Day 1: Called to be Companions

Day 1 Called to be Companions

OPENING HYMN

Sino Kayo? (Rene Javellana, SJ – Nemy Que, SJ) or So the Love of God (Dan Schutte)

INTRODUCTION TO THE CELEBRATION

P. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit .
A. Amen.

If the presider is a priest or deacon:
P. The Lord be with you.
A. And also with you.

Today we honor the first Companions, Ignatius, Francis and Peter, whom the Father gathered, in a wonderful design of his Providence, to be friends in the Lord Jesus, to begin what is now our least Society, scattered in mission around the world but united as one Company for the greater glory of God.

A moment of silence is observed.

PRAYER OF PRAISE

P. How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down upon the beard, upon the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!
A. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life for evermore. (Ps 133)

P. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
A. As it was in the beginning is now and will be for ever. Amen.

GRACE OF THE DAY
We beg for the grace to be rooted in God’s desire for us to grow in his love and service in companionship with Christ and with one another.

SCRIPTURE READING

From the Holy Gospel according to John 13: 34-35

Love one another.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

MEDITATION SONG

Pagkakaibigan (Charlie Cenzon, SJ – Bong Abad-Santos, SJ) or
Wherever You Go (Gregory Norbet, OSB)
The meditation song may be preceded or replaced by a homily or sharing, or a period of silent prayer.

REFLECTION

In fact, it was at Sainte-Barbe that (he) Ignatius met up with Peter Faber and Francis Xavier, and a deep friendship was to grow up between these three. Faber had been in Paris since 1525. In January 1529 he had gained his B.A. and by Easter of that year, the licentiate as well, under Doctor Pena. For three and a half years he had shared an apartment with Xavier, and the two were very close friends. Doctor Pena placed Ignatius in the same apartment with Faber and Xavier.

Faber was given the job of ‘repeater’ to Ignatius (to see that he had learnt his lessons), while for his part Ignatius was slowly becoming Faber’s spiritual father. The process of exchange which would later be a feature of the tiny community of ten was thus initiated; each one gave what he had to the others. ‘Conversation on material things swiftly gave way to spiritual conversation; living together in the same apartment sharing the same table and the same common purse, in the end they were one in their desire and will and firm intention to choose a similar way of life’. (Javier Osuna, SJ [Nicholas King, SJ, trans.], Friends in the Lord. Exeter: Catholic Records Press, 1974. p.48)

DAILY PRAYER

We turn to you in this year of Jubilee, O first companions of our least Society. And we ask you to obtain for us, the grace to truly be: companions to one another, companions in mission, companions in loving and serving the Lord.

Fueled by the love of God which you found in the Exercises, your hearts burned with zeal for the Kingdom of Christ. Obtain for us a blazing passion for the glory of God and the good of souls: unquenched by trials, unexhausted by difficulties. Yours was a holy union of minds and hearts, teach us to accompany one another, and to work together with one accord, in the fellowship of the Son.

Desire for the service, the greater service, the greater glory of God consumed you, lend us also that fire which burned in your hearts, ad Majorem Dei gloriam. Amen.

INTERCESSIONS

The love we bear for one another is our distinguishing mark as disciples of the Lord. Let us pray to the Father of Jesus, confident that he will give us all that we ask in His Name:

R. Lord, unite us in love.

1. For the Holy Father, N., given the ministry of gathering in charity, all believers around the world. That the Lord may bless with abundant fruit, his mission of unity and communion in the Church. Let us pray to the Lord.
2. For our Superior-General, N., who leads the Society as one Company, in the love and service of the Lord and his Church. That the Lord may give him strength, sustain him with grace and preserve him in his ministry. Let us pray to the Lord.
3. For our Province, branched in its various ministries and apostolates and yet gathered in brotherhood around our father, Ignatius. That the Lord may bless us with ever greater unity to work harmoniously for his greater glory, the good of his people, and our own sanctification. Let us pray to the Lord.
4. For an increase of priestly and religious vocations especially to the Society of Jesus. That the Lord may gather into his service young men of holy and noble desires and of loving and generous hearts. Let us pray to the Lord.
5. For our own community. That we may live and work in deep fellowship with each other; loving one another and serving the Lord together. Let us pray to the Lord.

Our Father…

CLOSING PRAYER

God our Father, you gathered your servants Ignatius, Francis and Peter, into the Company of Jesus your Son. By the help of their prayers, help us to grow in fellowship with one another and to serve you with one accord.

We ask this in the Name of Jesus the Lord.

A. Amen.


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