Tags: Advent
Archive | December, 2011
Emphasis on “Humble and Hopeful Pleading”
2 Dec
In the Mass prayers proper to the Second Sunday of Advent, we found these new words in the updated English translation, and noticed an emphasis on “humbly pleading hopefully.”
Collect: “those who set out in haste to meet your Son … gain … admittance to his company”
Prayer over the Offerings: “come, we pray, to our rescue with the protection of your mercy”
Preface: “when … all is at last made manifest … may inherit the great promise in which now we dare to hope”
Prayer after Communion: “we humbly beseech you, O Lord”
Orations: December 4, 2011 – Second Sunday of Advent
2 Dec
As we prepare for Sunday Mass, we study these prayers that the priest prays from the Roman Missal as he stands at his chair and at the altar. It is quite easy to find the readings for Sunday Mass. It is not so easy to find these prayers.
COLLECT
Let us pray
Almighty and merciful God, may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet your Son, but may our learning of heavenly wisdom gain us admittance to his company. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Prayer over the Offerings Be pleased, O Lord, with our humble prayers and offerings, and, since we have no merits to plead our cause, come, we pray, to our rescue with the protection of your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Replenished by the food of spiritual nourishment, we humbly beseech you, O Lord, that, through our partaking in this mystery, you may teach us to judge wisely the things of earth and hold firm to the things of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
“It was kind of you to share in my distress”
1 DecA people without hope perish.
A program called HOPE – Holy Land Outreach to Palestinian Educators – brought Christians teachers together. They teach in Catholic schools, in Cincinnati and in the Holy Land. What they have in common is that they teach children – and they teach with hope.
During the visit of our friends from the West Bank, Israel and Jordan, we prayed in many places and at many times.
We prayed on a Sunday with the people of St. Andrew parish, Milford …
We prayed on a school day with the children of St. Lawrence school, Price Hill …
We prayed with the Sisters of Charity at their motherhouse, Delhi …
Having heard the personal stories of our Jordanian and Palestinian friends, and having shared in their struggles and sufferings as teachers, parents, citizens and believers living as a minority in their lands, we celebrated a last Mass together before they left toward home. Be in awe – and be filled with hope – as you read what was proclaimed at that Mass from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, noting that the reading was not specifically chosen for the occasion but “just happened” to be the reading permanently assigned to that day in the Church’s established calendar of readings:
“Brothers and sisters: I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen.”
We got what it takes!
1 DecWhat does it take to begin a partnership between St. Andrew-St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in Milford and the Latin Patriarchate School in Beit Jala?
passion for learning
love of children
hope and gratitude
desire and longing
talent and faith
… and …
SASEAS principal, Tom
Beit Jala teacher, Eman Beit Jala teacher, Waseim
… and …
the “techies” – Waseim (LPSBJ) … George (SASEAS)
… and …
the “teachers” – Sue (America) … Eman (Palestine)
What does it take to build and continue a partnership between our SASEAS and their LPSBJ?
passion for learning
love of children
hope and gratitude
desire and longing
talent and faith
Eman … Tom … Waseim … George … Sue
We got what it takes!
With Open Doors 