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Apr102015

Mercedarian Mass


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The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy is an international community of priests and brothers who live a life of prayer and communal fraternity. In addition to the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, their members take a special fourth vow to give up their own selves for others whose faith is in danger.

The Order, also called the Mercedarians, or Order of Mercy, was founded in 1218 in Spain by St. Peter Nolasco to redeem Christian captives from their Muslim captors. The Order exists today in 17 countries, including Spain, Italy, Brazil, India, and the United States. In the U.S., its student house is in Philadelphia, and it also has houses in New York, Florida, and Ohio.

Today, friars of the Order of Mercy continue to rescue others from modern types of captivity, such as social, political, and psychological forms. They work in jails, marginal neighborhoods, among addicts, and in hospitals. In the United States, the Order of Mercy gives special emphasis to educational and parish work

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Mar222015

Sacraments of Healing

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HEALING THROUGH CHRIST

LITURGY OF ANOINTING DURING MASS

Let us pray to God for our brothers and sisters and for all those who devote themselves to caring for them.

Bless N. and fill them with new hope and strength: Lord, have mercy.

RESPONSE: Lord, have mercy.

Relieve their pain: Lord, have mercy.

RESPONSE: Lord, have mercy.

Free them from sin and do not let them give way to temptation: Lord, have mercy.

RESPONSE: Lord, have mercy.

Sustain all the sick with your power: Lord, have mercy.

RESPONSE: Lord, have mercy.

Assist all who care for the sick: Lord, have mercy.

RESPONSE: Lord, have mercy.

Give life and health to our brothers and sisters on whom we lay our hands in your name: Lord, have mercy.

RESPONSE: Lord, have mercy.

LAYING ON OF HANDS. In silence, the priest lays his hands on the head of each sick person.

PRAYER OVER THE OIL: The priest says a prayer of thanksgiving over the blessed oil or he may bless the oil himself.

Brothers and Sisters, as we give thanks to God for the gift of sacramental grace symbolized by the use of this holy oil, I invite you to respond to each of these three prayers of praise by saying “Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.”

Praise to you, God the almighty Father. You sent your Son to live among us and bring us salvation.

RESPONSE: Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.

Praise to you, God, the only-begotten Son. You humbled yourself to share in our humanity and you heal our infirmities.

RESPONSE: Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.

Praise to you, God, the Holy Spirit, the Consoler. Your unfailing power gives us strength in our bodily weakness.

RESPONSE: Blessed be God who heals us in Christ.

God of mercy, ease the sufferings and comfort the weakness of your servants whom the Church anoints with this holy oil. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

R Amen

ANOINTING: The priest anoints the sick person with the blessed oil. First he anoints the forehead, saying:

Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit.

RESPONSE: Amen

Then he anoints the hands, saying:

May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.

RESPONSE: Amen

PRAYER AFTER ANOINTING: The priest says one of the following prayers:

Father in heaven, through this holy anointing grant our brothers and sisters comfort in their suffering. When they are afraid, give them courage, when afflicted, give them patience, when dejected, afford them hope, and when alone, assure them of the support of your holy people. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

RESPONSE: Amen

Lord Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, by the grace of your Holy Spirit cure the weakness of your servants. Heal their sickness and forgive their sins; expel all afflictions of mind and body; mercifully restore them to full health, and enable them to resume their former duties, for you are Lord for ever and ever.

RESPONSE: Amen

Those who have been anointed are invited to resume their places in the assembly.

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Feb032015

Mary Hidden

Can I offer myself to God solely based upon pure intent, simple and humble in nature, seeking no accolades or self-glorification on the deepest level. Unworthy servant I am, do I truly understand who I am and who God is? Forsaking self-promotion, abandoning faith focused upon personal elevation, I touch upon truth. Praying in a hidden alcove, loyal to the Church, collapsed upon the shoulders of saints, reposed within ritual and tradition, adoring the cross, resurrection, and Eucharist, the nature of grace reveals herself. A loving Mother hovering tenderly above dispenses abundantly.

Mary lived in obscurity most of her life. Her humility was so great that she desired to hide, not only from all other creatures, but even from herself, so that only God should know her. She asked Him to conceal her, and to make her poor and humble. God delighted to hide her; in her conception, in her birth, in her mysteries, in her resurrection and assumption. St Louis de Montfort ‘True Devotion to Mary’

Mary’s unknowing: “How shall this happen, since I do not know man?” Luke 1:34

So often God performs his greatest work in silence. Mary is alone. As the Holy Spirit comes upon her, and the power of the Most High covers her with its shadow (Luke 1:35-36), she conceives the Holy One to be called Son of God. The whole world was to be affected by this event which God worked in seclusion and silence. So, too, does His grace work in one’s soul. Mary’s was a secret joy until God willed to reveal it to others.

Mother Mary, pray for us that we may always allow God’s grace to work silently in our soul

Mary Assumption

Mary Assumption

During mass, am I consumed with adoration, gratification for the miracle of the Eucharist? Am I participating fully, or am I focused upon others, perhaps imagining others admiring, reducing the most sacred of time down to worldly imperfection? Does my mind wander, unfocused, consumed by fantasy, imagination running wild? Am I intellectualizing, perceiving myself an authority of the Church, judging the piety of others, reasoning, delusional in thought, seeing myself as a Bible scholar. Am I consumed with myself or have I stilled my mind? There before me, willing to be consumed, is the Presence. Opening heart and mind, the left hand unaware of the right, I must offer my brokenness to Christ, concentrating upon who Christ is? Who are you Lord? Lord who are you? Please, I beg Lord, let Yourself be known to me? I am quiet, stilled, empty, constantly engaged in the process of transforming myself into a vessel worthy of filling. I hear the Gospel–the Good News. I ingest the Host. I verbalize responses? I have prepared myself for mass through proper conduct, maintaining sanctifying grace, devoted to contemplation, cleansing psychologically, I wait upon You, my Lord. Lord, authentically, I approach. I am willing to acknowledge ignorance in order to know You better my Lord. Allow me to understand who you are. Lord I want to know You, to accept You in your fullness. Fill me Lord–my heart, soul, body and mind are Yours. All I am is Yours.

Oh Great and Glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart. Give me true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity. Grace me with understanding and knowledge so that I may carry out Thy commandments. The simple prayer offered by Saint Francis of Assisi before the cross of San Damiano. Christ responded.

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