Weekly Zoom Prayers
Webmaaster • October 22, 2020
Weekly Zoom Prayers
Weekly ZOOM PRAYERS - AT 6PM
Prayer time leading to the Assumption of Our Lady
The Apostolic Constitution of Pope Pius XII on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Theme is : Your body is holy and glorious
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Meeting ID: 790 7736 3714
Password: novena
Sunday
Hymn As I kneel before you
1. As I bow my head in prayer, Take this day, make it yours and fill me with your love.
Refrain:
Ave Maria,Gratia plena, Dominus tecum, Benedicta tu.
2. All I have I give you, Every dream and wish are yours, Mother of Christ, Mother of mine, present them to my Lord Ave Maria, Gratia plena, Dominus tecum, Benedicta tu.
In their sermons and speeches on the feast day of the Assumption of the Mother of God, the holy fathers and the great doctors of the church were speaking of something that the faithful already knew and accepted: all they did was to bring it out into the open, to explain its meaning and substance in other terms. Above all, they made it most clear that this feast commemorated not merely the fact that the blessed Virgin Mary did not experience bodily decay, but also her triumph over death and her heavenly glory, following the example of her only Son, Jesus Christ.
Meditate and then Discuss:
We think about what we understand that after death Mary, Mother of Jesus was taken up to heaven in bodily form. A most ancient tradition of the Church.
Prayer
Here again is the wonderful day on which the Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven. We all praise her with the words:* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
℣. Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of praise: through you has risen the Sun of justice, Christ our God.* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
Monday
Hymn As I kneel before you
Thus St John Damascene, who is the greatest exponent of this tradition, compares the bodily Assumption of the revered Mother of God with her other gifts and privileges: It was right that she who had kept her virginity unimpaired through the process of giving birth should have kept her body without decay through death. It was right that she who had given her Creator, as a child, a place at her breast should be given a place in the dwelling-place of her God. It was right that the bride espoused by the Father should dwell in the heavenly bridal chamber. It was right that she who had gazed on her Son on the cross, her heart pierced at that moment by the sword of sorrow that she had escaped at his birth, should now gaze on him seated with his Father. It was right that the Mother of God should possess what belongs to her Son and be honoured by every creature as God’s Mother and handmaid.
We think about the privileges given to Mary mother of Jesus.
Discussion
Here again is the wonderful day on which the Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven. We all praise her with the words:* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
℣. Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of praise: through you has risen the Sun of justice, Christ our God.* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
Tuesday
Hymn - As I kneel before you
St Germanus of Constantinople considered the preservation from decay of the body of the Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, and its elevation to heaven as being not only appropriate to her Motherhood but also to the peculiar sanctity of its virgin state: It is written, that you appear in beauty, and your virginal body is altogether holy, altogether chaste, altogether the dwelling-place of God; from which it follows that it is not in its nature to decay into dust, but that it is transformed, being human, into a glorious and incorruptible life, the same body, living and glorious, unharmed, sharing in perfect life.
No other person has had this Assumption into Heaven We think and discuss
Here again is the wonderful day on which the Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven. We all praise her with the words:* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
℣. Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of praise: through you has risen the Sun of justice, Christ our God.* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb
Wednesday
Hymn As I kneel before you
Another very ancient author asserts: Being the most glorious Mother of Christ our saviour and our God, the giver of life and immortality, she is given life by him and shares bodily incorruptibility for all eternity with him who raised her from the grave and drew her up to him in a way that only he can understand.
All that the holy fathers say refers ultimately to Scripture as a foundation, which gives us the vivid image of the great Mother of God as being closely attached to her divine Son and always sharing his lot.
We consider in what other ways Mary was closely attached to Jesus. Here again is the wonderful day on which the Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven. We all praise her with the words:* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
℣. Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of praise: through you has risen the Sun of justice, Christ our God.* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb
Thursday
Hymn As I kneel before you.
It is important to remember that from the second century onwards the holy fathers have been talking of the Virgin Mary as the new Eve for the new Adam: not equal to him, of course, but closely joined with him in the battle against the enemy, which ended in the triumph over sin and death that had been promised even in Paradise.
Think about this new title “The New Eve”
Here again is the wonderful day on which the Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven. We all praise her with the words:* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
℣. Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of praise: through you has risen the Sun of justice, Christ our God.* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb
Friday
Hymn As I kneel before you.
The glorious resurrection of Christ is essential to this victory and its final prize, but the blessed Virgin’s share in that fight must also have ended in the glorification of her body. For as the Apostle says: When this mortal nature has put on immortality, then the scripture will be fulfilled that says “Death is swallowed up in victory”.
The Fathers of the Church see Mary as the first and closest disciple of Jesus
Here again is the wonderful day on which the Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven. We all praise her with the words:* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
℣. Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of praise: through you has risen the Sun of justice, Christ our God.* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb
Saturday
Hymn: As I kneel before you
So then, the great Mother of God, so mysteriously united to Jesus Christ from all eternity by the same decree of predestination, immaculately conceived, an intact virgin throughout her divine motherhood, a noble associate of our Redeemer as he defeated sin and its consequences, received, as it were, the final crowning privilege of being preserved from the corruption of the grave and, following her Son in his victory over death, was brought, body and soul, to the highest glory of heaven, to shine as Queen at the right hand of that same Son, the immortal King of Ages.
We call Mary Queen of Heaven, what do we appreciate her for?
