THE CHURCH ON THE STREETS LIVING THE GOSPEL TODAY THE MAGNIFICAT A PRAYER TO MARY FROM THE OLD IRISH THE CHURCH ON THE STREETS My soul glorifies the Lord, Holy Virgin Mary, you are the joy of my soul. LIVING THE GOSPEL TODAY my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour. You are the dew of heaven to relieve my He looks on his servant in her lowliness; parching thirst. henceforth all ages will call me blessed. You are the stream of God’s grace, It can seem that good news is in short supply today. The economy is still The Almighty works marvels for me. flowing out from his heart into mine. struggling to recover from the terrible collapse of five years ago; many Holy is his name. You are the light of my darkened soul. people remain out of work or in financial difficulty; many others have His mercy is from age to age You are the healing of my wounds. been forced to emigrate. on those who fear him. You are the strength of my weakness. The news from overseas isn’t very positive either. It is dominated by stories He puts forth his arm in strength You are the consolation of my hardship. of conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, by worries about the onset of a new cold war, and concerns about the damaging impact of climate change. and scatters the proud-hearted. You are the easing of my trouble. The Church’s struggles continue too, as it tries to deal with the fallout from He casts the mighty from their thrones You are the loosing of my chains. the series of scandals that have engulfed it in recent years, as well as cope and raises the lowly. You are the help of my salvation. with the challenge of a confident and aggressive secularism. He fills the starving with good things, Hear me, I beg you, O Virgin most faithful. But it isn’t all bad news. For in March 2013 a new public figure appeared sends the rich away empty. Take pity on me. who, by his words and actions, has fascinated people throughout the He protects Israel his servant, Turn not away from my need. world. His name is Francis, bishop of Rome. remembering his mercy, Let my tears move you. Francis hasn’t changed any of the Church’s core teaching, but he has the mercy promised to our fathers, Let your own compassionate heart move changed the tone and emphasis. He has pointed the Church back to basics. to Abraham and his children for ever. you. He has reminded Catholics and non-Catholics alike of why the Gospel is Amen. I cry to you, Mother of God and lover of the good news, especially for the poor and those on the margins. He has human race. challenged Catholics to leave their comfort zones, to leave the security THE MEMORARE Hear me, poor sinner that I am, and grant of church and sacristy and living room, and go out onto the streets, out Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, me the grace I ask from you, into the periphery, out to where people are lost or hurt or abandoned, and to stand in solidarity with them as good news people. Everything we that never was it known O Mary, my Mother. do, he says, must proclaim the good news of the Gospel. Everything we that anyone who fled to your protection, Amen. implored your help, do must point to God’s crazy love for all. Jesus of Nazareth was a man of the streets. He walked the dusty roads or sought your intercession, was left unaided. of Palestine preaching good news to the poor, to sinners and the street Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, people everyone else had abandoned. O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. So also did St Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the . He walked To you do I come, before you I stand, the mountains and hills around Naples in southern Italy, bringing good sinful and sorrowful. news to the poor. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, Pope Francis reminds us that, as followers of Jesus, we must do the same. despise not my petitions, We must be street people, who identify with and stand alongside the but in your mercy hear and answer me. weakest in society. This is our vocation. All our words and all our actions Amen. must tell of good news, especially for those who need to hear it most.

3 THE WORD HE SENT ME TO BRING THE GOOD NEWS He knows that it is essential to speak about faith in an uncomplicated “I prefer a Church which is Then Jesus, filled with the power TO THE POOR way that even the poorest and most uneducated person can follow. bruised, hurting and dirty of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, MISSION STATEMENT People notice his humour, too. Francis smiles a lot and uses jokes and because it has been out on the self-deprecating remarks to make his point. The message he is sending and a report about him spread streets, rather than a Church out is that Christians are good news people, who radiate hope. through all the surrounding which is unhealthy from being Everything about us must show that we are bearers of good news. country. He began to teach But what people have noticed above all else is his concern for the confined and from clinging to in their synagogues and was poor. By taking the name Francis in honour of Francis of Assisi – a its own security.” praised by everyone. When he name no pope had ever before dared to take - the new bishop of Francis, Bishop of Rome came to Nazareth, where he had Rome couldn’t have made a stronger statement of intent: Catholics are called to care passionately for the least among us, and for all been brought up, he went to the God’s creation. synagogue on the Sabbath day, Three days after his election, Francis said: “How I would like a poor as was his custom. He stood church for the poor!” Over and over again, he has expressed a desire up to read, and the scroll of for a commitment to the poor to be at the heart of Christianity’s the prophet Isaiah was given role in the world. to him. He unrolled the scroll What Francis is doing is reminding the Church of its origins, of the and found the place where it vision set out by Jesus at the start of his public ministry. When he stood up to read in the synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus told his listeners was written: “The Spirit of the that he had been sent to proclaim good news to the poor, and liberty Lord is upon me, because he THE MESSAGE to all who were oppressed. It was his inaugural address as Messiah, As soon as he appeared on the balcony the night he was elected, it has anointed me to bring good a statement of God’s plan and concern for God’s people, especially was obvious the new pope was going to bring a different style and news to the poor. He has sent the least of all. tone to the papacy. me to proclaim release to the It was this same vision that inspired an Italian priest called Alphonsus People could see it straight away – how Pope Francis wore only the captives and recovery of sight to Liguori in the 18th century. Alphonsus could have chosen to live in his simple white cassock and black shoes, how he refused to live in the home city of Naples, doing regular priestly work. He didn’t. Instead, the blind, to let the oppressed papal apartments, how he paid his own hotel bill, how he dispensed Our common vocation to live he went out into the mountains to bring good news to the poor, and go free, to proclaim the year of with so many trappings of high office. to assure them of God’s love. He founded a religious congregation, out Christ’s love in practical He was sending out a clear message – Christians must imitate Jesus the Lord’s favour.” And he rolled called the Redemptorists, to do that same work of preaching good ways is the thread that runs by living as simply and as humbly as possible. Our model must always up the scroll, gave it back to news to the most abandoned. through the teachings of Pope be Christ, the servant king. the attendant, and sat down. But the vision that Jesus spelled out at the start of his ministry isn’t Francis and St Alphonsus. A second thing that struck people is his language. In his homilies The eyes of all in the synagogue meant just for official church types like priests and religious. It is for and speeches, Pope Francis uses simple, direct words. It doesn’t We begin our novena by all the baptised. were fixed on him. Then he matter whether he is addressing diplomats or preaching a morning reflecting on the missionary As Pope Francis has made clear, all Church members have an began to say to them, “Today homily to Vatican employees, he talks like a country pastor, using obligation towards each other, and especially towards the poor spirit of the Church and our this scripture has been fulfilled images and stories everyone can understand. It is a style made for and the hurting. Each of us is called to take on board the vision own responsibility to be part the age of twitter. in your hearing.” Luke 4:14-21 and mission of Jesus, and to make it a reality in our time and place. of this grace-filled endeavour.

