Holy Hour St Thomas More Church Swiss Cottage, London NW3 5SU for young adults

On a Thursday 7.30 – 8.30 pm

13 December 2018 24 January 2019 28 February 2019 28 March 2019 Holy Hour : Advent 2018

1. Exposition of the Visit to the Blessed Sacrament Reading of the for this Holy Hour 2. The priest does his prayer aloud 3. Next 15 minutes: Silent Prayer Some texts are available here for personal reflection 4. Two Hymns are sung YOU CARRIED ME

BREATHE 5. Next 15 minutes Silent Prayer Some texts are available here for personal reflection

Spiritual Reading and Reflection for today

6. Prayer Two Hymns are sung COME TO THE LORD I NEED YOU

7. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament: Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament Hymn: Tantum ergo Blessing with the Blessed Sacrament The Divine Praises Hymn while the Blessed Sacrament is being returned to the Tabernacle

A Christmas Carol: Hark the herald Angels sing

8. When will the next Holy Hour take place here? 9. Guide for a Good Confession 1. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Hymn:

O salutaris Hostia, O saving Victim, opening wide Quæ cæli pandis ostium: The gate of Heaven to us Bella premunt hostilia, below; Da robur, fer auxilium. Our foes press hard on every Uni trinoque Domino side; Sit sempiterna gloria, Thine aid supply; thy strength Qui vitam sine termino bestow. Nobis donet in patria. To thy great name be endless Amen. praise, Immortal Godhead, One in Three. O grant us endless length of days, In our true native land with thee. Amen.

Visit to the Blessed Sacrament V. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. R. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

V. Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. R. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. R. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

[3 times and then…]

Spiritual I wish, Lord, to receive you with the purity, humility and devotion with which your most Holy Mother received you, with the spirit and fervour of the saints. 2. Reading of the Gospel for this Holy Hour: According to St Matthew 2: 1-12

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’”

Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshipped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.

" 3. Silent Prayer

Some texts are available here for personal reflection

Prayer of St Thomas Aquinas

Prayer of St John Chrysostom

St Josemaría Escrivá: Some advice

St Josemaría Escrivá: Thanksgiving (after Communion)

St Josemaría Escrivá: Some reflections and prayers

Anima Christi, Soul of Christ

Domine Iesu Christe, Lord Jesus Christ

Prayer to the Virgin Mary

Acts of Adoration

3.1 Prayer of St Thomas Aquinas

Lord, Father all-powerful, and ever-living God, I thank Thee, for even though I am a sinner, Thy unprofitable servant, not because of my worth, but in the kindness of Thy mercy, Thou hast fed me with the precious Body and Blood of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this holy communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will. May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in power to do good. May it be my strong defence against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual. May it unite me more closely to Thee, the one true God and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with Thee. And I pray that Thou willest lead me, a sinner to the banquet where Thou with Thy Son and Holy Spirit, art true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to Thy saints. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

3.2 Prayer of St John Chrysostom

We give Thee thanks, O most merciful Lord and Redeemer of our souls, for this day Thou hast made us worthy by means of these immortal and heavenly mysteries. Direct our way; keep us in fear of Thee; guard our lives; and make our steps firm through the prayers and intercessions of the glorious and holy Mother of God and ever-Virgin Mary. Be exalted above the heavens, O God, and above all the earth, Thy glory, now and forever and ever. Amen.

3.3 St Josemaría Escrivá a) St Josemaría Escrivá: Some advice When you come to tell our Lord, perhaps without saying the words aloud, “Lord, I love you, I believe that you are here”, at the same time, praise the Blessed Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and Call upon Mary and Joseph, because in some way they will be present in the tabernacle as they were at Bethlehem and at Nazareth (...). Don’t forget!. Unite the presence of Jesus in the to the Blessed Trinity, and remember the trinity on earth: the Mother of Christ and that most perfect man, St Joseph. You needn’t speak aloud, but let your heart proclaim it. Don’t forget! b) St Josemaría Escrivá: Thanksgiving (after Communion)

