Vocation: Sister Disciples Of The Divine Master

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A Pauline Centenary Pastoral Tool: Eucharistic Adoration n. 3

PAULINE SPIRITUALITY AND MISSION ***

EUCHARISTIC NIGHT ADORATION ON NEW YEAR'S EVE

"The Word Became Flesh ... The Word Became Bread"

(+) Jesus Master ...

INTRODUCTION

Leader: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only-begotten Son, full of grace and truth ..."

Our Founder, Blessed James Alberione, declares with awe: "The Word became flesh ... The Word became bread!"

We are privileged that at the end of the civil year 2013 and the beginning of the New Year 2014 ... on this World Day of Prayer for Peace ... on this solemn feast of Mary Mother of God ... God has gathered us together as Church to contemplate the Christmas Mystery of the birth of our Savior, the Son of God, who is the Prince of Peace, and to adore him as the Bread of Life and as the self-giving Lord present in the Eucharist.

In this spirit we make this Eucharistic Night Adoration to bid the old year 2013 goodbye with all the joys and sadness, the challenges and opportunities it has brought us, and to welcome the New Year of grace 2014 that God offers us in his ineffable love.

OPENING SONG: "What Child Is This" or another appropriate song

SILENT ADORATION

PRAYER FOR PEACE: Adapted from Pope John Paul II's "Prayer with Young People for Peace"

Reader: Lord Jesus, with all the redeemed, we come to you from every corner of the earth. We are conscious of pilgrimaging in a crucial period. Lord, the men you have saved have beaten many plough-shares into swords and the threats and cries of fear seem to put an end to the songs of life.

Assembly: Lord Jesus Christ, give us your peace, the peace that springs from your pierced heart, peace in truth, in justice and in love. Give us your peace, but not to keep for ourselves. Entrust it to our generation so that we may share it with those who thirst for it, and so that we may make it grow, as a precious heritage, for those who come after us.

Reader: May your Mother, O Lord, be for your disciples the mirror of your face, in which is reflected their perfect reconciliation with God, with themselves and the world. May her maternal hand cure our wounds caused by violence and make us peaceful, even at the cost of heroism.

Assembly: Lord, on the night of your birth, the poor shepherds of Bethlehem heard the promise of peace. We believe that if the convulsions of our time are the death pangs of an old world, they are also the birth pangs of your new birth.

Reader: We perceive that the hour of birth is approaching for the young mother of the new Advent, and that the Father wishes to spread by our means the rainbow of his Covenant of Reconciliation.

Assembly: And so, full of faith, they shall discover that for them your eternal and universal Kingdom is approaching, the Kingdom of Truth and of Life, the Kingdom of sanctity and Grace, the Kingdom of Justice, Love and Peace. Amen.

SONG: "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" or another appropriate song

GOSPEL: Lk 2:16-21

POINTS FOR REFLECTION

On the Octave of Christmas, we celebrate the oldest Marian feast in the Church, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. In this Marian feast we celebrate her awesome role in the Christmas mystery as the willing virgin who gave birth to the Son of God.

The solemnity of Mary, Mother of God falls on New Year's Day, an occasion when people look back on the past and wish each other God's abundant blessings. It is most opportune that the Church prays today the Priestly Blessing from the book of Numbers.

"The Lord bless you and keep you!

The Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you!

The Lord look kindly upon you and give you peace!" (Nm 6:24-26)

Prayed today, it evokes the truth that Mary, Mother of God, is the full recipient of God's blessing. In the motherhood of Mary, the fullness of blessing is given to the world through her Divine Child. From the manger, in his Son Jesus, the Lord God blesses us abundantly and protects us. In the Christ Child, the Lord God lets his face shine upon us and enables us to experience his favor. In Mary's Son, the Prince of Peace, the Lord looks kindly upon us and grants us peace and salvation. Indeed, in Jesus Christ, is the fullness of the Father's blessing to humankind. Moreover, in Jesus, born of Mary, the fullness of blessing and praise--the Eucharist--is rendered to God, our Almighty Father.

PRAYER

Assembly: Father,

source of light in every age,

the virgin conceived and bore your Son

who is called Wonderful God, Prince of Peace.

May her prayer, the gift of a mother's love,

be your people's joy through all ages.

May her response, born of a humble heart,

draw your Spirit to rest on your people.

Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

1. The Birth of our Savior:

Song: "Silent Night" or another appropriate song

2. The Presentation of the Child Jesus:

"Sing of Mary" or another appropriate song

3. The Finding of the Child Jesus:

"Joy to the World" or another appropriate song

SPONTANEOUS PRAYERS: THANKSGIVING, INTERCESSION, ETC.

SILENT PRAYER AT MIDNIGHT: TO WELCOME THE NEW YEAR 2014

BLESSING PRAYER FROM THE BOOK OF NUMBERS

Assembly: "The Lord bless you and keep you!

The Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you!

The Lord look kindly upon you and give you peace!"

SONG: "A Christmas Gloria" or another appropriate song

KISSING OF THE BABY JESUS: After the Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

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