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Introduction
These holy hours have as a general intention praying for vocations, though the theme of each hour need not necessarily reflect this.
The structure is built around reading/reflection, music and quiet. The general pattern is that there is a quiet period of 7-10 minutes after each reading, and since there are usually 4 readings (normally with some points for reflection) this gives four quarters of approx 15 minutes each. The last reading is often shorter and it is at this stage that the group may share some thoughts or prayers on anything that came up during the time of quiet reflection.
The music used is most often from the 21st Century Folk Hymnal [21CFH] compiled and edited by Kevin Mayhew out of England. Unless otherwise noted it is from there that the songs mentioned have been taken. Other suitable songs and pieces of music may be used based on the resources available.
Theme: Live Jesus in our Hearts…
Const. 44: The sacramental presence of Jesus was a constant source of strength to our Founder, Blessed Edmund. Like him, we spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament as with a friend. We ask him so to free our hearts that we may more openly know his presence in others. Through our traditional aspiration, “Live, Jesus, in our hearts forever”, we pray that day by day “we are turned into the image that we reflect” (2 Cor. 3: 18), becoming ever more one with the heart of Jesus.
Asking Blessed Edmund’s help to spend this hour well:
Prayer for a favour
Song of adoration: ‘Be still, for the presence of the Lord’ (Disc 1: 10, CFH)
Reflection on God’s holiness:
The LORD spoke with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire. Since you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain, I, Moses, stood between the LORD and you at that time. All your tribal heads and elders said, `The LORD, our God, has indeed let us see his glory and his majesty! We have heard his voice from the midst of the fire and have found out today that a man can still live after God has spoken with him. But why should we die now? Surely this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the LORD, our God, any more, we shall die. For what mortal has heard, as we have, the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of fire, and survived? (Deut. 5: 4-5, 24-26)
If we use the term ‘friendship with God’ then we must know what we are doing, we must speak with utmost seriousness and deep awe. There is no place for lightness, for trifling. And yet intimacy with God is the blissful fulfilment of us all. It is what we were made for and what we endlessly yearn for. It is to this that we blindly reach out in our human search for friendship and intimacy; our relationship with God is our very meaning as human beings. We become human, become what we are meant to be, in the measure that we are lost to ourselves and taken up into God. Prayer, on our side, is a conscious affirmation of this truth, an effective desire and willing that it be accomplished. (Ruth Burrows)
QUIET/REFLECTIONSong: ‘Father, we adore you’ OR ‘How great thou art’ Recalling the Last Supper "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.” (John 15: 11-17) QUIET/REFLECTION
Song: ‘Christ be Near’
The sacramental presence of Jesus was a constant source of strength to Blessed Edmund. Like him, we spend time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament as with a friend.
QUIET/REFLECTION
Song: ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’ We ask him so to free our hearts that we may more openly know his presence in others. QUIET/REFLECTION Song: ‘Christ be beside me’ Sharing/ spontaneous prayers. Prayer for vocations (create local prayers for vocations)
Final Brief Reflection: Through our traditional aspiration, “Live, Jesus, in our hearts forever”, we pray that day by day “we are turned into the image that we reflect”, becoming ever more one with the heart of Jesus.
Is this what celebrating the Eucharist means for us?
Final Song: ‘Live, Jesus in our hearts’
For ever in our hearts, sweet Jesus, live; your strength’ning grace to us, your weak ones, give. And when we’re lost, in sinfulness or fear – Oh! May your shepherd’s voice speak in our ear.
Speak to our hearts, and bid us to you come – Oh! Take us in your arms and bear us home. Your food divine will make your children one – You are our Brother, God’s incarnate Son.
Please be our guide, and Jesus, let us be of meek and humble heart – this is our plea. Enfold us in your love till life departs – Live, Jesus, live for ever in our hearts.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – for ever and ever, Amen. Brother Éamonn Mac Lochlainn (The Gambia)
A HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS 2 Introduction These holy hours have as a general intention praying for vocations, though the theme of each hour need not necessarily reflect this. The structure is built around reading/reflection, music and quiet. The general pattern is that there is a quiet period of 7-10 minutes after each reading, and since there are usually 4 readings (normally with some points for reflection) this gives four quarters of approx 15 minutes each. The last reading is often shorter and it is at this stage that the group may share some thoughts or prayers on anything that came up during the time of quiet reflection. The music used is most often from the 21st Century Folk Hymnal [21CFH] compiled and edited by Kevin Mayhew out of England. Unless otherwise it is from there that the songs mentioned have been taken. Other suitable songs and pieces of music may be used based on the resources available.
OPENING SONG: ‘Calm me Lord’ (D1: 14) Reading: Matthew 9: 35-38 Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and all kinds of illness. And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers to his harvest." Silent Reflection and Prayer SONG: ‘Come to me’ (D1: 19)
1. Working all night and… Reading: Luke 5:3-11 When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch." Simon replied, "Master, we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets." And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled both boats to sinking point. When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, "Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man." For he and all his companions were completely awestruck at the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. But Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on it is people you will be catching." Then, bringing their boats back to land they left everything and followed him. Silent Reflection and Prayer Psalm 127 The LORD is my
light and my salvation- SONG: ‘You are beneath me’ (D5: 11) 2. Darkness over the whole land… Reading: Mark 15:33-39 When the sixth hour came there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" When some of those who stood by heard this, they said, "Listen, he is calling on Elijah." Someone ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink saying, "Wait! And see if Elijah will come to take him down." But Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the veil of the Sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The centurion, who was standing in front of him, had seen how he had died, and he said, "In truth this man was Son of God." Silent Reflection and Prayer SONG: ‘Into your hands’
3. Glory be to him whose power… Reading: Eph. 3:14-21 This, then, is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every fatherhood, in heaven or on earth, takes its name. In the abundance of his glory may he, through his Spirit, enable you to grow firm in power with regard to your inner self, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, with all God's holy people you will have the strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; so that, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge, you may be filled with the utter fullness of God. Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory be to him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Silent Reflection and Prayer
Final prayer: Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory be to him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. SONG: ‘Come to me’ (D1: 19)
Brother Éamonn Mac Lochlainn (The Gambia) |
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