This is just to give an idea about the Novenas conducted in honour of Our Mother Mary these days at Mount St Joseph. Time 7.40 PM
FIFTH DAY – THE FINDING OF OUR LORD IN THE TEMPLE
Mary seeks her lost Son
Introduction:
Dear fathers, brothers and sisters as we are in the fifth day of the Novena to Our Lady. Let us invoke her presence amidst us during this novena through this bhajan.
Short Video: - https://youtu.be/QS7hbpG5_mg
The theme for this fifth day of novena is “The Finding of our Lord in the Temple: Mary seeks her lost Son.”
Opening Prayer: -
O Mother of Sorrows, what grief filled your heart as you and Joseph searched desperately for Jesus when you could not find Him among your relatives and friends returning home from Jerusalem. When your Son replied that He must be about His Father’s business, you accepted that He had begun the mission that would lead to His sacrificial death. The sorrow of those three days of separation prepared you for the three days of suffering you endured while His body lay lifeless in the tomb. Through this bitter sword of sorrow obtain for us the grace to accept the ways of Divine Providence even when we do not understand them.
Scripture reading: (Luke 2:41-51) Short Video: - Mary seeks her lost Son https://youtu.be/trePi2pBtdM
Reflection
Today’s reflection will be in the form of an interview
Commentator: Mary, you must have hurt deeply when you realised that Jesus was lost. Can you tell us what it was like?
Mary: You all know what it is like for parents when their child is missing. Anxiously they search for him, their fears growing from hour to hour that something must have happened to him. Mine were no different. I remembered how Joseph and I had to rush to Egypt with Jesus because Herod wanted to kill him and I was afraid. Could something like that be happening again? There was great anguish and emptiness within me.
Commentator: And how did you feel when you found him?
Mary: I was greatly relieved that my search had ended and I had found him. But when I questioned him Son why have you done this to us? His reply, Did you not know I was about my Fathers business?” baffled me.
Commentator: This must have upset you, Mary.
Mary: It was impossible for me to understand at that moment but I kept it in my heart. All I knew was, I had to Let Go of him as my child.
Commentator: Do you have something to tell us, Mary?
Mary: Following Gods leading means detaching ourselves from others including those dear to us. I know it is very difficult to Let Go in life because we want to cling to what is dear to us and we want control over things in our lives rather than trust them in the hand of God. Real trust occurs when we put the problems over which we fret into Gods hand. That is what I did all my life. You must Let Go and Let God have his way in your life.
Father, like Mary, help us to search for you and to Let Go of those things which are keeping us from finding you.
Mothers who have lost her sons: -
As we have reflected on the Mother of Sorrows, the grief that filled her heart and searched desperately for Jesus when she could not find Him. Now let us reflect and pray for all the mothers on this world, who have lost their children due to different reasons may it be natural calamities, social evils, deceases, accidents, rapes and trafficking so on and on as we watch this video.
https://youtu.be/psJTasp5TOg
God our strength and our redeemer: you do not leave us in this life nor abandon us in death. Hear our prayer for those in despair, when days are full of darkness and the future empty of hope. Renew in them your sustaining strength for we believe that there is nothing in all creation that can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Marian Litany for our times
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Mary Mother of God
Holy virgin of virgins
Mary, humble-house wife of Nazareth
Mary, beloved spouse of Joseph
Mary true disciple of Jesus
Mary, contemplative in action
Mother of Jesus, our liberator
Mother of all who do God’s will
Mother of all who hunger for justice
Mother of peacemakers and community builders
Mother of HIV – infected patients
Mother of the battered housewife
Mother of the unwanted girl child
Mother of disturbed and discouraged
Mother of hungry, homeless and naked
Mother of exploited and child laborer
Mother of the outcast and the exiled
Mother of the broken homes
Mother of the widows and orphans
Mother of the lonely and lost
Mother of all those who mourn
Mother of the repentant sinners
Mother of the dying
Woman most charitable
Woman most concerned
Woman most courageous
Woman most forgiving
Woman most loyal
Woman most noble
Woman of faith
Woman centered on God
Sensitive woman land
Queen of our city
Queen of our village
Queen of our small community
Queen of our homes
Queen of our hearts
Lamb of God …
Woman the pride of human race
Queen of peace
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
pray for us.
Queen of peace,
pray for us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us Pray: Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy Servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enjoy eternal happiness. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
As the Hymn goes on let us come before and place all our hidden prayers in the form of flowers at her feet.
https://youtu.be/W_dSXb23w4I
Conclusion: Angelus
Conducted by Sch Anthony Arul, SJ