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St. Maximilian Kolbe, OFM Conv. (1894-1941)
Invitation to Worship
Come, let us sing to Adonai, let us praise the God of all Creation!
We make the Sign of the Cross over our lips as we begin.
O Holy ONE + open my lips,
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
There is nothing in heaven or on earth,
~ That can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, Alleluia!
MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn .
Creator God, you made us in your image
When Adam’s form was molded out of clay;
You breathed on him, that he might live and waken
To see the wonder of that primal day.
The loving Abba of all things created,
You made them good, to flourish in your sight;
But we have sinned against your holy purpose
And darkened what came forth from you as light.
Restore to us the likeness we have tarnished,
And cleanse us in the furnace of your grace,
Until we have been purified like silver,
And one again we can reflect your face.
We thank you, Abba, Word and Holy Spirit
For all the beauty that the world retains.
In spite of sin, your glory lights creation,
Your ancient and unchanging Truth remains. Amen.
Text: Stanbrook Abbey (1971); Tune: Plainsong Mode VII
PSALMODY
Antiphon
You are truly friends of mine,
if you love one another, just as I have been loving you.
Psalm 115/116
I trust in God, even when I say,
“I am sorely afflicted,”
I believe, even when I cry out,
“Everyone is lying!”
What gift can repay Adonai
for such goodness to me?
I will raise the cup of freedom
as I call on the Holy Name!
And I will fulfill all my vows
in the presence of the people.
Adonai you hate to see
your faithful ones perish and die.
It is I, the servant you love
the one you have freed from bondage,
who calls to you now for help.
I bring an offering of thanks
as I call on your Name.
I fulfill my vows to you, Adonai
standing before your assembly,
in the courts of your house, my God,
in the very heart of Jerusalem.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
You are truly friends of mine,
if you love one another, just as I have been loving you.
READING Writings of Maximilian Kolbe
“No one in the world can change Truth. What we can do and and should do is to seek truth and to serve it when we have found it. The real conflict is the inner conflict. Beyond armies of occupation and the hetacombs of extermination camps, there are two irreconcilable enemies in the depth of every soul: good and evil, sin and love. And what use are the victories on the battlefield if we are ourselves defeated in our innermost personal selves?”
Silent Prayer
Responsory
R. This one command I give you, that you love each other just as I have been loving you. V. By this will all people know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another. V. Glory to the Abba and the Word, and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
Antiphon
No one has any more love or charity,
than willingness to die for a neighbor–
laying down ones own life.
Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,
Who visits this people to set us free
Raising for us a sign of salvation
In the house and family of David.
God promised throughout past ages
In words of holy prophets
To save us from our enemies,
And from the control of our oppressors.
Adonai favored our ancestors
And remembered the sacred covenant.
The pledge to Abraham and Sarah
Is now renewed for us;
That freed from the grip of our foes
We might worship without fear
And be both just and holy
For the rest of our days.
And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”
Will go ahead to prepare the way,
By teaching this people of salvation
Through forgiveness of their sins.
For the loving compassion of the Holy One
As the Rising Sun will shine upon us
To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow
To guide our feet on the way of peace.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
No one has any more love or charity,
than willingness to die for a neighbor
laying down ones own life.
Intercessory Prayer
Adonai, hear our prayer
~ And listen to our pleading.
Show us your mercy and love,
~ and grant us your salvation.
Send forth your light and your truth,
~ let these be our guides.
Direct us on the pathway to life;
~ and the fullness of joy in your presence forever.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
~ and fill us with your Holy Spirit.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father …
Closing Prayer & Blessing
Holy One and God of endless Compassion, you are the praise of all your saints and the joy of all creation. You favored St. Maximilian Kolbe with such deep love that he was willing to die in place of another. Direct all our actions by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit that by eagerly serving others, we too may follow Jesus in laying down our lives for others. For yours is the power and glory of love now and forever. Amen.
May God + bless us to love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai.
~Thanks be to God.