Section:
prayers
December 8
ENVIRONMENT: a candle for each sister
OPENING ACCLAMATION:
A Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Hail, O Lady,
Holy Queen,
Mary, holy Mother of God,
who are the Virgin made Church,
chosen by the most Holy Father in heaven
whom He consecrated with His most holy beloved Son
and with the Holy Spirit the Paraclete,
in whom there was and is
all fullness of grace and every good.
Holy Queen,
Mary, holy Mother of God,
who are the Virgin made Church,
chosen by the most Holy Father in heaven
whom He consecrated with His most holy beloved Son
and with the Holy Spirit the Paraclete,
in whom there was and is
all fullness of grace and every good.
Hail His Palace!
Hail His Tabernacle!
Hail His Dwelling!
Hail His Robe!
Hail His Servant!
Hail His Mother!
Hail His Tabernacle!
Hail His Dwelling!
Hail His Robe!
Hail His Servant!
Hail His Mother!
And hail all Your holy virtues
which are poured into the hearts of the faithful
through the grace and enlightenment
of the Holy Spirit,
that from being unbelievers,
You may make them faithful to God.
which are poured into the hearts of the faithful
through the grace and enlightenment
of the Holy Spirit,
that from being unbelievers,
You may make them faithful to God.
HYMN: "Ave Maria" - Plainchant
PSALM 92 Pray antiphonally.
O Yahweh, it is good to give you thanks,
to sing psalms to your name, O Most High;
to declare your love in the morning
and your faithfulness every night,
with the music of a ten-stringed lute,
to the melody of the harp.
Your acts, O Yahweh, fill me with gladness;
I shout in triumph at your mighty deeds.
How great are you deeds, Yahweh!
How deep are your thoughts!
Those who do not know this are senseless,
fools are they who do not understand this:
that though the wicked grow like grass
and every evildoer flourishes,
they will be destroyed forever.
I lift my head high, like a wild ox tossing its horns;
I am anointed with fine oils.
I see the defeat of my enemies;
I listen for the downfall of my cruel foes.
The just flourish like a palm tree,
they grow tall as a cedar of Lebanon.
Planted as they are in the house of the Creator,
they flourish in the courts of our God,
bearing fruit in old age like trees full of sap –
vigorous, wide-spreading –
eager to declare that Yahweh is just,
my Rock, in whom there is no wrong.
Glory . . .
VOW RENEWAL: With candles in hand.
I, Sister (N), renew and confirm the dedication that I made of myself to you, Most Gracious God, freely and unreservedly, through the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, according to the Rule and Life of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis and the constitutions of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. In the spirit of continuous conversion, I also renew and confirm my desire to bind myself in fidelity and love, closer to Christ and to the Church. I place this renewal and confirmation in the care of Mary, the virgin Mother of God, that I may persevere until the end of my life. Amen.
(Quiet Reflection)
SHARING:
Each sister is invited to share what her years of religious profession have meant to her.
GOSPEL CANTICLE:
Morning: "Benedictus" - Bernadette Farrell
Evening: "Magnificat" - Bernadette Farrell
Evening: "Magnificat" - Bernadette Farrell
INTERCESSIONS:
Response: Holy One, hear us.
For a courageous and just witness in the Church and by Church leaders, we pray . . .
For an end to war and terrorism and for peace and reconciliation among all peoples and nations, we pray . . .
For all who desire to remain faithful to their commitments, we pray . . .
For a generous response to God’s call, we pray . . .
For our sisters in initial formation and for those women and men contemplating religious life, we pray . . .
For all of our sisters on this day of renewal, we pray . . .
For the women and men who provided us with support and encouragement and are now before the face of God, we pray . . .
Other intercessions may be added.
OUR FATHER
CLOSING PRAYER:
Holy Virgin Mary,
among the women born into the world,
there is no one like you.
Daughter and servant of the most high and supreme King and of the Father in heaven,
Mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ,
Spouse of the Holy Spirit.
among the women born into the world,
there is no one like you.
Daughter and servant of the most high and supreme King and of the Father in heaven,
Mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ,
Spouse of the Holy Spirit.
Pray for us
with Saint Michael the Archangel,
all the powers of heaven and all the saints,
at the side of your most holy beloved Son,
our Lord and Teacher.
with Saint Michael the Archangel,
all the powers of heaven and all the saints,
at the side of your most holy beloved Son,
our Lord and Teacher.
Glory . . .
Opening acclamation and closing prayer are from Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, Volume 1: The Saint, edited by Regis J. Armstrong, OFM Cap., J.A. Wayne Hellmann, OFM Conv., William J. Short, OFM. New York: New City Press, 1999. Used with permission.
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.
