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s
this world and go to the
Supper not in St Peter’s Basilica where it was originally scheduled
Father. Having loved his own
but in a Rome juvenile detention facility. About 50 girls and boys
who were in the world, he
attended. He washed the feet of 12 of them, including two girls
loved them to the end. The devil
and two Muslims.
The ceremony of washing another’s feet is important, the pope
had already put it into the heart
said, because it shows that “the person who is most high among
of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to
us must be at the service of the others.” It also means that
betray him. And during supper
“we have to help one another, each one.”
Jesus, knowing that the Father had
What the pope did that night was simply a reflection of what
given all things into his hands, and
he has been doing throughout his ministry. He wants a
that he had come from God and was
Church of the poor. He wants a Church of service. He wants
to emphasise that the values Jesus lived by are the values
going to God, got up from the table, took
that all Christians must live by – simplicity, humility,
off his outer robe, and tied a towel around
solidarity with the abandoned and the suffering. For Pope
himself. Then he poured water into a basin
Francis, as for Jesus of Nazareth, the act of washing of
and began to wash the disciples’ feet and
feet is not a clever PR stunt – but a statement of how
to wipe them with the towel that was tied
we should live.
around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said
And that’s how we will be judged on the last day,
to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
according to St Matthew. Of all the Gospel stories,
Matthew’s account of the last judgement is surely
Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am
the most challenging. On judgement day, on what
doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to
basis will God separate the sheep from the goats,
him, “You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered,
the saved from the lost? Not on how often we
‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon
went to Mass or the sacraments. Not on how
Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my
much we put in the collection plate. Not even
hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has
on whether we served the Church in some
capacity. But rather on something altogether
bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is
more demanding… I was hungry and you
entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.”
gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave
For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said,
me drink; I was a stranger and you made
“Not all of you are clean.” John 13:1-11
me welcome, I was naked and you clothed
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“When we are generous in welcoming people and sharing
something with them – some food, a place in our homes,
our time – not only do we no longer remain poor: we are
enriched. I am well aware that when someone needing
food knocks at your door, you always find a way of
sharing food; as the proverb says, one can always ‘add
more water to the beans’! Is it possible to add more
water to the beans? Always? And you do so with
love, demonstrating that true riches consist not in
materials things, but in the heart!”
Francis, Bishop of Rome
Allowing ourselves to be shaped by the
actions and gestures of Jesus will lead
to greater self-esteem and fulfilment
in our lives. People, who live lives of
service for the love of God, know the
true meaning of the foot-washing
scene in John’s Gospel.
me; sick and you visited me; in prison and you came to see
me. For as often as you did this to one of the least of these
sisters or bothers of mine, you did it to me.
At the end of the day each of us will be judged on how good we
were at washing feet. And that is the frightening thing. Because
we know how often we fail to wash feet, how often we fail to see
Jesus in the least of our brothers and sisters, how often the last
thing we want to do is to see Jesus in those who are in need. It asks
too much of us. Far easier to donate to charity or to say a prayer.
And yet serving others is what each of us is called to do. Because God
loves us with a crazy love, we are called to love in return. We must
wash feet. It is as simple and as challenging as that.
15
THE WORD
Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said to
those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever
OUR RESPONSE –
RECONCILIATION
GOOD AS NEW
murders shall be liable to judgement.’ But I say to you that
THE MESSAGE
A bad experience of the sacrament put Greg
to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you
Kandra off confession for years. One Saturday
will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’
evening just before Mass he asked the priest to
you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you
hear his confession. The priest agreed to do so. But
are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember
Greg felt that the priest didn’t really listen to him; he
felt the priest was simply going through the motions,
that your brother or sister has something against
anxious
to get it over with as quickly as possible, and
you, leave your gift there before the altar and
so Greg left the confessional feeling worse than when
go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister,
he went in.
and then come and offer your gift. Come to
He felt so annoyed about it, he says, that he went for a
terms quickly with your accuser while you
long time without darkening the door of a reconciliation
are on the way to court with him, or your
room or slipping behind the velvet curtain of a confessional.
accuser may hand you over to the judge,
Years later, the twisting road of his life led him back to the
church and the sacraments. There were many reasons for his
and the judge to the guard, and you will
return,
he says: the deaths of his parents, his wife’s prayers, and
be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you,
a growing sense that there had to be more to life than just getting
you will never get out until you have
up and going to work and planning where to go out for dinner or
paid the last penny.”
where to spend the next holiday. Before long he became a daily
Matthew 5:21-26
communicant and, later, an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist.
Then one day he decided to give confession another chance and he
visited a church popular with confession-goers. After entering the
small reconciliation room and closing the door, he found himself seated
opposite a kindly old friar wearing the familiar brown robe of his order.
