A Leonine Prayer and Christian Unity

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During the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity (also known as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity),  the following Leonine prayer seems especially valuable to me for inclusion with other personal prayers at this time:

O God, our refuge and our strength, look down with favour on Thy people who cry to Thee; and through the intercession of the glorious and immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Saint Joseph her Spouse, of Thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and of all the Saints, in mercy and goodness hear our prayers for the conversion of sinners, and for the liberty and exaltation of our holy Mother the Church. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

An Old Hymn: O WORSHIP JESUS NOW

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A favourite but forgotten hymn. 

If one clicks on the image below, one then should see the image much enlarged and easier to read.

+Laus Deo.

Father Paul Wattson's prayers for the Octave for Christian Unity

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Antiphon: That they all may be one, as Thou, Father, in me and I in Thee; that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent me.

V. I say unto thee, thou art Peter;
R. And upon this rock I will build my Church.

Here recall the intention for the day's prayer.

January 18
For the return of the "other sheep" to the One Fold of our Lord Jesus Christ.

January 19
For the return of the Eastern Orthodox Christians to communion with the Apostolic See.

January 20
For the return of the Anglicans to the authority of the Vicar of Christ.

January 21
For the return of all Protestants throughout the world to the unity of the Catholic Church.

January 22
That Christians in America may be one, in union with the Chair of Saint Peter.

January 23 
That lapsed Catholics will return to the Sacraments of the Church.

January 24
That the Jewish people will be converted to the Catholic Faith.

January 25
That missionary zeal will conquer the world for Christ.

Let us pray.
O Lord Jesus Christ, who saidst unto Thine Apostles: Peace I leave you, My peace I give to you; regard not our sins, but the faith of Thy Church, and grant unto her that peace and unity which are agreeable to Thy Will; Who livest and reignest ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Father Paul and Mother Lurana, please pray for us.

From Milner-White's 'Sursum Corda': Life in Christ

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Life in Christ.

To JESUS the life of our flesh, 
Who quickeneth whom He willeth : 
To JESUS the life of our soul, 
Who came that we might live more abundantly: 
To JESUS the life of His Church, 
Who loved her and gave Himself for her : 
Let all mankind in earth and in paradise, 
Reconciled by His death, and saved by His life, 
Give glory and honour, worship and praise, 
Now and for ever and ever.

+Laus Deo

Pope Pius XII on what the Liturgy means

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Too few understand what the sacred liturgy is about and to whom it is directed. 

I think it is time to recall the definition given by Pope Pius XII in Mediator Dei :

“The sacred liturgy is, consequently, the public worship which our Redeemer as Head of the Church renders to the Father, as well as the worship which the community of the faithful renders to its Founder, and through Him to the heavenly Father. It is, in short, the worship rendered by the Mystical Body of Christ in the entirety of its Head and members.”

Pope Pius XII

Mediator Dei

Paragraph 20

The text of MEDIATOR DEI can be found online at Papal Encylicals (LINK) and on the Vatican website (LINK).

The full text of Paragraph 20 follows:

20. This result is, in fact, achieved when Christ lives and thrives, as it were, in the hearts of men, and when men's hearts in turn are fashioned and expanded as though by Christ. This makes it possible for the sacred temple, where the Divine Majesty receives the acceptable worship which His law prescribes, to increase and prosper day by day in this land of exile of earth. Along with the Church, therefore, her Divine Founder is present at every liturgical function: Christ is present at the august sacrifice of the altar both in the person of His minister and above all under the eucharistic species. He is present in the sacraments, infusing into them the power which makes them ready instruments of sanctification. He is present, finally, in prayer of praise and petition we direct to God, as it is written: "Where there are two or three gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them." [(22) Matthew 18:20] The sacred liturgy is, consequently, the public worship which our Redeemer as Head of the Church renders to the Father, as well as the worship which the community of the faithful renders to its Founder, and through Him to the heavenly Father. It is, in short, the worship rendered by the Mystical Body of Christ in the entirety of its Head and members.

The Feast of the Epiphany

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O God,

who by the leading of a star

manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:

mercifully grant that we,

who know you now by faith,

may at last behold your glory face to face;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Common Worship

The Church of England

May the splendour of your majesty, 

O Lord, we pray,

shed its light upon our hearts,

that we may pass through the shadows of this world

and reach the brightness of our eternal home.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Roman Missal, 3rd edition

of Pope St. John Paul II

Almighty God, 

whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ

 is the Light of the world: 

Grant that thy people,

illumined by thy Word and Sacraments, 

may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory

that He may be known, worshipped, and obeyed 

to the ends of the earth; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.



EPIPHANY HYMN.

BRIGHTEST and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness, and lend us Thine aid!
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid!

Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining,
Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall;
Angels adore Him, in slumber reclining,—
Maker, and Monarch, and Saviour of all.

Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,
Odours of Edom, and offerings divine,
Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?

Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts would His favour secure;
Richer by far is the heart’s adoration,
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness, and lend us Thine aid!
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid!

Reginald Heber

1783-1826

Uher Hymn: Christ be our sure foundation

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Christ be our sure foundation.

Christ be our cornerstone.

Build up from every nation

a people of your own.

Blest through your font of mercy,

blest be each living stone

of faith alive in witness;

Fair Christ, by all be known.

The art of Christian living

adorns each day like dawn,

the work of Christ the Master

through people weak and strong.

Those hurt hands fashion wonders

with thorns, wood, nails and sin

till we shine like church windows,

bright Light of Christ within.

Beyond the words of sages,

more sure than scholars' claims,

You are the one who answers

and knows us by our names.

You know how we are tempted

to doubt and lose our way.

Be first in all our thinking

and last at end of day.

O Jesus, ever near us,

uplifting us through fears,

your tender mercies give us

the strength to stand through tears.