4 5 THE WORD PAZZO PER AMORE Jesus said, “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in CRAZY IN LOVE the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only THE MESSAGE Over ten years ago, the singer Beyoncé Son, so that everyone who believes in him may released a single that immediately reached not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God No. 1 in the charts, and has become one of the did not send the Son into the world to condemn most performed songs of the last decade. It’s the world, but in order that the world might called Crazy in Love. According to Beyoncé, the be saved through him. Those who believe in song talks “about how, when you are falling in him are not condemned; but those who do love, you do things that are out of character and not believe are condemned already, because you do not really care because you are just open.” The lyrics refer to a state of romantic obsession. they have not believed in the name of the Being crazy in love means that you are prepared to “God’s becoming man only Son of God. And this is the judgement, do crazy things for the person or persons you love. is a great mystery! But that the light has come into the world, and More than two centuries before Beyoncé released the reason for all this is people loved darkness rather than light her single, an Italian preacher was using the same his love, a love which is language to talk about God. The preacher was St because their deeds were evil. For all grace, generosity, a desire to Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Redemptorists, and who do evil hate the light and do not draw near, a love which does he used the phrase “Pazzo per amore” to describe God’s come to the light, so that their deeds love for humanity. “Pazzo per amore” means “God’s This is something St Alphonsus struggled with himself. Growing up, not hesitate to offer itself in may not be exposed. But those who crazy love.” According to St Alphonsus, God doesn’t just he was taught to see God as a harsh judge, someone who is remote sacrifice for the beloved.” do what is true come to the light, love humanity; God is crazy with love for humanity. God and to be feared. And it left him full of scruples and anxiety, a Francis, Bishop of Rome so that it may be clearly seen that loves us so much God does wild and crazy things, such tortured soul. Slowly, Alphonsus began to alter his image of God. their deeds have been done in God.” as send his own Son among us to show us how to live, to He began to see God not as a distant judge, eager to condemn, John 3:16-21 show us the way to salvation. No words can describe the but as a concerned parent, madly in love with humanity. And he extent to which God loves us. began to preach and write about this crazy love of God, using This kind of language is uncomfortable for some people. They the kind of effusive language that leaves the likes of Beyonce find it hard to believe in God’s crazy love. They struggle to in the shade. The extent to which we are loved accept that God could possibly love them - weak and sinful This is the good news of the Gospel. God loves us – every one and cherished by God remains one as they think they are, and unworthy of God’s affection. When of us – crazily, madly, deeply. No matter what we do or don’t of the most consoling teachings of they look at themselves, they focus only on the negative. They do, God loves each of us with an absolute love. God loves our faith. Let this abundant love of cannot believe they could be created in God’s own image. us unconditionally. Knowing that God loves us means we Others may have grown up with an understanding of God as a need no longer be afraid. We can be completely at ease God shape the way we pray. May difficult taskmaster, always waiting to catch them out, eager with our God. It gives us the confidence to do our best to it guide us in our works of love for to pounce when they do wrong. love God and others in return. others.

6 7 THE WORD STORIES OF GOD’S CRAZY LOVE experience of God’s presence and love. He saw the divine “Only in Christ crucified and risen can we find In those days a decree SIGNS AND SYMBOLS in that ordinary setting on that ordinary day. He saw the salvation and redemption. With Him, evil, went out from Emperor divine – the image of God - in the ordinary people walking suffering, and death do not have the last around him. Augustus that all the world THE MESSAGE word, because he gives us hope and life: What Thomas Merton realised in a profound way was that should be registered. This On 18 March 1958, a monk was going about his business in a city in he has transformed the Cross from being Kentucky when suddenly he had a revelation, a mystical experience. God can be found in the ordinary, that the holy lurks in all of was the first registration an instrument of hate, defeat, and death Describing it later, he said: “In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth creation, and that all of creation points to the glory of God. and was taken while and Walnut, in the center of the shopping district, I was suddenly Merton’s experience was nothing new – the Church has always to being a sign of love, victory, triumph Quirinius was governor overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all those people, that seen the world and all that belongs to it as sacramental, as and life.” of Syria. All went to their they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another revealing God’s grace and presence. Objects, events, people, Francis, Bishop of Rome nature, all have the capability to reveal God’s grace. It’s why own towns to be registered. even though we were total strangers…” He felt, he said, the immense we have statues and holy water, incense and votive candles, Joseph also went from the joy of being human, a member of a race in which God himself became incarnate. He longed to tell those people that “they are all walking stained glass and crucifixes, saints and feast days, religious town of Nazareth in Galilee around shining like the sun.” medals and rosary beads, altars and shrines, holy pictures and to Judea, to the city of David The monk was the famous Trappist, Thomas Merton, and today a icons like that of our Mother of Perpetual Help. They speak to called Bethlehem, because bronze plaque stands at the spot where Merton had his revelation. our senses and emotions, they touch our hearts, they point to he was descended from the Usually such plaques commemorate a political or literary figure, or the divine, they draw us into God. house and family of David. an historical event, but the one on that street corner in Louisville St Alphonsus Liguori knew this instinctively. He knew that religion isn’t something confined to the head, but to the emotions and He went to be registered with celebrates Merton’s mystical moment. Merton had an intense to the heart as well. For him, our God is an intensely passionate Mary, to whom he was engaged God, who loved us so much he took on human form and died and who was expecting a child. on a cross for us. And so we need, not just words, but symbols While they were there, the and images – sounds and smells, silence and music – if we are time came for her to deliver to speak to God and hear God speak in the bottom of our heart. her child. And she gave birth to Three of the most powerful symbols for Alphonsus were the crib, the cross and the Eucharist. He used the image of the baby in the her firstborn son and wrapped crib to preach about the incarnation, to point to a God who is with him in bands of cloth, and laid us and for us, always on our side. He used the image of the cross him in a manger, because there to preach about suffering and redemption. Jesus’ humiliation and was no place for them in the inn. pain on the cross is heart-wrenching proof of how much God loves To have a contemplative spirit Luke 2:1-7 us. He used the image of the Eucharist and the Blessed Sacrament is to see God in the ordinary to preach about God’s burning desire to be always accessible to us. bits and pieces of daily life. For Alphonsus, all of these symbols point to God’s crazy love. They Cultivating that spirit of prayer are tangible signs of the extent to which God loves us. They are and awareness is a life-long task reminders that all of creation points to and is infused with the glory where we constantly remind of God, as Thomas Merton experienced so intensely on that Louisville ourselves of God’s abiding THOMAS MERTON street more than half a century ago. presence and amazing grace.