He cleared his throat and began: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It
has been 10 years since my last confession.”
The priest broke into a small smile. “Welcome back,” he said. “It’s good
to see you again.” They had never seen each other before in their lives but
Greg knew what he meant.
And with that, he began his confession. The friar listened, and nodded. When
it was over he gave Greg a mild penance and some gentle advice: “Just live the
Gospel,” he said softly. “Just live the Gospel.” He sighed and smiled. “There you
are. Good as new. God bless you.”
if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable
16
“From the
It was, according to Greg, the first time in a long time that those words stuck. And
he says that when he left that little room he did feel, in fact, “good as new.” So
beginning, God’s
he returned a few weeks later, and a few weeks after that—again and again
message was
and again. It became a habit, a practice that has had a transforming effect on
one of restoring
his life. Some time later he was ordained a Permanent Deacon and he now
what was broken,
ministers in a parish in New York City.
reuniting
what had
Greg Kandra gave confession a second chance and he was delighted he did.
been divided. Walls,
He experienced the power and the beauty of the sacrament when it is
celebrated as it should.
chasms, differences
In confession, the focus is not on our sins but on God’s bountiful
which still exist today are
forgiveness, not on our failings but on God’s mercy, not on raking over
destined to disappear. The
the past but on being restored, set free, made whole again. Good as new.
Church cannot neglect this
The profound act of being reconciled with God enables us to live
lesson: She is called to be a
resurrected lives every time we emerge from the confessional. We
means of reconciliation.”
hope again. We are given grace. We are good as new.
That is the promise and the invitation the sacrament of reconciliation
offers each one of us. It is a promise and an experience of God’s
crazy love. It’s an invitation we should respond to during this
novena and as often as we can.
Francis, Bishop of Rome
POPE FRANCIS
GOES TO CONFESSION
This day of reconciliation draws us into the abundant
love and mercy of God. The experience of entering into
the sacrament of confession gives us a tangible glimpse
of the ease with which God forgives. We are renewed
and restored in our encounter with Christ.
17
THE WORD
In those days Mary set out and
MARY: TRULY OUR SISTER
SOUL SISTER
went with haste to a Judean
town in the hill country,
where she entered the house
of Zechariah and greeted
Elizabeth. When Elizabeth
heard Mary’s greeting, the
child leapt in her womb. And
Elizabeth was filled with the
Holy Spirit and exclaimed with
a loud cry, “Blessed are you
among women, and blessed
is the fruit of your womb.
And why has this happened
to me, that the mother of my
Lord comes to me? For as soon
as I heard the sound of your
greeting, the child in my womb
leapt for joy. And blessed is
she who believed that there
would be a fulfilment of what
was spoken to her by the Lord.”
And Mary remained with her
for about three months and
then returned to her home.
Luke 1:39-45.56
18
THE MESSAGE
They called her the ‘Angel of the Amazon.’ Her name was Sister
Dorothy Stang and for nearly 40 years she lived in Brazil fighting
for two things: the poor peasant farmers who were being exploited
by loggers, miners and ranchers, and the tropical rainforest, which
was being ravaged to the point of irreversible destruction by
multinational corporations.
The 73-year-old American was a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame
do Namur. Over the years, she developed sustainable agricultural
programmes which provided jobs and food for the indigenous
people. She also opened schools and established health clinics.
Sr Dorothy chose to live in poverty in order to help others living
in poverty. She had a passion for people of all cultures, for social
justice, peacemaking, and for the environment. She possessed
few material things: a mix-match of colourful clothing, spartan
furnishings and her bible, which she carried everywhere and which
she called her “weapon.”
Tragically, on 12 February 2005, Sr Dorothy became a martyr. In the
days preceding her murder, she was attempting to halt illegal logging
where land sharks had interests but no legal rights. As she made her
way along a muddy Amazon jungle road to the village where she
lived, two gunmen approached
her. They had been hired by a
local landowner who was upset
by Sr Dorothy’s activities. The
gunmen asked her if she was
carrying a weapon. She reached
into her bag, pulled out her bible
and reputedly said, “This is my
only weapon.”
She read to the men. They
listened to two verses, stepped
back and aimed their guns. Sr
SR DOROTHY STANG
Dorothy raised her bible toward
them and six shots were fired at point blank range, killing her instantly.
Following her death, Brazil’s Human Rights Minister described her as
“a legend, a person considered a symbol of the fight for human rights.”
Sr Dorothy spent almost four decades bringing the love of God to the
poorest of the poor. She left her home in the United States to travel a
long journey to Brazil to be with them. She came, bringing only her
faith and her bible. And she stayed with them - as companion, friend,
advocate, sister, mother - to the end.