It would be well for each one of us to invoke his Guardian Angel, asking him to be a witness to this constant , this union, this communion, this identification of a poor sinner which is what each one of us is, especially myself, who am a wretch – with his God. Knowing who he is, we greet him, bowing our heads to the ground in adoration. Serviam! We want to serve you. Let us ask him to pardon our miseries, and our sins, and let us feel sorry too for the sins of the whole world. Supra dorsum meum fabricaverunt peccatores: let us feel the weight of this burden of iniquity, of all the wretchedness there is in the world, especially in these last few years. Let us yearn not only to beg pardon, but in some way to make up for all this, to make reparation! Let us confess our nothingness: Lord, I can do nothing. I am worth nothing! I know nothing! I have nothing! I am nothing! But you are everything. I am your son, and your brother. And I can take on your infinite merits, and the merits of your Mother and those of the Patriarch St. Joseph, my Father and Lord, the virtues of the Saints, the gold of my children, the tiny lights that shine in the nightfall of my life through your infinite mercy and my little correspondence. All this I offer to you, with my miseries and my nothingness, so that you may place yourself on top of these miseries and so stand higher. I turn to St Joseph. We have said we would treat him well, we promised as much to Our Lady. I go to St Joseph, who is my Father and Lord. With him, I go to his beloved Spouse, the Virgin Mother, who is my Mother also. With Mary and Joseph I approach Jesus – I have him now in my heart – and I tell him: I believe, I believe! Adauge nobis fidem, spem, caritatem! Increase our faith, hope and love. Because we live by Love, and You alone can give us these virtues. Then, knowing that he listens to us and loves us, knowing that we are Christ – because he in some way takes us to himself – it gives us joy to praise him thus: glory be to the Father, glory be to the Son, glory be to the Holy Spirit. c) St Josemaría Escrivá: Some reflections and prayers

Stick to your daily periods of prayer” If you really want to be a penitent soul - both penitent and cheerful - you must above all stick to your daily periods of prayer, which should be fervent, generous and not cut short. And you must make sure that those minutes of prayer are not done only when you feel the need, but at fixed times, whenever it is possible. Don't neglect these details. If you subject yourself to this daily worship of God, I can assure you that you will be always happy. (Furrow, 994)

“With continual prayer” Father, you told me, I have committed many errors, I have made so many mistakes. I know, I replied. But God Our Lord, who also knows all that and has taken it into account, only asks you to be humble enough to admit it and asks that you struggle to make amends, so as to serve him better each day with more interior life, with continual prayer and with piety, and making use of the means to sanctify your work. (The Forge, 379)

“You must make an effort to seek out the Lord” Saints, abnormal? The time has come to do away with that prejudice. We have to teach, with the supernatural naturalness of Christian asceticism, that not even mystical phenomena mean abnormality. These phenomena have their own naturalness, just as other psychological or physiological things have theirs. (Furrow, 559)

“Married life... an occasion for God’s presence on earth” There are many good reasons to honour Saint Joseph, and to learn from his life. He was a man of strong faith. He earned a living for his family - Jesus and Mary - with his own hard work. He guarded the purity of the Blessed Virgin, who was his Spouse. And he respected - he loved! - God's freedom, when God made his choice: not only his choice of Our Lady the Virgin as his Mother, but also his choice of Saint Joseph as the Husband of Holy Mary. (The Forge, 552)

Prayer of Abandonment to God’s Providence My Lord and my God: into your hands I abandon the past and the present and the future, what is small and what is great, what amounts to a little and what amounts to a lot, things temporal and things eternal. Amen.

Prayer to the Holy Spirit Come, O Holy Spirit: enlighten my understanding to know your commands; strengthen my heart against the wiles of the enemy; inflame my will… I have heard your voice, and I don’t want to harden my heart to resisting, by saying ‘later… tomorrow.’ Nunc coepi! Now! Lest there be no tomorrow for me! O, Spirit of truth and wisdom, Spirit of understanding and counsel, Spirit of joy and peace! I want what you want, I want it because you want it, I want it as you want it, I want it when you want it.

Prayer for the Family Creator of all things, you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, into the home of Mary and Joseph forming the Holy Family of Nazareth; inspire us by their example to imitate their selfless charity in our family life. Through the intercession of St. Josemaria, help our families to be united in the heart of Christ, enjoying a loving communion with each other, recognizing and upholding the sacredness of marriage, generously welcoming the gift of life, and valuing the inestimable gift of each family member. Help us dedicate ourselves in generous service to our families and to reflect the love that Christ had for Mary and Joseph, making our family a true domestic Church with Christ at its center. Teach us to find Christ in the crosses that occur in family life and help us to find joy in them and unite them to him. Watch over and protect our family so that each member will be faithful to the Gospel and never stray from the path of holiness. We ask you, through the intercession of St. Josemaria, to grant us the favor of (make your request). Amen. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we give our hearts and souls to you.