8 9 THE WORD GOD WANTS TO SAVE US ALL ST ALPHONSUS LIGUORI “I see clearly that the thing Now all the tax-collectors NO WEAK LINKS the Church needs most today and sinners were coming is the ability to heal wounds near to listen to him. And the and to warm the hearts of the Pharisees and the scribes were THE MESSAGE faithful; it needs nearness, A popular quiz show on BBC television some years ago was calledThe grumbling and saying, “This proximity. I see the Church as a Weakest Link. It was a quick fire general knowledge quiz, hosted by fellow welcomes sinners and field hospital after battle... The Anne Robinson, in which the contestants had to decide at the end eats with them.” So he told of each round which of their number should be eliminated. They Church sometimes has locked them this parable: “Or what voted for the person they considered to be the weakest performer, itself up in small things, in woman having ten silver coins, whose failure to answer a question would have broken a chain of small-minded rules. The most if she loses one of them, does correct answers and thus cost the team money. After the person was important thing is the first not light a lamp, sweep the voted off, he or she would then by coldly dismissed by Anne with the proclamation: Jesus Christ has cutting phrase: “You are the weakest link. Goodbye.” At which point house, and search carefully saved you.” the unfortunate weakest link would have to take the embarrassing until she finds it? When she walk of shame out of the studio. Francis, Bishop of Rome has found it, she calls together In the bible, one of the striking things about the great figures of the her friends and neighbours, Old and New Testament is their sense of their own weakness. They saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I had no illusions about how wonderful or worthy they were. Even have found the coin that I had though God had chosen them to do great things – to be prophets, to be Church leaders - they were painfully aware they were not perfect. lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there St Paul regarded himself as one who had done wrong. “I am the they are or what they have done or what they have failed to do – is is joy in the presence of the least of the apostles,” he tells the people of Corinth. “In fact, since I beyond God’s mercy and salvation. angels of God over one sinner persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle.” St Alphonsus Liguori knew this. He knew that God isn’t interested in who repents.” Luke 15:1-3.8-10 St Peter, the first pope, was acutely aware of his own sinfulness, too. saving a select few ‘good’ people but wants to save everyone. That’s After all, he had denied Jesus three times. why Alphonsus set out to minister to the illiterate poor in the hills The prophets and apostles saw themselves as unworthy servants around Naples who had been abandoned by the Church. That’s why of God. They knew all too well just how weak and fragile and sinful his colleague Fr Sarnelli ministered to the prostitutes of Naples who they were. had been written off by everybody as outcasts beyond redemption. But they knew something else too: that God had not called them Alphonsus and Sarnelli knew that nobody is beyond the reach of God, To know we are forgiven and to because they were perfect. Rather, God had called them in spite of and that God wants all to be saved. Every single person is called to feel we are loved are powerful their imperfections. God had chosen them even though they were holiness. The key is prayer. If we try to develop a relationship with forces in our lives. When we sinners. God had seen the goodness in them, their potential, and God and do our best to live good lives, then God will do the rest. fail to see the goodness within that was enough for God. Unlike the unfortunate contestants in that quiz show, in God’s eyes This is the great truth of our faith: God sees the good in each of us, there are no weakest links, no hopeless cases, no lost souls. God ourselves, God fills the void God sees the potential in all people, and God loves everybody so never gives up on anyone. He reaches out in love and mercy to each with love and mercy. God sees much he wants them to become saints. Nobody – no matter who and every human being. All we have to do is respond. the potential in each one of us.

10 11 THE WORD OUR RESPONSE – PRAYER Ten years on from her meeting with Fr Tom, her life is firmly rooted in “How do we pray? Do we Jesus said to his disciples, “Pray then PRAY AS YOU ARE prayer. Each morning she rises at 6.10 am and goes to her ‘sacred space’ pray piously and calmly in this way: Our Father in heaven, in a living room. “I quiet myself down and take a piece of scripture, out of habit or do we place often the Gospel of the day. Then I pray for 30 minutes.” hallowed be your name. Your kingdom ourselves courageously In the evening, when she comes home after a hectic day at work, her come. Your will be done, on earth as it before the Lord to ask for first stop is the sacred space, for more prayer. “I am on my own, but is in heaven. Give us this day our daily I feel connected to everyone else.” In her spare time she now also grace, to ask for what we are bread. And forgive us our debts, as we works as a spiritual director, and has a great love for the Eucharist. praying for? Prayer that is not also have forgiven our debtors. And Anne discovered the power of prayer and it has changed her life. courageous is not real prayer.” do not bring us to the time of trial, The method she uses is called Centering Prayer – a form of silent Francis, Bishop of Rome contemplation. But there are lots of different ways to pray. In fact, but rescue us from the evil one.” how we pray and the amount of time we spend praying are not Matthew 6:9-13 nearly as important as that we do pray. Prayer is necessary because it is how we connect with God. It’s how we relate to the one who has created us and loves us with a crazy love. A relationship cannot exist if there is no communication. THE MESSAGE It’s like knowing about a relative who lives in another town or Anne McClean was raised a Catholic and brought her children country but never contacting that person. For a relationship to up in the faith, “but it didn’t mean anything,” she says. She had exist, to develop and to grow, there has to be regular contact. parted mentally from the Church years earlier as a child, when Prayer is how we connect with the God who has shaped us a priest in confession told her to “speak up or get out.” She left. into life. Years later, she realised she had everything she could want - Prayer is necessary because we depend on God. We know a wonderful husband, children, career, cars, holidays, and yet that God created us, and that all we have and are, we owe to “something was missing.” God. Prayer is how we express thanks and praise; it is how we One day through her work, she was introduced to a priest, called give glory to God, and how we seek God’s help. Like the child Fr Tom. After a while she invited him home to meet her husband dependent on its parent, we turn to our heavenly parent for and family. She was fascinated by the way he spoke of “my prayer.” all we need. Prayer is the proper response to the God who Over dinner, he told her husband about a form of contemplative loves us with a crazy love. prayer that he used, called Centering Prayer. “In miniscule detail I Prayer changes us. As Anne discovered, nurturing a remember everything he said,” she recounts. relationship with God changes how you relate to God and The next day, without telling anyone, Anne started to do the prayer. how you relate to those around you. You develop a deeper Prayer is a conversation with God It became a daily practise. Three months later her husband turned to awareness of God’s presence. You become less focused on where we talk and God listens and her and said, “There is something different about you.” yourself and more tuned into the needs of others and of “He had noticed differences I hadn’t noticed myself,” she says. God’s creation. You see things differently. You love more. God talks and we listen. We connect And she has changed. At work, she is no longer the ‘ice queen’ but You trust more. You thank more. You become a new person. with God today in focusing on the Our accessible to all, and trauma resulting from a childhood marred by an That’s the promise and the reward of a prayer relationship Father, which centres our minds on the with our God of love. alcoholic father has been healed. grace of God’s presence.