Sr Dorothy was following in the footsteps of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Mary also left home to stay with her cousin Elizabeth when she was
in need; she journeyed with her Son Jesus throughout his life; she
stood in solidarity with the poor and oppressed; she said a constant,
wholehearted ‘yes’ to God.
As Sr Dorothy was mother and sister to the voiceless poor of the
Amazon, so Mary is our mother and sister. But we don’t look to her
simply as our mother and sister; we look to her as our model. She
shows us what it means to be attentive to God’s will. She shows us
what it means to hear the word of God and keep it. She shows us how
to find salvation.
St Alphonsus Liguori had extraordinary devotion to Mary. He saw her
as being close to the ordinary people, someone with whom they could
identify. And he encouraged the people to be close to her. A statue of
Mary, before which Alphonsus prayed when he was up in the hills with
the abandoned poor, is called Santa Maria dei Monti. It shows Mary
holding the infant Jesus in one
hand and the scriptures in the
S. MARIA DEI MONTI
other. Mary brought Jesus, the
Word of God, into the world and
she was obedient to the Word of
God throughout her life. As was
Sr Dorothy Stang. That is why
Alphonsus looked to Mary with
such affection and devotion.
That is why we honour Mary as
our sister, model and mother.
That is why we can turn to her
in all our needs.
“She is our Mother, but we
can also say that she is our
representative, our sister, our
eldest sister, she is the first of
the redeemed who has arrived
in heaven.”
Francis, Bishop of Rome
Unwavering
in
her
determination and unbeaten
in her love for her son, the
image of the grieving mother
standing at the foot of the
cross strikes a chord within
the human heart every time
we recite the Hail Mary.
Somewhere within us is a
desire to seek out Mary as
a source of strength and an
inspiration in our lives.
19
THE WORD
Then Jesus, filled with the power of
A CHURCH OUT ON THE STREETS
STREET PEOPLE
the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a
report about him spread through all
FR ALEC REID C.Ss.R.
the surrounding country. He began
to teach in their synagogues and
was praised by everyone. When he
came to Nazareth, where he had been
brought up, he went to the synagogue
on the Sabbath day, as was his custom.
He stood up to read, and the scroll of
the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He
unrolled the scroll and found the place
where it was written: “The Spirit of the
Lord is upon me, because he has anointed
me to bring good news to the poor. He has
sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind, to let
the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year
of the Lord’s favour.” And he rolled up the
scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat
down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were
fixed on him. Then he began to say to them,
“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your
hearing.” Luke 4:14-21
20
THE MESSAGE
It’s an unforgettable image. A priest kneels over two naked
and battered bodies. His brow is deeply furrowed, his face
anguished and distressed. He has just given the men the
last rites and a bloodstain is visible on his face. The blood
of one of the deceased.
The photo of Fr Alec Reid kneeling beside the two dead
soldiers remains one of the graphic icons of the Troubles.
It captures the sense of fear, of division, of hopelessness so
many people felt after years of bombings and shootings.
The events in Belfast on that terrible day in March 1988
suggested that things might get even worse. But in
the midst of that awful darkness something good was
happening. What those looking at the picture of Fr Reid
didn’t know was that, in his pocket, he was carrying
a position paper from Sinn Fein that would trigger
the Hume-Adams dialogue. It too was stained with
blood. That position paper was part of a slow process
of negotiation that would lead to the Good Friday
Agreement.
“We need to come out of ourselves and head
It was something Fr Reid had worked for unceasingly.
For decades he laboured behind the scenes trying to
for the periphery. We need to avoid the spiritual
bring the opposing sides together. He visited prisons,
sickness of a Church that is wrapped up in its
he attended funerals, he met paramilitary leaders,
own world: when the Church becomes like this,
he wrote letters and position papers, he contacted
it grows sick. It is true that going out onto the
politicians, he walked the streets. Though based in
street implies the risk of accidents happening,
Clonard monastery, he spent his time out amidst the
as they would to any ordinary man or woman.
people, at the coalface, on the streets. He knew that if
he wanted to help end the violence, he couldn’t stay in
But if the Church stays wrapped up in itself,
his monastery, he had to be out on the streets. He had
it will age. And if I had to choose between
to be with the people. He had to get his hands and face
a wounded Church that goes out onto the
dirty. And he did.
streets and a sick withdrawn Church, I would
When he died in November 2013, Fr Reid was
definitely choose the first one.”
acknowledged as one of the main architects of the peace
Francis, Bishop of Rome
process. A man whose quiet, persistent street walking
saved lives and made a real difference for good.
