Love Divine

LOVE DIVINE Group reflections on the grace we receive in the sacraments

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Love Divine

978-0-9927584-5-5 Nihil Obstat: Father Terry Tastard, Censor Imprimatur: H.E Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster Date: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 14 September 2015

The Nihil obstat and Imprimatur are a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free from doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil obstat and Imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions or statements expressed.

Writing Team: Dr Mark Nash and Mrs Margaret Wickware We are grateful to the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A for use of the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition copyright © 1993 &1989 and to the Bible Societies/HarperCollins Publishers Ltd for use of the Good News Bible copyright © 1994. Excerpts from The Divine Office © 1974, hierarchies of Australia, England and Wales, Ireland. All rights reserved.

With thanks to Alexander, Joseph & Luke Nash for contributing the wordsearches.

The majority of images contained in this booklet have been taken from those freely available at the Wikimedia Commons website and from diocesan stock.

For all others the copyright has either been obtained or sought. Cover images are from the mosaics in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Ravenna.

Produced by House on Rock Ltd (www.houseonrock.co.uk) in association with Diocese of Westminster (020 7798 9152; evangelisation@rcdow.org.uk)

exploring faith

booklets are published by WRCDT. Printing by The Graphic Design House Tel: 02392 334971

Copyright © 2015, Diocese of Westminster, Archbishop’s House, Ambrosden Avenue, London, SW1P 1QJ. All rights reserved.

The Diocese of Westminster is committed to a sustainable future for our planet. The booklet in your hands is made from paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

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Contents About this book with

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Foreword by Cardinal Vincent Nichols (Westminster)

1. Made in God’s image

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On the created world and our relationship with our Creator

2. Christ the Wellspring of Grace

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On Jesus Christ and his unwavering love for the Father

3. Channels of Grace

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On the Sacraments which bridge the visible and invisible

4. Partakers in Divine Nature

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On the Sacraments of Initiation and our share in Christ’s divinity

5. Returning to Grace

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On the Sacraments of Healing

6. Accepting Grace, Showing Love

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On serving and loving others helped by sacramental grace

Daily Prayers

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Prayers from Sunday to Saturday

Seven Steps of Grace

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Following the example of Mary, Mother of God (Luke 1:26-46)

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Why small groups?

In St Luke’s account of the Early Church we hear that three thousand were baptised following Pentecost (Acts 2:41). Guided by the Holy Spirit, the newly baptised ‘devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers‘ (Acts 2:42). In a similar fashion thousands of people have found spiritual nourishment in faith-sharing, in reflecting on Scripture and prayer as part of a small group.

This resource feeds such small groups drawing on the Scriptures with each session clearly rooted in a passage from the Bible. As the Second Vatican Council Fathers emphasised ‘in the sacred books the Father comes lovingly to meet his children and talks with them’ (Dei Verbum, 21).

Fellowship is a vital part of small group participation. In these small groups you are able to get to know your fellow Christians better and to form strong, mutually supportive bonds. The living community is essentially Christian as Jesus ‘did not come to save individuals without any bond between them’ (Lumen Gentium, 9).

Members of small groups are encouraged to share and gain confidence in talking about their faith. It is this confidence building in a trusting environment that helps participants to ‘love in all the circumstances of ordinary life’ (Gaudium et Spes, 38).

Our prayers together help us to become the dwelling places of the Holy Spirit that we are called to be (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 2).

How do small groups work?

The sessions in this booklet are designed to last between 1 and 1 ½ hours. Those leading the session are, of course, free to add periods of silence, hymns and other readings of interest - these sessions are a guide but can be used as they are written.

It is vital that each person is given the opportunity to give their thoughts and share where they are on their faith journey. Small group sharing is not a place for argument or heated debate.

The atmosphere should be prayerful with the aim of helping each to feel welcome and conscious of God’s loving presence. Soft music, candlelight, a religious image or crucifix to focus attention can all be used to help in this aim.

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Foreword My dear brothers and sisters, Through Jesus Christ, God offers us the free gift of grace. No matter the path of life we tread or the particular activity entrusted to us, there is always the temptation to say we can and will progress under our own power alone. But this is not God’s way. Only in, through and with Christ can we make progress on our pilgrimage into the heart of God. By his gift of grace, God enables each one of us to enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, to be united to him, to share in his very life - human and divine. (cf. 1 Peter 5:5-7 and 2 Peter 3:18).

The transforming power of grace, this wonderful gift of divine love, can have a palpable effect. Barnabas saw ‘what the grace of God had done’ to the Church in Antioch. He encouraged Christians there ‘to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts’ (Acts 11:23). I urge you to do the same. Accept the strength that comes from the grace of Christ. Remain true to the Lord with all your heart.

Encourage one another to ever greater acts of love in the Spirit. Take to heart the transforming Word of God. Believe ever more firmly that Jesus, the Word Incarnate has conquered death; that he helps us to live each day in the hope of everlasting life.

I am convinced that over the twenty-five seasons of faith-sharing that have taken place in the Diocese of Westminster there has been outpouring of grace.

The faith of the participants has been nourished and nurtured. Consequently their desire and capacity to witness to the Risen Christ to others has grown.

It is with the assurance of my prayers and every good wish, for you and your groups, that I commend to you this resource on the graces bestowed on us in the Sacraments, Love Divine.

Yours devotedly, Cardinal Vincent Nichols Archbishop of Westminster

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Some Further reading Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992) YOUCAT (2014) Pope Francis: Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), 2013 Pope Francis: Laudato Si’ (on the Care of our Common Home), 2015 J. Brian Bransfield (2010) The Human Person According to John Paul II Stratford Caldecott (2006) The Seven Sacraments Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (1986) In the Beginning Edward Schillebeeckx (1963) Christ the Sacrament of Encounter with God Kurt Stasiak (2001) Sacramental Theology: Means of Grace, Ways of Life Raniero Cantalamessa (1994) The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus Sherry Weddell (2012) Forming Intentional Disciples (esp. chapter 4)

Making connections

Lord, Giver of Life (Lent 2009) on the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son, giving us assurance and joy.

Sparks of Light (Lent 2012) on the universal call to holiness and living a life of Christian virtue filled with the grace of God.

Amazing Grace (Lent 2013) on the sacrament of reconciliation and the call to continuing conversion.

Jesus, My Lord (autumn 2014) on discipleship and the conscious decision to follow Jesus.

Other related books include: Teach Us To Pray on prayer and Appointed by God on St Paul’s writings

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About this book ‘No human efforts, however good they may be, can enable us to merit so great a gift [as salvation]. God, by his sheer grace, draws us to himself and makes us one with him. He sends his Spirit into our hearts to make us his children, transforming us and enabling us to respond to his love by our lives’ (Evangelii Gaudium, 112).

Love Divine, a faith-sharing resource for small communities seeks to help us explore the relationship we have with God, strengthened by his grace, particularly the grace found and gratefully received in the sacraments.

It is divided into six group sessions each containing Scripture, reflections and prayers. Also featured in the booklet is a selection of images which may stir a thought or feeling in a way that the text could not. We also invite you to make use of simplified daily prayers drawn from the Divine Office towards the end of the booklet.

Love Divine is not tied to a particular time of year and the prayers and meditations may be used by individuals, groups or in a wider parish context throughout the year. This booklet and others in the exploring faith series can be viewed at and downloaded from the Diocese of Westminster’s website [http:// rcdow.org.uk/faith/small-groups/resources/]. Leaders and members can subscribe to weekly bulletins during the season via http://eepurl.com/ULaLr

CHILDREN’S PAGES Love Divine features pages specifically written for parents and grandparents to share the theme with children - featuring Theo, our young guide. These pages contain a short reflection, a Scripture passage (from the Good News translation of the Bible), a question on the Scripture and some form of activity.

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Image: God the Geometer or Architect of Creation from a 13th century manuscript

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Session One LOVE DIVINE

THEME

Made in God’s Image

Session one

God, Creator of all things, the Almighty and ever living desires a personal relationship with each on of us. This remarkable truth is made clear in the gift of Jesus Christ who reconciles and redeems. Jesus shows us the very nature of our own humanity and gives us the grace to imitate him.

Opening prayer

Adapted from Psalm 139(138) - said all together or the group can divide in half and alternate.

All:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A:

O Lord, you have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away.

B:

For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

A:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.

B:

See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

All:

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.

As we come together let us, either aloud or in the silence of our hearts, give thanks and praise to the Lord for all the things we have accomplished, the joys experienced, graces received and people met over the past week. Let us also remember all those in need of our prayers particularly the poor and the sick.

Introduction to the Scripture reading Let us listen carefully to the Word of the Lord, and attend to it with the ear of our hearts.

Let us welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice.