3.4 , Soul of Christ

Soul of Christ, sanctify me. , save me. , inebriate me. Water from the side of Christ, wash me. Passion of Christ, strengthen me. O good Jesus, hear me. Within Thy wounds, hide me. Separated from Thee let me never be. From the malignant enemy, defend me. At the hour of death, call me. To come to Thee, bid me, That I may praise Thee in the company Of Thy Saints, for all eternity. Amen.

3.5 Domine Iesu Christe, Lord Jesus Christ

O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who according to the will of the Father, with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, has by your death given life to the world, deliver me by your most sacred Body, which, I, unworthy, have presumed to receive, from all my iniquities and from every evil, and make me ever to hold fast to your commandments and suffer me never to be separated from You. Amen.

3.6 Prayer to the Virgin Mary

O Mary, most holy Virgin and Mother, behold, I have received your most beloved Son, Jesus Christ, whom you conceived in your spotless womb, bore, nursed, and held with your sweet embraces. Behold Him at whose sight you will rejoice and be filled with every delight. With love I humbly return Him and offer Him to you, to hold once more, to love with all your heart, and to offer to the Holy Trinity as our supreme act of worship for your honour and glory and for my good and the good of all the world. Therefore I ask you, most loving Mother, to ask God for forgiveness of all my sins, abundant graces to help me serve Him more faithfully, and for that final grace that I may praise Him with you for ever and ever. Amen.

3.7 Acts of Adoration

Jesus, my God, I adore You, here present in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar, where You wait day and night to be our comfort while we await Your unveiled presence in heaven.

Jesus, my God, I adore You in all places where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved and where sins are committed against this Sacrament of Love.

Jesus, my God, I adore You for all time, past, present and future, for every soul that ever was, is or shall be created.

Jesus, my God, who for us has endured hunger and cold, labour and fatigue, I adore You.

Jesus, my God, who for my sake has deigned to subject Yourself to the humiliation of temptation, to the perfidy and defection of friends, to the scorn of Your enemies, I adore You.

Jesus, my God, who for us has endured the buffeting of Your passion, the scourging, the crowning with thorns, the heavy weight of the cross, I adore You.

Jesus, my God, who, for my salvation and that of all mankind, was cruelly nailed to the cross and hung there for three long hours in bitter agony, I adore You.

Jesus, My God, who for love of us did institute this Blessed Sacrament and offer Yourself daily for the sins of men, I adore You.

Jesus, my God, who in Holy Communion became the food of my soul, I adore You.

Jesus, for You I live. Jesus, for You I die. Jesus, I am Yours in life and death. Amen. 4. A selection of Hymns

YOU CARRIED ME BREATHE COME TO THE ALTAR SO CLOSE - (Tan Cerca) YOU'RE A GOOD, GOOD FATHER LORD, I NEED YOU

YOU CARRIED ME

Holy God of our faith you are welcome in this place you are welcome in this place (2X)

(Chorus) come fill our hearts up (Alleluya) come fill our hearts up with your presence sweet Lord sustain us sweet Lord sustain us

You carry me You carry me on the wings of love (4X) You carry me sweet Lord You carry me on the wings of love (4X)

BREATHE

This is the air I breathe This is the air I breathe Your holy presence living in me

This is my daily bread This is my daily bread Your very word spoken to me

And I I'm desperate for you And I I'm I'm lost without you

This is the air I breathe This is the air I breathe Your holy presence living in me

This is my daily bread this is my daily bread your very word spoken to me

And I'm, I'm desperate for you And I'm, I'm lost without you COME TO THE ALTAR

Are you hurting and broken within Overwhelmed by the weight of you sin Jesus is calling Have you come to the end of yourself Do you thirst for a drink from the well Jesus is calling

(Chorus) O come to The altar The father’s arms are open wide Forgiveness was bought with The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes Come today theres no reason to wait Jesus is calling Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy From the ashes a new life is born Jesus is calling

[Chorus] Oh what a saviour isn’t he wonderful Sing Christ is risen Bow down before him, for he is Lord of all Sing alleluia Christ is risen

SO CLOSE - HAKUNA (Tan Cerca)

So close with my presence, I am with you, So close to your soul know that I have longed to be. Standing by your door, I'll be there waiting For the moment that you want to let me in. Even though you're not really listening, Even though you may doubt that it is I, I promise I'll still be there waiting your welcome sign.

