At this time of trials, illness and mourning, let us pray with st Augustine (4th-5th Century) :
« Lord, be with those who watch or cry this night. Protect the sick, bring rest to those who are tired. Bless the dying, comfort those who suffer. Have mercy on those who are sad and remain with those who are happy. »
This prayer may be completed by the opening prayer of the special votive mass newly created in view of the current situation :
« Lord God, in all danger you are our refuge, and it is towards you that we turn in distress : we pray to you in faith : look down with compassion on those who are in sorrow, grant to the dead eternal rest, and bring comfort to those who are mourning, healing to those who are sick, peace to the dying, wisdom to those who govern us, and to all the courage in order to grow in love, thus, we will be able together to render glory to your holy Name. Through Jesus Christ, your Son, Our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. »
Meditation of Pope Francis on the meaning of the Crucifix :
« A great number of people, of Christians spend their time looking at the crucifix…, and there, they find it all, because they have understood, the Holy Spirit made them understand that there is there all the knowledge, all the love of God, all Christian wisdom. Paul talks of this, he explains that all human reasoning which he makes is useful to a certain extent, but the real reasoning, the most beautiful way of thinking and which also explains everything, is the Cross of Christ, it is « Christ crucified, which is a scandal » (1st Letter to Corinthians), and a madness, but it is the way. And this is the Love of God. God « so loved the world that he gave his only Son » (Gospel of st John). And why ? « So that whoever believes in him will not perish but inherit eternal life » (Ibid.) The Love of the Father wants his children with him.
Look at the crucifix in silence, look at the wounds, look at the heart of Jesus, look at the whole : the Christ crucified, the Son of God, crushed, humiliated…through love. »
« If we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him, knowing that Christ, once risen from the dead, will not die again, and that death no longer has any power over him. His death was a death to sin once and for all ; but his life is a life for God. And you in the same way, consider that you die for sin, and are living for God in Christ Jesus. May sin no longer reign in your mortal body, in a way to bend you to its desires. Make your limbs no more the weapons of injustice, in the service of sin ; but offer yourselves to God like living beings risen from death and make your limbs weapons of justice in the service of God. For sin will not reign over you : you are not under the law but under grace. » (Letter of st Paul to Romans, chapter 6).
And here is the concluding prayer of the votive mass created for this time of pandemic :
« Lord God, you protect all those who have hope in you ; bless your people, keep it safe, be for it a defender, prepare it to overcome the trial, so that liberated from sin, out of reach of the enemy, it may persevere always in your love. Through Christ Our Lord. »
We continue to bear the suffering due to the present situation in our prayers, here accompanied by Pope Gelasius I (5th Century) :
« Watch over those who, this night, do not sleep and weep, and tell your angels to watch over those who sleep. Protect the sick. Give rest to those who are tired. Bless the dying. Give relief to those who are suffering. Have pity on those who are led into temptation. Protect those who are happy, as well as us all, for the Love of God. »
And let us conclude, in order to prepare ourselves the coming Pentecost, with the words of the great prayer addressed to the Holy Spirit (Sequence for Pentecost) : « Thou, of all consolers best, thou, the soul’s delightful guest, dost refreshing peace bestow. Thou in toil art comfort sweet ; pleasant coolness in the heat ; solace in the midst of woe. Light immortal, Light divine, visit thou these hearts of thine, and our inmost being fill. »
Words and music : Emmanuel Community (S.-M. Drouineau)N°20-11-EN
Ch.Jesus, my King ! Jesus, my joy !
Jesus, You are here, come to me !
1.O Heart of love and of sweetness filled,
O Heart of peace and of tenderness,
O Heart which shared in our misery
And offered us on the cross to God, the Father.
2.O benign Heart, humble, meek and real,
O pure and strong Heart of charity,
O Heart embracing all our pains
And offers them on the cross to God, the Father.
3.O glorious Heart, burning with true love,
From there the source of life gushed forth,
Enamoured Heart opens heaven for us
And offers us to the glory of our Father.
Original title (FR) : Jésus, mon Roi
© 2013, Éditions de l’Emmanuel, 89 boulevard Blanqui, 75013 Paris
Translation : © 2018, Emmanuel Community
You know that everyone in the province of Asia, including Phygelus and Hermogenes, has deserted me.
My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love you. I beg you pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and who do not love you.
