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Sr. M. Ceceliatook her perpetual vows on July 9th, 2011 at Most Holy Trinity Parish Church in San Jose, California. View the gallery. |
A Pauline Centenary Pastoral Tool
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION, n. 12 ***
(N.B. Here below is a 2-part Adoration Guide that can be used in any suitable occasion during the Pauline Centenary.)
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: “We Praise You, O Lord”
Part 1: Adapted from the Prayer Vigil to Celebrate the Centenary
of Foundation of the Pauline Family Prepared by the PDDM General House
Leader: As we celebrate the first Centenary of the foundation of the Society of St. Paul, the first Institute of the Pauline Family, and thus of the entire Pauline Family, we come before Jesus Master in a spirit of profound gratitude and communion, sharing the same feelings that Blessed James Alberione experienced at the beginning of the 20th century, namely: a deep compassion for humanity and an ardent desire to become new apostles for the new times.
OPENING SONG: “Lead Me, Lord” (John Becker) Cf. BB 2014, # 632
OPENING PRAYER
Leader: Let us pray. (A moment of silence)
Lord,
you reveal your omnipotence in a particular way
through your forgiveness and your overwhelming goodness.
Increase your mercy toward us who yearn for your promises,
and make it possible for us to participate in your heavenly blessings.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.
Assembly: Amen.
Leader: In our Pauline life, we keep our gaze fixed on Jesus and on the examples of the many witnesses who preceded us, blazing new trails of evangelization.
THE WORD OF GOD
FIRST READING: Hebrews 13:7-9
Remember your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, take their faith as your model. Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be forever. Do not be led astray by all sorts of strange doctrines; it is better to rely on grace for inner strength than on food, which has done no good to those who concentrate on it.
PSALM 15
Reader: Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent and dwell on your holy mountain?
Assembly: He who walks without fault; he who acts with justice and speaks truth from his heart: he who does not slander with his tongue.
Reader: Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent and dwell on your holy mountain?
Assembly: He who does not wrong to his brother, who casts no slur on his neighbor, who holds the godless in disdain, but honors those who fear the Lord.
Reader: Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent and dwell on your holy mountain?
Assembly: He who keeps his pledge come what may: who takes no interest on a loan and accepts no bribes against the innocent. Such a man will stand firm forever.
Leader: With renewed enthusiasm, let us welcome the missionary mandate we received from the Son of God, who wanted to associate us to his mission and who sends us to the people of our time and all continents of the world.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia! Go out to the whole world and preach the Gospel. Alleluia!
GOSPEL: Mt 28:16-20
The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.”
HOMILY and/or PERSONAL REFLECTION
WORDS OF OUR FOUNDER BLESSED ALBERIONE
Guide: In the company of Blessed James Alberione, let us attentively and gratefully revisit several important anniversaries, allowing ourselves to guided by the Founder’s own words.
DISCOURSE OF BLESSED JAMES ALBERIONE (cf. Alba Gazette, 20 August 1954)
On 20 August 1914, with an hour of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament followed by the blessing of the tiny typography, the Pauline Family began under the title of “The Little Workers’ Typographical School.” [The initiative] consisted of a few rooms, a handful of young people, a small chapel…and was preceded by a long preparation while waiting for the light of God to clarify and concretize everything and for divine Providence to prepare the means…. Under the hand of the Lord, nature and grace worked together so wisely and smoothly that it was not possible to distinguish the two parts: knowledge of things and persons, divine light, the advice of his spiritual director, the approval and encouragement of the bishop….
This day is dedicated to the memory of St. Bernard, a Doctor of the Church who dominated the political and religious spheres of the century in which he lived. In him, the heights of contemplation fused with an extremely active apostolate. He was a mellifluous writer and fearless to the point of reprimanding the powerful of the earth and of instructing the Pope. Thus the [Pauline] program to be carried out was placed under the patronage of this auspicious name. A few moments after the function, the news reached Alba that Pope Pius X had died. Convinced that he was a truly great saint who would one day be raised to the altars, our small initiative was also placed under his protection. The pontificate of Pius X was miraculous from the moment of his election up to his immolation. And the following day the Alba Gazette expressed this same conviction and trust, although the wording was not as specific.