St Benedict of Nursia (c.480-c.547) adapted

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Praying the Scriptures Isaiah 45:3-12, 22 Note: Written nearly 2,700 years ago, the book of the prophet Isaiah is written largely in the genre of Hebrew poetry. Here, Cyrus, the king of Persia, who was to deliver the Jews from their captivity in Babylon is called ‘anointed’ (Is 45:1; cf. Acts 10:38) and elsewhere is referred to as ‘shepherd’ (Is 44:28; cf. Jn 10:11). Prefiguring Jesus, he was to rebuild the Temple (cf. Jn 2:19-21). The Lord, here, expresses His dominion - a word meaning Lordship.

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus... I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name; I surname you, though you do not know me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me, so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the Lord do all these things.

Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also; I the Lord have created it.

Woe to you who strive with your Maker, earthen vessels with the potter! Does the clay say to the one who fashions it, ‘What are you making?’ or ‘Your work has no handles’?... Thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Will you question me about my children, or command me concerning the work of my hands? I made the earth, and created humankind upon it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.

Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.

Please take a few moments in silence to reflect on the passage, then share a word or phrase that has struck you. Pause to think about what others have said then, after a second reading of the passage, you may wish to share a further thought.

Reflection ‘God infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life’ (CCC, 1). The old Penny Catechism used to say that ‘God made me to know him, to love him, and to serve him in this world, and to be happy with him forever in heaven’. The initiative is

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God’s; he calls us, seeks us so that we can come to know and love him. Deep inside us we have a desire for him, placed on our hearts at our creation by God, for only in God will we find the truth and happiness we search for (CCC, 27).

God’s desire for our happiness and His call to enter into an ever-deeper relationship with Him resounds through the Bible (e.g. Exodus 25:8 and 1 Corinthians 1:9). Fundamentally, he wants fellowship with us not because of what we are but because of what He is (1 John 4:8). Together, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit created humankind ‘in their own image and likeness’ (Genesis 1:26-27).

‘God shaped man from the soil of the ground and blew the breath of life into his nostrils, and man became a living being’ (Genesis 2:7), as such each one of us is united, not superficially but vitally and directly related, with God – he has called us by name (Isaiah 45:4).

As we read in the book of Genesis, the Fall damaged humanity’s relationship with our Father and Creator. Whereas, before, there was no barrier between them and neither was there any barrier between the man and the woman (symbolised by the mention of their nakedness) by disobeying his one commandment, they rejected the life that he gave us and wounded the relationships we have with the ‘seamless garment of creation’ (Laudato Si’, 9), with each other and with God himself. ‘We like sheep go astray; we turn every one to our own way’ (Isaiah 53:6).

Through sin we lost the ‘grace of original holiness’ (CCC, 399). This resulted in being sent from the Garden of Eden, which symbolised our separation from God and an eternal life with him.

All, however, is never lost. In the Scripture passage we have just read, God calls

From Novo Millenio Ineunte (2001): St John Paul II My thoughts turn first to the duty of praise. This is the point of departure for every genuine response of faith to the revelation of God in Christ.

Christianity is grace, it is the wonder of a God who is not satisfied with creating the world and man, but puts himself on the same level as the creature he has made and, after speaking on various occasions and in different ways through his prophets, ‘in these last days... has spoken to us by a Son’ (Hebrews 1:1-2).

At the Beginning of the New Millennium, 4

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to us to turn back to him (Isaiah 45:22). Just as creation was at God’s initiative so too was the means of our redemption. Jesus Christ, God’s own Son and the second person of the Holy Trinity, comes to reconcile and to show us how we are truly meant to be (cf. Colossians 1:15-20). Jesus Christ, God incarnate, shares our human experience and transforms it from the inside. Love comes in the shape of the Cross and with it comes grace. As we hear in the words of the Methodist hymn: ‘Grace flows from Calvary, Grace as fathomless as the sea, Grace for time and eternity, Grace, enough for me.’ Grace, the ‘free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to His call’ helps us to become his children (CCC, 1996). In faith and by prayer, we cooperate with God’s redemptive work – even as faith is a grace itself (CCC, 153) - by grace, through Christ, we can accept God’s invitation to a restoration of our relationship with him and hope for a share in the divine life (2 Peter 1:4).

• • •

What do you understand by the term ‘grace’? To help, reflect on YOUCAT 338 When comes most readily to mind when you are asked about the reason that Jesus Christ came to earth?

How would you characterise your relationship with God?

Closing Prayers You may wish to end this session with the Lord’s Prayer, a blessing (foot of page 11) or silent reflection.

Almighty and ever-living God, through water and the Holy Spirit, we are reborn to everlasting life.

May you continue to pour out your graces on us, as the blood flowed from the side of your Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross.

May you make of us always faithful members of your holy people and send your peace and joy upon all who call on your name.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

This session looks at God’s creation of the world and of humankind. It also traces the choice made by humanity to sin and the initiative shown by the Father to redeem our race in Jesus Christ, his Son. Next week we look more closely at the person of Jesus Christ as the wellspring of grace. In the meantime please make use of the ‘Expressions of Gratitude’ page (p.11).

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Signpost

Adapted from the Rite of Baptism for Children

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Expressions of Gratitude ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant, and from this day all generations will call me blessed’ (Luke 1:46-48).

Re-reading this session’s Scripture passage (from the New Revised Standard Version) or perhaps from a different version of Bible, you may wish to jot down the word or phrase that caught your attention. You may wish to write it down here or on even as a note on your mobile phone to refer to from time to time.

In the Magnificat, Mary gave thanks and praise to the Lord. For what, in particular, do you wish to give thanks to God today? What practical way can you express your gratitude?

Holy Scripture is one way which our loving God communicates to each of us.

What is your personal response, perhaps an action you might take, to the passage you have just read?

The blessing from St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 13:14) May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with [us] all. Amen.

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1. God’s Great love story Hello friends, it’s Theo, I hope that you have had lots of fun since the last time we saw each other. My aunty, who lives a long way away from our house came to visit. She always takes me out to do something like going to the beach or the cinema. This time she took me to a place where you make your own pots. She reminded me that we are like the clay and God is like the potter - he has made us all different and we all are special to him.

From the Bible “I have given you great honour, although you do not know me. I am the Lord; there is no other god. I will give you the strength you need, although you do not know me. I do this so that everyone from one end of the world to the other may know that I am the Lord and that there is no other god. I create both light and darkness. I, the Lord, do all these things. I will send victory from the sky like rain; the earth will open to receive it and will blossom with freedom and justice. I, the Lord, will make this happen.”

The Lord, the holy God of Israel, the one who shapes the future, says: “You have no right to question me about my children or to tell me what I ought to do! I am the one who made the earth and created human beings to live there. By my power I stretched out the heavens.”

From the prophet Isaiah, chapter 45 verses 3 to 12.

Here God is talking to Cyrus, the King of Persia.

He is also, through the Bible, talking to us. What has God given you?

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Love DIVINE LOVE Divine

Can you find these words in the search box to the right?

Creation

Clay

Love

Potter

God

Special

Let us Pray Dear God, help me to see that everything I do, if done with love and for the good of others, is an offering to you.

Help me to show my love for you in the way I behave and the way I share each and every day.

Amen.

Love Divine

God is the Creator of all things that we can see and all the things that we can’t. So often we forget this and think that we are in charge of the world. From the highest mountains to the smallest bug - God shapes us and the world. It can sometimes be a real struggle to remember to say thank you to God for all that he has done and for all that he gives us.

Sometimes we forget to say sorry for the times we don’t behave as well as we should.

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Image: Icon of the Ascension (Mid-17th century) from the Belarusian school

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Session two LOVE DIVINE

Christ the Wellspring of Grace THEME

Session two

To help us understand how Christ became ‘an unfailing gift of grace’ for humankind, we contemplate Christ’s human heart and his unwavering love for the Father that impels him to do his Father’s will - to sacrifice his very self on the Cross to offer us happiness for all eternity.

Opening Prayers Taken from Psalm 51(50) - to be said all together or the group can divide in half and alternate.

All:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A:

You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

B:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

A:

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

B:

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

A:

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

All:

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.

As we come together let us, either aloud or in the silence of our hearts, give thanks and praise to the Lord for all the things we have accomplished, the joys experienced, graces received and people met over the past week. Let us also remember all those in need of our prayers particularly the poor and the sick.

Introduction to Reading of Scripture Let us listen carefully to the Word of the Lord, and attend to it with the ear of our hearts.

Let us welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice.

St Benedict of Nursia (c.480-c.547) adapted

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Praying the Scriptures John 1:1-18 (RSV translation) Note: The initial verses of the Gospel of St John not only provide context but also clearly set forth the lasting importance of Christ’s incarnation. God the Son was with God our Father from the beginning of time and when the time was right, John the Baptist announced that the Christ would soon be coming to lead the world out of darkness.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (John bore witness to him, and cried, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.”’) And from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

Please take a few moments in silence to reflect on the passage, then share a word or phrase that has struck you. Pause to think about what others have said then after a second reading of the passage you may wish to share a further thought.

