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October 19 – Martyrs of North America
Invitation to Worship
Come, let us sing to Adonai, let us praise the God of all creation!
O Holy ONE + open our lips,
~And we shall declare your praise.
Precious in your eyes, Adonai,
~is the death of those who love you.
MORNING HYMN
All may sing or alternate the verses of any Morning Hymn .
The martyrs’ victories we sing
And for ourselves their strength implore
as Christ in other body-ing
Is put to death by sin once more.
No greater love than this is found
For members and their head alike;
His passion is repeated, round:
“Me Saul, it is; yes Me you strike!”
The sign of contradiction glares:
The Lifted One draws all who heed;
Rejection festers, fury flares,
The storm but spreads the Church’s seed.
The glory crowning life is death,
God’s Glory: Abba, Spirit, Son,
So fill and overwhelm our breath
Until all suffering is done. Amen.
Text: St. Meinrad Archabbey, 1968, alt.; Tune: Plainsong MODE VIII
PSALMODY
Antiphon
Passing through great tribulation,
they have washed their robes
and have made them clean in the Blood of the Lamb.
Psalm 62/63
O God, you are my God,
and I long for you from early morning,
My whole being desires you;
like a dry, worn-out and waterless land,
my soul is thirsting for you.
Let me see you in the sanctuary;
let me see how mighty and glorious you are.
Your constant love is better than life itself,
and so I will praise you.
I will give you thanks as long as I live;
I will raise my hands to you in prayer.
My soul will feast and be satisfied;
and I will sing glad songs of praise to you.
As I lie in bed I remember you;
all night long I think of you
for you have always been my help.
In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy;
my soul clings to you
and your hand keeps me safe.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love;
as always before,
so now and evermore. Amen.
Passing through great tribulation,
they have washed their robes
and have made them clean in the Blood of the Lamb.
READING Letter of Isaac Jogues
Pray, my Reverend Father, that God will make of me what he desires, and that I may be a person after his own heart, “may the Lord grant me largeness of heart like the sand that covers the sea shore”. Would that he would somewhat enlarge my poor heart, which is so narrow; and that by the experience of the past, and by the abundance of his goodness and mercy toward me, I may learn to trust myself entirely to him, being very sure that he will not draw back and let me fall, when I shall cast myself lovingly into the arms of his divine and paternal providence. Our Lord has made us a noble gift in giving us peace; pray his divine goodness, which has given it to us, that it may continue, for it is from this goodness that we shall hope for the fulfillment of this prayer. (from a letter of Isaac Jogues to Rev. Father André Castillon, S.J., September 12, 1646, a month before he died).
Silent Prayer
R. Whatever you do, in thought word or deed, *do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. V. Give thanks to God our Abba, * do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.
V. Glory to the Abba and to the Word and to the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachary– Luke 1:68-79
As gold in the furnace, Adonai proved them,
and as victims of a sacrifice, God received them.
Blest be the God of Israel who comes to set us free
and raises up new hope for us: a Branch for David’s tree.
So have the prophets long declared that with a mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies and all who wish us harm.
With promised mercy will God still the covenant recall,
the oath once sworn to Abraham from foes to save us all;
that we might worship without fear and offer lives of praise,
in holiness and righteousness to serve God all our days.
My child, as prophet of the Lord you will prepare the way,
to tell God’s people they are saved from sin’s eternal sway.
Then shall God’s mercy from on high shine forth and never cease
to drive away the gloom of death and lead us into peace.
Paraphrase: Ruth Duck Tune: FOREST GREEN
As gold in the furnace, Adonai proved them,
and as victims of a sacrifice, God received them.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Dear Abba in heaven …
In you, Adonai, is the Source of Life,
~In your Light we shall see light.
Send forth your light and your truth
~Let these be our guide.
Fill us each morning with your constant love,
~That we may sing and be glad all our life.
Let us see your wonderful works,
~May your children see your glorious might.
Gracious God, may your blessing be upon us;
~And grant us success in all we do.
Closing Prayer & Blessing
God of life and compassion, you won the hearts of Isaac Jogues, Jean De Brebeuf, and their companions, and helped them grow as caring, courageous persons. They dedicated their lives to sharing their love for you by carrying the Good News of your love for the poor to the peoples of North America. May all who celebrate this feast grow in courage and caring, repent for the wrongs that were inflicted on Indigenous People in your name, and work together for the freedom, flourishing and fullness of life for all Earthkind. Amen.
May the God of light and love bless our days and our deeds with peace.. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai. ~And give thanks to God.