Section:
prayers
November 2
ENVIRONMENT:
Remembering Those Sisters
Who Have Died
(10/1/09 to 9/30/10)
Mary Martha DeMarzo, OSF
obituary
Agatha Pazourek, OSF
obituary
To the cemetery bring the list of deceased sisters, a significant candle
representing Christ, a cross, and flowers. These can be placed in the circle of those who gather. The flowers can be placed on the sisters' graves at the end of the prayer service.
CALL TO PRAYER:
Gathered in the light of Christ, we remember:
To preserve the great deeds of ancestors for the remembrance of their children, gives honor to the former, and shows love in the latter. The ancestors, separated by the passage of time, offer their children a memorable witness. Those who did not know them in their bodily presence are at least spurred to do good by their deeds and encouraged to do better. The first benefit we receive—and a great one—is knowledge of our own smallness. We see their merits abound while ours can hardly be found.
I consider blessed Francis the holiest mirror of the holiness of the Lord, the image of his perfection. I think everything about him, both his words and deeds, is fragrant with God's presence. Anyone who studies them humbly and diligently, will quickly be filled with the teaching of salvation, ready for the saint's highest philosophy.
I will recount a few things about him in a brief and simple style. I think it may be appropriate to mention a few of the many things that will honor the saint and rouse our dozing hearts.
Excerpt from Thomas of Celano, “The Remembrance of the Desire of a Soul,”Introduction to the Second Book, from Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, Volume II: The Founder, edited by Regis J. Armstrong, OFM Cap., J.A. Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv., William J. Short, OFM. New York: New City Press, 2000. Used with permission.
OPENING HYMN:
"Remember Your Love" - Darryl Ducote, Gary Daigle
PSALM 142: Pray antiphonally.
With all my voice I cry to you, Yahweh;
with all my voice I entreat you.
I pour out my complaint before you;
I tell you all my distress.
When my spirit faints within me,
you, Yahweh, know my path.
On the way where I shall walk
they have hidden a snare to trap me.
I look on my right and see:
there is no one who takes my part.
I have lost all means of escape,
there is no one who cares for my life.
I cry to you, Yahweh,
I have said: “You are my refuge,
all I have in the land of the living.”
Listen, then, to my cry,
for I am in the depths of distress.
Rescue me from those who pursue me,
for they are too strong for me.
Bring my soul out of this prison,
and then I shall praise your name.
Around me the just will gather
because of your goodness to me.
Glory . . .
Psalm is reprinted from Psalms Anew by Nancy Schreck, OSF, and Maureen Leach, OSF, © 1984 The Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque, Iowa. Used with permission.
READING: Wisdom 3: 1-6,9
RESPONSE: Litany of Remembrance
From the list of our deceased sisters, individual sisters read a set of names and respond with Mother Francis Bachmann's words:
"God knows how much I love you. Oh, that I had the happiness to live with you as well as all the others. United with so many good sisters where each one incites the others to serve the Lord always better and to love God more intensely."
SHARING:
As Thomas of Celano remembered Francis, so too we gather today to remember our sisters who have gone before us. Please feel free to share your memories.
Those present share their memories.
OUR FATHER:
Let us gather these memories and pray in the words Jesus has given us: Our Father . . .
CLOSING HYMN:
"Be Exalted"- Brent Chambers