Pope Francis has said that priests must be shepherds who
live with “the smell of the sheep.” In other words, they
How challenged do we feel by
mustn’t stay in their rectory or church, cut off from people.
today’s Gospel reading? Ministering
They must go out to where the people are, out onto the
to the sick, the homeless and the
streets, especially to the lost and poor. It was something
marginalised was a task undertaken
he did himself when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires – he
by the early disciples so that people
would visit the shantytowns and back streets and prisons. It’s
might know what being Church
what took St Alphonsus out into the streets of Naples and
really means. Infusing ourselves
up into the hills beyond the city. It’s what Jesus did after his
with this key message is at the
inaugural address in the synagogue in Nazareth – he reached
out to those the better class of people didn’t want to touch.
heart of our faith.
It’s something countless followers of Jesus have done down
through the centuries – they have gone into the slums and out
on the streets and into mission territory far from home in order
to bring the good news to the poor.
It’s something each of us is called to do, also, by virtue of our
baptism. Our faith is not a private affair. It’s meant to be shared.
We are called to go from church to street, from home to street,
to witness to the Gospel, to stand in solidarity with those who
suffer or are on the margins, to work to build God’s kingdom of
justice, peace and love. We must be street people.
21
01
Ag Críost an síol, ag Críost an
fómhar;
in iothlainn Dé go dtugtar sinn.
Ag Críost an mhuir, ag Críost an
t-iasc;
líonta Dé go gcastar sinn.
Ó fhás go haois, ó aois go bás,
do dhá láimh, a Chríost, anall
tharainn.
Ó bhás go críoch nach críoch ach
athfhás,
i bParthas na ngrás go rabhaimid.
02
Let us build a house where love
can dwell
and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell
how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and
visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end
divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where prophets
speak,
and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to
seek
to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as
witness
22
HYMNS 01 – 10
and a symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of
Jesus:
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
03
All that I am, all that I do,
All that I’ll ever have,
I offer now to you.
Take and sanctify these gifts
for your honour, Lord.
Knowing that I love and serve you
is enough reward.
All that I am, all that I do,
all that I’ll ever have I offer now
to you.
All that I dream,
all that I pray,
all that I’ll ever make,
I give you today.
Take and sanctify these gifts
for your honour, Lord.
Knowing that I love and serve you
is enough reward.
All that I am, all that I do,
all that I’ll ever have I offer now
to you.
04
Amazing Grace,
how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
T’was Grace that taught
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and
snares
we have already come.
T’was Grace that brought us safe
thus far
and Grace will lead us home.
The Lord has promised good to me;
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.
05
As I kneel before you,
As I bow my head in prayer,
Take this day, make it yours,
And fill me with your love.
Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum, benedicta tu.
All I have I give you,
Ev’ry dream and wish are yours
Mother of Christ, Mother of mine,
Present them to my Lord.
As I kneel before you,
And I see your smiling face,
Ev’ry thought, ev’ry word
is lost in your embrace.
06
You shall cross the barren desert,
but you shall not die of thirst.
You shall wander far in safety
though you do not know the way.
You shall speak your words in
foreign lands
and all will understand.
You shall see the face of God and live.
Be not afraid, I go before you
always.
Come follow me, and I will give
you rest.
If you pass through raging waters
in the sea, you shall not drown.
If you walk amid the burning
flames,
you shall not be harmed.
If you stand before the power of hell,
and death is at your side,
know that I am with you through
it all.
07
Be still for the Presence of the Lord,
the Holy One is here.
Come, bow before him now
with reverence and fear.
In Him no sin is found,
we stand on holy ground.
Be still for the presence of the Lord,
the Holy One is here.
Be still for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around.
He burns with holy fire,
with splendour He is crowned.
How awesome is the sight,
our radiant King of light!
Be still for the glory of the Lord is
shining all around.
Be still for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place.
He comes to cleanse and heal,
to minister his Grace.
No work too hard for Him –
in faith, receive from Him.
Be still for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place.
08
Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.
We are pilgrims on a journey,
and companions on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and bear the load.
I will hold the Christ-light for you
in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping;
when you laugh I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow
till we’ve seen this journey through.
When we sing to God in heaven
we shall find such harmony,
born of all we’ve known together
of Christ’s love and agony.
Brother, sister, let me serve you,
let me be as Christ to you;
pray that I may have the grace to
let you be my servant too.
09
Céad míle fáilte romhat,
a Íosa, a Íosa
Céad míle fáilte romhat, a Íosa.
Céad míle fáilte romhat,
a Shlánaitheoir,
Céad míle, míle fáilte romhat,
Íosa, a Íosa.
Glóir agus moladh duit,
a Íosa, a Íosa.
Glóir agus moladh duit, a Íosa.
