Prayer Service for Peace and for Persecuted Christians
On July 18th at the Church of the Holy Spirit San Antonio, TX
"O Lord, through your gracious humbleness you accepted to take a mortal body and live with us sinners. You accepted to bear the insults and humiliation, to wash away our sins and our feet. Yet, O Lord of Mercy, you have showed us great love and forgiveness. We ask you God to grant our weary souls the power of forgiveness which is, in our world today, considered as a weakness, but we believe it’s the armor of the great souls. Strengthen us Christ through your spirit of resurrection, so that we may rise after all the deaths in our country.
O Lord, when you held your cross and went up to the mountain of Golgotha, you deeply felt our human pain. We ask you to lift the injustice from Jerusalem and the Holy Land, and to bring back life to it through your resurrection. We also pray for the lives that had been lost in Jerusalem over the past decades. May through your grace Jerusalem would become not only a symbol for the pain, but also a symbol and a destination for all those who seek peace, joy and revival.
Our God of tenderness, we pray for our brothers and sisters who suffer tremendously at checkpoints and borders. We pray for those who bare the heavy cross of exile and live in deployment camps in Diaspora countries away from their homeland. Grant your wisdom and mercy into the hearts of the leaders of this brutal occupation, so they would lift the heavy hardships and difficulties off the people of the Holy Land. We pray that the “apartheid wall” will demolish. Amen.”
This prayer was sent by a recent graduate of Bethlehem University and member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Palestine
where Fr. Bashar Fawadleh will offer a Mass for peace in the Holy Land and for persecuted Christians and their persecutors
on the same date as our EOHSJ Prayer Service.
Entrance of Ministers: Exposition & Incensation
O Salutaris Hostia
O saving Victim, opening wide, the gate of heaven to man below!
Our foes press on from every side; thine aid supply, thy strength bestow.
To thy great name by endless praise, Immortal Godhead, one in three.
Oh, grant us endless length of days, In our true native land with thee.
Amen.
A Prayer to Our Lady, Queen of the Holy Land
Our heavenly Mother, Daughter and Queen of the Holy Land, we turn to you to obtain your powerful intercession. May graces fall like abundant rain on your people, heal all the burdened hearts and bring justice and peace to the Holy Land. May Jerusalem shine like a beacon of unity between Christians who are privileged to live close to the Holy sites, sanctified by the life, the passion, the death and resurrection of Jesus. May this Holy City be a haven of friendship and understanding between Jews, Christians and Muslims. May intolerance and suspicion vanish, may love eradicate fear. Our Heavenly Mother, look with pity on all those who live in the land which is yours, afflicted by the differences and the conflicts for many generations. May all those who do not believe in the one God be touched by your grace and reach the fullness of faith, hope and love. Though Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
All: Our Lady, Daughter and Queen of the Holy Land, pray for us.
And now we specifically pray for the Latin Patriarch's requested intentions: for the thousands of refugees in his diocese who long to return to their homes; for the cessation of violence and persecution of Christians; and for school pupils - elementary, high and university - from poor families who are unable to afford basic tuition due to unemployment.
All: Our Lady, Queen of Palestine, pray for us and all the peoples of the lands made sacred by your Son’s life, death and resurrection.
Reflection: Presider
ROSARY REFLECTIONS - THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES Through the intercession of Our Queen of Peace and Queen of the Holy Land we pray the:
First Sorrowful Mystery The Agony in the Garden [How Christ suffered mentally] Oh, Lord Jesus, we offer You this first Sorrowful Mystery in remembrance of Your Agony in the Garden and we ask for the grace to truly repent of our sins and to find strength and comfort in prayer. Please help our suffering brothers and sisters and help us to courageously pray in the dark gardens of our lives: “ABBA FATHER, NOT MY WILL, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE.”
Second Sorrowful Mystery The Scourging at the Pillar [How Christ endured physical pain for us] Christ Jesus, we offer You this second Sorrowful Mystery recalling Isaiah’s words, “BY HIS STRIPES WE WERE HEALED.” We ask for the grace of purity in thought and deed. Please send Your holy angels to strengthen and encourage all Your faithful and especially those who share our faith, but not our freedom. For the honor of Your holy name, help them and help us to be courageous in our sufferings. Please make us ever more compassionate when we see others being beaten at the pillar of life.
Third Sorrowful Mystery The Crowning of Thorns [How Christ suffered mockery] Prince of Peace, we offer You this third Sorrowful Mystery reflecting upon the intense pain and humiliation You endured as the soldiers mocked You and crowned You with thorns. We humbly ask for the grace of moral courage – moral courage for ourselves and especially for persecuted Christians in the Holy Land and throughout the world. Help us to diligently pray each day for the conversion of those whose minds and hearts are filled with evil. May we faithfully obey Your command: “… LOVE YOUR ENEMIES! PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU!”
