All week, we remember how He loved us. Whatever we do, no matter how busy or "distracted" we might be, we can let the power of this week be in the background of our daily reflections. He entered into our life - with its profound joys and its punishing evils - that we might never experience those struggles alone. So no matter what we experience this week, we can let it become a "holy" week, letting it all be touched by the graces of this week. From the humble, yet triumphant, entry into Jerusalem, to our standing together at the foot of his cross, this can be a week which helps us bring all of the elements of our lives, all our experiences of sin and death, into the font of His redeeming, liberating death resurrection.
PDF HANDOUTS: Preparing for Holy Thursday Preparing for Good Friday (pdf handout) Preparing for the Easter Vigil (pdf handout) Holy Week: The First Four Days
We enter into a week made "holy" forever by the self surrendering love of Jesus - for us all.
Holy Week: The Easter Triduum
Our long journey to the font culminates in the Easter Triduum. These three days draw us into the mystery of our salvation. Whatever we are doing these days, these prayers and resources can help us be open to the graces the day offers. Each morning, we can pause to acknowledge the meaning of the day ahead. Each night, we can give thanks.
Even if we can't celebrate these days liturgically, we can reflect upon the symbols and rituals, and let the prayers of the liturgies draw us in. All, that we might know the depth of the love being offered us, and power of the gift of life won for us.
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Lent/holyweek1.html
3 comments:
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion
from Praying Lent Daily Prayers 2011 by Dave
Daily Lent Prayer
"Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall declare your praise."
We begin our celebration
with an invitation to remember
what happened on this very special day.
Dear friends in Christ,
For five weeks of Lent we have been preparing, by works of charity and self sacrifice, for the celebration of our Lord's paschal mystery. Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the whole Church throughout the world. Christ entered in triumph into his own city, to complete his work as our Messiah: to suffer, to die, and to rise again.
Let us remember with devotion this entry which began his saving work and follow him with a lively faith. United with him in his suffering on the cross, may we share his resurrection and new life.
The Blessing of Palms
Almighty God, we pray you
bless these branches and
make them holy.
Today we joyfully acclaim Jesus
our Messiah and King.
May we reach one day
the happiness of the
new and everlasting Jerusalem
by faithfully following him
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Opening Prayer:
Let us pray
for a closer union with Christ during this holy season.
Almighty, ever-living God,
you have given the human race
Jesus Christ our Savior
as a model of humility.
He fulfilled your will
by becoming one of us and giving his life on the cross.
Help us to bear witness to you
by following his example of suffering
and make us worthy to share in his resurrection.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, you Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
The Readings: The Procession Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11
Readings for Mass: Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22; Philippians 2:6-11; Matthew 26:14-27 or Matthew 27:11-54
Daily Meditation:
For a closer union with Jesus
in his humility, in his suffering.
This Sunday we hold palm branches in our hands,
and wave them to greet our Lord's entry into the city of our salvation.
Last year's palms were burned to form the ashes
that marked our foreheads to begin this Lenten journey.
We can place these palm branches - perhaps from each member of the family -
in a special place in our home
(maybe cutting a small piece and putting it some place where I work).
Each day this week they can represent our celebration of his love for me.
That symbol can say so many words -
all that I am about to celebrate and accept as love for me,
and all the entry into Jerusalem experiences in my life.
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory!
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!
Today's Daily Reflection
Intercessions:
As Christ entered Jerusalem he was greeted as King and Messiah,
Let us adore him, and joyfully praise him:
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna to you, Son of David, King of the ages,
-hosanna to you, victor over death and the powers of darkness.
You went up to Jerusalem to suffer and so enter into your glory,
-lead your Church into the paschal feast of heaven.
You made your cross the tree of life,
- give its fruit to those reborn in baptism.
Savior of mankind, you came to save sinners,
- bring into your kingdom all who have faith, hope, and love.
Closing Prayer:
Loving God,
I am just beginning to realize how much you love me.
Your son, Jesus was humble and obedient.
He fulfilled your will for him by becoming human and suffering with us.
I ask you for the desire to become more humble
so that my own life might also bear witness to you.
I want to use the small sufferings I have in this world to give you glory.
Please, Lord, guide my mind with your truth.
Strengthen my life by the example of Jesus.
Help me to be with Jesus in this week
as he demonstrates again his total love for me.
He died so that I would no longer be separated from you.
Help me to feel how close you are and to live in union with you.
May the Lord bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.
Day 41 - April 18
Intention:
Pray that the witness of 40 Days for Life bears abundant fruit, and that we begin again each day to storm the gates of hell until God welcomes us into the gates of heaven.
Scripture:
On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
-- Matthew 16:18
Reflection:
When we read this verse, we usually think that the Lord is promising that the church, which is His Body, will withstand all the attacks launched against it. Of course, that is true. But when we think about it more carefully, we realize that in a battle, the gates do not run out into the battlefield to attack the enemy. Rather, they stand still to defend the city from the enemy attacking it. So when the Lord says that the gates of hell will not prevail against the church, who is doing the attacking? It is the church storming the gates!
The church, all of God's people in Christ, is called to take the offensive, to run into enemy territory, and to gain ground for Jesus Christ. We do not wait for an invitation; we already have a command. We prepare, but we do not wait for circumstances to be perfect; we already have one who has gone before us.
During these 40 days, we have stormed the gates. We have taken the offensive. We have pushed forward the boundaries of the kingdom. And we must keep doing so, in numerous ways. Indeed, the gates of hell will not prevail. The gates of falsehood will flee in the presence of truth. The gates of sin will melt in the presence of grace. The gates of death will fall in the presence of the church, the People of Life!
Prayer:
Father, we praise you. We have heard the voice of your Son, and therefore we can make our voices heard. We have done battle with the power of evil, and therefore we can have compassion on those still within its grip. We have been freed from the kingdom of darkness, and therefore we can bear witness to your Kingdom of Light. May the witness of all your people through these 40 Days for Life bear abundant fruit, and may we begin again each day to storm the gates of hell until You welcome us into the gates of heaven. We pray in the victorious name of Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.
Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life and President, National Pro-life Religious Council
Post a Comment