Silently and hidden is my dwelling, I only want to rest a while within your heart. Quietly I come and yet the truth is I bring a love that's for you, and I need to share. Even though you may wish to avoid me, Or when your heart makes you feel so ashamed, Complete forgiveness for you always is my desire.

(Chorus) Quiet now and my voice will resound Quiet now and let me dwell inside I Only know how to seek (you) in the hidden And only you can quench my thirst that's burning,

I am hoping some day you will realise That I know everything there is in you by heart. Although you dislike all of your failings, I love you as you are, entirely, as you are.

Even when you're alone and wounded, Even when in your pain, they reject you, Know that I share all things with you. I suffer your pain with you, your pain is mine. Chorus Quiet now and my voice will resound Quiet now and let me dwell inside I Only know how to seek (you) in the hidden And only you can quench my thirst that's burning,

So close with my presence I am with you So close to your soul know that I have longed to be

YOU'RE A GOOD, GOOD FATHER

You're a good, good father It's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are And I'm loved by you It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am

You are perfect in all of your ways You are perfect in all of your ways You are perfect in all of your ways to us

LORD, I NEED YOU

Lord, I come, I confess Bowing here I find my rest Without You I fall apart You’re the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You Every hour I need You My one defence, my righteousness Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more Where grace is found is where You are And where You are, Lord, I am free Holiness is Christ in me

Chorus Teach my song to rise to You When temptation comes my way And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on You Jesus, you’re my hope and stay

Chorus (x2) Lord, I need You, oh, I need You Every hour I need You 5. Silent Prayer

Spiritual reading and reflection for today

We are now in the period of Advent, the beginning of the new liturgical year in which we prepare ourselves for Christ's coming. In celebrating this liturgy, the church ‘’makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Saviour's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming." (1)

In the following passage Blessed Cardinal Newman makes clear what it means to watch and wait for Christ, enlightening an attitude which is central to these days before Christmas.

Now I consider this word watching, first used by our Lord, then by the favoured Disciple, then by the two great Apostles, Peter and Paul, is a remarkable word, remarkable because the idea is not so obvious as might appear at first sight, and next because they all inculcate it. We are not simply to believe, but to watch; not simply to love, but to watch; not simply to obey, but to watch; to watch for what? for that great event, Christ's coming. Whether then we consider what is the obvious meaning of the word, or the Object towards which it directs us, we seem to see a special duty enjoined on us, such as does not naturally come into our minds. Most of us have a general idea what is meant by believing, fearing, loving, and obeying; but perhaps we do not contemplate or apprehend what is meant by watching.

Now what is watching?

I conceive it may be explained as follows:—Do you know the feeling in matters of this life, of expecting a friend, expecting him to come, and he delays? Do you know what it is to be in unpleasant company, and to wish for the time to pass away, and the hour strike when you may be at liberty? Do you know what it is to be in anxiety lest something should happen which may happen or may not, or to be in suspense about some important event, which makes your heart beat when you are reminded of it, and of which you think the first thing in the morning? Do you know what it is to have a friend in a distant country, to expect news of him, and to wonder from day to day what he is now doing, and whether he is well? Do you know what it is so to live upon a person who is present with you, that your eyes follow his, that you read his soul, that you see all its changes in his countenance, that you anticipate his wishes, that you smile in his smile, and are sad in his sadness, and are downcast when he is vexed, and rejoice in his successes? To watch for Christ is a feeling such as all these; as far as feelings of this world are fit to shadow out those of another. (2)

(1) Catechism of the n.524. (2) John Henry Newman, Parochial and Plain Sermons, voI. IV - Rivingtons, London, Oxford and Cambridge 1870, pp. 319-321.

