Day 9: Companions for the Greater Glory of God

Day 9 Companions for the Greater Glory of God

OPENING HYMN

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

INTRODUCTION TO THE CELEBRATION

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

We have before us Ignatius, Francis and Peter and their companions in glory, Jesuits of every time and place, so great a cloud of witnesses leading and surrounding us; let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. (cf. Hebrews 12: 1-2)

A brief period of silence is observed.

PRAYER OF PRAISE

P. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons and daughters through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. (Eph 1: 3-5)
A. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. (1 Chr 16: 36)

P. Blessed be Christ, in whom we, though many, form one Body, and individually, members one of another, with mutual concord, having the same care for one another; suffering together, glorified together. (Rom 12: 5; 1 Cor 12: 25-27)
A. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. (1 Chr 16: 36)

P. Blessed be the Spirit, who dwells in us and gives us life, bearing witness to our being children of God who cry “Abba! Father”, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, through our suffering with him that leads to eternal glory. (Rom 8: 11, 16-17)
A. Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. (1 Chr 16: 36)

GRACE OF THE DAY
We beg to fall in love again with Christ, to be renewed in the fire of his love, to be rekindled in our zeal for the greater glory of God.

SCRIPTURE READING

From the first letter of John 1: 1-4

Our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life -- the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us -- that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing this that our joy may be complete.

MEDITATION SONG

Like Cedars They Shall Stand (Dan Schutte) or
Pag-ibig Mo, Yahweh (Marius Villaroman)

The meditation song may be preceded or replaced by a homily or sharing, or a period of silent prayer.

REFLECTION

Since from the words of many we have often gathered that you, of your own free choice, poor priests of Christ from various parts of the world have joined together into one body, and with the Holy Spirit as we believe impelling you, have conspired together in this one desire, that, having abandoned the snares of this world, you would dedicate your lives to the perpetual service of our Lord Jesus Christ and of his vicar on earth;

Since I say, we kept hearing these reports about you, we began to rejoice as is only right, and fervently to desire, that many people, even all if possible, and especially the clergy, would renew the models of the ancient Christian way of living as you are doing;

Press on, therefore, beloved sons in Christ, follow your call, withersoever the Holy Spirit leads you, and in the vineyard of the Lord from now on, under the protection of this Holy See, work with all your heart like good vinedressers, with our Lord Jesus Christ on your side, who lives and reigns with the Holy Spirit God forever and ever. Amen. (Cum Ex Plurium, no. 1, 8)

and/ or

The exhortation that the first companions put in the mouth of the Pope and addressed to themselves in Cum ex plurium is an exhortation to the Society of every time and place, and to every person of good will of every time and place: “Agite, igitur: Get moving! Follow wherever the Spirit leads you.” The Spirit leads where no human being has ever gone; the Spirit leads into darkness; the Spirit leads into light; the Spirit leads into the unknown; the Spirit leads wherever the children of God are in deeper need. La Storta is the Society’s never ending experience. At the side of Christ carrying his cross in the service of the Father, the companions of Jesus are called to follow the Spirit, to move forward when the Spirit moves forward, to turn when the Spirit turns, to stop when the Spirit stops, to wait when the Spirit waits, to move on when the Spirit moves on. The Spirit leads even into death, but in the Spirit there is no death: in the Spirit death is life. (John F. Conwell, SJ. Impelling Spirit, Revisiting a Founding Experience: 1539 Ignatius of Loyola and His Companions. Chicago: Loyola Press, 1997. p.421)

DAILY PRAYER

Please refer to First Day.

INTERCESSIONS

Ignatius, Francis and Peter now live in glory with Christ our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the whole heavenly court, interceding on our behalf, leading and guiding us still by their holy example. Let us pray to the Father of Jesus, confident that he will give us all that we ask in His Name:

R. Father, place us with your Son.

1. For our Holy Father, N. around whom the Society gathers in its commitment to serve the Church where there is greatest need, and our bishop N., in whose communion we serve the local Church. That they may lead the people of God in discerning the signs of the times and direct us along the paths of mission and evangelization for the people of our time. Let us pray to the Lord.

2. For our General, N., in his particular task of leading and governing our Society. That the Lord may bless him with wisdom, strength and zeal so that under his care and leadership, we may serve the Church and our mission may spread and bear fruit in the world. Let us pray to the Lord.

3. For the Society of Jesus in our own nation. That this Jubilee may be an effective summons to renewal and greater commitment in the service of truth, justice and the poor; an occasion of grace and renewal for all of ours and all of our apostolates and ministries. Let us pray to the Lord.

4. For an increase of priestly and religious vocations, especially to the Society of Jesus. That Christ may call to his Company, willing and generous men, to serve the Church in companionship with each other. Let us pray to the Lord.

5. For all of us gathered here, called to give greater glory to God our Lord. That the Lord may transform us in our weakness and unite us in Christ; frail and powerless through we are, may we give greater glory to the Father and to the holy Name of Jesus, his only Son. Let us pray to the Lord.

Our Father…

CLOSING PRAYER

God our Father, give glory to your Name and to the Name of your Son in whom we are saved and brought to fullness of life. By the prayers of Ignatius, Francis and Peter, unite us in serving you under the banner of Christ and send us to proclaim his saving love to the world, for your greater glory.

We ask this in the Name of Jesus the Lord.

A. Amen.

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