12 13 THE WORD OUR RESPONSE – SERVICE “When we are generous in welcoming people and sharing Now before the FOOT-WASHERS something with them – some food, a place in our homes, festival of the Passover, our time – not only do we no longer remain poor: we are Jesus knew that his hour THE MESSAGE enriched. I am well aware that when someone needing had come to depart from On Holy Thursday 2013, just a few days after his election, Pope Francis food knocks at your door, you always find a way of did something new for a pope. He celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s this world and go to the sharing food; as the proverb says, one can always ‘add Supper not in St Peter’s Basilica where it was originally scheduled Father. Having loved his own but in a Rome juvenile detention facility. About 50 girls and boys more water to the beans’! Is it possible to add more who were in the world, he attended. He washed the feet of 12 of them, including two girls water to the beans? Always? And you do so with loved them to the end. The devil and two Muslims. love, demonstrating that true riches consist not in had already put it into the heart The ceremony of washing another’s feet is important, the pope materials things, but in the heart!” of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to said, because it shows that “the person who is most high among Francis, Bishop of Rome us must be at the service of the others.” It also means that betray him. And during supper “we have to help one another, each one.” Jesus, knowing that the Father had What the pope did that night was simply a reflection of what given all things into his hands, and he has been doing throughout his ministry. He wants a Allowing ourselves to be shaped by the that he had come from God and was Church of the poor. He wants a Church of service. He wants going to God, got up from the table, took to emphasise that the values Jesus lived by are the values actions and gestures of Jesus will lead to greater self-esteem and fulfilment off his outer robe, and tied a towel around that all Christians must live by – simplicity, humility, in our lives. People, who live lives of himself. Then he poured water into a basin solidarity with the abandoned and the suffering. For Pope Francis, as for Jesus of Nazareth, the act of washing of service for the love of God, know the and began to wash the disciples’ feet and feet is not a clever PR stunt – but a statement of how true meaning of the foot-washing to wipe them with the towel that was tied we should live. scene in John’s Gospel. around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said And that’s how we will be judged on the last day, to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” according to St Matthew. Of all the Gospel stories, Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am Matthew’s account of the last judgement is surely me; sick and you visited me; in prison and you came to see doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to the most challenging. On judgement day, on what me. For as often as you did this to one of the least of these basis will God separate the sheep from the goats, sisters or bothers of mine, you did it to me. him, “You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, the saved from the lost? Not on how often we At the end of the day each of us will be judged on how good we ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon went to Mass or the sacraments. Not on how were at washing feet. And that is the frightening thing. Because Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my much we put in the collection plate. Not even we know how often we fail to wash feet, how often we fail to see hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has on whether we served the Church in some Jesus in the least of our brothers and sisters, how often the last bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is capacity. But rather on something altogether thing we want to do is to see Jesus in those who are in need. It asks entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” more demanding… I was hungry and you too much of us. Far easier to donate to charity or to say a prayer. And yet serving others is what each of us is called to do. Because God For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made loves us with a crazy love, we are called to love in return. We must “Not all of you are clean.” John 13:1-11 me welcome, I was naked and you clothed wash feet. It is as simple and as challenging as that.

14 15 THE WORD OUR RESPONSE – It was, according to Greg, the first time in a long time that those words stuck. And “From the Jesus said to his disciples, “You have heard that it was said to RECONCILIATION he says that when he left that little room he did feel, in fact, “good as new.” So beginning, God’s those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever GOOD AS NEW he returned a few weeks later, and a few weeks after that—again and again message was and again. It became a habit, a practice that has had a transforming effect on murders shall be liable to judgement.’ But I say to you that one of restoring his life. Some time later he was ordained a Permanent Deacon and he now if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable THE MESSAGE what was broken, A bad experience of the sacrament put Greg ministers in a parish in New York City. to judgement; and if you insult a brother or sister, you reuniting what had Kandra off confession for years. One Saturday Greg Kandra gave confession a second chance and he was delighted he did. will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ been divided. Walls, evening just before Mass he asked the priest to He experienced the power and the beauty of the sacrament when it is you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you hear his confession. The priest agreed to do so. But celebrated as it should. chasms, differences are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember Greg felt that the priest didn’t really listen to him; he In confession, the focus is not on our sins but on God’s bountiful which still exist today are forgiveness, not on our failings but on God’s mercy, not on raking over that your brother or sister has something against felt the priest was simply going through the motions, destined to disappear. The the past but on being restored, set free, made whole again. Good as new. you, leave your gift there before the altar and anxious to get it over with as quickly as possible, and Church cannot neglect this The profound act of being reconciled with God enables us to live go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, so Greg left the confessional feeling worse than when lesson: She is called to be a he went in. resurrected lives every time we emerge from the confessional. We and then come and offer your gift. Come to means of reconciliation.” He felt so annoyed about it, he says, that he went for a hope again. We are given grace. We are good as new. terms quickly with your accuser while you long time without darkening the door of a reconciliation That is the promise and the invitation the sacrament of reconciliation Francis, Bishop of Rome are on the way to court with him, or your room or slipping behind the velvet curtain of a confessional. offers each one of us. It is a promise and an experience of God’s accuser may hand you over to the judge, Years later, the twisting road of his life led him back to the crazy love. It’s an invitation we should respond to during this novena and as often as we can. and the judge to the guard, and you will church and the sacraments. There were many reasons for his be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, return, he says: the deaths of his parents, his wife’s prayers, and a growing sense that there had to be more to life than just getting you will never get out until you have up and going to work and planning where to go out for dinner or POPE FRANCIS paid the last penny.” GOES TO CONFESSION where to spend the next holiday. Before long he became a daily Matthew 5:21-26 communicant and, later, an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist. Then one day he decided to give confession another chance and he visited a church popular with confession-goers. After entering the small reconciliation room and closing the door, he found himself seated opposite a kindly old friar wearing the familiar brown robe of his order. He cleared his throat and began: “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been 10 years since my last confession.” The priest broke into a small smile. “Welcome back,” he said. “It’s good to see you again.” They had never seen each other before in their lives but Greg knew what he meant. This day of reconciliation draws us into the abundant And with that, he began his confession. The friar listened, and nodded. When love and mercy of God. The experience of entering into it was over he gave Greg a mild penance and some gentle advice: “Just live the the sacrament of confession gives us a tangible glimpse Gospel,” he said softly. “Just live the Gospel.” He sighed and smiled. “There you of the ease with which God forgives. We are renewed are. Good as new. God bless you.” and restored in our encounter with Christ.