Glóir agus moladh duit,
a Shlánaitheoir,
Glóir, moladh, agus búiochas duit,
Íosa, a Íosa.
10
Christ be beside me,
Christ be before me,
Christ be behind me,
King of my heart.
Christ be within me,
Christ be below me,
Christ be above me,
never to part.
Christ on my right hand,
Christ on my left hand.
Christ all around me,
shield in the strife.
Christ in my sleeping,
Christ in my sitting,
Christ in my rising,
light of my life.
Christ be in all hearts
23
HYMNS 11 – 20
thinking about me,
Christ be in all tongues
telling of me,
Christ be the vision
in eyes that see me,
in ears that hear me,
Christ ever be.
11
Come as you are,
that’s how I want you.
Come as you are, feel quite at home.
Close to my heart, loved and forgiven,
Come as you are, why stand alone.
No need to fear, love sets no limits,
No need to fear, love never ends.
Don’t run away, shamed and
disheartened
Rest in my love, trust me again.
I came to call sinners,
not just the virtuous.
I came to bring peace, not to condemn.
Each time you fail, to live by my promise,
Why do you think I’d love you the less.
Come as you are, that’s how I love you,
Come as you are, trust me again.
Nothing can change the love that I
bear you,
All will be well, come as you are.
12
Diverse in culture, nation, race,
We come together by your grace.
God, let us be a meeting ground
Where hope and healing love are found.
God, let us be a bridge of care
24
Connecting people everywhere.
Help us confront all fear and hate
And lust for power that separate.
When chasms widen, storms arise,
O, Holy Spirit, make us wise.
Let our resolve, like steel, be strong
To stand with those who suffer wrong.
God, let us be a table spread
With gifts of love and broken bread,
Where all find welcome, grace attends,
And enemies arise as friends.
13
Give me joy in my heart, keep me
singing,
Give me joy in my heart, I pray,
Give me joy in my heart, keep me
singing,
Keep me singing till the break of day.
Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna,
Sing Hosanna to the King of Kings.
Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna,
Sing Hosanna to the King.
Give me faith in my heart, keep me
searching, etc.
Give me hope in my heart, keep me
striving, etc.
Give me love in my heart, keep me
serving, etc.
14
God, beyond our dreams,
you have stirred in us a memory,
you have placed your powerful spirit
in the hearts of humankind.
All around us, we have known you;
all creation lives to hold you,
In our living and our dying
we are bringing you to birth.
Angels, saints and nations sing;
“Praise be Jesus Christ our King; Lord of life, earth, sky and sea, King of love on Calvary!”
God, beyond all names,
you have made us in your image,
we are like you, we reflect you,
we are woman, we are man.
King whose name creation thrills,
rule our minds, our hearts, our wills,
till in peace each nation rings
with thy praises, King of kings.
God, beyond all words,
all creation tells your story,
you have shaken with our laughter,
you have trembled with our tears.
15
Hail, Queen of heav’n,
the ocean star,
guide of the wanderer here below
thrown on life’s surge, we claim
thy care;
save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, star of the sea,
pray for the wanderer, pray for me.
O gentle, chaste and spotless maid,
we sinners make our prayers
through thee;
remind thy Son that he has paid
the price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, star of the sea,
pray for the sinner, pray for me.
16
Hail Redeemer, King divine!
Priest and Lamb, the throne is
thine; King, whose reign shall never cease,
Prince of everlasting peace.
17
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the
night.
I will go, Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them,
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my words to them,
Whom shall I send?
18
O Lord my God, when I in awesome
wonder,
Consider all the works thy hands
have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling
thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe
displayed.
news of happiness.
Our God reigns, our God reigns
Then sings my soul,
my Saviour God, to thee,
How great thou art,
how great thou art.
Then sings my soul,
my Saviour God, to thee,
How great thou art,
how great thou art!
You watchmen lift your voices
joyfully as one;
shout for your King, your King
See eye to eye the Lord restoring
Zion,
our God reigns, our God reigns!
And when I think, that God his Son
not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take
it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly
bearing,
He bled and died, to take away
my sin.
When Christ shall come, with
shouts of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall
fill my heart.
Then I shall bow in humble
adoration,
And there proclaim: “My God, how
great thou art!”
19
How lovely on the mountains are
the feet of him,
who brings good news, good news,
announcing peace, proclaiming
Our God reigns, our God reigns.
Our God reigns, our God reigns.
Waste places of Jerusalem break
forth with joy,
We are redeemed, redeemed.
The Lord has saved and comforted
his people,
our God reigns, our God reigns!
20
In Christ there is no east or west,
in Him no south or north;
but one great fellowship of love
throughout the whole wide earth.
In Him shall true hearts everywhere
their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord,
close-binding humankind.
