…"If My people who bear My name, humble themselves and pray and seek My presence and turn from their wicked ways, I Myself will hear from Heaven and forgive their sins…" (2 Chron. 7:14) – "You will see that in prayer you will find more knowledge, more light, more strength, more grace and virtue than you could ever achieve by reading many books, or by great studies. Never consider as wasted the time you spend in prayer. You will discover that in prayer God communicates to you the light, strength and grace you need…" (Sr Lucia dos Santos)
Dear Jesus! The priest now prepares to proclaim Your heavenly message in Your name. Clean his lips like those of the prophet Isaiah, put Your words in his mouth and enlighten his heart with the Holy Spirit so that he may tell us Your holy word in power and truth. Also open our ears and hearts so that we pay attention to the preaching of the gospel. Help, dear Father in heaven! that this your ambassador may be saved along with all of us through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (1 Our Father and 1 Hail Mary)
PRAYER AFTER THE HOMILY
Loving God! We thank You for the good teachings and salutary admonitions we have heard. Help us to keep them in our hearts, to follow them in our actions and in those things we omit and thereby become eternally happy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (1 Our Father; 1 I believe in God.)
(for private devotion only, which his Eminence Cardinal Merry del Val was accustomed to recite daily after the celebration of Holy Mass)
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, HEAR ME.
From the desire of being esteemed, From the desire of being loved, From the desire of being extolled, From the desire of being honoured, From the desire of being praised, From the desire of being preferred, From the desire of being consulted, From the desire of being approved DELIVER ME, JESUS. From the fear of being humiliated, From the fear of being despised, From the fear of suffering rebukes, From the fear of being calumniated, From the fear of being forgotten, From the fear of ridiculed, From the fear of being wronged, From the fear of being suspected, DELIVER ME, JESUS. That other may be loved may be loved more that I, That others may be esteemed more than I, That in the opinion of the world, others may increase, and I may decrease, That others may be chosen and I set aside, That others may be praised and I unnoticed, That others may be preferred to me in everything, That others become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, JESUS, GRANT ME THE GRACE TO DESIRE IT.
Paul said to the people, “I am a Jew and was born at Tarsus in Cilicia. I was brought up here in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was taught the exact observance of the Law of our ancestors. In fact, I was as full of duty towards God as you are today. I even persecuted this Way to the death, and sent women as well as men to prison in chains as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify, since they even sent me with letters to their brothers in Damascus. When I set off it was with the intention of bringing prisoners back from there to Jerusalem for punishment.
“I was on that journey and nearly at Damascus when about midday a bright light from heaven suddenly shone round me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ I answered: Who are you, Lord? and he said to me, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, and you are persecuting me.’ The people with me saw the light but did not hear his voice as he spoke to me. I said: What am I to do, Lord? The Lord answered, ‘Stand up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told what you have been appointed to do.’ The light had been so dazzling that I was blind and my companions had to take me by the hand; and so I came to Damascus.
“Someone called Ananias, a devout follower of the Law and highly thought of by all the Jews living there, came to see me; he stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ Instantly my sight came back and I was able to see him. Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Just One and hear his own voice speaking, because you are to be his witness before all mankind, testifying to what you have seen and heard. And now why delay? It is time you were baptised and had your sins washed away while invoking his name.’”
The first reading and Gospel of our Mass today focus on marriage. The Gospel is about Jesus at the Wedding at Cana, where he performs his first miracle. Below I have reproduced some of our teaching on marriage from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I realise that many people have sadly had difficulties in their marriage, with the resulting pain, but we should never forget the wonderful teaching that reminds us of the ideal.
‘Sacred Scripture begins with the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and concludes with a vision of “the wedding-feast of the Lamb”. Scripture speaks throughout of marriage and its “mystery”, its institution and the meaning God has given it, its origin and its end, its various realisations throughout the history of salvation, its difficulties arising from sin and its renewal “in the Lord” in the New Covenant of Christ and the Church.