16 17 THE WORD MARY: TRULY OUR SISTER them and six shots were fired at point blank range, killing her instantly. “She is our Mother, but we In those days Mary set out and SOUL SISTER Following her death, Brazil’s Human Rights Minister described her as can also say that she is our went with haste to a Judean “a legend, a person considered a symbol of the fight for human rights.” representative, our sister, our Sr Dorothy spent almost four decades bringing the love of God to the town in the hill country, THE MESSAGE eldest sister, she is the first of poorest of the poor. She left her home in the United States to travel a where she entered the house They called her the ‘Angel of the Amazon.’ Her name was Sister the redeemed who has arrived Dorothy Stang and for nearly 40 years she lived in Brazil fighting long journey to Brazil to be with them. She came, bringing only her of Zechariah and greeted in heaven.” for two things: the poor peasant farmers who were being exploited faith and her bible. And she stayed with them - as companion, friend, Elizabeth. When Elizabeth by loggers, miners and ranchers, and the tropical rainforest, which advocate, sister, mother - to the end. Francis, Bishop of Rome heard Mary’s greeting, the was being ravaged to the point of irreversible destruction by Sr Dorothy was following in the footsteps of Mary, the mother of Jesus. child leapt in her womb. And multinational corporations. Mary also left home to stay with her cousin Elizabeth when she was in need; she journeyed with her Son Jesus throughout his life; she Elizabeth was filled with the The 73-year-old American was a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame stood in solidarity with the poor and oppressed; she said a constant, Holy Spirit and exclaimed with do Namur. Over the years, she developed sustainable agricultural programmes which provided jobs and food for the indigenous wholehearted ‘yes’ to God. a loud cry, “Blessed are you people. She also opened schools and established health clinics. As Sr Dorothy was mother and sister to the voiceless poor of the among women, and blessed Sr Dorothy chose to live in poverty in order to help others living Amazon, so Mary is our mother and sister. But we don’t look to her is the fruit of your womb. in poverty. She had a passion for people of all cultures, for social simply as our mother and sister; we look to her as our model. She And why has this happened justice, peacemaking, and for the environment. She possessed shows us what it means to be attentive to God’s will. She shows us to me, that the mother of my few material things: a mix-match of colourful clothing, spartan what it means to hear the word of God and keep it. She shows us how to find salvation. Lord comes to me? For as soon furnishings and her bible, which she carried everywhere and which St Alphonsus Liguori had extraordinary devotion to Mary. He saw her as I heard the sound of your she called her “weapon.” Tragically, on 12 February 2005, Sr Dorothy became a martyr. In the as being close to the ordinary people, someone with whom they could greeting, the child in my womb days preceding her murder, she was attempting to halt illegal logging identify. And he encouraged the people to be close to her. A statue of leapt for joy. And blessed is where land sharks had interests but no legal rights. As she made her Mary, before which Alphonsus prayed when he was up in the hills with she who believed that there the abandoned poor, is called Santa Maria dei Monti. It shows Mary way along a muddy Amazon jungle road to the village where she Unwavering in her would be a fulfilment of what lived, two gunmen approached holding the infant Jesus in one hand and the scriptures in the determination and unbeaten was spoken to her by the Lord.” her. They had been hired by a S. MARIA DEI MONTI other. Mary brought Jesus, the in her love for her son, the And Mary remained with her local landowner who was upset by Sr Dorothy’s activities. The Word of God, into the world and image of the grieving mother for about three months and gunmen asked her if she was she was obedient to the Word of standing at the foot of the then returned to her home. carrying a weapon. She reached God throughout her life. As was cross strikes a chord within Luke 1:39-45.56 Sr Dorothy Stang. That is why into her bag, pulled out her bible the human heart every time and reputedly said, “This is my Alphonsus looked to Mary with we recite the Hail Mary. only weapon.” such affection and devotion. Somewhere within us is a She read to the men. They That is why we honour Mary as listened to two verses, stepped our sister, model and mother. desire to seek out Mary as back and aimed their guns. Sr That is why we can turn to her a source of strength and an Dorothy raised her bible toward SR DOROTHY STANG in all our needs. inspiration in our lives.

18 19 THE WORD A CHURCH OUT ON THE STREETS It was something Fr Reid had worked for unceasingly. “We need to come out of ourselves and head Then Jesus, filled with the power of STREET PEOPLE For decades he laboured behind the scenes trying to for the periphery. We need to avoid the spiritual the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a bring the opposing sides together. He visited prisons, sickness of a Church that is wrapped up in its he attended funerals, he met paramilitary leaders, report about him spread through all FR ALEC REID C.Ss.R. own world: when the Church becomes like this, he wrote letters and position papers, he contacted the surrounding country. He began it grows sick. It is true that going out onto the politicians, he walked the streets. Though based in to teach in their synagogues and Clonard monastery, he spent his time out amidst the street implies the risk of accidents happening, was praised by everyone. When he people, at the coalface, on the streets. He knew that if as they would to any ordinary man or woman. came to Nazareth, where he had been he wanted to help end the violence, he couldn’t stay in But if the Church stays wrapped up in itself, brought up, he went to the synagogue his monastery, he had to be out on the streets. He had it will age. And if I had to choose between to be with the people. He had to get his hands and face on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. a wounded Church that goes out onto the dirty. And he did. He stood up to read, and the scroll of streets and a sick withdrawn Church, I would When he died in November 2013, Fr Reid was the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He acknowledged as one of the main architects of the peace definitely choose the first one.” unrolled the scroll and found the place process. A man whose quiet, persistent street walking Francis, Bishop of Rome where it was written: “The Spirit of the saved lives and made a real difference for good. Lord is upon me, because he has anointed Pope Francis has said that priests must be shepherds who live with “the smell of the sheep.” In other words, they me to bring good news to the poor. He has THE MESSAGE How challenged do we feel by mustn’t stay in their rectory or church, cut off from people. sent me to proclaim release to the captives It’s an unforgettable image. A priest kneels over two naked today’s Gospel reading? Ministering They must go out to where the people are, out onto the and recovery of sight to the blind, to let and battered bodies. His brow is deeply furrowed, his face to the sick, the homeless and the streets, especially to the lost and poor. It was something anguished and distressed. He has just given the men the the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year he did himself when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires – he marginalised was a task undertaken last rites and a bloodstain is visible on his face. The blood of the Lord’s favour.” And he rolled up the would visit the shantytowns and back streets and prisons. It’s by the early disciples so that people of one of the deceased. scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat what took St Alphonsus out into the streets of Naples and might know what being Church The photo of Fr Alec Reid kneeling beside the two dead up into the hills beyond the city. It’s what Jesus did after his really means. Infusing ourselves down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were soldiers remains one of the graphic icons of . inaugural address in the synagogue in Nazareth – he reached with this key message is at the fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, It captures the sense of fear, of division, of hopelessness so out to those the better class of people didn’t want to touch. heart of our faith. “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your many people felt after years of bombings and shootings. It’s something countless followers of Jesus have done down The events in on that terrible day in March 1988 hearing.” Luke 4:14-21 through the centuries – they have gone into the slums and out suggested that things might get even worse. But in on the streets and into mission territory far from home in order the midst of that awful darkness something good was to bring the good news to the poor. happening. What those looking at the picture of Fr Reid It’s something each of us is called to do, also, by virtue of our didn’t know was that, in his pocket, he was carrying baptism. Our faith is not a private affair. It’s meant to be shared. a position paper from Sinn Fein that would trigger We are called to go from church to street, from home to street, the Hume-Adams dialogue. It too was stained with to witness to the Gospel, to stand in solidarity with those who blood. That position paper was part of a slow process suffer or are on the margins, to work to build God’s kingdom of of negotiation that would lead to the Good Friday justice, peace and love. We must be street people. Agreement.