Join hands, then, members of the faith
whatever your race may be!
Who serve each other in Christ’s love
are surely kin to me.
In Christ now meet both east and west,
in him meet south and north;
25
all Christly souls are one in him
throughout the whole wide earth.
21
I will never forget you, my people;
I have carved you on the palm of
my hand.
I will never forget you, I will not
leave you orphaned.
I will never forget my own.
Does a mother forget her baby?
Or a woman the child within her
womb?
Yet even if these forget, yes even if
these forget,
I will never forget my own.
22
Let us be bread,
blessed by the Lord,
broken and shared, life for the world.
Let us be wine, love freely poured.
Let us be one in the Lord.
I am the bread of life, broken for all.
Eat now and hunger no more.
One faith, one hope, one symbol
of love
given to us in this one bread,
one cup. O let us be one in the Lord.
You are my friends if you keep my
commands,
no longer servants but friends.
See how my people have nothing
to eat.
Give them the bread that is you.
26
As God has loved me so I have loved
you.
Go and live on in my love.
23
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E’en though it be cross
That raiseth me.
Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
Deep in Thy Sacred Heart,
Let me abide;
Thou that hast bled for me,
Sorrowed and died,
Sweet shall my weeping be,
Grief surely leading me
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.
24
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there is hatred,
let me bring your love.
Where there is injury your pardon, Lord.
And where there’s doubt true faith
in you.
Make me a channel of your peace.
Where there’s despair in life, let me
bring hope.
Where there is darkness only light
and where there’s sadness ever joy.
Oh, Master, grant that I may never
seek
so much to be consoled as to
console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love with all my
soul.
Make me a channel of your peace.
it is in pardoning that we are
pardoned,
in giving to all men that we receive,
and in dying that we’re born to
eternal life.
25
Seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and His righteousness;
and all these things shall be added
unto you.
Allelu, Alleluia.
Ask and it shall be given unto you.
Seek and you shall find.
Knock and the door shall be opened
unto you.
Allelu, Alleluia.
We do not live by bread alone,
but by every word;
that proceeds from the mouth of
the Lord.
Allelu, Alleluia.
26
Soul of my Saviour,
sanctify my breast;
Body of Christ, be thou my saving
guest;
Blood of my Saviour, bathe me in
thy tide
wash me ye waters flowing from
his side.
Strength and protection may thy
Passion be;
O blessed Jesus hear and answer me;
deep in thy wounds, Lord, hide and
shelter me;
so shall I never, never part from thee.
Guard and defend me from the foe
malign;
in death’s dread moments make me
only thine;
call me, and bid me come to thee
on high,
where I may praise thee with thy
saints for aye.
27
Sweet sacrament divine,
hid in thy earthly home,
lo, round thy lowly shrine,
with suppliant hearts we come;
Jesus, to thee our voice we raise,
with songs of love and heartfelt praise,
sweet sacrament divine,
sweet sacrament divine.
Sweet sacrament of peace,
dear home of ev’ry heart,
where restless yearnings cease,
and sorrows all depart,
there in thine ear all trustfully
we tell our tale of misery,
sweet sacrament of peace,
sweet sacrament of peace.
28
The love I have for you, my Lord,
is only a shadow of your love for me:
only a shadow of your love for me;
your deep abiding love.
My own belief in you, my Lord,
is only a shadow of your faith in me;
only a shadow of your faith in me;
your deep and lasting faith.
My life is in your hands;
my life is in your hands.
My love for you will grow, my God.
Your light in me will shine.
The dream I have today, my Lord,
is only a shadow of your dreams
for me;
only a shadow of all that will be;
if I but follow you.
29
Take our bread, we ask you,
take our hearts, we love you,
take our lives, oh Father,
we are yours, we are yours.
Yours as we stand at the table you set,
yours as we eat the bread our
hearts can’t forget.
We are the signs of your life with
us yet;
we are yours, we are yours.
Your holy people stand washed in
your blood,
Spirit filled, yet hungry, we await
your food.
HYMNS 21 – 31
Poor though we are, we have
brought ourselves to you:
we are yours, we are yours.
30
The bells of the Angelus
calleth to pray.
In sweet tones announcing the
sacred Ave.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.
Immaculate Mary, our hearts are
all thine.
Protect us, thy children, who kneel
at thy shrine.
O bless us, dear Lady, with blessings
from heaven,
And to our petitions let answer be
given.
31
This is my body,
broken for you,
bringing you wholeness,
making you free.
Take it and eat it,
and when you do,
do it in love for me.
This is my blood,
poured out for you,
bringing forgiveness, making you
free.
Take it and drink it,
and when you do,
do it in love for me.
27
Back to my Father
soon I shall go.
