FIRST FRIDAY HOLY HOUR: NOVEMBER 2016
THEME: WE PRAY FOR ALL VICTIMS OF WAR AND VIOLENCE
I. OPENING SONG: If the Holy Hour is done before the Mass, an appropriate song may be chosen.
If the Holy Hour will be begin after the Post Communion Prayer, there is
no need for an Opening Hymn. The priest proceeds with the exposition of
the Blessed Sacrament while the assembly sings the O Salutaris…
II. INTRODUCTION (c/o PRIEST) – the priest says a few words to set the mood for the celebration and help the people prepare.
III.EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
O saving Victim op’ning wide
The gate of heaven to men below!
Our foes press on from ev’ry side
Your aid supply,
Your strength bestow.
To Your great name
be endless praise.
Immortal God-head,
one in three;
Oh, grant us endless
length of days
In our true native land
with Thee.
Amen…
IV.OPENING PRAYER
PRIEST:O Sacrament most Holy, O Sacrament Divine.
ALL: All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory...
COMMENTATOR: Let us pause for a moment for silent adoration. (3 minutes)
V.SCRIPTURE PASSAGE
Lector/priest:
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.
“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.
You heard me say to you, ‘I am leaving, but I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father; for he is greater than I.
I have told you this now before it all happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe.
I cannot talk with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me,but the world must know that I love the Father; that is why I do everything as he commands me.
The Gospel of the Lord
All:Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
COMMENTATOR:Please be seated and silently meditate on the message of the Word of God. (5 minutes)
VI.POINTS FOR REFLECTION
PRIEST:
From "Misericordiae Vultus" by Pope Francis
May the message of mercy reach everyone, and may no one be indifferent to the call to experience mercy.
I direct this invitation to conversion even more fervently to those whose behaviour distances them from the grace of God.
I particularly have in mind men and women belonging to criminal organizations of any kind. For their own good, I beg them to change their lives. I ask them this in the name of the Son of God, who though rejecting sin, never rejected the sinner, do not fall into the terrible trap of thinking that life depends on money and that, in comparison with money, anything else is devoid of value or dignity. This is nothing but an illusion!
We cannot take money with us into the life beyond. Money does not bring us happiness. Violence inflicted for the sake of amassing riches soaked in blood makes one neither powerful nor immortal.
Everyone, sooner or later, will be subject to God’s judgment, from which no one can escape.
The same invitation is extended to those who either perpetrate or participate in corruption. This festering wound is a grave sin that cries out to heaven for vengeance, because it threatens the very foundations of personal and social life.
Corruption prevents us from looking to the future with hope, because its tyrannical greed shatters the plans of the weak and tramples upon the poorest of the poor. It is an evil that embeds itself into the actions of everyday life and spreads, causing great public scandal.
This is the opportune moment to change our lives! This is the time to allow our hearts to be touched! When faced with evil deeds, even in the face of serious crimes, it is the time to listen to the cry of innocent people who are deprived of their property, their dignity, their feelings, and even their very lives.
To stick to the way of evil will only leave one deluded and sad. True life is something entirely different. God never tires of reaching out to us. He is always ready to listen, as I am too, along with my brother bishops and priests. All one needs to do is to accept the invitation to conversion and submit oneself to justice during this special time of mercy offered by the Church.
(SILENT ADORATION – 15 minutes)
COMMENTATOR: Please all stand
VII.INTERCESSORY PRAYERS:
PRIEST:The Lord calls us along the way of peace. We pray that we may become people of peace, justice and goodness.
Response:LORD, MAKE US INSTRUMENTS OF PEACE
Lector: That our Church may inspire us to have hope, especially in the face of despair and confusion. We pray…
That our government leaders may realize that change happens, not through violent means, but by dialogue, conversion and renewal. We pray…
That those who live a life of vice, especially those engaging in criminal activities, may realize their faults and see that God waits for their change of heart. We pray…
That victims of crime, violence and hatred may find justice for their cause, and consolation in their grief. We pray…
That all of us may see our role in bringing about transformation in our country by lives of holiness, compassion, and forgiveness. We pray…
That all who have died, especially victims of violence and aggression, may find peace in the Father’s presence. We pray…
PRIEST: At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
Our Father…
COMMENTATOR: Let us all kneel for the Benediction
VIII.BENEDICTION
Let us raise our voice
To proclaim our faith
Christ the Lord for us has died
Dying, He destroyed our death,
Rising, He restored our life.
O Lord Jesus, we await
Your last return in glory.
When we eat the bread
and we drink the cup
in the blessed Eucharist.
We meet You, our risen Savior
Giving life to us anew
Through life’s journey,
be with us,
to strengthen us forever.
Amen. Amen.
PRIEST: You have given us the Bread from heaven
ALL:The Source of all happiness
PRIEST:Let us pray.
Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us the Eucharist as the memorial of your suffering and death. May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood help us to experience the salvation you won for us and the peace of the kingdom where you live with the Holy spirit, one God, forever and ever.
ALL:Amen
IX.DIVINE PRAISES AND REPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENTThe Blessed Sacrament will be reposed towards the end of 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 Sacred Heart.
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 most chaste Spouse.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.
REPOSITION
FINAL SONG: O SACRAMENT MOST HOLY, O SACRAMENT DIVINE
O Sacrament Most Holy,
O Sacrament Divine.
All praise and all thanksgiving
Be every moment thine.
Be every moment thine.
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