20 21 HYMNS 01 – 10 01 Ag Críost an síol, ag Críost an and a symbol of God’s grace; And Grace, my fears relieved. You shall speak your words in Be still for the power of the Lord let you be my servant too. fómhar; here as one we claim the faith of How precious did that Grace appear foreign lands is moving in this place. 09 in iothlainn Dé go dtugtar sinn. Jesus: the hour I first believed. and all will understand. He comes to cleanse and heal, Céad míle fáilte romhat, Ag Críost an mhuir, ag Críost an All are welcome, all are welcome, You shall see the face of God and live. to minister his Grace. a Íosa, a Íosa t-iasc; all are welcome in this place. Through many dangers, toils and No work too hard for Him – Céad míle fáilte romhat, a Íosa. líonta Dé go gcastar sinn. 03 snares Be not afraid, I go before you in faith, receive from Him. Céad míle fáilte romhat, All that I am, all that I do, we have already come. always. Be still for the power of the Lord a Shlánaitheoir, Ó fhás go haois, ó aois go bás, All that I’ll ever have, T’was Grace that brought us safe Come follow me, and I will give is moving in this place. Céad míle, míle fáilte romhat, do dhá láimh, a Chríost, anall I offer now to you. thus far you rest. 08 Íosa, a Íosa. tharainn. Take and sanctify these gifts and Grace will lead us home. Brother, sister, let me serve you, Ó bhás go críoch nach críoch ach for your honour, Lord. If you pass through raging waters let me be as Christ to you; Glóir agus moladh duit, athfhás, Knowing that I love and serve you The Lord has promised good to me; in the sea, you shall not drown. pray that I may have the grace to a Íosa, a Íosa. i bParthas na ngrás go rabhaimid. is enough reward. His word my hope secures. If you walk amid the burning let you be my servant too. Glóir agus moladh duit, a Íosa. 02 All that I am, all that I do, He will my shield and portion be flames, Glóir agus moladh duit, Let us build a house where love all that I’ll ever have I offer now as long as life endures. you shall not be harmed. We are pilgrims on a journey, a Shlánaitheoir, can dwell to you. 05 If you stand before the power of hell, and companions on the road; Glóir, moladh, agus búiochas duit, and all can safely live, As I kneel before you, and death is at your side, we are here to help each other Íosa, a Íosa. a place where saints and children tell All that I dream, As I bow my head in prayer, know that I am with you through walk the mile and bear the load. 10 how hearts learn to forgive. all that I pray, Take this day, make it yours, it all. Christ be beside me, all that I’ll ever make, And fill me with your love. 07 I will hold the Christ-light for you Christ be before me, Built of hopes and dreams and I give you today. Ave Maria, gratia plena, Be still for the Presence of the Lord, in the night-time of your fear; Christ be behind me, visions, Take and sanctify these gifts Dominus tecum, benedicta tu. the Holy One is here. I will hold my hand out to you, King of my heart. rock of faith and vault of grace; for your honour, Lord. Come, bow before him now speak the peace you long to hear. Christ be within me, here the love of Christ shall end Knowing that I love and serve you All I have I give you, with reverence and fear. Christ be below me, divisions: is enough reward. Ev’ry dream and wish are yours In Him no sin is found, I will weep when you are weeping; Christ be above me, All are welcome, all are welcome, All that I am, all that I do, Mother of Christ, Mother of mine, we stand on holy ground. when you laugh I’ll laugh with you; never to part. all are welcome in this place. all that I’ll ever have I offer now Present them to my Lord. Be still for the presence of the Lord, I will share your joy and sorrow to you. the Holy One is here. till we’ve seen this journey through. Christ on my right hand, Let us build a house where prophets 04 As I kneel before you, Christ on my left hand. speak, Amazing Grace, And I see your smiling face, Be still for the glory of the Lord When we sing to God in heaven Christ all around me, and words are strong and true, how sweet the sound, Ev’ry thought, ev’ry word is shining all around. we shall find such harmony, shield in the strife. where all God’s children dare to That saved a wretch like me. is lost in your embrace. He burns with holy fire, born of all we’ve known together Christ in my sleeping, seek I once was lost but now am found, 06 with splendour He is crowned. of Christ’s love and agony. Christ in my sitting, to dream God’s reign anew. Was blind, but now, I see. You shall cross the barren desert, How awesome is the sight, Christ in my rising, but you shall not die of thirst. our radiant King of light! Brother, sister, let me serve you, light of my life. Here the cross shall stand as T’was Grace that taught You shall wander far in safety Be still for the glory of the Lord is let me be as Christ to you; witness my heart to fear. though you do not know the way. shining all around. pray that I may have the grace to Christ be in all hearts

22 23 HYMNS 11 – 20

thinking about me, Connecting people everywhere. All around us, we have known you; Angels, saints and nations sing; have made; news of happiness. Christ be in all tongues Help us confront all fear and hate all creation lives to hold you, “Praise be Jesus Christ our King; I see the stars, I hear the rolling Our God reigns, our God reigns telling of me, And lust for power that separate. In our living and our dying Lord of life, earth, sky and sea, thunder, Christ be the vision we are bringing you to birth. King of love on Calvary!” Thy power throughout the universe Our God reigns, our God reigns. in eyes that see me, When chasms widen, storms arise, displayed. Our God reigns, our God reigns. in ears that hear me, O, Holy Spirit, make us wise. God, beyond all names, King whose name creation thrills, Christ ever be. Let our resolve, like steel, be strong you have made us in your image, rule our minds, our hearts, our wills, Then sings my soul, You watchmen lift your voices 11 To stand with those who suffer wrong. we are like you, we reflect you, till in peace each nation rings my Saviour God, to thee, joyfully as one; Come as you are, we are woman, we are man. with thy praises, King of kings. How great thou art, shout for your King, your King that’s how I want you. God, let us be a table spread 17 how great thou art. See eye to eye the Lord restoring Come as you are, feel quite at home. With gifts of love and broken bread, God, beyond all words, I, the Lord of sea and sky, Then sings my soul, Zion, Close to my heart, loved and forgiven, Where all find welcome, grace attends, all creation tells your story, I have heard my people cry. my Saviour God, to thee, our God reigns, our God reigns! Come as you are, why stand alone. And enemies arise as friends. you have shaken with our laughter, All who dwell in dark and sin How great thou art, 13 you have trembled with our tears. my hand will save. how great thou art! Waste places of Jerusalem break No need to fear, love sets no limits, Give me joy in my heart, keep me 15 I who made the stars of night, forth with joy, No need to fear, love never ends. singing, Hail, Queen of heav’n, I will make their darkness bright. And when I think, that God his Son We are redeemed, redeemed. Don’t run away, shamed and Give me joy in my heart, I pray, the ocean star, Who will bear my light to them? not sparing; The Lord has saved and comforted disheartened Give me joy in my heart, keep me guide of the wanderer here below Whom shall I send? Sent Him to die, I scarce can take his people, Rest in my love, trust me again. singing, thrown on life’s surge, we claim it in; our God reigns, our God reigns! Keep me singing till the break of day. thy care; Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? That on the cross, my burden gladly 20 I came to call sinners, save us from peril and from woe. I have heard You calling in the bearing, In Christ there is no east or west, not just the virtuous. Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, Mother of Christ, star of the sea, night. He bled and died, to take away in Him no south or north; I came to bring peace, not to condemn. Sing Hosanna to the King of Kings. pray for the wanderer, pray for me. I will go, Lord, if You lead me. my sin. but one great fellowship of love Each time you fail, to live by my promise, Sing Hosanna, Sing Hosanna, I will hold Your people in my heart. throughout the whole wide earth. Why do you think I’d love you the less. Sing Hosanna to the King. O gentle, chaste and spotless maid, When Christ shall come, with we sinners make our prayers I, the Lord of snow and rain, shouts of acclamation, In Him shall true hearts everywhere Come as you are, that’s how I love you, Give me faith in my heart, keep me through thee; I have borne my people’s pain. And take me home, what joy shall their high communion find; Come as you are, trust me again. searching, etc. remind thy Son that he has paid I have wept for love of them, fill my heart. His service is the golden cord, Nothing can change the love that I Give me hope in my heart, keep me the price of our iniquity. They turn away. Then I shall bow in humble close-binding humankind. bear you, striving, etc. Virgin most pure, star of the sea, I will break their hearts of stone, adoration, All will be well, come as you are. Give me love in my heart, keep me pray for the sinner, pray for me. give them hearts for love alone. And there proclaim: “My God, how Join hands, then, members of the faith 12 serving, etc. 16 I will speak my words to them, great thou art!” whatever your race may be! Diverse in culture, nation, race, 14 Hail Redeemer, King divine! Whom shall I send? 19 Who serve each other in Christ’s love We come together by your grace. God, beyond our dreams, Priest and Lamb, the throne is 18 How lovely on the mountains are are surely kin to me. God, let us be a meeting ground you have stirred in us a memory, thine; O Lord my God, when I in awesome the feet of him, Where hope and healing love are found. you have placed your powerful spirit King, whose reign shall never cease, wonder, who brings good news, good news, In Christ now meet both east and west, God, let us be a bridge of care in the hearts of humankind. Prince of everlasting peace. Consider all the works thy hands announcing peace, proclaiming in him meet south and north;