Reflection 2015 marked the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta, the landmark document considered to be the cornerstone of British law. Interestingly, its preamble explicitly states that King John “by the Grace of God” signed this important charter for the “salvation of our soul and those of our ancestors and heirs”. It is highly unlikely, however, that these phrases would appear either in important legal documents or general conversation today!

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Yet, salvation is the very essence of Christianity. While some Christian faith traditions maintain that all believers are saved or that it is simply a matter of living a decent life, others have come to believe that one can earn their way to heaven with their good deeds. In fact, even before the time of the Magna Carta there were differing views. Pelagius, a fifth century British monk contended that there was no original sin and it was all a matter of one’s own initiative, a view that has been deemed heretical by the Church since that time. As Catholics, we believe that it is through Christ’s own suffering, death and resurrection that humankind is redeemed and offered salvation: eternal happiness. Very importantly, through the sacramental life of the Church, we are gratuitously invited to unite ourselves to Christ, and to receive his graces, his blessings.

As we have just read in St John’s Gospel, ‘the word became flesh and dwelt among us’, Christ manifested his divinity though his teachings and miracles but still people refused to accept him. Yet, in his humanity, Christ humbly persevered to do his Father’s will: to restore our unique relationship as children of our Creator God. Having ‘embraced’ his Father’s love for humanity (Ephesians 5:2), Christ freely took on the task of our salvation as his own (John 10:18, CCC 606-609). His total self-giving love and obedience to the Father not only underpinned but also shone through how he lived each day even to the very end of his earthly life when he took the sins of all upon himself. He kept his Father’s commandments and remained in his love (John 15:10). In doing so, Christ modelled our response to the invitation given to each one of us to seek to do the Father’s will: to enter into an intimate relationship, a personal encounter with our creator, our loving Father.

From Novo Millenio Ineunte (2001): St John Paul II … it is clear that we cannot come to the fullness of contemplation of the Lord’s face by our own efforts alone, but by allowing grace to take us by the hand. Only the experience of silence and prayer offers the proper setting for the growth and development of a true, faithful and consistent knowledge of that mystery which finds its culminating expression in the solemn proclamation by the Evangelist Saint John: ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father’ (1:14).

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A visible sign of the Father’s love and acceptance of his Son’s human love and ultimate sacrifice on our behalf, Christ rose from the dead so that all of humanity could once again be united with the Father through him.

Each year on the fortieth day following the rejoicing of Christ’s resurrection at Easter, we celebrate Christ’s bodily and glorious ascension into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father (CCC 663). From his heavenly throne and just as he did while living on earth, Christ continues to love us and to pray on our behalf to the Father who hears him always (John 11:42). Through the workings of the one Christ sent - the Holy Spirit, he ‘pours forth’ an unfailing gift of grace – his love divine - into our human hearts so that we too may one day enjoy eternal happiness (Romans 5.5).

• • •

How open would you say that you are to the promptings of the Spirit?

How can we strengthen our resolve to do the Father’s will?

How often do you reflect on what awaits after death?

Closing Prayers You may wish to end this session with the Lord’s Prayer, a blessing (foot of page 19) or silent reflection.

Almighty and ever-living God, through water and the Holy Spirit, we are reborn to everlasting life.

May you continue to pour out your graces on us, as the blood flowed from the side of your Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross.

May you make of us always faithful members of your holy people and send your peace and joy upon all who call on your name.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

This session, our second, looked at Jesus’ obedience to the will of the Father and the self-giving love he showed. We also considered the impact of the ascension of Jesus in uniting humanity to the divine. Next up, we will look at the sacraments which Jesus left us, in the Church, to help in our earthly journey. Feel free to reflect on the ‘Expressions of Gratitude’ page (p.19).

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Signpost

Adapted from the Rite of Baptism for Children

Session two LOVE DIVINE

Expressions of Gratitude ‘The Almighty has done great things for me: holy is his Name’ (Luke 1:49).

Re-reading this session’s Scripture passage (from the New Revised Standard Version) or perhaps from a different version of Bible, you may wish to jot down the word or phrase that caught your attention. You may wish to write it down here or on even as a note on your mobile phone to refer to from time to time.

In the Magnificat, Mary gave thanks and praise to the Lord. For what, in particular, do you wish to give thanks to God today? What practical way can you express your gratitude?

Holy Scripture is one way which our loving God communicates to each of us.

What is your personal response, perhaps an action you might take, to the passage you have just read?

The blessing from St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 13:14) May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with [us] all. Amen.

LOVE DIVINE Session two

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2. Jesus Lights the way to the Father At school and at home we are often asked to do things that we would like to avoid. Tidying our rooms, doing homework, brushing teeth! We know that these have to be done but we can’t help saying no. My class teacher likes to remind us that God gave humans the ability to choose to follow him or to say no to him. Right now, I can’t understand why you would say no to being one of God’s children but I know that there are people who do.

From the Bible In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out. This was the real light - the light that comes into the world and shines on all people.

The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him.

Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God’s children.

From the Good News according to St John, chapter 1 verses 1 to 12.

Who is the Light we hear about in the Bible passage above?

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Jesus has lots of names: prince of peace and the good shepherd are two of them. He is also known as the light of the world. We need light to see whatever the time of day. Light lets us see the way to go. Jesus knew that the way to go was to try to do whatever God the Father wanted him to do even those things which he may have wanted to avoid. Jesus also knows that we should do the same and he helps us to do this.

God the Son and God the Father send us God the Spirit to help us follow the right way. The Spirit gives us gifts to help us which we must choose to use well.

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Let us Pray Dear God the Father, please help me to follow the light of Jesus.

Help me with your Spirit to be a link between you and others.

Amen.

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Image: The Trinity and Mystic PietĂ by Hans Baldung Grien (1512)

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THEME

Channels of Grace

Session three

Through the church, the sacraments make possible a human encounter with Christ through the workings of the Holy Spirit. In essence, they are freely given gifts of Christ’s redeeming grace, his love that makes us capable of eternal life, of loving in return.

Opening prayer Taken from Psalm 63(62) - to be said all together or the group can divide in half and alternate.

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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders.

His right and hand his holy arm have brought salvation.

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The Lord has made known his salvation; has shown his justice to the nations.

He has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel.

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All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

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Shout to the Lord, all the earth, ring out your joy.

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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.

As we come together let us, either aloud or in the silence of our hearts, give thanks and praise to the Lord for all the things we have accomplished, the joys experienced, graces received and people met over the past week. Let us also remember all those in need of our prayers particularly the poor and the sick.

Introduction to Reading of Scripture Let us speak of the God whom we love, listen to the God who wishes to speak to us.

‘Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening’.

LOVE DIVINE Session three

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Praying the Scriptures Ephesians 2:1-10 Note: Writing to the people of Ephesus quite possibly in his last years while in captivity in Rome, St Paul contrasts life before conversion with a grace-filled life in Christ. Through God’s own initiative, salvation is offered to those who believe; those who have turned from the pursuit of worldly goods to do his will.

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Please take a few moments in silence to reflect on the passage, then share a word or phrase that has struck you. Pause to think about what others have said then after a second reading of the passage you may wish to share a further thought.

Reflection Giving an opinion is something we do frequently each and every day. We might be asked to comment on all manner of things from whether or not we like a particular food to the state of the global economy. Obviously, the latter will quite likely take much more thought than the former yet, in both instances, our minds are influenced by our previous experiences, culture and education.

Broadly speaking, these three factors create our individual perspective, the lens through which we see the world. How often to do we really take a moment to consider our perspective and the factors which form our personal point of view?

Specifically, how might the Church and her sacraments help us to continually form our view?

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at Mass or a family celebration such as baptism, wedding or funeral. Some may experience the sacraments almost as a routine Sunday morning activity without too much thought either before or afterwards. If we take time to consider our perspective, we might ask ourselves: have we acquired an adult understanding of the sacraments? Have we become somewhat passive recipients unaware and therefore unresponsive to the graces flowing from Christ through the celebration of the sacraments in his Church?

St Paul’s many letters to the early Christians, including that written to the Ephesians that we have just read, clearly explain the great gift that we receive through the sacraments as a foretaste of God’s ultimate desire for each one of us. Writing at the time of the Second Vatican Council, theologians helped to unfold the foundational nature of the sacraments within our Catholic faith.

Christ himself was THE sacrament of our salvation, both as a visible sign and a cause. By the way he lived, he bestowed divine love on humankind from his human heart. By the way he died on the Cross, Christ outwardly revealed his inmost yearning: to do the will of the Father whom he loved without reserve even unto death. By visibly sacrificing his human body on Calvary, Christ caused our redemption (the greatest of graces). In doing so, through his glorified body, he re-opened the channel of grace for all humanity. In other words, we can once again be united with our Creator as new creations!