Our wise and upstanding bishop, Giuseppe Francesco Re, who for many years governed the Church of Alba, carried in his arms (so to speak) our small work for a number of years, until, in 1927, thanks to his letters and testimonies, it was canonically approved from Rome. He was a providential bishop. Almost all the clergy of Alba looked benevolently upon our initiative, providing it with encouragement, beautiful vocations and substantial financial help. It is also right to remember the Vicars Forane of the time, as well as many other pastors, first-rate priests and lay cooperators, including the holy and gifted Canon Francesco Chiesa. The Pauline Family is grateful to all of them and has made them all participants in the fruits of the 2400 Masses offered for its benefactors every year.
PERSONAL REFLECTION & PRAYER (may be accompanied by background music)
SUNG ACCLAMATION: “We Praise You” (M. Balhoff, et. al) Cf. BB # 552
Refrain: We praise you, O Lord, for all your works are wonderful.
We praise you, O Lord, forever is your love.
Verse 1: Your wisdom made the heavens and the earth, O Lord;
you formed the land then set the lights,
and like your love the sun will rule the day and stars will grace the night. (R.)
DISCOURSE OF BLESSED ALBERIONE n. 2
Our heartfelt gratitude to Jesus, Divine Master, in his sacrament of light and love; to the Queen of Apostles, our Mother and the Mother of every apostolate, and to St. Paul the Apostle, who is the true Founder of our Institute. Indeed, he is its father, teacher, exemplar and protector. He created this Family by intervening in such a physical and spiritual way that not even now, reflecting on it, can we fully understand it, much less explain it. Everything is his. It belongs to him, who was the most complete interpreter of the Divine Master. It was he who applied the Gospel to the nations and called the nations to Christ. His presence in theology, moral teaching, Church organization, and the adaptation of the apostolate and its means to the times is still vibrant and substantial and will remain so until the end of time. He moved, illumined and nurtured everything. He was the guide, bursar, defender and support of the Pauline Family wherever it was established. He merited the first church [we built] and the impressive [sculpture], The Glory of St. Paul, which depicts his apostolate and reveals his fatherly role toward all Paulines.
PERSONAL REFLECTION & PRAYER (may be accompanied by background music)
SUNG ACCLAMATION: “We Praise You” (M. Balhoff, et. al) Cf. BB # 552
Refrain: We praise you, O Lord, for all your works are wonderful.
We praise you, O Lord, forever is your love.
Verse 2: You have chosen Jacob for yourself, O Lord;
so tenderly you spoke his name; then called a holy nation Israel,
to make them yours you came. (R.)
DISCOURSE OF BLESSED ALBERIONE n. 3
It did not happen as it does when a protector is chosen by a person or institution. It was not we who chose St. Paul. Instead, it was he who chose us. The Pauline Family must be St. Paul alive today, according to the mind of the Divine Master. It must carry out its activities under the gaze of Mary, Queen of Apostles, and with her grace.
Having reached this hour (the 40th anniversary of foundation), and realizing that the important moment of making a final account [to the Lord] is drawing closer, I am pensive and humiliated for the “more” the Lord wanted done and that was not done. Are some of you astonished by this? You shouldn’t be. In his divine goodness, God has poured out such an abundance of graces on the Pauline Family and has opened such broad paths to it that [our Family] could have done (and should do) much more than it has!
PERSONAL REFLECTION & PRAYER (may be accompanied by background music)
SUNG ACCLAMATION: “We Praise You” (M. Balhoff, et. al) Cf. BB # 552
Refrain: We praise you, O Lord, for all your works are wonderful.
We praise you, O Lord, forever is your love.
Verse 3: You led us out of Egypt with a guiding hand.
You raised your arm to set us free.
And like a tender vine you planted us to grow unto the sea. (R.)
DISCOURSE OF BLESSED ALBERIONE n. 4
The principal grace [to ask for]: priests who are very worthy of their office thanks to their intelligence, dedication and fidelity; disciples who strive toward new initiatives; Sisters: Daughters of St. Paul, Pious Disciples, Pastorelle, filled with zeal and operating in many different directions.
