The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

December 8

ENVIRONMENT: a candle for each sister

OPENING ACCLAMATION:

A Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hail, O Lady,
Holy Queen,
Mary, holy Mother of God,
who are the Virgin made Church,
chosen by the most Holy Father in heaven
whom He consecrated with His most holy beloved Son
and with the Holy Spirit the Paraclete,
in whom there was and is
all fullness of grace and every good.

Hail His Palace!
Hail His Tabernacle!
Hail His Dwelling!
Hail His Robe!
Hail His Servant!
Hail His Mother!

And hail all Your holy virtues
which are poured into the hearts of the faithful
through the grace and enlightenment
of the Holy Spirit,
that from being unbelievers,
You may make them faithful to God.

 

HYMN: "Ave Maria" - Plainchant

PSALM 92 Pray antiphonally.

How good to thank you, Lord,
to praise your name, Most High,
to sing your love at dawn,
your faithfulness at dusk
with sound of lyre and harp,
with music of the lute.
For your work brings delight,
your deeds invite song.

I marvel at what you do.
Lord, how deep your thought!
Fools do not grasp this,
nor the senseless understand.
Scoundrels spring up like grass,
flourish and quickly wither.
You, Lord, stand firm for ever.

See how your enemies perish,
scattered to the winds,
while you give me brute strength,
pouring rich oil upon me.
I have faced my enemies,
heard them plot against me.

The just grow tall like palm trees,
majestic like cedars of Lebanon.
They are planted in the temple courts
and flourish in God’s house,
green and heavy with fruit
even in old age.

Proclaim that God is just,
my rock without a fault.

Glory . . .

 

VOW RENEWAL: With candles in hand.

Most Gracious God, we acknowledge with gratitude your loving call to religious life. Today, in faith, in hope, and in love, we confirm our response to you through the renewal of our vows.

I, Sister (N), renew and confirm the dedication that I made of myself to you, Almighty God, freely and unreservedly, through the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, according to the constitutions of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia.

In the spirit of continuous conversion, I also renew and confirm my desire to bind myself in fidelity and love, closer to Christ and to his Church. I place this renewal and confirmation in the care of the virgin Mother of God, that I may persevere until the end of my life. Amen.

Quiet Reflection

 

SHARING:

Each sister is invited to share what her years of religious profession have meant to her.

 

GOSPEL CANTICLE:

Morning: "Benedictus" - Bernadette Farrell
Evening: "Magnificat" - Bernadette Farrell

 

INTERCESSIONS:

Response: Holy One, hear us.

For a courageous and just witness in the Church and by Church leaders, we pray . . .

For an end to war and terrorism and for peace and reconciliation among all peoples and nations, we pray . . .

For all who desire to remain faithful to their commitments, we pray . . .

For a generous response to God’s call, we pray . . .

For our sisters in initial formation and for those women and men contemplating religious life, we pray . . .

For all of our sisters on this day of renewal, we pray . . .

For the women and men who provided us with support and encouragement and are now before the face of God, we pray . . .

Other intercessions may be added.

 

OUR FATHER

CLOSING PRAYER:

Holy Virgin Mary,
among the women born into the world,
there is no one like you.
Daughter and servant of the most high and supreme King and of the Father in heaven,
Mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ,
Spouse of the Holy Spirit.

Pray for us
with Saint Michael the Archangel,
all the powers of heaven and all the saints,
at the side of your most holy beloved Son,
our Lord and Teacher.

Glory . . .