Do not forget me;
then you will see
I am still with you,
and you will know
you’re very close to me.
Filled with my Spirit,
how you will grow!
You are my branches;
I am the tree.
If you are faithful,
others will know
you are alive in me.
Love one another I have loved you,
and I have shown you
how to be free;
serve one another,
and when you do,
do it in love for me.
32
Let’s all join together
in communion sweet,
Walk, walk in the light.
And love one another till the
Saviour we meet,
Walk, walk, in the light.
Walk in the light
Walk in the light
Walk in the light
Walk in the light of God.
28
Jesus died on Calvary,
Walk, walk, in the light,
To save the lost like you and me;
Walk, walk, in the light.
Jesus did what He said,
Walk, walk, in the light,
He healed the sick and He raised
the dead;
Walk, walk, in the light.
33
When creation was begun,
God had chosen you to be
Mother of his blessed Son,
Holy Mary, full of grace.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.
When creation was restored,
You were there beside the Lord
Whom you cherished and adored,
Holy Mary, full of grace.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.
All of us are children too,
often doubtful what to do,
Needing to confide in you,
Holy Mary, full of grace.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.
34
You who dwell
in the shelter of the Lord,
who abide in his shadow for life,
say to the Lord: “My refuge, my rock
in whom I trust!”
And he will raise you up on eagles’
wings,
bear you on the breath of dawn,
make you to shine like the sun,
and hold you in the palm of his
hand.
The snare of the fowler will never
capture you,
and famine will bring you no fear:
under his wings your refuge, his
faithfulness your shield.
You need not fear the terror of the
night,
nor the arrow that flies by day;
though thousands fall about you,
near you it shall not come.
CHANTS & RESPONSES
35
Christ be our light!
Shine in our hearts,
shine through the darkness.
Christ be our light!
Shine in your church,
gathered today.
36
My soul is longing for your peace
Near to you my God.
37
Guiding me, guarding me, the Lord
is by my side.
Guiding me, guarding me, the Lord
upholds my life.
38
I will search in the silence for your
hiding place.
In the quiet, Lord, I seek your face.
42
Confitemini Domino,
quoniam bonus.
Confitemini Domino,
Alleluia.
39
Even though the rain hides the
stars,
even though the mist swirls the
hills,
even when the dark clouds veil
the sky,
God is by my side.
43
Eat this bread,
drink this cup,
come to me and never be hungry.
Eat this bread,
drink this cup,
trust in me and you will not thirst.
44
Even when the sun shall fall in
sleep,
even when at dawn the sky shall
weep,
even in the night when storms
shall rise,
God is by my side.
God is by my side.
40
Bless the Lord my soul
and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord my soul,
He leads me into life.
41
Be still and know that I am God.
(sing 3 times)
I am the Lord that healeth thee.
(sing 3 times)
In thee, O Lord, I put my trust. (sing
3 times)
O Christe Domine Jesu,
O Christe Domine Jesu.
45
Father, we adore you.
(Jesus, Spirit)
Lay our lives before you.
How we love you.
46
Father, we love you,
we worship and adore you,
Glorify thy name through all the earth.
Glorify thy name,
glorify thy name,
Glorify thy name through all the
earth. (Jesus, Spirit).
47
In the Lord
I’ll be ever thankful,
in the Lord I will rejoice!
Look to God,
HYMNS 32 – 51
do not be afraid;
lift up your voices,
the Lord is near;
lift up your voices the Lord is near.
48
Jesus,
name above all names,
beautiful Saviour,
glorious Lord.
Emmanuel, God is with us,
blessed Redeemer,
living Word.
49
Jesus, remember me
when you come into your Kingdom.
Jesus, remember me
when you come into your Kingdom.
50
Lay your hands gently upon us.
Let their touch render your peace.
Let them bring your forgiveness and
healing.
Lay your hands gently,
lay your hands.
51
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer,
when I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer,
come and listen to me.
29
52
Open our eyes, Lord,
we want to see Jesus,
to reach out and touch him
and say that we love him;
open our ears, Lord,
and help us to listen;
open our eyes, Lord,
we want to see Jesus.
53
Spirit of the living God,
fall afresh on me. (sing twice)
Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh
on me.
(...on us, on all)
54
Sweep over my soul, (sing twice)
Sweet Spirit,
sweep over my soul,
my rest is complete
when I sit at your feet,
Sweet Spirit
sweep over my soul.
55
Ubi caritas et amor,
Ubi caritas Deus ibi est.
56
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
that I might serve you.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
that I might be renewed.
So fill me, heal me,
then bring me back to you.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
that I might serve you.
57
Take, O take me as I am; summon
out what I shall be;
set your seal upon my heart and
live in me.