The glorified Christ sent forth the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to form his mystical body, the Church. In turn, through the Church’s treasure - the sacraments - God’s love, the Holy Spirit, is infused into the very depths of our being (CCC, 1999) to

From Novo Millenio Ineunte (2001): St John Paul II But we who have received the grace of believing in Christ, the revealer of the Father and the Saviour of the world, have a duty to show to what depths the relationship with Christ can lead. The great mystical tradition of the Church of both East and West has much to say in this regard. It shows how prayer can progress, as a genuine dialogue of love, to the point of rendering the person wholly possessed by the divine Beloved, vibrating at the Spirit’s touch... It is a journey totally sustained by grace.

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help us to love God in return and to follow his commandments now inscribed on our hearts. In essence, to be transformed.

Just as the Father chose to embody his divine Son, Christ himself chose visible items from creation and the created world to continue to make himself present through the workings of the Holy Spirit. Standing in for Christ, the priest uses water, bread, wine and oil to make visible Christ’s redeeming work and to pour forth of his grace (Romans 5.5). Celebrated by the parish community, the sacraments (a word derived from the Greek word, ‘mysterion’ and the Latin word ‘sacramentum’ meaning pledge) are Christ’s own initiative to unite us to himself, to bestow his love, his grace. We are made holy, sharers of his divine nature!

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How might we respond to Christ’s love?

What do you understand by ‘living in his love’?

How can we become more aware of God’s grace at work in our lives?

Closing Prayers You may wish to end this session with the Lord’s Prayer, a blessing (foot of page 27) or silent reflection.

Almighty and ever-living God, through water and the Holy Spirit, we are reborn to everlasting life.

May you continue to pour out your graces on us, as the blood flowed from the side of your Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross.

May you make of us always faithful members of your holy people and send your peace and joy upon all who call on your name.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

We have explored the sacraments in the Church which aid our salvation.

Ultimately, we reflect that Jesus is THE sacrament - the means for our salvation. He continues to remain available to us in the sacraments. Next session we will look at the sacraments of initiation. In the meantime please make use of the ‘Expressions of Gratitude’ page (p.27).

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Expressions of Gratitude ‘He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation’ (Luke 1:50).

Re-reading this session’s Scripture passage (from the New Revised Standard Version) or perhaps from a different version of Bible, you may wish to jot down the word or phrase that caught your attention. You may wish to write it down here or on even as a note on your mobile phone to refer to from time to time.

In the Magnificat, Mary gave thanks and praise to the Lord. For what, in particular, do you wish to give thanks to God today? What practical way can you express your gratitude?

Holy Scripture is one way which our loving God communicates to each of us.

What is your personal response, perhaps an action you might take, to the passage you have just read?

The blessing from St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 13:14) May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with [us] all. Amen.

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3. Helped by the sacraments I was baptized when I was only a few weeks old and I made my First Holy Communion last year when I was eight years old. The catechists helped us all to understand that the sacraments are ways that God helps us to grow as his children. They give us the strength to follow his way.

From the Bible God’s mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved. In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him to rule with him in the heavenly world. He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of his grace in the love he showed us in Christ Jesus. For it is by God’s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God’s gift, so that no one can boast about it.

From the letter that St Paul wrote to the Christians who lived in Ephesus, (Ephesians) chapter 2 verses 4 to 9.

What does God want us to do, together with Jesus, in the heavenly world?

Have a look at the Bible passage above!

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I absolutely love video games and when Christmas comes around I like to watch the adverts on the television for new games and other toys. My parents don’t have a lot of money so I try not to ask them for too much. Adverts are made to get people to buy new things, to show us what we want. St Paul wrote lots of letters telling his friends what God wants for us. He wants us to live with him forever in heaven. My priest told me that the sacraments are a taster of what we will find in heaven and that they can help us to get there!

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Let us Pray Dear God, help me to listen hard for your voice in the world. Help me to say ‘yes’ to your call. Amen.

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Image: Ananias Restoring the Sight of St Paul (c.1631) by Pietro da Cortona

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Session four LOVE DIVINE

THEME

Partakers in Divine Nature

Session four

By receiving the sacraments of initiation: baptism, confirmation and Holy Communion, we are transformed. ‘It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me’ (Galatians 2.20).

Opening prayer

Taken from Psalm 23(22) - to be said all together or the group can divide in half and alternate. This Psalm can be seen as a foreshadowing of the sacraments of baptism (still waters, anointing by oil); confirmation (Holy Spirit as comforter) and the Eucharist (table prepared, cup overflowing).

All:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.

He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

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Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff - they comfort me.

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You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

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Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

All:

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.

As we come together let us, either aloud or in the silence of our hearts, give thanks and praise to the Lord for all the things we have accomplished, the joys experienced, graces received and people met over the past week. Let us also remember all those in need of our prayers particularly the poor and the sick.

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Introduction to Reading of Scripture Let us go forward in peace, our eyes upon heaven, the only one goal of our labours.

St Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897)

Explore the Scriptures Galatians 4:1-7 Note: In his letter to the people of Galatia, St Paul is endeavouring to help early Christians grasp the fact they were no longer to live just by law. Instead, Christ was crucified so that we may be justified or made righteous, that is having a good proper relationship with God as his adopted children.

My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God. Please take a few moments in silence to reflect on the passage, then share a word or phrase that has struck you. Pause to think about what others have said then after a second reading of the passage you may wish to share a further thought.

Reflection The early Christians received the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation and Holy Communion) in the same liturgical celebration, following a long period of preparation, after demonstrating their desire to consciously follow Christ, to be a disciple. The Eastern Orthodox Churches likewise administer these three sacraments (known as the ‘holy mysteries’) all in the same celebration. The recipient receives new life from the waters of baptism, is sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit (known as ‘chrismation’) and then immediately receives Holy Communion under both kinds. While the timings of the latter two sacraments and the slightly different interpretation of the sacrament of Confirmation are obvious differences, we know and pray for the theological scholars from both the Catholic and the Orthodox traditions who, under the direction of the last three popes in particular, have been working towards unity so that the church may one day ‘breathe with both lungs’.

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in God’s life that was originally given to our first parents, the newly baptized are united in Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of baptism.

Dying with Christ and rising to become new creatures, our ability to share in the divine life is restored (2 Peter 1:3-4)!

As in the passage we have just read, St Paul frequently uses the human concept of ‘sonship’ or ‘adoption’ to highlight this union that makes us God’s beloved children. In the same way that newly adopted infants are lavished with love, God’s love, his sanctifying grace is freely lavished upon us at our baptism.

Grafted onto Christ, each person is also infused with the Holy Spirit to help us develop these bonds of ‘sonship’, that is our relationship with the person of Jesus Christ. We receive not only the gift of sanctifying grace giving us supernatural life but also a stream of sacramental graces unique to baptism to help us live our vocation as Christians – in faith, hope and charity.

Unlike the early Christians who made a free and mature response to the call to discipleship at the time of their baptism, many of us received baptismal graces as infants based on the faith of our parents and godparents who promised to nurture the seed of faith placed in each of us. Then, as young teens, we received the sacrament of confirmation. At that time, we were anointed with the oil of chrism as a visible sign of Christ pouring forth graces to root us more firmly in his divine life and to strengthen the work of Holy Spirit who helps us respond to Christ’s presence in our daily lives and to imitate him in this world by attending to the spiritual and material needs of others.

From Novo Millenio Ineunte (2001): St John Paul II If we commit ourselves more confidently to a pastoral activity that gives personal and communal prayer its proper place, we shall be observing an essential principle of the Christian view of life: the primacy of grace.

There is a temptation which besets every spiritual journey and pastoral work: that of thinking that the results depend on our ability to act and to plan. God of course asks us really to cooperate with his grace, and therefore invites us to invest all our resources of intelligence and energy in serving the cause of the Kingdom. It is fatal to forget that ‘without Christ we can do nothing’ (cf. John 15:5).

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Besides water and oil, grace is also made visible in bread and wine. Although we often speak of being nourished by the sacrament of Holy Communion, the pouring forth of grace is infrequently mentioned. Yet, in essence, the unique purpose of this sacrament, its interior cause, is to increase sanctifying grace that deepens our union with Christ our saviour. Unlike the food we eat that becomes part of us, the Body and Blood of Christ makes us a part of Him, in his mystical body. For the same reason that food cannot nourish a dead body, communicants are asked to be in a state of grace (free of serious sin) when receiving spiritual food so that it may work within us.

Although Christ has reached out to us in love through these sacraments, it is our response that enables their graces to transform our hearts and impel us to love him and others in return. As St Augustine said, ‘He who created you without your consent will not save you without your consent’. Christ is waiting for our consent, our acknowledgement that he is Lord, that we are his disciples.