The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws. God himself is the author of marriage…Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variations it may have undergone through the centuries in different cultures social structures and spiritual attitudes. These differences should not cause us to forget its common and permanent characteristics’ (sections 1602 and 1603)
‘The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; the covenant between baptised persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.’ (section 1601)
‘On the threshold of his public life Jesus performs his first sign – at this mother’s request – during a wedding feast. The Church attached great importance to Jesus’ presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and the proclamation that henceforth marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ’s presence.’ (section 1613)
‘The matrimonial union of man and woman is indissoluble. God himself has determined it: “what therefore God has joined together, let no man put asunder. (Mark 19:6)'(section 1614)
‘Since marriage establishes the couple in a public state of life in the Church, it is fitting that its celebration be public, in the framework of a liturgical celebration, before the priest (or a witness authorized by the Church), the witnesses, and the assembly of the faithful.’ (section 1663)
(This prayer can also be said as a novena at any time)
Dear God, St Anthony the Abbot accepted your call to renounce the world and to love you above all things. He faithfully served you in the solitude of the desert by fasting, prayer, humility and good works.
In the Sign of the Cross, he triumphed over the devil. Through his intercession, may we learn to love you better; with all our hearts, all our souls, all our minds, all our strength and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves.
St Anthony the Abbot, great and powerful saint, intercede for us also for this special request (mention your request).
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“Let Cana thank you for bringing joy to her wedding feast. The bridegroom’s crown honours you, since you honoured him, and the bride’s crown shall adorn your victory.
In Cana’s mirror parables find their explanation, for in the bride you depicted your Church, and in Cana’s guests are those invited by you marked out, and in its festivity you depicted your own coming.
Let the wedding feast thank him who multiplied its wine jars, for six wonderful miracles took place there: six jars of splendid wine changed to water! The King whom they had invited himself poured out the wine for them!
How happy he who was a guest there, who could turn away from the bride’s beauty and gaze at you, our Lord, and see how fair you are. “Together with my guests I will give thanks because he has held me worthy to invite him – he who is the heavenly bridegroom who has come down and invited all, and I too have been invited to enter his pure wedding feast. Among men on earth I shall acknowledge him as bridegroom, and that there is none beside.
His bridal chamber is established for eternity, and his wedding feast is provided with riches and is needful of nothing – not like my own feast, whose shortcomings he has fulfilled!”
While John was still preaching repentance and baptising his followers, Jesus Himself came to him one day to be baptised. St Matthew tells us that John was reluctant to do so. ‘It is I,’ he said, ‘who ought to be baptised by you, and dost thou come to me?’ (Matthew 3:14). Jesus insisted, ‘Let it be so now, for so it becomes us to fulfil all justice’ (Matthew 3:15). When Jesus had been baptised the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove and the voice of God the Father came from heaven, ‘Thou art my beloved son, in thee I am well pleased’ (Luke 3:22).
A VERY SIGNIFICANT MOMENT
This is a significant moment in the history of Jesus. It is clear from the words of John that Jesus had no personal need to receive the baptism of John. Certainly His desire to be baptised by John could be taken as a manifestation of His intention, as a pious Israelite, to dedicate Himself wholly to the service of God even beyond the ordinary requirements of the Mosaic Law. But the aftermath of the baptism shows us that something more than this was involved in the baptism of Jesus.
THE SACRAMENT: BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT
Later on Jesus will command that those who believe in Him be baptised in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Now these same three mysterious personages appear here at the baptism of Jesus. The Holy Spirit appears bodily in the form of a dove. The Father speaks from heaven and He addresses Jesus as His beloved Son. It is possible that God is here instituting the Sacrament of Baptism. John has already said that Jesus will baptise men, not just with water but with the Holy Spirit. How fitting, then, that He Who is to give the Holy Spirit to men should here be seen visibly to receive the Spirit or to be filled with the Spirit.
THE BEGINNING OF JESUS’ PUBLIC MINISTRY
Moreover, this manifestation of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit at the baptism of Jesus seems to mark the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus Himself. Jesus is seen to receive or to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. God speaks of Him as His well-beloved Son, thereby approving His subsequent ministry.
