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To: All
One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body


<< Thursday, September 25, 2008 >>
Saint of the Day
 
Ecclesiastes 1:2-11
View Readings
Psalm 90 Luke 9:7-9
 

"VAIN REPETITIONS"

 
"Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities! All things are vanity!" —Ecclesiastes 1:2
 

Life without a total commitment to Christ is not just vanity, but all vanity. Work, sex, speech, sight, and hearing are all vanity without Jesus (Eccl 1:3-8). Because of this, you would think that people would be eager to know and love Christ, since He is the only Meaning to life (see Jn 14:6). However, the reactions of worldly people to Christ are often like Herod's reaction. They find Christ perplexing (Lk 9:7) and are "very curious to see Him" (Lk 9:9).

They will never get beyond this perplexed curiosity until they do two things: repent and believe. We can think and talk about Jesus forever — all the way to hell — but the only way to know Him personally is to repent of our sins (see Mk 1:15; Acts 2:38) and put our faith in Him rather than in ourselves. Jesus will give us the grace to break out of the vicious, vain, meaningless cycle of life, if we let it be done unto us according to God's will (see Lk 1:38).

We only have one Way out of vanity, perplexity, and curiosity (see Jn 14:6). His name is Jesus. "There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is no other name in the whole world given to men by which we are to be saved" (Acts 4:12).

 
Prayer: Father, thank You for loving us so much as to send Your Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life (Jn 3:16).
Promise: "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart." —Ps 90:12
Praise: Only after a new experience of Pentecost did Alex receive the Holy Spirit and life to the full (Jn 10:10).
 

20 posted on 09/25/2008 8:59:27 PM PDT by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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To: All
Compline -- Night Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer)

O God, come to my aid.
O Lord, make haste to help me.
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.


This is an excellent moment for an examination of conscience. In a communal celebration of Compline, one of the penitential acts given in the Missal may be recited.

A suitable hymn may be inserted at this point.


Psalm 15 (16)
The Lord, my inheritance
My body will rest in calm and hope.
Preserve me, Lord, I put my hope in you.

I have said to the Lord “You are my Lord, in you alone is all my good.”
As for the holy and noble men of the land, in them is all my delight.
But for those who run to alien gods, their sorrows are many.
I will not share in their libations of blood. I will not speak their names.

You, Lord, are my inheritance and my cup. You control my destiny,
the lot marked out for me is of the best, my inheritance is all I could ask for.
I will bless the Lord who gave me understanding; even in the night my heart will teach me wisdom.
I will hold the Lord for ever in my sight: with him at my side I can never be shaken.
Thus it is that my heart rejoices, heart and soul together; while my body rests in calm hope.

You will not leave my soul in the underworld. You will not let your chosen one see decay.
You will show me the paths of life, the fullness of joy before your face, and delights at your right hand until the end of time.

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.
My body will rest in calm and hope.

Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:23
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you in every way and preserve your life and your soul and your body without blemish, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Short Responsory ?
Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
- Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
You have redeemed us, Lord, God of faithfulness.
- Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
- Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit.

Canticle Nunc Dimittis
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.
Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.
 You have fulfilled your promise.
My own eyes have seen your salvation,
 which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples.
A light to bring the Gentiles from darkness;
 the glory of your people Israel.

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.
Keep us safe, Lord, while we are awake, and guard us as we sleep, so that we can keep watch with Christ and rest in peace.

Prayer
Let us pray.
Lord our God, we are tired by the work of the day. Refresh us with peaceful sleep and, forever renewed by the help you give, let us always be dedicated to you in body and mind.
Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

May the almighty Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
A M E N
An antiphon to Our Lady should be recited here.

21 posted on 09/25/2008 9:02:16 PM PDT by Salvation ( †With God all things are possible.†)
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