Saturday Evening Sunday of the Deceased Priests
SUNDAY OF THE DECEASED PRIESTS
Ramsho
INTRODUCTION
DOXOLOGY
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as we begin and until we conclude.
May mercy and compassion be poured forth upon us
in this world and the next.
O Lord, our God, to you be glory forever.
Amen.
OPENING PRAYER
O God,
sanctify those who believe in you and bless your name,
for they nourish themselves with your body and blood,
the food of eternal life.
May they enter your kingdom, to live with your saints
and through you, the true Priest, unite themselves to God,
and give you glory, now and for ever. Amen.
GREETING
Peace be with the Church and her children.
PRAISE OF THE ANGELS
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace on earth and good will to all.
Praise the Lord all you nations,
glorify him all you peoples,
for steadfast is his mercy toward us,
and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever, and peace on earth and good will to all.
FIRST PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
Christ Jesus, Lord and true High Priest,
allow the bishops and priests who fed your flock,
administered your mysteries and served at your altars,
to praise you in heaven with your holy angels, forever.
Amen.
PSALM OF THE DAY
Antiphon:
The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent:
“You are a priest for ever.”
Psalm 110
The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstools.”
The scepter of your power the Lord will stretch forth from Zion:
“Rule in the midst of your enemies. Yours is princely power in the day of your birth,
in holy splendor; before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”
The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent:
“You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
The Lord is at your right hand;
he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.
He will do judgment on the nations,
heaping up corpses;
he will crush heads over the wide earth.
From the brook by the wayside he will drink;
therefore will he lift up his head.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever. Amen.
Antiphon:
The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent:
“You are a priest for ever.”
SECOND PRAYER
Lord, have mercy on us and save us.
O God,
grant that those who have shared in your priesthood
and sanctified the souls of the faithful, may themselves be sanctified and come with their flocks into the heavenly dwellings,
where they will praise you, for ever.
Amen.
EVENING PSALMS
Psalm 141:1-4
O Lord, to you I call; hasten to me;
harken to my voice when I call upon you.
Let my prayer come like incense before you;
the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.
O Lord, set a watch before my mouth,
a guard at the door of my lips.
Let not my heart incline to the evil
of engaging in deeds of wickedness
with men who are evildoers;
and let me not partake of their dainties.
Psalm 142
With aloud voice I cry out to the Lord;
with a loud voice I beseech the Lord.
My complaint I pour out before him;
before him I lay bare my distress.
When my spirit is faint within me,
you know my path.
In the way along which I walk
they have hid a trap for me.
I look to the right to see,
but there is no one who pays me heed.
I have lost all means of escape;
there is no one who cares for my life.
I cry out to you, O Lord:
I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land
of the living.”
Attend to my cry,
for I am brought low indeed.
Rescue me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me.
Lead me forth from prison,
that I may give thanks to your name.
The just shall gather around me
when you have been good to me.
Psalm 119: 105-112
A lamp to my feet is your word,
a light to my path.
I resolve and swear
to keep your just ordinances.
I am very much afflicted;
O Lord, give me life according to your word.
Accept, O Lord, the free homage of my mouth,
and teach me your decrees.
Though constantly I take my life in my hands,
yet I forget not your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but from your precepts I have not strayed.
Your decrees are my inheritance forever;
the joy of my heart they are.
I intend in my heart to fulfill your statutes
always to the letter.
Psalm 117
Praise the Lord, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
For steadfast is his mercy toward us,
and the truth of the Lord endures for ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.
Alleluia.
HOOSOYO
PROEMION
Praise, glory and honor to him who sanctifies priests and
perfects bishops; he chose them as guardians of his flock,
entrusted to them the treasures of his grace, and delivered to them the keys of his kingdom,
that they might distribute his riches to those in need.
To the Good One is due glory and honor this evening,
and all the days of our lives, now and forever.
Amen.
SEDRO
Christ Jesus, our God and Savior,
you are the true Priest among your people who chooses priests
in your likeness.
You entrusted them with feeding your flock and sent them as the Father sent you.
You gave them a share in your priesthood
that they may appear before your throne clothed in holiness
and with ten talents in their hands.
Grant them the share of Peter, chief of the apostles,
and the portion of Paul, apostle to the nations.
May they go to meet you in the Church of the first-born,
with the priest filled with piety.
May they rejoice with the prophets who awaited you
and the apostles who preached your good news;
through the intercession of your immaculate Mother,
the pleas of your holy apostles and the prayers of the priests, may they bring you glory,
now and forever.