Nevertheless, each of us must strain ahead to the limits of our strength, up to the point of being able to say “it is finished.” And great things will be realized in proportion to each one’s holiness!
Thus we must often pray the Magnificat and the Glory to God in the highest.
(Cf. San Paolo, July-August 1954, in CISP, pp. 146-149)
***
GLORIA (sung – any fitting version) Cf. BB # 919 from “Mass of Christ the Savior” by Dan Schutte
A DECADE OF THE ROSARY: “Mary in the Cenacle”
MAGNIFICAT (sung) – “Mary’s Song” (Millie Rieth) Cf. BB # 711
EUCHARISTIC BENEDICTION
FINAL SONG: “God Has Chosen Me” by Bernadette Farrell (BB # 378)
*** *** *** *** *** ***
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: “An Ongoing Story of Grace upon Grace”
Part 2: Adapted from the Prayer Vigil to Celebrate the Centenary
of Foundation of the Pauline Family: From the PDDM General House ***
OPENING SONG: “All My Days” (Dan Schutte) Cf. BB 2014, # 596
PAULINE FAMILY’S PRAYER TO THE TRINITY FOR OUR ONE HUNDRED-YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CHURCH
Blessed Trinity, Source of the divine light that shines in us, we offer you our joyous praise and thanksgiving as we celebrate our first century of life as the Pauline Family.
(A moment of silence)
Immensely tender Father, we thank you for the wealth of graces you have poured out so abundantly on our Family during these years of service to the Church. Thank you for the miracles of apostolic holiness you realized in Blessed James Alberione, our Founder; in Blessed Timothy Giaccardo; in Maestra Thecla; in Mother Scholastica and in many other members of the “marvelous Pauline Family”. Thank you, Father, for all the initiatives of our various apostolic sectors that have helped to make your name known and adored and that have manifested your glory through the wonders of communication.
(A moment of silence)
Divine Master, Good Shepherd, we humbly ask you to forgive us for not always responding generously to the requirements of our mission. Forgive us for failing to dedicate sufficient time and attention to getting to know your Word and the depths of our charism. Forgive us for trusting more in our own abilities and means than in the gift of infinite mercy.
(A moment of silence)
Holy Spirit, Paraclete, we beg you through the intercession of Mary, Queen of Apostles, to gift with great wisdom those whom you have appointed as our guides. Help them accurately discern the paths by which you want to lead our Family. Fill us with your breath of life, as in a renewed Pentecost. Make us capable of new prophecy so as to fully realize the dream of our Blessed Founder: to live and give Christ, Way, Truth and Life to the people of our time and to be “Paul living today” in the Church.
(A moment of silence)
Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.
THE WORD OF GOD
FIRST READING: Eph 1: 15-23 “Paul’s Prayer”
SILENCE - PERSONAL REFLECTION
PSALM 145: “Sing a Joyful Song” (Jim Farrell) Cf. BB # 557
ALLELUIA – GOSPEL: Jn 15:1-10 “Remain in Me”
SILENCE - PERSONAL REFLECTION
WORDS OF OUR FOUNDER BLESSED JAMES ALBERIONE
ON THE BEGINNING OF THE PAULINE FAMILY: Cf. San Paolo, n. 3, March-April 1964, in CISP, pp. 539-540.
In 1914–the beginning of the Pauline Family–generous souls, aware of what they should do, offered their lives and this was pleasing to the Lord. Young boys and girls, with proper orientation, lived in a spirit of faith and dedication, and some of them are still doing so. Among those who have already passed to their heavenly reward I would like to mention Fr. Giaccardo, (our first Vicar) and Sr. Thecla Merlo (Prima Maestra). God accomplished his purpose in spite of the fact that I was a useless servant instead of a builder.
Guiding thought: action is nourished by prayer.
Principle directives: a pastoral spirit; the liturgical apostolate; the means of social communication to proclaim the message of salvation. May all feel themselves to be servants of the Church, in keeping with our vow of fidelity to the Pope.
As concerns my poor person: here too the Lord followed his usual style, which is divine: “God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God.”