May the lord show mercy to the family of onesiphorus, because he cheered me up many times. He was not ashamed that I am in prison, but as soon as he arrived in Rome, he started looking for me until he found me. May the Lord grant him mercy on that Day ! And you know very well how much he did for me in Ephesus.
Words and music : Emmanuel Community (D. Sheridan)N°22-14-EN
Ch.Lord, in your mercy, guide us home.
Your Word, a light along our path.
Keep us together as one in love ;
A people of healing and peace.
1.Weighed down with sin, Lord, we hid in fear,
But in our shame you were near.
You took our burdens. You set us free, Lord.
And forever we’ll sing of your love !
2.Amazing love that you have for us :
Such love that conquered sin and death.
Upon that cross, Lord, water and blood poured ;
From your side you had fashioned the Church !
3.Your mighty deeds will be known to all ;
And so the splendour of your reign.
For by your victory, filled with your Spirit
We go out and proclaim the Good News !
Bridge :
You are the way. You are the truth.
You are the life. (2x)
© 2016, Emmanuel Publications, 89 boulevard Blanqui, 75013 Paris
Remember that there will be difficult times in the last days. People will be selfish, greedy , boastful and conceited ; they will be insulting, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and irreligious ; they will be unkind, merciless, slanderers, violent and fierce ; they will hate the good ; they will be treacherous, reckless, and swollen with pride ; they will love pleasure rather than God . They will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power. Keep away from such people.
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fire of hell, lead all souls to Heaven, especially those who most need of thy mercy. (Amen)
But you have followed my teaching, my conduct and my purpose in life ; you have observed my faith, my patience, my love, my endurance, my persecutions, and my sufferings. You know all that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the terrible persecutions I endured ! But the Lord rescued me from them all.
Everyone who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted ; and evil persons and impostors will keep on going from bad to worse, deceived themselves. But as for you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were, and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You most profoundly, and I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the earth, in reparation of all the offenses, sacrileges and indifferences through which he is Himself offended. Through the infinite merits of his very Blessed Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I ask You for the conversion of sinners.
As for me, the hour has come for me to be sacrificed ; the time is here for me to leave this life. I have done my best in the race, I have run the full distance, and I have kept the faith. And now there is waiting for me the victory price of being put right with God, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day – and not only to me, but to all those who wait with love for him to appear.
Words and music : Emmanuel Community (T. Petruccelli)N°16-03-EN From Ps 131
1.Humble is my heart before you, Lord,
I bow my head as I stand in your presence.
I do not seek for marvels beyond me.
Ch.Hope Israel, hope in the Lord your God
Now and forever !
Hope Israel, hope in the Lord your God
Now and forever !
2.Like a little child who is at rest,
Who is content in the arms of its mother,
My soul is peaceful, it waits in silence.
Original title (IT) : Speri Israele
© 1990, Comunità dell’Emmanuele Italia, via C. Burci, 16-50139 Firenze
Translation : © 2006, Emmanuel Community
No one stood by me the first time I defended myself ; all deserted me. May God not count it against them ! But the Lord stayed with me and gave me strength, so that I was able to proclaim the full message for all the gentiles to hear ; and I was rescued from being sentenced to death.
Words and music : Emmanuel Community (L. Pavageau)N°18-06-EN
1.All my being searches,
From where will my help come ?
From my Lord and Saviour,
The Father’s only Son.
In all my distresses,
He comes to set me free.
He is ever faithful,
For all eternity.
Ch.Only by grace,
Can I approach your holy throne.
Only by grace,
Can I be welcomed home.
You paid the price,
A new creation comes to be.
Through your rising from the dead,
You set your people free.
2.You know all my thoughts, Lord,
And You know all my fears.
Even from the womb, Lord,
Yes, You were always near.
You forgive the sinner,
Unbounded love you give.
Wonderful your mercy,
In your light I shall live.
Original title (FR) : C’est par ta grâce
© 2010, Editions de l’Emmanuel, 89 boulevard Blanqui, 75013 Paris
Translation : © 2013, Emmanuel Community
The Lord will rescue me from all evil and take me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory for ever and ever ! Amen.
Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui !
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui !
Præstet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui !
Genitori Genitoque
Laus et jubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio !
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio . Amen .
Sanctuaire du Sacré-Coeur - Place du Cardinal Perraud 71600 Paray-le-Monial - www.sacrecoeur-paray.org