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Where have you taken opportunities to form and mature your faith?

We acknoweldge God as maker of the visible and invisible. Where in your life have you perceived the invisible behind the visible?

Where have you experienced the prophetic voice in your life, as a recipient?

Closing Prayers You may wish to end this session with the Lord’s Prayer, a blessing (foot of page 35) or silent reflection.

Almighty and ever-living God, through water and the Holy Spirit, we are reborn to everlasting life.

May you continue to pour out your graces on us, as the blood flowed from the side of your Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross.

May you make of us always faithful members of your holy people and send your peace and joy upon all who call on your name.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

This session looks at the sacraments of initiation in which we are gifted with sanctifying grace, making us children of God. Very importantly, it is our response that enables these graces to become fruitful. In the next session, we will consider the sacraments of healing that restore us to the relationship bestowed on us through baptism.

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Expressions of Gratitude ‘He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly’ (Luke 1:51-52).

Re-reading this session’s Scripture passage (from the New Revised Standard Version) or perhaps from a different version of Bible, you may wish to jot down the word or phrase that caught your attention. You may wish to write it down here or on even as a note on your mobile phone to refer to from time to time.

In the Magnificat, Mary gave thanks and praise to the Lord. For what, in particular, do you wish to give thanks to God today? What practical way can you express your gratitude?

Holy Scripture is one way which our loving God communicates to each of us.

What is your personal response, perhaps an action you might take, to the passage you have just read?

The blessing from St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 13:14) May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with [us] all. Amen.

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4. Becoming a Disciple My uncle supports a North London football team, he goes to their stadium every week and he wants to take me to a match for my next birthday. He says that there are different things that he does on a match day - he buys a programme from the same man each time, he eats a hamburger on the way from the stadium and he sits in the same seat wearing his favourite scarf. He wants to buy me a scarf too. I think he’s like me to follow his club and support them as I grow up.

From the Bible When the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God’s children.

To show that you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, “Father, my Father.” So then, you are no longer a slave but a child. And since you are his child, God will give you all that he has for his children.

From the letter that St Paul wrote to the Christians who lived in Galatia, (Galatians) chapter 4 verses 4 to 7.

Why did God promise to give to his children?

Have a look at the Bible passage above!

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When I was baptised I became an adopted child of God. Each time I receive communion at my church and when the priest comes in to school I know that it is helping me becoming more like Jesus - and I really want to become more like Jesus.

My uncle’s team has lots of followers who talk about the team all the time.

Jesus wants us to be his followers (disciples) and to get to know him better. He wants us to choose to love God the Father and each other.

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Let us Pray Dear God, help me to understand what a good friend I have in Jesus. Please help me to get to know him, and you better and better each day. Amen.

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Image: The Healing of a Blind Man by Duccio di Buoninsegna (c. 1310)

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Session five LOVE DIVINE

THEME

Returning to grace

Session five

The sacraments of initiation transform us: ‘It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me’ (Galatians 2.20). Yet, the tendency to sin and weakness remain.

Here we explore the grace that we receive in the sacraments of healing as we ask for Jesus’ help for ourselves and for other.

Opening prayer

Taken from Psalm 145(144) - to be said all together or the group can divide in half and alternate.

All:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Every day I will bless you, and praise your name for ever and ever.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; his greatness is unsearchable.

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One generation shall laud your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.

On the glorious splendour of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

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The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made

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The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.

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The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings.

All:

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.

As we come together let us, either aloud or in the silence of our hearts, give thanks and praise to the Lord for all the things we have accomplished, the joys experienced, graces received and people met over the past week. Let us also remember all those in need of our prayers particularly the poor and the sick.

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Introduction to Reading of Scripture Let us go forward in peace, our eyes upon heaven, the only one goal of our labours.

St Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897)

Praying the Scriptures Mark 2:1-12 Note: This passage of Scripture from Mark’s account of the Good News reveals to us and those gathered the true nature of Jesus - only God can heal, only God can forgive sins.

Some interpretations of this passage see the four faithful friends as symbolic of the four evangelists who, through their gospel accounts, bear us on the stretcher of Holy Scripture to the one who heals us from sin, Jesus Christ, truly God and truly man.

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralysed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, ‘Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, ‘Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and take your mat and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the paralytic— ‘I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.’ And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’

Please take a few moments in silence to reflect on the passage, then share a word or phrase that has struck you. Pause to think about what others have said then after a second reading of the passage you may wish to share a further thought.

Reflection The Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Church in the Modern World states that the Church has but a single intention: ‘that God’s kingdom may come, and that the salvation of the whole human race may come to pass’ (Gaudium et Spes, 45). We, the People of God on our earthly pilgrimage toward the heavenly city, are called to share with others the graces we receive in Christ Jesus (cf.

Gaudium et Spes, 57). For our part too, we are also asked to grow into the

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generous and loose-fitting garment of holiness received at baptism.

In the Sacraments, ‘the masterworks of God’ (CCC, 1116), we have the guarantee of Christ’s presence. By virtue of our baptism we are graced with the Spirit (John 14:26), born again in Christ (Romans 6:4) and called to a life of holiness (Ephesians 4:24). Each of us knows from personal and sometimes bitter experience that we fall in our imitation of Christ; as we put ourselves first and turn away from Him, faith is challenged, hope is dimmed, and love seems distant. Trials can arise, whether through sin or sickness, that are too much for us alone to surmount. Though it may seem like it sometimes, God never deserts us (Deuteronomy 31:6-8). God’s grace, flowing from the side of Christ, enables us to set out, again and again, on the pathway of true discipleship. This ‘again and again’ is seen clearly and beautifully in the sacraments of healing.

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of relationship and grace are conferred by the priest’s outstretched hands and words of absolution. Just as the paralytic’s friends had faith in Jesus’ power to heal, our faith in what the priest is doing is vital, it is key to the flow of grace.

This sacrament is a truly great gift, by God’s grace we are strengthened against temptation as well as healed from the consequences of what we have done and what we have failed to do. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a place of spiritual healing and an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs us one allowing the light of grace into the contrite heart (cf. EG, 44). Such comfort as found in the Sacrament of Reconciliation is found also in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick (CCC, 1527 and James 5:14-15). Jesus, who ‘taught with authority, not like the scribes’ (Mark 1:22), guides us with an authoritative and steady hand

From Novo Millenio Ineunte (2001): St John Paul II Not everyone can see [the light of Christ]. Ours is the wonderful and demanding task of becoming its ‘reflection.’ This is the mysterium lunae, which the Fathers of the Church employed to show the Church’s dependence on Christ, the Sun whose light she reflects. Christ called himself the ‘light of the world’ (John 8:12) and asked his disciples to be ‘the light of the world’ (Matt 5:14). This is daunting if we consider our weakness, but it is accomplishable if we turn to the light of Christ and open ourselves to the grace which makes us a new creation.

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through the illness, pain and suffering we may have to endure. Comfort and strength are found in him; in him we find the dissipation of fear and anxiety.

Suffering and affliction are part of life. Perhaps it is helpful to recall the words of St Rose of Lima who teaches us that: ‘without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. The gift of grace increases as the struggle increases.’

God wills our sanctification, our salvation; we do not earn it on our own power but neither are we passive recipients. It is God’s work, performed through our free cooperation and pursuit of his will (Philippians 2:12-13). Our obedience to the Father is itself a grace-filled work of God – abiding in Christ, imitating him is the sure path to reconciliation and healing (cf. Mark 2:17).

• • • • •

How have you dealt with illness in the past?

Have you ever believed that you can deal with anything thrown at you?

Have you ever believed that nothing is under your control?

How might an deeper understanding of sin help you to understand yourself?

How often have you felt in need of spiritual healing?

Closing Prayers You may wish to end this session with the Lord’s Prayer, a blessing (foot of page 43) or silent reflection.

Almighty and ever-living God, through water and the Holy Spirit, we are reborn to everlasting life.

May you continue to pour out your graces on us, as the blood flowed from the side of your Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross.

May you make of us always faithful members of your holy people and send your peace and joy upon all who call on your name.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

This session explored the sacraments of healing and the Scripture passage spoke of Jesus’ ability to heal us and help us deal with whatever may paralyse us from entering more deeply into God’s love. Next session looks at the Sacraments of Holy Matrimony and Holy Orders. Have a look at the ‘Expressions of Gratitude’ page (p.43).

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Expressions of Gratitude ‘He has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty’ (Luke 1:53).

Re-reading this session’s Scripture passage (from the New Revised Standard Version) or perhaps from a different version of Bible, you may wish to jot down the word or phrase that caught your attention. You may wish to write it down here or on even as a note on your mobile phone to refer to from time to time.

In the Magnificat, Mary gave thanks and praise to the Lord. For what, in particular, do you wish to give thanks to God today? What practical way can you express your gratitude?

Holy Scripture is one way which our loving God communicates to each of us.

