Pray With Us

 

 

 

As we gather, we listen to some music & try to be more aware

of God’s presence amongst us. (Citare Tr 9.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leader: In God’s time, Mary was chosen.

All:       We are chosen too.

Leader: She was still young & vulnerable & wondered what God saw in her.

All:       We too must sometimes wander what God sees in us.

Leader: Yet she said ‘Let it be done to me according to your will’.

All:       Let it be done to me according to your will.

 

Please join in the repeated refrain. (Holy Ground Tr 9)

 

Lead me, guide me in your way. Lead me, guide me in your way,

Lead me, guide me in your way, your holy way, O my God.

 

 

The canticle will be read as indicated.

All:       You are the most blessed of all women, & blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Reader: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual

blessing in heaven. In Christ, God chose us before the

world was made. God chose us in love to be God’s holy

people – people who could stand before God without

any shame.  

All: You are the most blessed of all women, & blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Reader: And before the world was made, God decided to make

us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was

what God wanted, and it pleased God to do it.  And

this  brings praise to God because of God’s wonderful

grace.  God gave that grace to us freely. God gave us

that grace in Christ, the one God loves.

All:        You are the most blessed of all women, & blessed is the fruit of your womb.

Reader:  In Christ we are made free by his blood sacrifice. We

have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich

grace.  God gave us that grace fully and freely. With

full wisdom and understanding God let us know the

secret plan. This was what God wanted, and planned to

do through Christ. God’s goal was to finish his plan

do when the right time came. God planned that all

things in heaven and on earth be joined together with

Christ as the head.

All:        You are the most blessed of all women, & blessed is the fruit of your womb.

 

Please join in with a version of Psalm 121 – (Christ be our Light tr.4)

We will say the antiphon together first.    

All: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

 

 

 I rejoiced when I heard them say, ‘Let us go to the house of God’,

And now our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem.

Refrain: Shalom, Shalom, the peace of God be here;

Shalom, Shalom, God’s justice be ever near. 

Like a temple of unity is the city, Jerusalem,

It is there all tribes will gather, all the tribes of the house of God.

Refrain.

It is faithful to Israel’s law, there to praise the name of God,

All the judgement seats of David were set down in Jerusalem.

Refrain.

For the peace of all nations pray, for God’s peace within your homes,

May God’s lasting peace surround us, may it reign in Jerusalem.

Refrain.

For the love of my friends & kin, I bless you with signs of peace;

For the love of God’s own people, I will labour & pray for you.

Refrain.

 

Reading:   

The greatest thing about Lourdes is not the physical cures.  It is not the rediscovery of the scriptures.  It is not even the rediscovery of God, vital as that is.  That is only half of it. The other half is putting God into actual everyday living.  The greatest thing about Lourdes is the spirit in which life is lived there: the unity of all, the Beloved Community, the human dream come true. ‘You can’t run any community today on the principles laid down by Christ’, we are told.  ‘It isn’t practical.  It isn’t normal.  It won’t work. It just can’t be done!’ At Lourdes you see it being done – joyfully, successfully – every minute of the day.  You yourself are part of it being done.  That is why it seems ‘home’ to the homesick hearts of men & women from all over creation.  The way we were meant to live.  A life based on love instead of power – of helping one another, serving the weak, sharing among the strong.  No wonder tens of thousands of practical people yearn for a return to Lourdes when they can return to the most normal, the most Godly, of all atmospheres.

 

Some moments of silent reflection follow.

 

In celebration of this feast, let us say the Magnificat of the Resurrection.

All:       Blessed are you, Mary, because you believed that all those things that were said to you by God will be fulfilled.

Side 1:  My soul sings & my spirit delights & rejoices, O faithful God, because you have removed the stone which was rolled over our hearts & we are risen.

Side 2: Yes, from this day forward, all generations will call us blessed for the Almighty has called us forth from death & we have responded.

Side 1:  Holy is the name of God, & compassion reaches from age to age for those who walk hand in hand with the Everlasting One.

Side 2: You have shown power over death.  You have humiliated those who believed they could destroy your Living Word.

Side 1:  You have enfeebled those who would rule by their own might & empowered the simple people who trust in you, O God, who creates & companions.

Side 2: The anguished of heart are stilled & made whole again by this good news, & the arrogant are reduced to eternal confusion.

Side 1:  You have come to the help of Israel, your faithful one. Israel, who remembers you are the God who saves; Israel, who remembers you are the God who saves us from bondage, from faithlessness, & from ultimate violence.

All:        Blessed are you, Mary, because you believed that all those things that were said to you by God will be fulfilled.

 

Intercessions:

Reader: Let us pray for all who strive to make real God’s kingdom in their everyday lives ……….. pause ……… we say,

All:        Your kingdom come.   

Reader: Let us pray for all seeking healing of any kind  ……….. pause ……… we say,

All:        Your kingdom come.   

Reader:  Let us pray for all who have a caring role in the lives of others ……….. pause ……… we say,

All:        Your kingdom come.   

Reader: Let us pray for all who are involved in working to keep Lourdes as a holy place of pilgrimage ……….. pause …….. we say,

All:        Your kingdom come.   

Reader: We pray for people who have died today & those who will die tonight – & we pray for those whose anniversaries of death occur tomorrow, remembering  especially:

 

Leader begins the Our Father……………………..

 

Leader: God of mercy, as we keep the memory of Mary, your mother, who appeared to Bernadette at Lourdes, grant us through her prayer strength in our weakness & abounding compassion in our hearts.  We pray in Jesus name.

All:       Amen.

Leader: May God who calls us & helps us to change our lives, bless us,

All:        In the name of the Father & of the Son & of the Holy Spirit – Amen.

Leader: Our celebration is ended.  Let us go in peace.

All:       Thanks be to God.