And, after this manifestation of divine approval, Jesus is led into the desert by the Spirit for forty days, there to wrestle with the devil, the enemy of God and of men. The temptation of Jesus by the devil shows that the evil spirit is already disturbed by the appearance of Jesus. He believes himself threatened by his designs to destroy men and he would try this new adversary to determine his strength. Even though the temptation of Jesus by the devil took place in secret, it seems to be a fitting symbol of the future triumph of Jesus over the devil in the struggle for the salvation of men. From that point of view it reinforces the idea that the baptism of Jesus by John and the divine manifestation following it mark the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus, the divine commission or sanction for Jesus to begin the public fulfilment of His role in the divine plan of salvation. (Martin J. Healy S.T.D., 1959)
Lord God, ruler of heaven and earth, in your mercy grant the increase of peace and justice in Nigeria and in the community of nations. Bless all who witness the gospel’s call in the public life of Nigeria; and strengthen the Church’s vision of your eternal kingdom, so that all may with courage and persistence serve the common good, and hold before all men and women the challenge and the promise of your righteousness. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
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 Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, – pray for us. (Repeat after each line.)
Greeted by the Angel Gabriel (Lk 1:28) – Full of grace (Lk 1:28) – Mother of Jesus (Lk 1:31) – Mother of the Son of the Most High (Lk 1:32) – Mother of the Son of David (Lk 1:32) – Mother of the King of Israel (Lk 1:33) – Mother by act of the Holy Spirit (Lk 1:35; Mt 1:20) –
Handmaid of the Lord (Lk 1:38) – Virgin, Mother of Emmanuel (Mt 1:23 [7:14; Mt 5:2]) – You in whom Word became flesh (Jn 1:14) – You in whom the Word dwelt among us (Jn 1:14) – Blessed among all women (Lk 1:41; [Jdt 13:18]) – Mother of the Lord (Lk 1:43) –
Happy are you who have believed in the words uttered by the Lord (Lk 1:43) – Lowly handmaid of the Lord (Lk 1:48) – Called blessed by all generations (Lk 1:48) – You in whom the Almighty worked wonders (Lk 1:48) – Heiress of the promises made to Abraham (Lk 1:55) – Mother of the new Isaac (Lk 1:37 [Gn 18:14]) – You who gave birth to your firstborn at Bethlehem (Lk 2:7) – You who wrapped your Child in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger (Lk 2:7) –
Woman from whom Jesus was born (Gal 4:4; Mt 1:16, 21) – Mother of the Saviour (Lk 2:11; Mt 1:21) – Mother of the Messiah (Lk 2:11; Mt 1:21) – You who were found by the shepherds with Joseph and the newborn Child (Lk 2:16) – You who kept and meditated on all things in your heart (Lk 2:19) – You who offered Jesus in the Temple (Lk 2:22) – You who put Jesus into the arms of Simeon (Lk 2:28) – You who marvelled at what was said of Jesus (Lk 2:33) – You whose soul a sword should pierce (Lk 2:35) – Mother who were found together with the Child by the Wise Men (Mt 2:11) – Mother whom Joseph took into refuge in Egypt (Mt 2:14) – You who took the Child Jesus to Jerusalem for the Passover (Lk 2:42) – You who searched for Jesus for three days (Lk 2:46) – You who found Jesus again in His Father’s house ( Lk 2:46-49) –
Mother whom Jesus obeyed at Nazareth (Lk 2:51) – Model of widows (Mk 6:3) – Jesus’ companion at the marriage feast at Cana (Jn 2:1-2) – You who told the servants, “Do as He shall tell you” (Jn 2:5) – You who gave rise to Jesus’ first miracle (Jn 2:11) – Mother of Jesus for having done the Will of the Father in heaven (Mt 12:50) –
Mary who chose the better part (Lk 10:42) – Blessed for having heard the Word of God and kept it (Lk 11:28) – Mother standing at the foot of the Cross (Jn 19:25) – Mother of the disciple whom Jesus loved (Jn 19:26-27) – Queen of the Apostles, persevering in prayer with them (Acts 1:14) – Woman clothed with the sun (Rv 12:1) – Woman crowned with twelve stars (Rv 12:1) – Sorrowful Mother of the Church (Rv 12:2) – Glorious Mother of the Messiah (Rv 12:5) – Image of the new Jerusalem (Rv 21:2) – River of living water, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb (Rv 22:1 [Ps 45:5]) – pray for us.
Let us pray: Grant, we beg You, O Lord God, that we Your servants may enjoy lasting health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary be delivered from present sorrow and enter into the joy of eternal happiness. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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