SILENCE - PERSONAL REFLECTION
Leader: Let us renew the prayer that Blessed James Alberione gave his first group of young followers in Alba. Let us reaffirm our trust in Jesus Master, who is calling us to holiness through the proclamation of the Gospel with the most up-to-date languages of communication.
THE PACT: “SECRET OF SUCCESS”
Jesus Master, accept the pact that we present to you through the hands of Mary, Queen of the Apostles, and of our Father, St. Paul.
We must correspond to your sublime will, arrive at the degree of perfection and heavenly glory to which you have destined us, and perform the apostolate of social communication in a holy manner. But we see that we are very weak, ignorant, incapable and inadequate in every way: in spirit, in knowledge, in the apostolate and in poverty. You instead are the Way and the Truth and the Life, the Resurrection, our one and supreme Good. We trust in you alone who said: “Whatever you ask the Father in my name, you will receive it.”
For our part, we promise and commit ourselves to seeking wholeheartedly in all things, in life and in the apostolate, only and always, your glory and peace to all peoples. We trust that on your part, you will give us a good spirit, grace, knowledge, and the means for doing good. According to your immense goodness and the needs of our special vocation, multiply the fruits of our spiritual work, of our study, of our apostolate, and of our poverty. We do not doubt you, but we fear our inconstancy and weakness.
Therefore, good Master, through the intercession of Mary, our Mother, extend to us the mercy you used with the Apostle Paul so that, faithful in imitating our Father here on earth, we may be his companions in the glory in heaven. Amen.
SONG: “Only This I Want” (Dan Schutte) Cf. BB # 514
BLESSED JAMES ALBERIONE’S HOMILY FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDATION OF THE PAULINE FAMILY: (Cf. San Paolo, n. 6, July-August1964, in CISP, p. 207, 210)
According to what I hear, the date 20 August 1914 is remembered in all our Houses by means of solemn functions, expositions, inaugurations, etc. But above all [it is commemorated] through the preparation and holding of days of prayer marked by thanksgiving, praise of God and proposals for the Pauline life and apostolate.
Our fiftieth anniversary! We can compare it to the beginning of a discourse; a path that has been pointed out and can now be securely followed. The tracks were established in the Constitutions and put to the test and consolidated through experience. Our journey in time will be happy if the Institute as a whole and the individual members of it keep to those tracks with humility and faith in Jesus Master, Way, Truth and Life, under the protection of Mary, Queen of Apostles, and following the example of St. Paul, who used technical instruments more than any of the other apostles, that is: the letters which he associated to his words.
To fully live the religious life in habitual joy, which is a foretaste of eternal joy!
The life of each of us, and the life of the whole Institute, is an ongoing story of grace upon grace: the religious life for sanctification and spirituality in Christ; an apostolate suited to the needs of the times, and always more shining vistas of heaven, if we are always striving for perfection.
A reminder to everyone: the works of God are performed by people of God.
SILENCE – PERSONAL REFLECTION
Leader: After having listened to the “amazing things” that the Spirit worked in our Blessed Founder, let us raise our hymn of praise to God with the same attitude as Mary.
SONG: “Holy Is His Name” (John Michael Talbot) Cf. BB # 704
INTERCESSORY PRAYER
Leader: Let us pray for ourselves and for every sister and brother in the Pauline Family, presenting to the Lord the needs of the apostles of the 21st century and all the recipients of our proclamation. Let us pray:
(R.) Lord, hear our prayer. (sung)
Reader 1: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12). We follow you, Master and Shepherd, by following the words of the Pope and the Church. Make us docile and effective heralds in keeping with your word: “You are light for the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden” (Mt. 5:14). Let us pray: (R.)
Reader 2: “For to me, life is Christ and death is gain” (Phil. 1:21). Give us the heart of Paul: fearless, creative, entirely focused on proclaiming the truth, in order that it might be made known to the ends of the earth and conform us to you (Ga. 4:19), Son and Apostle of the Father. Let us pray: (R.)