Amen.
QOLO
Blessed are you O priest who left this passing world trusting in God’s mercy.
May the body of Christ that you bore, the baptism with which you were clothed and the mysteries that you administered enable you to escape eternal torments, inherit life and enter into the kingdom.
Lord, do not let evil touch the priests who served your Church,
offered your sacrifice, distributed your body and blood and administered your sacraments to the faithful.
Lord, may they hear these words: “Come blessed of my Father,
enter into the paradise of joy.”
ETRO
O Christ, the only eternal Priest,
you wished to share your priesthood with those you yourself
have chosen.
May those among them who rest in your mercy, having faithfully served you and fought the good fight,
obtain the reward of the good servant and the faithful steward. Then they will praise you,
now and forever.
Amen.
MAZMOORO
May the feet which have tread the sanctuary in all purity
be with you in paradise on the day of resurrection.
Grant, O Savior, eternal rest in the heavenly Jerusalem to the priests
who have kept your commandments and served you with sincerity and holiness.
Lord, remember kindly the priests who rest in your mercy.
SYNAXARION
Today the Maronite Church begins a series of three Sundays dedicated to prayer for the dead. This first Sunday is set aside as a commemoration of all the deceased priest of the Church. Christ has established the priesthood for his Church and entrusted it with great responsibilities.
The priest is given the task of caring for the spiritual needs of the people of his parish. The bishop, however, is responsible for, not only all the people of the diocese, but also for his priests and other ministers.
The more the Lord gives to the Church, the more he asks from it. The gift of the priesthood calls the people of God, the Church, to pray for those who were entrusted with the divine mysteries and carried on the salvific work of Christ. The bishop and priest are called to be the salt of the earth and the light and presence of Christ among us. All these responsibilities have been given to men who possess human weakness and frailty.
The gospel for the eucharist today speaks of the “faithful servant” which is, of course, the role of the priest and bishop. They are to be like the wise virgins always ready to serve the Lord, and like the faithful servant, eager to multiply the talents God has given them.
Because the priest and bishop have been given so much responsibility over the Church of God, they must know, not only God’s will, but must also constantly strive to be examples of fidelity and prudent action. The Church’s ministers always must seek to be strong in virtue, persevering in willingness and humble and constant in action. If not, they may delay the Master’s coming.
Because of the dangers and temptations that assail the bishop and priest, we must pray for them. This is our Christian duty and it arises out of our gratitude for the service they have rendered God in his Church. We pray that all God’s priests and bishops may enter into the house of the Lord and reap the rewards of the faithful servant. May the Lord entrust them with even greater things!
SCRIPTURE READINGS
A Reading from the Prophet Ezekiel
Ezekiel 3: 17-21
But the house of Israel will refuse to listen to you, since they will not listen to me. For the whole house of Israel is stubborn of brow and obstinate in heart. But I will make your face as hard as theirs, and your brow as stubborn as theirs, like diamond, harder than flint. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. Son of man, he said to me, take into your heart all my words that I speak to you; hear them well. Now go to the exiles, to your countrymen, and say to them: Thus says the Lord GOD! — whether they heed or resist! Then the spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the noise of a loud rumbling as the glory of the LORD rose from its place: the noise made by the wings of the living creatures striking one another, and by the wheels alongside them, a loud rumbling. The spirit which had lifted me up seized me, and I went off spiritually stirred, while the hand of the LORD rested heavily upon me. Thus I came to the exiles who lived at Tel-abib by the river Chebar, and for seven days I sat among them distraught. Thus the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, you shall warn them for me. If I say to the wicked man, You shall surely die; and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his wicked conduct so that he may live: that wicked man shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death. If, on the other hand, you have warned the wicked man, yet he has not turned away from his evil nor from his wicked conduct, then he shall die for his sin, but you shall save your life. If a virtuous man turns away from virtue and does wrong when I place a stumbling block before him, he shall die. He shall die for his sin, and his virtuous deeds shall not be remembered; but I will hold you responsible for his death if you did not warn him. When, on the other hand, you have warned a virtuous man not to sin, and he has in fact not sinned, he shall surely live because of the warning, and you shall save your own life. The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he said to me: Get up and go out into the plain, where I will speak with you.