Some texts are available here for personal reflection CATECHETICAL MEETING OF POPE BENEDICT XVI WITH CHILDREN WHO HAD RECEIVED THEIR DURING THE YEAR

St Peter's Square Saturday, 15 October 2005

1. Andrea: Dear Pope, what are your memories of your First Communion day? I would first like to say thank you for this celebration of faith that you are offering to me, for your presence and for your joy. I greet you and thank you for the hug I have received from some of you, a hug that, of course, symbolically stand for you all. As for the question, of course I remember my First Communion day very well. It was a lovely Sunday in March 1936, 69 years ago. It was a sunny day, the church looked very beautiful, there was music.... There were so many beautiful things that I remember. There were about 30 of us, boys and girls from my little village of no more than 500 inhabitants. But at the heart of my joyful and beautiful memories is this one - and your spokesperson said the same thing: I understood that Jesus had entered my heart, he had actually visited me. And with Jesus, God himself was with me. And I realized that this is a gift of love that is truly worth more than all the other things that life can give. So on that day I was really filled with great joy, because Jesus came to me and I realized that a new stage in my life was beginning, I was 9 years old, and that it was henceforth important to stay faithful to that encounter, to that communion. I promised the Lord as best I could: "I always want to stay with you", and I prayed to him, "but above all, stay with me". So I went on living my life like that; thanks be to God, the Lord has always taken me by the hand and guided me, even in difficult situations. Thus, that day of my First Communion was the beginning of a journey made together. I hope that for all of you too, the First Communion you have received in this will be the beginning of a lifelong friendship with Jesus, the beginning of a journey together, because in walking with Jesus we do well and life becomes good.

2. Livia : Holy Father, before the day of my First Communion I went to confession. I have also been to confession on other occasions. I wanted to ask you: do I have to go to confession every time I receive Communion, even when I have committed the same sins? Because I realize that they are always the same. I will tell you two things. The first, of course, is that you do not always have to go to confession before you receive Communion unless you have committed such serious sins that they need to be confessed. Therefore, it is not necessary to make one's confession before every Eucharistic Communion. This is the first point. It is only necessary when you have committed a really serious sin, when you have deeply offended Jesus, so that your friendship is destroyed and you have to start again. Only in that case, when you are in a state of "mortal" sin, in other words, grave (sin), is it necessary to go to confession before Communion. This is my first point. My second point: even if, as I said, it is not necessary to go to confession before each Communion, it is very helpful to confess with a certain regularity. It is true: our sins are always the same, but we clean our homes, our rooms, at least once a week, even if the dirt is always the same; in order to live in cleanliness, in order to start again. Otherwise, the dirt might not be seen but it builds up. Something similar can be said about the soul, for me myself: if I never go to confession, my soul is neglected and in the end I am always pleased with myself and no longer understand that I must always work hard to improve, that I must make progress. And this cleansing of the soul which Jesus gives us in the Sacrament of Confession helps us to make our consciences more alert, more open, and hence, it also helps us to mature spiritually and as human persons. Therefore, two things: confession is only necessary in the case of a serious sin, but it is very helpful to confess regularly in order to foster the cleanliness and beauty of the soul and to mature day by day in life. 3. Andrea : In preparing me for my First Communion day, my catechist told me that Jesus is present in the Eucharist. But how? I can't see him! No, we cannot see him, but there are many things that we do not see but they exist and are essential. For example: we do not see our reason, yet we have reason. We do not see our intelligence and we have it. In a word: we do not see our soul and yet it exists and we see its effects, because we can speak, think and make decisions, etc. Nor do we see an electric current, for example, yet we see that it exists; we see this microphone, that it is working, and we see lights. Therefore, we do not see the very deepest things, those that really sustain life and the world, but we can see and feel their effects. This is also true for electricity; we do not see the electric current but we see the light. So it is with the Risen Lord: we do not see him with our eyes but we see that wherever Jesus is, people change, they improve. A greater capacity for peace, for reconciliation, etc., is created. Therefore, we do not see the Lord himself but we see the effects of the Lord: so we can understand that Jesus is present. And as I said, it is precisely the invisible things that are the most profound, the most important. So let us go to meet this invisible but powerful Lord who helps us to live well.