Fourth Sorrowful Mystery The Carrying of the Cross [The rode Christ walked as an example for us] Oh, Divine Mercy, we offer You this fourth Sorrowful Mystery remembering how You patiently and willingly carried Your Rugged Cross for the love of each of us and for all sinners. Please grant us the grace of patience. Help us to wisely carry our own small cross[es] remembering You said, “…HE WHO DOES NOT TAKE HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME IS NOT WORTHY OF ME.” In Your mercy, pour out an abundance of strength, consolation, peace and joy upon our persecuted brothers and sisters whose heavy crosses sometimes seem unbearable.
Firth Sorrowful Mystery The Crucifixion [How Christ was obedient to death on a cross] Savior of the World, we offer You this mystery in awe of Your Crucifixion and Your love for us. We ask for the graces of perseverance and forgiveness. Thank You that through Your total acceptance of Death on the Cross You achieved salvation for the world. Fill the hearts of all who suffer unjustly for Your sake with the Holy Spirit. Jesus, we trust in Your mercy. Help us to persevere in prayer as we intercede on behalf of all who are persecuted. We also pray for those who persecute: “FATHER, FORGIVE THEM; THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY ARE DOING.” May many ‘Saul’s’ become ‘St. Paul’s.’
Rosary Reflections inspired by Sister Josephine Cartanza, MPF Religious Teachers Filippini [1918-2017]
Litany of Forgiveness
Presider: Lord Jesus Christ, you said: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Yet we are preoccupied with money and worldly goods and put our trust in what we possess rather than in your care for us.
All: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Presider: Lord Jesus Christ, you said: Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. Yet we are so concerned about our own rights and self-interest and so little concerned about serving others.
All: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Presider: Lord Jesus Christ, you said: Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Yet we are impatient under our burdens and unconcerned about the burdens of others.
All: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Presider: Lord Jesus Christ, you said: Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall have their fill. Yet we do not thirst for you, the fountain of all holiness, and we are satisfied with half-measures and mediocrity.
All: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Presider: Lord Jesus Christ, you said: Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy. Yet we are so quick to condemn, so slow to forgive.
All: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Presider: Lord Jesus Christ, you said: Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. Yet we have often regarded persons created in your image as objects of our own lusts and cannot raise our eyes to you.
All: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Presider: Lord Jesus Christ, you said: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. Yet we are so often ruthless with each other, and our homes and our world are full of discord and resentments.
All: Have mercy on us, O Lord, Have Mercy on us.
Presider: Lord, Jesus Christ. you said: Blessed are those who suffer persecution for holiness' sake, for the Kingdom of God is theirs. Yet we suffer no opposition because we have been ashamed of you, our Crucified Savior, and have lived worldly compromises of your Gospel.
All: Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
Sacred Silence
Benediction Incensation and Hymn [
All should humbly bow]
Tantum Ergo
Down in adoration falling,
Lo! the sacred Host we hail; Lo! o'er ancient forms departing, newer rites of grace prevail.
Faith for all defects supplying, where the feeble senses fail; to the everlasting Father, and the Son who reigns on high.
With the Holy Spirit proceeding forth from each eternally, be salvation, honor blessing, might and endless majesty.
Amen.
Prayer and Blessing of the Blessed Sacrament
Presider: You gave them bread from heaven. [Alleluia.]
All: Containing in itself all sweetness!
Presider: O God, who in a wonderful Sacrament hast left unto us a memorial of thy Passion: grant us, we beseech thee, so to venerate the sacred mysteries of thy Body and Blood that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruits of thy redemption. Who lives and reigns world without end.
All: Amen.
The Divine Praises
Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most Holy.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. Blessed be her Holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus. Blessed be her Glorious Assumption.
Blessed be His Most Sacred Heart. Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be His Most Precious Blood. Blessed be St. Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Blessed be God in His Angels and in His Saints. Amen.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Holy God We PraiseThy Name Holy God, we praise Thy Name; Lord of all, we bow before Thee!
All on earth Thy scepter claim, all in heaven above adore Thee.
Infinite Thy vast domain, Everlasting is Thy reign.
Hark! the loud celestial hymn; angel choirs above are raising.
Cherubim and Seraphim, in unceasing chorus praising.
Fill the heavens with sweet accord: Holy, holy, holy, Lord.
Lo! the apostolic train; join the sacred Name to hallow.
Prophets swell the loud refrain, and the white-robed martyrs follow.
And from morn to set of sun, through the Church the song goes on.
Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit, three we name Thee.