Reader 1: “If you wish to be perfect…” (Mt. 19:21). Master and Lord, look kindly on young people seeking their path in life. Teach them “the need to pray always, without becoming weary” (Lk. 18:1) so that, by reflecting on your words and listening to your voice, they will find in you the joy of giving themselves to others, bearing your Spirit in their bodies (cf. 1 Co. 6:20). We pray in particular for the vocations you want to give to the Pauline Family. Let us pray: (R.)
Reader 2: Thank you for the abundant riches you have sown in us, in the Church and in the world during the century in which the Pauline Family has been carrying out its apostolic mission. Make us one body and soul in you so that, with a pastoral spirit and using the languages of our time, we might effectively help the people of today come to know your multiform wisdom. Let us pray: (R.)
Reader 1: Today we look to the future, straining forward in the spirit of the Apostle Paul. Help us to love you with our whole mind, heart and will so as to reach the point of “Christ lives in me”–the goal and reward of those who belong completely to God and are ever-ready to carry out every good work. Let us pray: (R.)
Reader 2: We pray for our sisters and brothers whom you have called to eternal rest after having carried out the Pauline mission of evangelization. Give them the reward promised to good apostles; give them eternal light. Let us pray: (R.)
(Spontaneous prayers may be added.)
LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER: “Act of Self-Consignment to St. Paul”
We thank and praise you, Father most holy, for having inspired your servant, Blessed James Alberione, to give us, his sons and daughters, the Apostle Paul as our father, model and protector. You chose Paul and appointed him to proclaim to all the peoples of the earth the Gospel of salvation that is your crucified and risen Son. In view of this, you filled the Apostle to overflowing with gifts and charisms and kindled in him the living flame of your love, prompting him to make himself all to all and to spend himself without counting the cost through word and pen so as to win the most people possible to Christ.
Father, may your gaze now rest on us, who on this first centenary of foundation of our religious Family feel the pressing invitation of your Spirit to thank you for the abundant riches of your grace and to follow in the footsteps of your Apostle with renewed determination.
Root us, like him, in love for your Son so that we will learn to live in him, with him and through him.
Conquer our resistances and fears and give us the heart of Paul so that, consecrated to the apostolate, we will do everything possible to ensure that no person of our time is deprived of the grace of the Gospel.
To you, Apostle of Christ the Lord, we confidently entrust ourselves in this solemn hour, and we place in your hands all our desires and projects.
Guide us, protect us, inspire us, correct us, keep us united to you and to our Lord Jesus Christ so that we too will learn to live to the praise and glory of the Father, through the Son, in the grace of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
EUCHARISTIC BENEDICTION may follow.
FINAL SONG: “We Praise You” (M. Balhouff, D. Ducote & G. Daigle) Cf. BB # 552
***
ARCHIVES: Cf. PDDM website: www.pddm.us and click on the icon “Pauline Centenary Pastoral Tools” for the following back issues of Adoration guides.
1. Adoration Guide for October 2013: Feast of the Divine Master: “JESUS MASTER: He Imparts the Light of Faith”
2. Adoration Guide for November 2013: At the Conclusion of the Year of Faith: “Light of Faith”
3. Adoration Guide for New Year’s Eve 2013: “The Word Became Flesh … The Word Became Bread”
4. Adoration Guide for January 2014: Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul: “Saint Paul’s Mistica-Metanoia-Missio Experience”
5. Adoration Guide for February 2014: On the 90th Anniversary of the PDDM Foundation (February 10, 2014): “Jesus Is Your Only Love”
6. Adoration Guide for March 2014: “Rich Because We Are Poor” (Lent 2014)
7. Adoration Guide for the Birthday of Blessed Alberione: “Lord, Glorify Him In Your Church”
8. Adoration Guide for May 2014: “Rogate Dominum Messis … Pray the Lord of the Harvest”
9. Adoration Guide for June 2014: “Saint Paul: The Saint of Universality
10. Adoration Guide for July 2014: “The Pauline Family in Prayer for the Mass Media”
10. Adoration Guide for August 2014: Congreagavit Non in Unum: “The Love of Christ Has Gathered Us Together into One”
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang, PDDM
3700 North Cornelia Avenue
Fresno, CA-U.S.A.
Tel. (559) 275-9978