Here again is the wonderful day on which the Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven. We all praise her with the words:* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
℣. Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, and most worthy of praise: through you has risen the Sun of justice, Christ our God.* Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb
SPUC exists to transform culture so that abortion is not only abolished but becomes unthinkable. The Society is actively leading the fight in courts, classrooms and culture to achieve this mission, in order to restore a respect for the sanctity of human life from conception until natural death. This year’s appeal postcards allow supporters to join the fightback campaign against the current threats in Parliament to expand abortion and allow assisted suicide. There will also be a Second Collection next weekend (10th/11th January) for this Appeal.
What might the Three Kings think about their visit... On our journey to You - the newborn King whom we wish to pay homage to, no one knows who we are looking for and what we are talking about, they laughed at us, mocked us, looked at us suspiciously, they thought that we are mad…but we hold onto what we believe is true - that a Saviour is born, whom will lead us to the worship of the true God. We keep on searching, we did not give up. We can never forget the joy and excitement we experienced when we first met You, whom our ancestors yearn to see and waited for two thousands years. We can finally see You, our previous hardships and sufferings are all worth it. At the moment we saw You, You wiped away all our doubts, worries, and sadness; and overflowing our heart with Love, Joy and Peace. One of us cannot help but shedding his joyful tears, like a child who has finally found what he loves. We are not your 'chosen' ones, yet You revealed to us that Your Salvation does not exclude anyone. You gave us signs from this nature, You lead us and guide us discreetly, so whoever wish to seek You will surely find You. We praise You with all our hearts for that. You are truly human yet You are truly God, in front of our very eyes. How impossible became possible! What a wonder which surpasses all other wonders that we have ever seen. So amazing in sight but also so touching in heart, that God has came down from His Heavenly Throne so to be with us all. Your appearance did not cause us to worship you in fear, but draw us to love you and then adore you from our hearts. The precious gift offerings of gold, frankincense, and myrrh we brought could never be worthy enough in Your Eyes, since all things belong to You. But we wish that You will except them as our humble honour to You - our true God, King of all Kings, the Creator of all.
Holy Day of Obligation Tuesday 6th January Mass at 10am Blessed Epiphany chalk will be available from this Mass in front of the Crib for parishioners to take. Taizé Service at 7pm Led by the 9.30am Sunday Mass music group. There will be refreshments afterwards. All welcome! At the time of Jesus’ birth, it was commonly believed that a new star would appear whenever a new ruler was born. The Father in Heaven used this belief to honor His Son Who was born as the new King. The three Magi from the East were astrologers. When they saw this “new star,” they chose to follow it to discover the new King. Creation itself, in the form of a star, pointed the way, thus giving glory to the newborn King, manifesting Him to the whole world as symbolized by the Magi. The word “Epiphany” means “manifestation.” Therefore, as we honor this moment in time when the Christ Child was made manifest to the world, we need to look into our own hearts. There, we discover Christ’s ongoing manifestation to us so that we can worship Him Who has also chosen to be born within our hearts. We must diligently seek out that manifestation of God within us and respond to it in the same ways that the Magi responded.
“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:9,11-12) Almighty ever-living God, splendour of faithful souls, graciously be pleased to fill the world with your glory, and show yourself to all peoples by the radiance of your light. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Tuesday 6th January 7pm Led by the 9.30am Sunday Mass music group. There will be refreshments after the service.
It has been a tradition in the Catholic Church to bless chalk for Epiphany, and then use the blessed chalk as part of blessing one’s home in the New Year. It will be distributed at the10am Mass on Tuesday 6th January.
The memories of a shepherd I thank You, Lord, Our God Most High, that You fulfilled Your Promise spoken through the prophets, that You finally give us a Saviour to save us from our slavery and from our enemies. How blessed I am, that You sent Your Angel to bring us the good news that the Messiah is born, that I hear with my own ears such enchanting singing from the Choir in Heaven. Although I am so lowly, but because I kept watch over the flocks at night, I was privileged to be one of the first to receive this good tidings. The vision filled me with so much joy and love, thus driven me eagerly to meet Our Promised Saviour in Bethlehem. But poor as I am, the little lamb I carried with me was the most luxurious gift I can afford. But I know God knows my heart. When I arrived at the Cave, I witnessed something truly amazing, a baby was lying in a manger, the golden light and halo coming out from Him indicated that He is not from this world; His Light shone forth like a sun. But my eyes also noticed the terrible environment He was in, He appeared to be even poorer than I am! Nevertheless, I was attracted by this Child, not merely because of His beautiful and adorable Face or His glorious light or His pitiable state, but because He filled me with His Love. He is Love Itself. O Lord, Your descent from Heaven, Your humble birth in a cave, was not being announced like a huge thunder in the sky for everyone to know and fear of and demand attention; because of Love, You came silently in the middle of the night, since You wish us to search for You and gently draw us into Your Presence. O Lord, Your Divinity was hidden in our flesh, it is Your Love too which drove you to become like one of us in human nature, so to let us physically see and understand you are so close with us. Emmanuel! Emmanuel! God is with us, God is with His people, it is all true! You are visible, You are touchable, You are real, to make us cannot deny that Emmanuel is really with us. God Love us, God has not abandon His people. You make our hope and longing in You no longer a dream. But a dream come true. I believe. I truly believe You are the Messiah! You are the Anointed One!
SVP is asking for the following donations of food to help the poor: cooking oil; beans; tinned tuna; rice; pasta; pasta sauce; coffee; tea; long-life milk; drinking chocolate; Weetabix®; biscuits; tinned soup; tinned tomatoes; rice pudding & sugar.
If you wish your child to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation & Holy Communion in 2026 and they attend a NON-CATHOLIC school in year 3 or above. Please complete the form at the back of Church and give to one of the Priests.