Catholic Mass Reading:22 May 2020 + Pentecost Novena To The Holy Spirit: No One Will Take Your Joy From You
Friday 22, 2020
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mysteries
St. Rita of Cascia, R (Opt Mem)
Entrance Antiphon Rv 5:9-10
You have redeemed us, Lord, by your blood, from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us a kingdom and priests for our God, alleluia.
The Anointed
Collect
O God, who restore us to eternal life in the Resurrection of Christ, raise us up, we pray, to the author of our salvation, who is seated at your right hand, so that when our Saviour comes again in majesty, those you have given new birth in Baptism may be clothed with blessed immortality. Through our Lord…
FIRST READING
“I have many people in this city.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 18:9-18)
[When Paul was in Corinth,] the Lord said to him one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent; for I am with you, and no man shall attack you to harm you; for I have many people in this city.” And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack upon Paul and brought him before the tribunal, saying, “This man is persuading men to worship God contrary to the law.” But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, I should have reason to bear with you, O Jews; but since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves; I refuse to be a judge of these things.” And he drove them from the tribunal. And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to this. After this Paul stayed many days longer, and then took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and with him Priscilla and. Aquila. At Cenchreae he cut his hair, for he had a vow.
The Anointed
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 47:2-3.4-5.6-7 (R. Sa)
R/. God is king of all the earth.
Or: Alleluia.
All peoples, clap your hands.
Cry to God with shouts of joy!
For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome,
the great king over all the earth. R.
He humbles peoples under us and nations under our feet.
Our heritage he chose for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves. R.
God goes up with shouts of joy.
The Lord goes up with trumpet blast.
Sing praise for God; sing praise!
Sing praise to our king; sing praise ! R.
ALLELUIA Matthew 2b: 19a, 20b
Alleluia. Go and make disciples of all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, to the close of the age. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“No one will take your joy from you. ”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John I 6:20-23a)
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is in labour, she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. In that day you will ask nothing of me.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Anointed
Today’s Reflection
The theme of sorrow and joy of yesterday’s gospel is continued in today’s passage. Jesus tells his disciples that life is a mixture of sorrow and joy, weeping and rejoicing, anguish and ecstasy. But such moments of sorrow, tears and anguish do not last long. There will be the bright light at the end of the tunnel. The trees shed old leaves only to produce new and fresh ones. The grain of wheat dies in order to produce a new plant and more grains. The pain and anguish of childbirth will turn into an ecstatic experience of watching the new born. Our sorrow and tears in this world will turn into the joy of heavenly bliss. Lord, help me to focus on heaven even in the midst of pains and sorrows of this world.
Personal Devotional: Day 22 May Devotion
You cannot please God if you are proud, arrogant and selfish. These are vices and should not be allowed to take root in us in our journey of faith.
Our Blessed Mother Mary was very humble and in her humility she called upon God in prayer and she always received a positive response. We must try to humble ourselves like our Mother Mary before the Lord so that He will exalt us in due time. You lose nothing by being humble, but you can lose everything by being selfish and arrogant. In humility serve your brothers and sisters in this life and God will lift you up someday.
Meditation: James 4:1-10/Mark 9:30-37
Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, help me to be humble and to use every opportunity you give me to be at the service of humanity in a manner that will bring glory to your name and may my prayers be answered when I call upon your name. Amen. *And May the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Anointed
Today’s Saint: St. Rita of Cascia, Religious
Rita was born in Italy in 1377. She lived an ordinary life as a married woman until the time when her husband was murdered. Then, in her desire to live a consecrated life, she joined the Augustinian Nuns and spent the rest of her life doing penance and praying out of love for the crucified Lord. She died in 1447.
9-DAYS NOVENA WITH FASTING AND PRAYERS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
IN PREPARATION FOR PENTECOST
Friday May 22- May 30
DAY 1 : “I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT”
INTRODUCTION – As we begin our Novena to the Holy Spirit, let us be aware that we are the Church. It is in the assembly of God’s people where the Holy Spirit makes Himself known. This is an assembly of God’s people with Jesus as our Head. As we become aware of being God’s people, we also become aware of our many failures to live up to our calling, our selfishness, our lack of love and concern for people in our family and among our neighbours and friends. We, therefore, begin by asking pardon of God for our many failures to be truly God’s people.