24 25 HYMNS 21 – 31 28 all Christly souls are one in him As God has loved me so I have loved so much to be consoled as to wash me ye waters flowing from The love I have for you, my Lord, Poor though we are, we have throughout the whole wide earth. you. console, his side. is only a shadow of your love for me: brought ourselves to you: 21 Go and live on in my love. to be understood as to understand, only a shadow of your love for me; we are yours, we are yours. I will never forget you, my people; 23 to be loved, as to love with all my Strength and protection may thy your deep abiding love. 30 I have carved you on the palm of Nearer, my God, to Thee, soul. Passion be; The bells of the Angelus my hand. Nearer to Thee; O blessed Jesus hear and answer me; My own belief in you, my Lord, calleth to pray. I will never forget you, I will not E’en though it be cross Make me a channel of your peace. deep in thy wounds, Lord, hide and is only a shadow of your faith in me; In sweet tones announcing the leave you orphaned. That raiseth me. it is in pardoning that we are shelter me; only a shadow of your faith in me; sacred Ave. I will never forget my own. Still all my song shall be, pardoned, so shall I never, never part from thee. your deep and lasting faith. Ave, Ave, Ave Maria. Nearer, my God, to Thee, in giving to all men that we receive, Ave, Ave, Ave Maria. Does a mother forget her baby? Nearer, my God, to Thee, and in dying that we’re born to Guard and defend me from the foe My life is in your hands; Or a woman the child within her Nearer to Thee. eternal life. malign; my life is in your hands. Immaculate Mary, our hearts are womb? 25 in death’s dread moments make me My love for you will grow, my God. all thine. Yet even if these forget, yes even if Deep in Thy Sacred Heart, Seek ye first the kingdom of God, only thine; Your light in me will shine. Protect us, thy children, who kneel these forget, Let me abide; and His righteousness; call me, and bid me come to thee at thy shrine. I will never forget my own. Thou that hast bled for me, and all these things shall be added on high, The dream I have today, my Lord, 22 Sorrowed and died, unto you. where I may praise thee with thy is only a shadow of your dreams O bless us, dear Lady, with blessings Let us be bread, Sweet shall my weeping be, Allelu, Alleluia. saints for aye. for me; from heaven, blessed by the Lord, Grief surely leading me 27 only a shadow of all that will be; And to our petitions let answer be broken and shared, life for the world. Nearer, my God, to Thee, Ask and it shall be given unto you. Sweet sacrament divine, if I but follow you. given. Let us be wine, love freely poured. Nearer to Thee. Seek and you shall find. hid in thy earthly home, 29 31 Let us be one in the Lord. 24 Knock and the door shall be opened lo, round thy lowly shrine, Take our bread, we ask you, This is my body, Make me a channel of your peace. unto you. with suppliant hearts we come; take our hearts, we love you, broken for you, I am the bread of life, broken for all. Where there is hatred, Allelu, Alleluia. Jesus, to thee our voice we raise, take our lives, oh Father, bringing you wholeness, Eat now and hunger no more. let me bring your love. with songs of love and heartfelt praise, we are yours, we are yours. making you free. One faith, one hope, one symbol Where there is injury your pardon, Lord. We do not live by bread alone, sweet sacrament divine, Take it and eat it, of love And where there’s doubt true faith but by every word; sweet sacrament divine. Yours as we stand at the table you set, and when you do, given to us in this one bread, in you. that proceeds from the mouth of yours as we eat the bread our do it in love for me. one cup. O let us be one in the Lord. the Lord. Sweet sacrament of peace, hearts can’t forget. Make me a channel of your peace. Allelu, Alleluia. dear home of ev’ry heart, We are the signs of your life with This is my blood, You are my friends if you keep my Where there’s despair in life, let me 26 where restless yearnings cease, us yet; poured out for you, commands, bring hope. Soul of my Saviour, and sorrows all depart, we are yours, we are yours. bringing forgiveness, making you no longer servants but friends. Where there is darkness only light sanctify my breast; there in thine ear all trustfully free. and where there’s sadness ever joy. Body of Christ, be thou my saving we tell our tale of misery, Your holy people stand washed in Take it and drink it, See how my people have nothing guest; sweet sacrament of peace, your blood, and when you do, to eat. Oh, Master, grant that I may never Blood of my Saviour, bathe me in sweet sacrament of peace. Spirit filled, yet hungry, we await do it in love for me. Give them the bread that is you. seek thy tide your food.

