Exult!!!

Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven, exult, let Angel ministers of God exult, let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our mighty King's triumph! Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King, let all corners of the earth be glad, knowing an end to gloom and darkness. Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice, arrayed with the lightning of his glory, let this holy building shake with joy, filled with the mighty voices of the peoples. (Therefore, dearest friends, standing in the awesome glory of this holy light, invoke with me, I ask you, the mercy of God almighty, that he, who has been pleased to number me, though unworthy, among the Levites, may pour into me his light unshadowed, that I may sing this candle's perfect praises). (Deacon: The Lord be with you. People: And with your spirit.) Deacon: Lift up your hearts. People: We lift them up to the Lord. Deacon: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right and just. It is truly right and just, with ardent love of mind and heart and with devoted service of our voice, to acclaim our God invisible, the almighty Father, and Jesus Christ, our Lord, his Son, his Only Begotten. Who for our sake paid Adam's debt to the eternal Father, and, pouring out his own dear Blood, wiped clean the record of our ancient sinfulness. These, then, are the feasts of Passover, in which is slain the Lamb, the one true Lamb, whose Blood anoints the doorposts of believers. This is the night, when once you led our forebears, Israel's children, from slavery in Egypt and made them pass dry-shod through the Red Sea. This is the night that with a pillar of fire banished the darkness of sin. This is the night that even now throughout the world, sets Christian believers apart from worldly vices and from the gloom of sin, leading them to grace and joining them to his holy ones. This is the night when Christ broke the prison-bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld. Our birth would have been no gain, had we not been redeemed. O wonder of your humble care for us! O love, O charity beyond all telling, to ransom a slave you gave away your Son! O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the Death of Christ! O happy fault that earned for us so great, so glorious a Redeemer! O truly blessed night, worthy alone to know the time and hour when Christ rose from the underworld! This is the night of which it is written: The night shall be as bright as day, dazzling is the night for me, and full of gladness. The sanctifying power of this night dispels wickedness, washes faults away, restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners, drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty. On this, your night of grace, O holy Father, accept this candle, a solemn offering, the work of bees and of your servants' hands, an evening sacrifice of praise, this gift from your most holy Church. But now we know the praises of this pillar, a flame divided but undimmed, which glowing fire ignites for God's honour, a fire into many flames divided, yet never dimmed by sharing of its light, for it is fed by melting wax, drawn out by mother bees to build a torch so precious. O truly blessed night, when things of heaven are wed to those of earth, and divine to the human. Therefore, O Lord, we pray you that this candle, hallowed to the honour of your name, may persevere undimmed, to overcome the darkness of this night. Receive it as a pleasing fragrance, and let it mingle with the lights of heaven. May this flame be found still burning by the Morning Star: the one Morning Star who never sets, Christ your Son, who, coming back from death's domain, has shed his peaceful light on humanity, and lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Divine Mercy Novena - Day 2

Prayer for Second Day of Divine Mercy Novena 
Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service, that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven. 
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard—upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

The Reproaches

As we are commemorating our Lord's Passion while under 'stay at home' orders, one thing we might do as a family is pray the Reproaches. These are the liturgical text the Church asks to be prayed during the veneration of the Cross, and perhaps even more powerful this year as we experience a pandemic that the Lord might be using to bring deeper conversion.

The Reproaches (Improperia) 

Antiphon 1 and 2:
We worship you, Lord,
we venerate your cross,
we praise your resurrection.
1: Through the cross
you brought joy to the world. 

1: (Psalm 66:2)
May God be gracious and bless us;
and let his face shed its light upon us. 

Repeat Antiphon by 1 and 2: 

The Reproaches: 

I. 

1 and 2: My people, what have I done to you
How have I offended you? Answer me! 

1: I led you out of Egypt,
from slavery to freedom,
but you led your Savior to the cross. 

2: My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me! 

1: Holy is God! 
2: Holy and strong! 
1: Holy immortal One, have mercy on us! 

1 and 2: For forty years I led you
safely through the desert.
I fed you with manna from heaven,
and brought you to a land of plenty; but you led your Savior to the cross. 

Repeat "Holy is God..." 

1 and 2: What more could I have done for you.
I planted you as my fairest vine,
but you yielded only bitterness:
when I was thirsty you gave me vinegar to drink,
and you pierced your Savior with a lance. 