A Reading from the Prophet Hosea
Hosea 4: 1-9
Hear the word of the LORD, O people of Israel, for the LORD has a grievance against the inhabitants of the land: There is no fidelity, no mercy, no knowledge of God in the land. False swearing, lying, murder, stealing and adultery! in their lawlessness, bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore the land mourns, and everything that dwells in it languishes: The beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and even the fish of the sea perish. But let no one protest, let no one complain; with you is my grievance, O priests! You shall stumble in the day, and the prophets shall stumble with you at night; I will destroy your mother. My people perish for want of knowledge! Since you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from my priesthood; since you have ignored the law of your God, I will also ignore your sons. One and all they sin against me, exchanging their glory for shame. They feed on the sin of my people, and are greedy for their guilt. The priests shall fare no better than the people: I will punish them for their ways, and repay them for their deeds.
SUPPLICATION
Son of God, grant rest to your servants
in the heavenly kingdom with your saints.
O Son, whose word raises the dead from their graves,
hear our request and pardon your departed servants.
Son of God, who chose priests for your service, have mercy on
the priests who rest in your hope; O Jesus, you chose them
for the service here on earth, grant that they may be with
you in your kingdom.
The hands of priests offered your sacrifice for sinners,
distributed your body and blood as food and drink; on the day of your
second coming may they bear palms and lighted lamps.
You put your word in the mouths of your priests,
entrusted them with your praise and asked them to spread your truth;
thus, the faithful believers have received your good news. May
they praise you in heaven with the angels, now and forever.
Glory to the Father who chose priests to praise him,
adoration to the Son who entrusted them with the ministry of his mysteries;
thanksgiving to the Spirit who made their sacrifice holy and granted their prayers.
O Christ, you prayed that the cup of death might pass from you,
keep far from us the cup of eternal death and have mercy on us.
Lord, honor the memory of your Mother and of your saints;
through their prayers pardon your departed servants.
HOOTOMO
Let us thank, adore, and praise the holy and glorious Trinity: Father, Son, ✛Holy Spirit. Amen.
TRISAGION
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy
Holy are you, O God;
Holy are you, O Strong One;
Holy are you, O Immortal One;
have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Lord, forgive us and have mercy on us.
Lord, hear us and have mercy on us.
Lord, accept our worship and our prayers.
Lord, come to our assistance and have mercy on us.
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who are in heaven;
hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come;
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and forever.
Amen.
O Lord, the night and the day are yours;
you uphold the light and the sun.
Through your power you direct the sequence of the seasons.
O Lord, you have brought the day to its close and called forth the night;
be for us that great Day that never ends.
In the evening let your light shine in our hearts,
and in the darkness of the night enlighten us with the knowledge of your truth.
And so, through all the days of our lives,
we shall praise you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
To you be glory and may your mercy rest upon us, now and forever.
Amen.
EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
Let us thank God for all the graces he has bestowed on us
this day which has passed in calm and peace.
Let us recall our failings against the commandments of God
and the Church in thought, word, deed or omission.
We ask for God’s pardon as we pray:
“Forgive us, Jesus!”
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Glory be to you, O Lord.
Glory be to you, O Lord.
Glory be to you, O Lord.
God,
Father in heaven,
by your living and holy name,
keep us from evil an lead us not into temptation;
for we call upon you, O Lord, our God, our constant hope,
glory to you for ever.
O Lord, our Lord,
may our humble worship be pleasing to you;
may our prayers come before you and our actions give
you honor.
Let you mercy, kindness, help, graces and divine love
be poured abundantly upon us poor sinners,
both in heaven and on the earth which you have created in your goodness.
O Lord, our God, to you be glory forever.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
Peace be with you.
And with your spirit
O God,
through the prayers of your Mother and the saints who have
believed in you; through the prayers of the prophets, apostles, martyrs and confessors;
through the prayers of the just, the priests, the holy fathers, pastors and teachers of the true faith;
and through the prayers of N., Pope of Rome, N., our Patriarch, and N., our Bishop,
forgive your people and have mercy on your flock.
May God bless, forgive, sanctify, purify, and keep each of the faithful united with us in this spiritual office.
May mercy and compassion be upon us and all the faithful who
dwell here.
May peaceful rest be granted to those who have died in the faith.
May the faithful who live here experience the protection of
Christ’s victorious cross.
May we and all his servants, who adore him with bowed heads,
receive the mercy of the holy and glorious Trinity:
Father, Son, ✛ and Holy Spirit, to whom be glory now and forever. Amen.
May God forgive your sins,
pardon your failings,
and deliver you from the power of the enemy.
May he grant you the remission of your offenses.
Go in peace, and pray to Christ for me.
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