26 27 HYMNS 32 – 51 38 42 Back to my Father Jesus died on Calvary, And he will raise you up on eagles’ I will search in the silence for your Confitemini Domino, do not be afraid; soon I shall go. Walk, walk, in the light, wings, hiding place. quoniam bonus. lift up your voices, Do not forget me; To save the lost like you and me; bear you on the breath of dawn, In the quiet, Lord, I seek your face. Confitemini Domino, the Lord is near; then you will see Walk, walk, in the light. make you to shine like the sun, Alleluia. lift up your voices the Lord is near. I am still with you, and hold you in the palm of his 39 and you will know Jesus did what He said, hand. Even though the rain hides the 43 48 you’re very close to me. Walk, walk, in the light, stars, Eat this bread, Jesus, He healed the sick and He raised The snare of the fowler will never even though the mist swirls the drink this cup, name above all names, Filled with my Spirit, the dead; capture you, hills, come to me and never be hungry. beautiful Saviour, how you will grow! Walk, walk, in the light. and famine will bring you no fear: even when the dark clouds veil Eat this bread, glorious Lord. You are my branches; 33 under his wings your refuge, his the sky, drink this cup, Emmanuel, God is with us, I am the tree. When creation was begun, faithfulness your shield. God is by my side. trust in me and you will not thirst. blessed Redeemer, If you are faithful, God had chosen you to be living Word. others will know Mother of his blessed Son, You need not fear the terror of the 44 you are alive in me. Holy Mary, full of grace. night, Even when the sun shall fall in O Christe Domine Jesu, 49 Ave, Ave, Ave Maria. nor the arrow that flies by day; sleep, O Christe Domine Jesu. Jesus, remember me Love one another - though thousands fall about you, even when at dawn the sky shall when you come into your Kingdom. I have loved you, When creation was restored, near you it shall not come. weep, 45 Jesus, remember me and I have shown you You were there beside the Lord even in the night when storms Father, we adore you. when you come into your Kingdom. how to be free; Whom you cherished and adored, CHANTS & RESPONSES shall rise, (Jesus, Spirit) serve one another, Holy Mary, full of grace. 35 God is by my side. Lay our lives before you. 50 and when you do, Ave, Ave, Ave Maria. Christ be our light! God is by my side. How we love you. Lay your hands gently upon us. do it in love for me. Shine in our hearts, Let their touch render your peace. 32 All of us are children too, shine through the darkness. 40 46 Let them bring your forgiveness and Let’s all join together often doubtful what to do, Christ be our light! Bless the Lord my soul Father, we love you, healing. in communion sweet, Needing to confide in you, Shine in your church, and bless God’s holy name. we worship and adore you, Lay your hands gently, Walk, walk in the light. Holy Mary, full of grace. gathered today. Bless the Lord my soul, Glorify thy name through all the earth. lay your hands. And love one another till the Ave, Ave, Ave Maria. He leads me into life. Glorify thy name, Saviour we meet, 34 36 glorify thy name, 51 Walk, walk, in the light. You who dwell My soul is longing for your peace 41 Glorify thy name through all the O Lord, hear my prayer, in the shelter of the Lord, Near to you my God. Be still and know that I am God. earth. (Jesus, Spirit). O Lord, hear my prayer, Walk in the light who abide in his shadow for life, (sing 3 times) when I call answer me. Walk in the light say to the Lord: “My refuge, my rock 37 I am the Lord that healeth thee. 47 O Lord, hear my prayer, Walk in the light in whom I trust!” Guiding me, guarding me, the Lord (sing 3 times) In the Lord O Lord, hear my prayer, Walk in the light of God. is by my side. In thee, O Lord, I put my trust. (sing I’ll be ever thankful, come and listen to me. Guiding me, guarding me, the Lord 3 times) in the Lord I will rejoice! upholds my life. Look to God,

28 29 HYMNS 52 – 59 52 56 Open our eyes, Lord, Create in me a clean heart, O God, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS we want to see Jesus, that I might serve you. The following songs covered by Christian Copyright Licensing to reach out and touch him Create in me a clean heart, O God, Europe Ltd have been reproduced under license: As I Kneel Before you, Maria Parkinson, 1978; Be Still for The Presence of the Lord, and say that we love him; that I might be renewed. David Evans; Brother, Sister (The Servant Song), Richard Gillard; open our ears, Lord, So fill me, heal me, Father, we adore you, Terrye Coelho; How great thou art, Stuart and help us to listen; then bring me back to you. K. Hine; How lovely on the mountains, Leonard E. Smith; Seek Ye open our eyes, Lord, Create in me a pure heart, O God, First, Karen Lafferty, 1972; Spirit of the Living God, Daniel Iverson; we want to see Jesus. that I might serve you. This is my Body, Jimmy Owens and Damien Lundy. The following songs covered by Calamus have been reproduced under Calamus license. 1. All are welcome 2. All that I am 3. Be 53 57 not afraid 4. Christ be our light 5. God beyond our dreams 6. Here Spirit of the living God, Take, O take me as I am; summon I am Lord 7. I will never forget you 8. Let us be bread 9. Prayer of fall afresh on me. (sing twice) out what I shall be; St Francis 10. The love I have for you 11. Take our bread 12. You Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me. set your seal upon my heart and who dwell 13. The cloud’s veil 14. I will search in the silence 15. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh live in me. Guiding me 16. Bless the Lord 17. Confitemini Domino 18. Eat this bread 19. O Christe domine Jesu 20. In the Lord I’ll be ever on me. thankful 21. Jesus remember me 22. Lord hear my prayer 23. Ubi (...on us, on all) 58 caritas 24. Salvador mundi Faithful is the Lord, our King. Let Acknowledgements: © 1. Marty Haugen, GIA Publications Inc. 54 us all in glory sing, 2 & 9. Sebastian Temple, OCP Publications 3. Bob Dufford, OCP Sweep over my soul, (sing twice) ever praise in song and word: Holy, Publications 4 & 5. Bernadette Farrell, OCP Publications 6. Daniel L Schutte, OCP Publications 7 & 10. Carey Landry, OCP Publications 8. Sweet Spirit, holy, holy Lord! Thomas J Porter, GIA Publications Inc. 11. Joe Wise, GIA Publications sweep over my soul, Inc. 12. Michael Joncas, OCP Publications 13 & 14. Liam Lawton, my rest is complete 59 GIA Publications Inc. 15. Michael Joncas, GIA Publications Inc. when I sit at your feet, Salvator mundi, salva nos; 16 - 24. Ateliers et Presses de Taizé Sweet Spirit qui per crucem et sanguinem & Reprinted with permission of Calamus, Oak House, 70 High sweep over my soul. redemisti nos, Street, Brandon, Suffolk, IP27 0AU Spectrum Publications PL, composer Deirdre Browne and sung by auxiliare nobis, te deprecamur, Paul Gurr O.Carm for Come as you are. 55 Deus noster. All other hymns have been reproduced by permission of copyright Ubi caritas et amor, holders. Ubi caritas Deus ibi est. Bible extracts are from the New Revised Standard Version. All rights reserved.

Text: Gerard Moloney, C.Ss.R. Prayer Text: Derek Ryan C.Ss.R. Design: David McNamara, C.Ss.R. Printed by Nicholson & Bass, Belfast Produced by Redemptorist Communications, 75 Orwell Road, Rathgar, 6, Tel: 00353 1 4922488, Email: [email protected] www.redcoms.org

30 NOVENA PRAYER THANKSGIVING PRAYER Mother of Perpetual Help, O Mother of Perpetual Help, with the greatest confidence with grateful hearts we join you we come before your holy picture in thanking God to be inspired by the example of your life. for all the wonderful things We think of you at that moment when, he has done for us, full of faith and trust, especially for giving us, you accepted God’s call Jesus, your Son, as our Redeemer. to be the mother of his Son. O God, our Creator, Help us, your children, we thank you for the gift of life to accept with joy our own calling in life. and all the gifts of nature: When you learned that your cousin our senses and faculties, Elizabeth was in need our talents and abilities. you immediately went to serve her We thank you for creating us and offer your help. in your image and likeness Help us, like you, and for giving us this earth to be concerned for others. to use and develop, We think of you, Mother, to respect and cherish. at the foot of the cross. Despite our failures, Your heart must have bled you continue to show your love for us today to see your Son in agony. by increasing the life of your Spirit in us But your joy was great at the Eucharistic table. when he rose from the dead, Finally, we thank you, loving Father, victorious over the powers of evil. for giving us Mary, Mother of Sorrows, the Mother of your Son, help us through the trials and to be our Mother of Perpetual Help. disappointments of life. We are grateful for all the favours Help us not to lose heart. we have received through her intercession. May we share with you and your Son We pray that those past favours the joy of having courageously faced up may inspire us to all the challenges of life. to greater confidence in your loving mercy Amen. and to seek the aid of our Mother of Perpetual Help. Amen.

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