Repeat "Holy is God..." 

II. 

1: For your sake I scourged your captors
and their firstborn sons,
but you brought your scourges down on me. 

(Repeated throughout by Choir 2)
2: My people, what have I done to you?
How have I offended you? Answer me! 

1: I led you from slavery to freedom
and drowned your captors in the sea,
but you handed me over to your high priests.
2: "My people...." 

1: I opened the sea before you,
but you opened my side with a spear.
2: "My people...." 

1: I led you on your way in a pillar of cloud,
but you led me to Pilate's court.
2: "My people...." 

1: I bore you up with manna in the desert,
but you struck me down and scourged me.
2: "My people...." 

1: I gave you saving water from the rock,
but you gave me gall and vinegar to drink.
2: "My people...." 

1: For you I struck down the kings of Canaan.
but you struck my head with a reed.
2: "My people...." 

1: I gave you a royal scepter,
but you gave me a crown of thorns.
2: "My people...." 

1: I raised you to the height of majesty,
but you have raised me high on a cross.
2: "My people...."

First Day of Divine Mercy Novena (Good Friday)

Prayer for First Day of Divine Mercy Novena 
Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit. 
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

Easter Sunday '19 - Layers

Jesus Christ is Risen, and the Church's Liturgy helps us to see this with layers of symbolism. Do we strive to understand it? Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2Zhc5oi Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Good Friday '19 - For the World

Jesus is the Lamb of God, offered for the world's salvation. Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2Xo2N8b Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Holy Thursday '19 - Sacrifce

Jesus gives us the model of love, the priesthood, and the New Passover - all connected by sacrifice. Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2Gmf7ir Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Passion Sunday C '19 - Hearts nailed to the Cross

Jesus can change our hearts, if we let Him, and He wants them with Him through the Cross to Resurrection. Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2VDJcR3 Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

5th Sunday Lent C '19 - Forgiven

Jesus is confronted with a test regarding a woman caught in adultery. He gives her forgiveness, and sets a model for us. Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2I5V8Yv Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

4th Sunday Lent C '19 - Reckless

Jesus invites us to reflect on our relationship with the Father in the parable of the "Prodigal Son", rather the "Lost Sons and Prodigal Father". Do we accept the reckless love of the Father, and rejoice when others turn back to Him? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2FRkJkL Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

3rd Sunday Lent C '19 - Figs

Using the news of the day, Jesus tells his hearers to produce fruits of repentance. His image of figs reminds us not to get comfortable. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2UUCCFk Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

2nd Sunday Lent C '19 - Comfort

As the Lord is transfigured in the presence of Peter, James, and John, He reminds them of who He is and prepares them for the discomfort of the Cross, but the glory of the Kingdom. Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2THvmAm Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

1st Sunday Lent C '19 - Temptation

Jesus Christ endures temptation, and provides the model for us. Do we see how our temptations are to selfishness? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2XHeKXQ Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

Ash Wednesday C '19 - Melt

As we enter the sacred season of Lent, are we able to let the Lord melt us? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2XHeKXQ Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

8th Sunday C '19 - Blind

Jesus teaches that the blind cannot lead the blind, and that those blinded by their own faults cannot heal others of theirs. Where are we blind? Readings are found at https://ift.tt/2Vx7Pyd Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

6th Sunday C '19 - Trust

Jesus teaches the Beatitudes, which invite us to discern what and who we trust. Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2Iip3hk Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

5th Sunday C '19 - In The Boat

As St. Peter pulls in the miraculous catch of fish, he recognizes who has entered his boat. Do we allow the Lord to enter our boats? Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2RRPVE5 Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

4th Sunday C '19 - Love

St. Paul reminds the Corinthians of a more excellent way to live the Christian life than arguing about which charisms are the best. Do we know that love is a choice? Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2G5S0Lg Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

3rd Sunday C '19 - Certianty

St. Luke records the Gospel for Theophilus, so that he would have certainty in the teachings he has received. Do we receive them as we ought? Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2UnJ7jx Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast

2nd Sunday OT C '19 - Do Whatever He Says

Jesus asks for ordinary water, almost 180 gallons, to be brought. What He does is extraordinary. The Blessed Mother encouraged the servers, and us, to do whatever He asks. Readings are found at http://bit.ly/2TZHDeY Give feedback at https://goo.gl/forms/iG1Tvk4cHTGhdOWz2
via View From the Ambo Podcast