What is your personal response, perhaps an action you might take, to the passage you have just read?

The blessing from St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 13:14) May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with [us] all. Amen.

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5. Jesus heals us Last week I broke my leg playing football at school! It was so sore and I had to go to the city hospital to get a plaster put on it and even had to stay one night in the ward for children. The food was better than my teacher said it would be. A lady from our church was visiting some other people and saw me in the bed - she talked to me for a little bit about how Jesus was often asked by people to make them better. Sometimes, she said, Jesus helped heal people from problems they didn’t even know they had.

From the Bible Four men arrived carrying a paralysed man to Jesus. Because of the crowd they could not get the man to him. So they made a hole in the roof right above the place where Jesus was and let the man down, lying on his mat.

Seeing how much faith they had, Jesus said to the paralysed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Some teachers of the Law said: “God is the only one who can forgive sins!”Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said to the paralysed man, to prove to them that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home!” While they all watched, the man got up, picked up his mat, and hurried away. They were all completely amazed and praised God. From the Good News according to Mark, chapter 2 verses 1 to 12.

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Jesus forgave the man’s sins and he healed him. Jesus was moved by the faith that the man’s friends had in Jesus’ power to heal him. I suppose it is our job to help our friends and others to see that Jesus can make things right again. He has given the priest the authority to wipe away sin - what a gift!

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Let us Pray Dear God, please use my voice and my skills to help others see that Jesus can heal us from all that is broken in our lives. Amen.

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Image: Christ in the House of His Parents by John Everett Millais (1849–50)

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Accepting Grace, Showing Love THEME

Session six

In the sacraments of service, marriage and holy orders, we hold that their purpose is to help another or others to come closer to God. The graces received in these sacraments aid us in their purpose. Naturally, all are called, by virtue of their baptism to glorify the Lord by their life and give voice to their faith.

Opening prayer

Taken from Psalm 37(36) - to be said all together or the group can divide in half and alternate.

All: A:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

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Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

He will make your vindication shine like the light, and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

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Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him.

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Depart from evil, and do good; so you shall abide for ever.

For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his faithful ones.

All:

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.

As we come together let us, either aloud or in the silence of our hearts, give thanks and praise to the Lord for all the things we have accomplished, the joys experienced, graces received and people met over the past week. Let us also remember all those in need of our prayers particularly the poor and the sick.

Introduction to Reading of Scripture Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort me and restore me.

attributed to St Patrick (c.387 – 493 or c.460)

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Praying the Scriptures John 17:1-5, 13-21

Note: In this section of John’s account of the Good News, we see, boldly stated, the relationship that Jesus has with the Father. Here we see echoes of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) prayer directed to the Father, praise of God’s name, concern for the Kingdom and an invocation of protection from evil - however, Jesus here also expresses the desire and plan of God.

Jesus looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

Now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

‘I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.’

Please take a few moments in silence to reflect on the passage, then share a word or phrase that has struck you. Pause to think about what others have said then after a second reading of the passage you may wish to share a further thought.

Reflection Looking up to heaven, Jesus prayed for those who believed in him. He prayed for their protection, he prayed for their sanctification and he prayed for their unity.

Jesus’ prayer, that we abide in him and that we may bear fruit in bringing others to the Father, is still his prayer today. Through our baptism we share the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ as priest, as prophet and as king. Each of us shares in this in a distinct and personal manner – conscious that the life we need is part of a wider whole (1 Corinthians 12:12). Mark Twain once famously said that ‘there are two important days in your life. The day you were born and the day you find out why.’ Might we add the day of baptism and the day we discover the 48

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implications of becoming an adopted child of God in Christ Jesus?!

Hans Urs von Balthazar, a great twentieth century theologian, talks about the conscious choice we make to follow the promptings of grace when he says: ‘What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.’ Discerning the path we are called to take is not easy; we may miss the promptings of the Spirit, we may even ignore them hoping they go away, yet it is surely a source of joy that God so cares for us that he calls us each to ‘some definite service’ as Cardinal Newman so beautifully described.

Grace, first and foremost, is the gift of the Spirit. Grace enables us to collaborate in the salvation of others and in the growth of the Body of Christ (CCC, 2003).

Those called to recieve the sacraments of Holy Orders and of Holy Matrimony, are gifted with grace particular to the respective Sacrament. It can be all too easy to see marriage as a purely human endeavour, something we work at to make it succeed; or to see the work of the ordained minister as successful or not based on the human qualities of the man. Yet, in the Creed, we profess belief in the visible and invisible. We publicly state our belief that these institutions, these sacraments meant for the sanctification of others, are not purely human in their nature but rely on the grace of God, the supernatural.

The sacramental nature of marriage and ordination provides a clear and visible link to the Church and to the Lord. As we read in the Scripture passage above, we are sent into the world (John 17:18) not merely for our own benefit and sanctification but for the benefit of others. The ministerial priesthood, we read,

From Novo Millenio Ineunte (2001): St John Paul II The Church therefore cannot forgo her missionary activity among the peoples of the world. It is the primary task of the missio ad gentes to announce that it is in Christ, ‘the Way, and the Truth, and the Life’ (John 14:6), that people find salvation... We know that, in the presence of the mystery of grace, infinitely full of possibilities and implications for human life and history, the Church herself will never cease putting questions, trusting in the help of the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth (cf. Jn 14:17), whose task it is to guide her ‘into all the truth’ (Jn 16:13).

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is at the service of the common priesthood. It is directed at the unfolding of the baptismal grace of all Christians (CCC, 1547). Similarly in sacramental marriage, the spouses seek to help each other obtain their heavenly inheritance and, God willing, their children too. Herein lies the importance of Christian marriage.

In the theological sense, things are sanctified when they are used for the purpose God intends. A human being is sanctified, therefore, when he or she lives according to God’s design and purpose. Though God sanctifies by grace, human beings are responsible to appropriate God’s grace by faith. Faith is ‘the’ means of sanctifying grace; faith in Jesus’ pledge of hope and strength for life’s journey in the sacraments. Let us pray today and always for all the baptised, whatever part they play in the Church, that each work for the common good in service of charity accepting and using the graces received in the sacraments to participate fully in God’s plan for each one of us.

• How often do we pray for deliverance from illness or physical help for others and when have we prayed for the spiritual health of another?

• What steps might we take to more clearly see the will of God for us? And, what might we do to help others take the same steps on their pilgrim journey?

Closing Prayers You may wish to end this session with the Lord’s Prayer, a blessing (foot of page 51) or silent reflection.

Almighty and ever-living God, through water and the Holy Spirit, we are reborn to everlasting life.

May you continue to pour out your graces on us, as the blood flowed from the side of your Son, Jesus Christ, on the Cross.

May you make of us always faithful members of your holy people and send your peace and joy upon all who call on your name.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

This session is the last of this booklet and it looked the graces received in the sacraments of Holy Orders and Holy Matrimony that help those in particular states of life to live out their vocation. The next resource will be on the theme of Mercy, as we enter the Jubilee Year.

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Expressions of Gratitude ‘He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever’ (Luke 1:54-55).

Re-reading this session’s Scripture passage (from the New Revised Standard Version) or perhaps from a different version of Bible, you may wish to jot down the word or phrase that caught your attention. You may wish to write it down here or on even as a note on your mobile phone to refer to from time to time.

In the Magnificat, Mary gave thanks and praise to the Lord. For what, in particular, do you wish to give thanks to God today? What practical way can you express your gratitude?

Holy Scripture is one way which our loving God communicates to each of us.

What is your personal response, perhaps an action you might take, to the passage you have just read?

The blessing from St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 13:14) May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with [us] all. Amen.

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6. What is my job?

Our teacher told us about the book see is reading called ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ by Mark Twain. On the wall of our classroom, our teacher has put a poster up of something else that Mark Twain said: “there are two important days in your life. The day you were born and the day you find out why.” God asks each of us to pray and work out why we were born. Jesus tells us that we need to stick together and do what is best for each other and not just for ourselves.

From the Bible Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that the Son may give glory to you. For you gave him authority over all people, so that he might give eternal life to all those you gave him.

“I gave them the message that you gave me, and they received it; they know that it is true that I came from you, and they believe that you sent me.

“I pray for them and not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you.”

From the Good News according to St John chapter 17 verses 1 to 21.

What name does Jesus call God? Have a look at the Bible passage above!

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There are many different ways in which we can live as followers of Jesus. Some people, like my parents are married, others don’t get married and show their love for God in different ways and some become priests, and religious brothers and sisters.

Each of us is given gifts by the Spirit and the ability to understand God’s plan by receiving the sacraments - signs of God’s love for us.

Can you find these words in the search box to the right?

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Let us Pray Dear God, please help me to understand your plan for my life.

Please help me to ask you for the help to see and to accept what you wish to give me.

