Day 3: Companions in Holy Desires

Day 3 Companions in Holy Desires

OPENING HYMN

One Thing I Ask (Jandi Arboleda) or
Saan Kami Tutungo (Ando Macalinao, SJ – Eddie Hontiveros, SJ)

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.

Together with Ignatius, Francis and Peter dreamt dreams for God. Desire for his greater glory possessed them, inspired them and moved them to work together for the Kingdom. We gather today, asking God to give us that same fire which blazed in the hearts of the first companions, that we too may burn with zeal for his Name.

A moment of silence is observed.

PRAYER OF PRAISE

P. Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
A. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, what you know that breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
P. Fall in love, stay in love.
A. And it will decide everything. (Pedro Arrupe, SJ)

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 root and center our passions and desires on Christ and his Kingdom.

SCRIPTURE READING

From the letter of Paul to the Romans 12: 1-11

Serve the Lord.

I urge you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect. For by the grace given to me I tell everyone among you not to think of himself or herself more highly than one ought to think, but to think soberly, each according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned.

For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

MEDITATION SONG

How Shall I Sing to God? (David Haas) or Pastorale (Manoling Francisco, SJ)
The meditation song may be preceded or replaced by a homily or sharing, or a period of silent prayer.

REFLECTION

(Ignatius) was obsessed by it, obsessed by the service of God, the greater service of God, the greater glory of God. The number of times he wrote that phrase in the Constitutions of his Order has been counted. It occurs 259 times: once to every manuscript page.

It was his one approach to every problem. Not simply ¿Que haremos?—but ¿Que haremos a Dios? Not what course of action was customary; or convenient; or popular; or profitable; or safe; but what course of action shall serve God best? Not even: What is possible? Not even that. No; it must be: What does God want done? For with God, all things are possible. (Horacio dela Costa, SJ, ¿Que haremos a Dios?. Homily, Feast of St. Ignatius, 1955)

DAILY PRAYER

Please refer to First Day.

INTERCESSIONS

God inflamed the hearts of the First Companions with holy and ardent desires for his greater glory and for the Kingdom of Christ. Let us pray to the Father of Jesus, confident that he will give us all that we ask in His Name:

R. Lord, ravish us with your love.

1. For God’s ordained and consecrated ministers. That the Lord may keep them faithful and zealous in his service for the good of his holy people. Let us pray to the Lord.
2. For our government leaders and all public servants. That they may always aspire for the common good and not seek their personal gain. Let us pray to the Lord.
3. For our Society. That we may continue to respond to the needs of the Church and of humankind and serve the Lord where there is greatest need. Let us pray to the Lord.
4. For those experiencing hardship in their apostolates. That they may not lose hope in difficulties, but fix their eyes always on God’s greater glory. Let us pray to the Lord.
5. For all of us gathered here. That we may continue to dream and work for God’s holy Kingdom, giving of ourselves generously without seeking respite, return or reward. Let us pray to the Lord.

Our Father…

CLOSING PRAYER

God our Father, the more you want to give us, the more you make us desire.
Let us dream you in our longings and place our passions in the service of the Kingdom of Christ after the example of your devoted servants, Ignatius, Francis and Peter who dedicated themselves to your greater glory

We ask this in the Name of Jesus the Lord.

A. Amen.


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