PRAYER POINT: Dear Lord Jesus, I ask you to send forth the power of the Holy Spirit into the lives of everyone in our parish community and all of us using this 365 Readings App. If any members of the clergy are ensnared with the sins of clericalism, legalism, hypocrisy, spiritual pride, complacency, teaching false doctrines, exhibiting pharisaic attitudes, or displaying an outward form of godliness while inwardly denying your power, I ask you to send forth the gift of your Holy Spirit’s conviction. If any member of the laity is polluting the spiritual atmosphere of the church through their sins of idol worship, clergy worship, superstitious behaviours, complacency, spiritual stagnation, legalism, materialism, gossip, judgmental or pharisaic attitudes, I ask you to send forth the power of your Holy Spirit to convict us of our sins. Gently lead all sinners back into a state of grace where they can authentically connect and commune with you in spirit and in truth. Please purify the spiritual atmosphere and airspace that surrounds your sacred assembly. Cleanse the congregation so that your Holy Spirit may dwell inside the lives and hearts of all your beloved children. May the grandeur of your holy presence be so profoundly encountered within your courts that all your children will be ignited with a fervent passion to serve you all the days of their lives. I ask this through my Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
1. OPENING HYMN (Hymn to the Holy Spirit)
Invocation of The Holy Spirit
Come, O Holy Sairt, fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
V. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created
R. And you shll renew the face of the earth.
Let Us pray:
O God, who taught the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that by the gift of the same Spirit we may be always truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation, Through Christ Our Lord.
The Anointed
R/. Amen
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. (7x)
2. ACT OF CONTRITION – O my God, I am sorry and beg pardon for all my sins, and detest them above all things, because they have crucified my loving Saviour Jesus Christ, and, most of all, because they offend your infinite goodness; and I firmly resolve, by the help of your grace, never to offend you again, and carefully tavoid the occasion of sin.
3. PRAYER FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY GHOST: (To be recited daily during the Novena)
O LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who before ascending into Heaven didst promise to send the Holy Ghost to finish Thy work in the souls of Thine Apostles and Disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me, that He may perfect in my soul the work of Thy grace and Thy love. Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom, that I may despise the perishable things of this world and aspire only after the things that are eternal; the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of Thy Divine truth; the Spirit of Counsel, that I may ever choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining Heaven; the Spirit of Fortitude, that I may bear my cross with Thee and that I may overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation; the Spirit of Knowledge, that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect in the science of the Saints; the Spirit of Piety, that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable; the Spirit of Fear, that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God and may dread in any way to displease Him. Mark me, Dear Lord, with the sign of Thy true disciples, and animate me in all things with Thy Spirit. Amen.
4. PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT:
Breathe into me Holy Spirit that my thoughts may all be holy.
Move in me, Holy Spirit that my work too, may be holy.
Attract my heart Holy Spirit that I may love only what is holy.
Strengthen me Holy Spirit that I may defend all that is holy.
Protect me, Holy Spirit that I may always be holy.
5. BIBLE READING (1 Cor. 2:9-12 )
The Anointed
6. LET US PRAY:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I know that my body is Your Temple. I believe and trust that You are the source of life, Almighty God, our Creator. My whole body is filled with Your life and love. Lord Jesus, touch me with Your Precious Blood and wash away all my sins.
I ask Your forgiveness for every sin of mine. Heal me of all the hurts, anger, guilt feelings and all painful memories that linger in my deepest being. I have sinned, Lord, against You and against my neighbour. Jesus, You are present in the Eucharist. Lord, do come into my heart. While You are in my heart, I have nothing to fear, for You are the Son of God, and in my heart You are near.
In You is life, and in Your life, Lord Jesus, I find life. You touched the bleeding woman and healed her. Have mercy on me, Lord. It is You Who guide me with Your strength and make me righteous in Your presence. Lord, God, You are almighty. You are merciful. You have touched me and healed me of all my ailments of soul, mind and body. I thank You specially for bringing me closer to You, for loving and protecting me and for healing me completely. With deep faith in my heart, I adore You my loving Jesus Who with the Father and the Holy Spirit are God for ever and ever. Amen.
7. Closing / Concluding Hymn
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