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Daily Prayer: Sunday to Saturday The Office, ‘the prayer of the whole People of God’ (Pope Paul VI, The Hymn of Praise, 1) is intended to be read communally but here we invite you to use these extracts from the Office as personal daily prayer.

Image: ‘Grace’ a photograph of Charles Wilden taken by Eric Enstrom (1918)

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Sunday - Love Divine Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

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. (Alleluia)

Glory be…

Antiphon Yours is an everlasting kingdom; Lord your rule lasts from age to age.

Reading 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 God has entrusted to us the news that omit Alleluias during Lent God and man are reconciled, so we are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though Suggested Hymns God were appealing through us, and the Love divine, all loves excelling appeal that we make in Christ’s name is be (Celebration for Everyone 398; Laudate 423; reconciled to God. Hymns Old & New 337) Come down, O love divine Short Responsory (CFE 125; L 303; HON 96) R Great is our Lord; great is his might.

Antiphon V His wisdom can never be measured. R Yours is an everlasting kingdom; Lord your Glory be… R rule lasts from age to age.

Benedictus/Magnificat Antiphon You did not choose me: I chose you. I Psalmody Psalm 63(62) appointed you to go on and bear fruit, fruit O God, you are my God, for you I long; that shall last. for you my soul is thirsting.

My body pines for you Benedictus (if said in the morning) like a dry, weary land without water. or Magnificat (if said in the evening) So I gaze on you in the sanctuary see inside back cover for these prayers to see your strength and your glory.

Pray for the Church, the world and your For your love is better than life, own personal intercessions my lips will speak your praise.

Our Father…

So I will bless you all my life, in your name I will lift up my hands.

Concluding prayer My soul shall be filled as with a banquet, Almighty, ever-living God, my mouth shall praise you with joy. it is your will to unite the whole universe On my bed I remember you. under your beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

On you I muse through the night Grant freedom to the whole of creation for your have been my help; and let it praise you for ever. in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.

Amen.

My soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast.

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Monday - Raised to new life Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

Antiphon Blessed be God who gave life to my soul, and has brought me relief.

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. (Alleluia)

Reading

Romans 6:4 In our baptism, we have been buried with him, died like him, that so, just as Christ was raised up by his Father’s power from the omit Alleluias during Lent dead, we too might live and move in a new kind of existence.

Suggested Hymns I am a new creation (CFE 270) Lord of all hopefulness (CFE 386; L 969; Hymns Old & New 329)

Antiphon Blessed be God who gave life to my soul, and has brought me relief.

Psalmody Psalm 116(115) How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me?

The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord’s name.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people.

O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful.

Your servant, Lord, your servant am I; you have loosened my bonds.

A thanksgiving sacrifice I make; I will call on the Lord’s name.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Glory be...

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Short Responsory R Here is my servant, whom I uphold.

V My chosen one in whom my soul delights. R Glory be… R Benedictus/Magnificat Antiphon Christ is baptized and the whole world is made holy; he wipes out the debt of our sins; we will be purified by water and the Holy Spirit.

Benedictus (if said in the morning) or Magnificat (if said in the evening) see inside back cover for these prayers Pray for the Church, the world and your own personal intercessions Our Father…

Concluding prayer Almighty, ever-living God, when Christ was baptized in the river Jordan the Holy Spirit came upon him and your voice proclaimed from heaven, ‘This is my beloved Son.’ Grant that we, who by the water and the Holy Spirit are your adopted children, may continue steadfast in your love.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Tuesday - Temples of the Spirit Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

Antiphon It is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.

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. (Alleluia)

Reading 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 If you and we belong to Christ, guaranteed as his and anointed, it is all God’s doing; it is God also who has set his seal upon omit Alleluias during Lent us, and as a pledge of what is to come has given the Spirit to dwell in our hearts.

Suggested Hymns Breathe on me, breath of God (CFE 98; L 302; HON 70)

Antiphon It is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.

Psalmody Psalm 113(112) Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord!

May the name of the Lord be blessed both now and for evermore!

From the rising of the sun to its setting praised be the name of the Lord!

High above all nations is the Lord, above the heavens his glory.

Who is like the Lord, our God, who has risen on high to his throne yet stoops from the heights to look down, to look down upon heaven and earth?

From the dust he lifts up the lowly, from the dungheap he raises the poor to set them in the company of princes, yes, with the princes of his people.

To the childless wife he gives a home and gladdens her heart with children.

Glory be...

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Short Responsory R The Holy Spirit is the Advocate.

V He will teach you everything. R Glory be… R Benedictus/Magnificat Antiphon The Holy Spirit appeared to the disciples in the form of fire and gave to them his special gifts; he sent them into the world to proclaim that whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.

Benedictus (if said in the morning) or Magnificat (if said in the evening) see inside back cover for these prayers Pray for the Church, the world and your own personal intercessions Our Father…

Concluding prayer Lord God, you sanctify your Church in every race and nation by the mystery we celebrate at Pentecost.

Pour out the gifts of the Holy Spirit on all mankind, and fulfil now in the hearts of your faithful what you accomplished when the Gospel was first preached on earth.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Wednesday - Bread of Life, gift of grace Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

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. (Alleluia)

Antiphon The Lord is merciful, he gives food to those who fear him to make them remember his wonders.

Reading Malachi 1:11 From farthest east to farthest west my name is honoured among the nations and omit Alleluias during Lent everywhere a sacrifice of incense is offered Suggested Hymns to my name, and a pure offering too, since I am the bread of life (Konstant) my name is honoured among the nations, (CFE 271; HON 225) says the Lord of Hosts.

I am the bread of life (Toolan) Short responsory (CFE 272; L 629; HON 226) R He gave them the bread of heaven to eat Antiphon V We have tasted the food of angels. R The Lord is merciful, he gives food to those Glory be‌ R who fear him to make them remember his Benedictus/Magnificat Antiphon wonders.

I am the living bread which came down Psalmody

Psalm 111(110) from heaven; whoever eats this bread will I will thank the Lord with all my heart love forever. in the meeting of the just and their assembly.

Benedictus (if said in the morning) Great are the works of the Lord, or Magnificat (if said in the evening) to be pondered by all who love them. see inside back cover for these prayers Majestic and glorious his work, Pray for the Church, the world and your his justice stands firm for ever. own personal intercessions He makes us remember his wonders.

Our Father‌ The Lord is compassion and love.

Concluding prayer He gives food to those who fear him; Lord God, keeps his covenant ever in mind. by whose surpassing mercy blessed us with He has shown his might to his people the unfathomable riches of Christ, by giving them the lands of the nations. grants that we may grow in knowledge of you, His works are justice and truth, yield fruit in every good work, his precepts are all of them sure, and by the truth of the Gospel standing firm for ever and ever; live faithfully in your presence. they are made in uprightness and truth.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Glory be...

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Thursday - Becoming Saints, graced by god Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

Antiphon They left their nets and followed their Lord and Redeemer.

Reading 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first omit Alleluias during Lent fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the Suggested Hymns truth. For this purpose he called you Walk with me, oh my Lord through our proclamation of the good (CFE 765; L 966; HON 582) news, so that you may obtain the glory of Praise my soul the King of heaven our Lord Jesus Christ.

(CFE 602; L 807; HON 449) Short Responsory Antiphon They left their nets and followed their Lord R O Lord, your saints will tell of the glory of your kingdom. and Redeemer.

V They will speak of your power. R Glory be‌ R Psalmody

Psalm 92(91) 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. (Alleluia)

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your truth in the watches of the night Your deeds, O Lord, have made me glad; for the work of your hands I shout with joy.

O Lord, how great are your works!

How deep are your designs!

To me you give the wild ox’s strength; you anoint me with the purest oil.

The just will flourish like the palm tree and grow like a Lebanon cedar.

Planted in the house of the Lord they will flourish in the courts of our God, to proclaim that the Lord is just.

In him, my rock, there is no wrong.

Glory be...

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Benedictus/Magnificat Antiphon Whoever does the will of my Father, says the Lord, is my brother, my sister, and mother.

Benedictus (if said in the morning) or Magnificat (if said in the evening) see inside back cover for these prayers Pray for the Church, the world and your own personal intercessions Our Father...

Concluding prayer Lord God, you fill your saints with faith and the Holy Spirit.

Grant that the gospel which they loved and which they proclaimed with their lives, may in our day, be faithfully proclaimed by word and deed.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Friday - Our Response to grace Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

Reading

Romans 12:1-2 I implore you by God’s mercy to offer your very selves to him: a living sacrifice, dedicated and fit for his acceptance, the Glory be to the Father and to the Son worship offered by mind and heart. Adapt and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the yourselves no longer to the pattern of beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world this present world, but let your minds without end. Amen. (Alleluia) be remade and your whole nature thus omit Alleluias during Lent transformed. Then you will be able to Suggested Hymns discern the will of God, and to know what Dear Lord and Father of Mankind is good, acceptable and perfect.