While in essence only One, undivided God we claim Thee.
And adoring bend the knee, while we own the mystery.
Sts. Peter and Paul parishioners participate in peace prayer
From Staff Reports, The Herald-Zeitung Sts. Peter and Paul parishioners will join their prayers in solidarity with the San Antonio Section of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem’s continuing prayer efforts for peace and for persecuted Christians in the Holy Land and around the world Tuesday, July 18.
Father Carlos Velazquez, Sts. Peter and Paul’s newly assigned pastor and member of the EQHSJ, said, “Everyone who prays for peace is invited to help raise the level of intercessory prayer, both corporately and individually, on July 18. We believe prayer is the key that opens the heart of God and we are asking everyone to join with us in praying for an outpouring of Spirit-filled prayer for persecuted Christians and those who persecute them.
“There will be a 7 p.m. EOHSJ Prayer Service for Peace and for Persecuted Christians at the Church of the Holy Spirit located at 8134 Blanco Rd. All who pray for peace in our world and want to participate in the Holy Hour are invited. For those who can’t attend, we’ve posted the program guide on Sts. Peter and Paul website. We hope Christians in New Braunfels, San Antonio, throughout the country and beyond will download the program guide and join with us in prayer — wherever they are — that evening.
“On the cover of the program guide there is a moving prayer written by Rula Shomali, a young Palestinian woman. We are especially happy to announce her parish, Our Lady of Fatima in Palestine, will be uniting their prayers with ours for the second time this year.”
Sts. Peter and Paul parishioners for 26 years and long-time members of the EOHSJ Sir Dick and Lady Tilli Gold said, “Sts. Peter and Paul is a Spirit-filled parish. We are blessed to have a Perpetual Adoration Chapel where we can come anytime during the day or night to spend time in sacred silence before the Blessed Sacrament with Jesus Himself, our Prince of Peace, who continually waits to meet us there in His humble and hidden disguise.”
Sts. Peter and Paul Deacon and Parish Manager Rusty Brandt said, “Many heartfelt prayers throughout the years have been offered before the Blessed Sacrament for Persecuted Christians in the Holy Land and around the world. We display a daily prayer focus in our Perpetual Adoration Chapel and on Tuesday it will read: For PEACE and For PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS.”
Carla Hernandez, recent Sts. Peter and Paul Women’s ACTS Retreat Co-Director said, “Our Sts. Peter and Paul ACTS Prayer Team has been praying in a variety of ways for the EOHSJ prayer initiative. We continue to pray for parishes in the U.S. and abroad to host their own Holy Hours using an adapted version of the EOHSJ program guide. We also are praying for many parishes to offer their July 18 daily Masses for peace and persecuted Christians and include in their ‘Prayers for the Faithful’ special intentions for peace, for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of those who persecute them and for the conversion of terrorists. In June, we received an email on our ACTS prayer chain asking us to pray the Sorrowful Mystery Rosary Reflections for Persecuted Christians found on the EOHSJ program guide and to share it with family, friends and ministries.”
Vasquez said, “I am still learning about numerous past peace initiatives at Sts. Peter and Paul which took place under Father Tony Pesek’s leadership. One ongoing effort includes the prayer support of the Ladies’ Wednesday Morning Bible Study, led by Lynn Edwards and Jodi Drastata. Their involvement started right after the war in Syria broke out when their class invited the New Braunfels community to come to pray silently in our sanctuary for the Church in Syria in April 2013. Shortly afterwards, they began to light their ‘Persecuted Church Candle,’ a candle wrapped in barb wire that glows during their weekly Bible study time as a reminder to pray for peace. More than three years ago, they shared prayers from both Catholic and non-Catholic Churches in Syria via our weekly Sunday bulletins. The prayers appeared in both English and Spanish. Thankfully our church receptionist, Maria Medrano, continues to regularly include a variety of prayers for peace in our Sunday bulletins. These are often individual prayers from international ministries who work on the frontlines with persecuted Christians and refugees.”
He said, “We take seriously Pope Francis’ words: ‘We do not have weapons. We believe, however, in the meek and humble strength of prayer. Peace is not simply a protest against war, nor is it a result of negotiations, political compromises or economic bargaining. It is the result of prayer.’ We are trusting God to lighten the heavy crosses our suffering brothers and sisters often carry — especially those who share our faith, but not our freedom — through the EOHSJ’s prayer efforts and those of Sts. Peter and Paul’s parishners. We also pray many other Christians around the world will be joining this around-the-clock prayer initiative for peace and for persecuted Christians.”
For additional information, contact Sir Stan and Lady Camille Schardon at
sschardon@gvtc.com or 936-525-9966.