4. Giulia: Your Holiness, everyone tells us that it is important to go to on Sunday. We would gladly go to it, but often our parents do not take us because on Sundays they sleep. The parents of a friend of mine work in a shop, and we often go to the country to visit our grandparents. Could you say something to them, to make them understand that it is important to go to Mass together on Sundays? I would think so, of course, with great love and great respect for your parents, because they certainly have a lot to do. However, with a daughter's respect and love, you could say to them: "Dear Mommy, dear Daddy, it is so important for us all, even for you, to meet Jesus. This encounter enriches us. It is an important element in our lives. Let's find a little time together, we can find an opportunity. Perhaps there is also a possibility where Grandmom lives". In brief, I would say, with great love and respect for your parents, I would tell them: "Please understand that this is not only important for me, it is not only catechists who say it, it is important for us all. And it will be the light of Sunday for all our family". 5. Alessandro : What good does it do for our everyday life to go to Holy Mass and receive Communion? It centres life. We live amid so many things. And the people who do not go to church, do not know that it is precisely Jesus they lack. But they feel that something is missing in their lives. If God is absent from my life, if Jesus is absent from my life, a guide, an essential friend is missing, even an important joy for life, the strength to grow as a man, to overcome my vices and mature as a human being. Therefore, we cannot immediately see the effects of being with Jesus and of going to Communion. But with the passing of the weeks and years, we feel more and more keenly the absence of God, the absence of Jesus. It is a fundamental and destructive incompleteness. I could easily speak of countries where atheism has prevailed for years: how souls are destroyed, but also the earth. In this way we can see that it is important, and I would say fundamental, to be nourished by Jesus in Communion. It is he who gives us enlightenment, offers us guidance for our lives, a guidance that we need.

6. Anna: Dear Pope, can you explain to us what Jesus meant when he said to the people who were following him: "I am the bread of life?". First of all, perhaps we should explain clearly what bread is. Today, we have a refined cuisine, rich in very different foods, but in simpler situations bread is the basic source of nourishment; and when Jesus called himself the bread of life, the bread is, shall we say, the initial, an abbreviation that stands for all nourishment. And as we need to nourish our bodies in order to live, so we also need to nourish our spirits, our souls and our wills. As human persons, we do not only have bodies but also souls; we are thinking beings with minds and wills. We must also nourish our spirits and our souls, so that they can develop and truly attain their fulfilment. And therefore, if Jesus says: "I am the bread of life", it means that Jesus himself is the nourishment we need for our soul, for our inner self, because the soul also needs food. And technical things do not suffice, although they are so important. We really need God's friendship, which helps us to make the right decisions. We need to mature as human beings. In other words: Jesus nourishes us so that we can truly become mature people and our lives become good.

7. Adriano: Holy Father, they've told us that today we will have . What is it? How is it done? Can you explain it to us? Thank you. We will see straightaway what adoration is and how it is done, because everything has been properly prepared for it: we will say prayers, we will sing, kneel, and in this way we will be in Jesus' presence. But of course, your question requires a deeper answer: not only how you do adoration but what adoration is. I would say: adoration is recognizing that Jesus is my Lord, that Jesus shows me the way to take, and that I will live well only if I know the road that Jesus points out and follow the path he shows me. Therefore, adoration means saying: "Jesus, I am yours. I will follow you in my life, I never want to lose this friendship, this communion with you". I could also say that adoration is essentially an embrace with Jesus in which I say to him: "I am yours, and I ask you, please stay with me always".

ADDRESS OF POPE BENEDICT AT THE CONCLUSION OF MEETING

Dear boys and girls, brothers and sisters, at the end of this very beautiful Meeting I can find one word only: thank you. Thank you for this feast of faith. Thank you for this meeting with each other and with Jesus. And thank you, it goes without saying, to all those who made this celebration possible: to the catechists, the priests, the Sisters; to you all. I repeat at the end the words of the beginning of every liturgy and I say to you: "Peace be with you"; that is, may the Lord be with you, may joy be with you, and thus, may life be good. Have a good Sunday, good night and goodbye all together with the Lord. Thank you very much! 6. Prayer

Two Hymns are sung:

SO CLOSE LORD I NEED YOU 7. Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament

Tantum ergo

TANTUM ergo Sacramentum DOWN in adoration falling, Veneremur cernui: Lo! the sacred Host we hail, Et antiquum documentum Lo! oe'r ancient forms departing Novo cedat ritui: Newer rites of grace prevail; Praestet fides supplementum Faith for all defects supplying, Sensuum defectui. Where the feeble senses fail.