58
Faithful is the Lord, our King. Let
us all in glory sing,
ever praise in song and word: Holy,
holy, holy Lord!
59
Salvator mundi, salva nos;
qui per crucem et sanguinem
redemisti nos,
auxiliare nobis, te deprecamur,
Deus noster.
HYMNS 52 – 59
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The following songs covered by Christian Copyright Licensing
Europe Ltd have been reproduced under license: As I Kneel Before
you, Maria Parkinson, 1978; Be Still for The Presence of the Lord,
David Evans; Brother, Sister (The Servant Song), Richard Gillard;
Father, we adore you, Terrye Coelho; How great thou art, Stuart
K. Hine; How lovely on the mountains, Leonard E. Smith; Seek Ye
First, Karen Lafferty, 1972; Spirit of the Living God, Daniel Iverson;
This is my Body, Jimmy Owens and Damien Lundy.
The following songs covered by Calamus have been reproduced
under Calamus license. 1. All are welcome 2. All that I am 3. Be
not afraid 4. Christ be our light 5. God beyond our dreams 6. Here
I am Lord 7. I will never forget you 8. Let us be bread 9. Prayer of
St Francis 10. The love I have for you 11. Take our bread 12. You
who dwell 13. The cloud’s veil 14. I will search in the silence 15.
Guiding me 16. Bless the Lord 17. Confitemini Domino 18. Eat
this bread 19. O Christe domine Jesu 20. In the Lord I’ll be ever
thankful 21. Jesus remember me 22. Lord hear my prayer 23. Ubi
caritas 24. Salvador mundi
Acknowledgements: © 1. Marty Haugen, GIA Publications Inc.
2 & 9. Sebastian Temple, OCP Publications 3. Bob Dufford, OCP
Publications 4 & 5. Bernadette Farrell, OCP Publications 6. Daniel L
Schutte, OCP Publications 7 & 10. Carey Landry, OCP Publications 8.
Thomas J Porter, GIA Publications Inc. 11. Joe Wise, GIA Publications
Inc. 12. Michael Joncas, OCP Publications 13 & 14. Liam Lawton,
GIA Publications Inc. 15. Michael Joncas, GIA Publications Inc.
16 - 24. Ateliers et Presses de Taizé
& Reprinted with permission of Calamus, Oak House, 70 High
Street, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0AU
Spectrum Publications PL, composer Deirdre Browne and sung by
Paul Gurr O.Carm for Come as you are.
All other hymns have been reproduced by permission of copyright
holders.
Bible extracts are from the New Revised Standard Version. All
rights reserved.
Text: Gerard Moloney, C.Ss.R.
Prayer Text: Derek Ryan C.Ss.R.
Design: David McNamara, C.Ss.R.
Printed by Nicholson & Bass, Belfast
Produced by Redemptorist Communications, 75 Orwell Road,
Rathgar, Dublin 6, Republic of Ireland Tel: 00353 1 4922488,
Email: [email protected] www.redcoms.org
30
NOVENA PRAYER
Mother of Perpetual Help,
with the greatest confidence
we come before your holy picture
to be inspired by the example of your life.
We think of you at that moment when,
full of faith and trust,
you accepted God’s call
to be the mother of his Son.
Help us, your children,
to accept with joy our own calling in life.
When you learned that your cousin
Elizabeth was in need
you immediately went to serve her
and offer your help.
Help us, like you,
to be concerned for others.
We think of you, Mother,
at the foot of the cross.
Your heart must have bled
to see your Son in agony.
But your joy was great
when he rose from the dead,
victorious over the powers of evil.
Mother of Sorrows,
help us through the trials and
disappointments of life.
Help us not to lose heart.
May we share with you and your Son
the joy of having courageously faced up
to all the challenges of life.
Amen.
THANKSGIVING PRAYER
O Mother of Perpetual Help,
with grateful hearts we join you
in thanking God
for all the wonderful things
he has done for us,
especially for giving us,
Jesus, your Son, as our Redeemer.
O God, our Creator,
we thank you for the gift of life
and all the gifts of nature:
our senses and faculties,
our talents and abilities.
We thank you for creating us
in your image and likeness
and for giving us this earth
to use and develop,
to respect and cherish.
Despite our failures,
you continue to show your love for us today
by increasing the life of your Spirit in us
at the Eucharistic table.
Finally, we thank you, loving Father,
for giving us Mary,
the Mother of your Son,
to be our Mother of Perpetual Help.
We are grateful for all the favours
we have received through her intercession.
We pray that those past favours
may inspire us
to greater confidence in your loving mercy
and to seek the aid
of our Mother of Perpetual Help.
Amen.
Redemptorist Communications
75 Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6 www.redcoms.org