(CFE 143; L 934; HON 116) Short Responsory Father I place into your hands R O Lord, your saints will tell of the glory of (CFE 159; L 971; HON 133) your kingdom.

Antiphon V They will speak of your power. R Anyone who follows me will not be walking Glory be… R in the dark; he will have the light of life.

Benedictus/Magnificat Antiphon Psalmody Psalm 145(144) The Lord is all that I have; the Lord is good I will give you glory, O God my king, to the soul that seeks him.

I will bless your name for ever.

Benedictus (if said in the morning) The Lord is great, highly to be praised, or Magnificat (if said in the evening) his greatness cannot be measured. see inside back cover for these prayers Age to age shall proclaim your works, Pray for the Church, the world and your shall declare your mighty deeds, own personal intercessions shall speak of your splendour and glory, Our Father… tell the tale of your wonderful works.

The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love.

How good is the Lord to all, compassionate to all his creatures and gladdens her heart with children.

Concluding prayer Almighty, ever-living God, it is your will to unite the entire universe under your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the King of heaven and earth.

Grant freedom to the whole of creation, Glory be… and let it praise and serve your majesty Antiphon for ever.

Anyone who follows me will not be walking Through Christ our Lord. in the dark; he will have the light of life.

Amen.

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Saturday - A life of grace Introduction O God, come to our aid. Lord, make haste to help us.

Antiphon Yours is an everlasting kingdom; Lord your rule lasts from age to age.

Glory be to the Father and to the son and to Reading Colossians 1:12-13 the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is Give thanks, with joy, to the Father, who now, and ever shall be, world without end. has made you fit to have a share of what Amen. (Alleluia) God has reserved for his people in the omit Alleluias during Lent kingdom of light. He has rescued us from Suggested Hymns the power of darkness and brought us safe Be still and know that I am God into the kingdom of his dear Son. (CFE 71; L 909; HON 58) Short Responsory He who would valiant be R Your word, O Lord, will endure for ever.

(CFE 248; 862; HON 210) V Your truth will last from age to age. R Glory be… R Antiphon Yours is an everlasting kingdom; Lord your Antiphon rule lasts from age to age.

Let us serve the Lord in holiness all our days.

Psalmody Psalm 21(20) O Lord, your strength gives joy to the King; how your saving help makes him glad!

You have granted him his heart’s desire; you have not refused the prayer of his lips.

He asked you for life and this you have given, days that will last from age to age.

Your saving help has given him glory.

You have laid upon him majesty and splendour.

You have made him rejoice with the joy of your presence.

The king has put his trust in the Lord: through the mercy of the Most High he shall stand firm.

Benedictus (if said in the morning) or Magnificat (if said in the evening) see inside back cover for these prayers Pray for the Church, the world and your own personal intercessions Our Father…

Concluding prayer Almighty, ever-living God, who in the lives of the saints continually give us proofs of your love: lead us to the faithful imitation of Christ, by the help of their prayer and the spur of their example.

We make our prayer through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Glory be…

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The Seven Steps of Grace Responding to the sequence of temptation in the biblical account of The Fall (Genesis, chapter 3) Monsignor Brian Bransfield uses St Luke’s gospel (1:26-46) and the example of Our Lady to set forth the seven steps of grace.

These short reflections (adapted from The Human Person According to John Paul II

by Brian Bransfield) are illustrated with images of Our Blessed Mother, ‘full of grace’, taken from wikimedia.commons freely available stock.

STEP ONE Enter Family Structure - Satan sought out Eve when she was alone in the Garden and built on that isolation. In contrast, Mary was betrothed to a man named Joseph for whom she awaited in her own family home. Mary was a part of a family and was entering into a communion, a marriage.

Is temptation stronger when you are away from loved ones?

STEP TWO Announcement of the Saving Plan - Eve’s thinking was easily distorted by her seemingly quiet, innocent banter with Satan (Genesis 3.1). The Angel, however, came to Mary to announce God’s Saving Plan that she is the “favoured one’, the one ‘overflowing with grace’ and will conceive and bear a son and name him Jesus. Grace is rooted ‘the kerygma’ the proclamation of Christ’s life, death and resurrection.

Are our opinions formed by what we hear in casual conversation or in our spiritual readings?

STEP THREE Truth - Quick to contradict what God had said, Satan assured Adam and Eve that they would not die and he went on to entice them with the honour of ‘being like gods’ (Genesis 3.4).

While Satan lied, the angel proclaimed the truth – that Christ ‘will be great and will be called Son of the Most High… and his Kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:32-33). The life of grace and virtue requires discernment.

Are we easily deceived by hidden lies or do we take time to discern the truth?

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STEP FOUR Fear Not & Entrust - With the mention of death, Satan quickly elicits fear, ‘the essential ingredient of sin’ and the need to have control in ‘one’s own hand’ (Genesis 3.4). Yet, Gabriel seeks to allay Mary’s fears by assuring her that she has ‘found favour with God’ (Luke 1:30) and encouraging her to entrust herself to the Lord.

Do we trust, believing in the Lord or do we entrust, surrendering ourselves because we believe?

STEP FIVE The Choice - At that critical decision-making moment, Eve took the fruit from the tree and, taking a bite, she freely chose to internalise her wrongdoing, making it a part of her. On the other hand, Mary, by her Fiat, her ‘yes’, she chose to receive God’s plan for her, to become the mother of Jesus. In doing so, she united herself with God, to receive his grace.

How can we become more receptive to God’s plan for each of us?

STEP SIX The Visitation - In fear, Adam and Eve hid themselves from God and each other. Indeed, even their relationship with creation was upended. In contrast, Mary, with Christ in her womb, immediately set off to visit her kinswoman, Elizabeth, now in her sixth month (Luke 1:36). Just as Christ, she chose to give of her very self as ‘an act of charity for all to see’.

Do we strive for privacy, keeping our faith hidden from others?

STEP SEVEN The Magnificat - Rather than accept responsibility, Adam was quick to blame someone else. Firstly, it was God for putting Eve in the garden with him and then Eve directly - for giving him the fruit. Instead of blame, Mary’s love for God overflowed and she sang the Magnificat: ‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord’. Filled with grace, Mary’s self-giving love overflows in praise. This prayer can be found on the inside back cover.

How might we respond to the gift of God’s grace in our hearts?

Images 1-7: The Betrothal of the Virgin (1520) by Domenico di Pace Beccafumi; Annunciation (c.1430) by Fra Angelico; Annunciation by Fadi Mikhail; The Virgin Mary in Prayer Date (1518) by Albrecht Dürer; Statue of Pregnant Virgin Mary from Collegiate church of Santa María la Mayor in Toro, Spain; Visitation (1503) by Mariotto Albertinelli; Madonna of the Magnificat (1480) by Sandro Botticelli

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exploring faith Some other booklets in the exploring faith group sharing series

Teach Us to Pray (published autumn 2013) Six group sessions for faith-sharing which explore, the call to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and the idea of faith in today’s world.

978-0-9570793-7-3

£1.50 where sold

Amazing Grace (published Lent 2013) Six group sessions for faith-sharing exploring the call to continuing conversion and the mercy and love shown by God to his children.

978-0-9570793-6-6

£1.50 where sold

Jesus, My Lord (published autumn 2014) Six group sessions for faith-sharing which explore the call of every Christian to an ever closer discipleship with our Lord, Jesus Christ.

978-0-9927584-1-7

£2.00 where sold

Anointed! (published Lent 2015) Six group sessions for faith-sharing which explore, our sharing in Jesus Christ’s life and mission as priest, prophet and king.

978-0-9927584-4-8

£2.00 where sold

Previous resources in the exploring faith series can be viewed on the Diocese of Westminster’s website. Further copies of this booklet and other resources can be bought from www.houseonrock.co.uk.

If you have a QR reader simply scan the code (right) and you will be directed to the relevant webpage or call 01227 362669. exploring faith booklets are produced, under licence, by houseonrock.co.uk

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The Song of Zechariah (Benedictus)

The Song of Mary (Magnificat)

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour, born of the house of his servant David.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant, and from this day all generations will call me blessed.

Through the holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by forgiving them their sins.

The Almighty has done great things for me: holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, and has sent the rich away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.

In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet on the road of peace.

The Benedictus can be found in the first chapter of Luke’s gospel (Luke 1:68-79). You can also find the Magnificat in Luke’s account, earlier in chapter one (Luke 1:46-55).

LOVE DIVINE From the Diocese of Westminster’s exploringfaith series Love Divine contains six group sessions on how we respond to the grace we receive from the Lord.

In Love Divine you will find various prayers and reflections as well as pages dedicated to helping parents share the booklet’s themes with their children.

Information on faith-sharing can be accessed via the Diocese of Westminster website rcdow.org.uk (see small groups).

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