Genitori, Genitoque To the everlasting Father, Laus et iubilatio, And the Son Who reigns on high Salus, honor, virtus quoque With the Holy Spirit proceeding Sit et benedictio: Forth from each eternally, Procedenti ab utroque Be salvation, honor blessing, Compar sit laudatio. Might and endless majesty.

Amen. Amen.

V. Panem de caelo praestitisti eis. V. Thou hast given them bread from heaven (T.P. Alleluia) (P.T. Alleluia). R. Omne delectamentum in se R. Having within it all sweetness (P.T. habentem. (T.P. Alleluia) Alleluia).

Oremus: Deus, qui nobis sub Let us pray: O God, who in this wonderful sacramento mirabili, passionis tuae Sacrament left us a memorial of Thy Passion: memoriam reliquisti: tribue, grant, we implore Thee, that we may so quaesumus, ita nos corporis et venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body sanguinis tui sacra mysteria venerari, and Blood, as always to be conscious of the ut redemptionis tuae fructum in nobis fruit of Thy Redemption. Thou who livest and iugiter sentiamus. Qui vivis et regnas in reignest forever and ever. saecula saeculorum.

R. Amen. R. Amen.

The priest will now bless us with the Blessed Sacrament (in silence) The Divine Praises

Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Blessed be His Most . Blessed be His Most Precious Blood. Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy. Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception. Blessed be her Glorious Assumption. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother. Blessed be St. Joseph, her spouse most chaste Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints. Amen.

Hymn while the Blessed Sacrament is being returned to the Tabernacle

O Sacrament most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving, Be every moment Thine. [repeated] A Christmas Carol: Hark the herald Angels sing

Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King! Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled." Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th' angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem." Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King!

Hail! the heaven-born Prince of peace! Hail! the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man no more may die: Born to raise the son of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new-born King !" 8. The Next Holy Hour The next Holy Hour will take place on a Thursday at 7.30 pm

24 January 2019 28 February 2019 28 March 2019

at St Thomas More Church, Swiss Cottage, London NW3 5SU 9. GUIDE FOR A GOOD CONFESSION

Be truly sorry for your sins, confession is the way to reinstate our friendship with God. The essential act of Penance, is contrition, a clear and decisive rejection of the sin committed, together with a resolution not to commit it again. EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE Responsibilities to God: Have I gone to Mass on Sunday? Did I participate in the Mass or did I daydream? Have I prayed every day? Have I been rebellious toward God and his commands? Have I misused the name of God by swearing and cursing? Have I told the Father that I love him? Have I thanked Jesus for his Sacrifice? Responsibilities to others and myself: Have I been disobedient or disrespectful to my parents or those in authority over me? Have I been arrogant and stubborn? Have I gotten angry or nurtured and held grudges and resentments? Have I refused to forgive others? Have I cultivated hatred? Have I engaged in sexual fantasies? Have I looked at others lustfully? Have I masturbated? Have I lustfully treated others? Have I had sexual intercourse? Have I had an abortion or encouraged another to have one? Have I gossiped about others? Have I mocked or made fun of others? Have I lied or cheated? Have I stolen anything? Have I paid it back? Have I been selfish or spiteful toward others? Have I been jealous? Have I got drunk, or taken drugs? Have I participated in anything that is of the occult: ouija boards, etc.? Have I been patient, kind gentle and self-controlled? When my conscience told me to do something good, did I do it or did I ignore it?

CONFESSION You can begin your confession by making the and greeting the priest:

Penitent. Bless me father, for I have sinned. Priest. May the Lord be in your heart and help you to confess your sins with true sorrow. Penitent. “Lord you know all things; you know that I love you.” Say the sins that you remember. If you do not know how to confess, simply ask the priest to assist you. Be assured he will help you make a good confession. The priest will assign you some penance and give you some advice. He will ask you to say an act of contrition, you could say: Penitent. Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner. The priest will give you the absolution: Priest. God, the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church, may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Penitent. Amen. Priest. May the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints, whatever good you do and suffering you endure, heal your sins, help you to grow in holiness, and reward you with eternal life. Go in peace. Amen After leaving the Confessional Give thanks to God for forgiving you again. If you recall some serious sin you forgot to tell, rest assured that it has been forgiven with the others, but be sure to confess it in your next Confession. If the priest has asked you to say some prayers for your penance, say these now.