Your pow'rful arms embrace us

when we are at our end.

Christ, carry us to safety

with you all time to spend.

Words: Copyright © 2003 Vincent Uher.
Tune: Thornbury

  
Meter: 76 76 D

January 1: Feast of the Circumcision

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THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST
from The Crown of the Year: Weekly Paragraphs for the Holy Sacrament 
by Austin Farrer

"WHEN a calendar year comes to an end, we feel cheated. Nothing in fact has been ended, nothing rounded off and finished. The year is not a piece of work completed and done; we cannot hold on to, or possess, what it has accomplished. We have leartn many things, but all our learning seems still to lie before us. We have enjoyed many things, but our happiness has het to be earned. We have served God—how little—and we have still to find out what the service of God truly is, and who the God truly is whom we serve. Yet in every moment while time thus bafflingly slips from us, we are in the hands of him who is eternal and changes not. Our Christ, the Christ we offer up here, the Christ on whom we feed here, the Christ whose body we are here, is eternal God as well as changeable man. Our grasp of eternity is small, but eternity grasps, fills and uses us. For we are the body of an eternal Christ."

Austin Farrer

New Zealand: Carol our Christmas

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A recent Christmas carol from New Zealand sung by the Virginia Girls Choir under the direction of Ana Hernandez:

Carol our Christmas

A Carol from New Zealand

Uher Hymn: FLIGHT INTO EGYPT (Lonely Travellers from the Stable)

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Poem: Flight Into Egypt

Lonely travellers from the stable

Out beneath the hard blue sky

Journeying, wandering, hoping, praying

For the safety of their child

While our mother Rachel's weeping

Fills the streets of Bethlehem.

Kyrie eleison. 

Warned by angels, moved to save him

Who was born our kind to save,

Joseph leads his holy family

Far from Herod and harm's way.

Mary shielding and consoling

Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Kyrie eleison. 

Fleeing from the land of promise

They in Egypt find a home

Strange the workings of God's mercy --

House of bondage now God's throne.

But for sons who all were murdered

Sorrow breaks the House of Bread.

Kyrie eleison. 

True the tale of flight and exile.

Out of Egypt comes God's Son.

Angels tell of Herod's dying.

All is ended, all begun.

Jesus will grow up in Nazareth

And the world will all be stunned.

Kyrie eleison. 

Words: Copyright © 1997 by Vincent Wm Uher III
vuher@alumni.rice dot edu

"Lonely Travellers from the Stable" is a hymn of mine (Vincent Uher) especially appropriate for use after Christmas Day and upon the Feast of the Holy Family.  

The hymn is also printed in some places as "The Flight into Egypt Hymn" or "Christmastide Kyrie".  This was originally a poem of mine simply titled "Flight into Egypt".  My preference is to use either the first line of my hymn ("Lonely Travellers from the Stable") or the explanatory title "The Flight into Egypt Hymn".

Click on the music above for larger size to print or view

Permission granted for one time use by church, school, or choir.

Christmastide: A Litany of the Incarnation

Offices of the Gospel: Monday at the Sixth Hour

HOLY art thou, O God; holy, Creator : Father most holy:
Have mercy upon us.

Holy art thou, O God; holy, most mighty; holy Incarnate:
Have mercy upon us.

Holy art thou, O God; holy, immortal; holy, Lifegiver:
Have mercy upon us.

Glory be to God on high;
And in earth peace, goodwill towards men.

By the archangel's salutation,
Grant us thy peace.

By Mary's glad obedience,
Grant us thy peace.

By the endless joy of Christmas,
Grant us thy peace.

By the love of Mary Mother,
Grant us thy peace.

By thy lowly birth and lodging,
Grant us thy peace.

By thy cradle in a manger,
Grant us thy peace.

By the song of herald angels,
Grant us thy peace.

By the homage of poor shepherds,
Grant us thy peace.

By the offering of princes,
Grant us thy peace.

By thy holy name of Jesus,
Grant us thy peace.

Glory be to God on high:
And in earth peace, goodwill towards men.

WE thy children do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God, and to grant 
that the glad light of the Incarnation may shine throughout the world;
Son of Man, we beseech thee to hear us.

That the Gospel of thy love may win the faith and homage of all hearts;
Son of Man, we beseech thee to hear us.

That all estates of men may know and find their unity at Bethlehem;
Son of man, we beseech thee to hear us.

That the questionings of all minds and the wants of all souls

at Bethlehem may find their peace:
Son of Man, we beseech thee to hear us.

That thy birth as Man may hallow the whole life of man:
Son of Man, we beseech thee to hear us.

That we may ever wear in honour the robe of flesh which thou hast worn:
Son of Man, we beseech thee to hear us.

That thou for whom an inn could find no room may not again be crowded from our lives:
Son of Man, we beseech thee to hear us.

That thou for whom a stable-place sufficed wilt not disdain to dwell within our hearts:
Son of Man, we beseech thee to hear us.

Glory be to God on high:
And in earth peace, goodwill towards men.

THEREFORE with angels and archangels, with patriarchs and prophets, with Mary and Joseph, with wise men and shepherds, with all men and all creatures, let us bless the Lord;
Hosannah in the highest.

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the governments shall be upon his shoulder;
Hosannah in the highest.

And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace;
Hosannah in the highest.

For in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;
Hosannah in the highest.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us;
Hosannah in the highest.

And we have seen his glory, glory as of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth;
Hosannah in the highest.

GOD the Father, maker of men; God the Son, born among men; God the Holy Ghost, sanctifying men, bless, preserve, and keep us, evermore and evermore. Amen.

Cambridge Offices and Orisons
E. Milner-White, B.T.D. Smith
1921

Uher Hymn: NOW LIGHT YOUR LAMPS

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A hymn text for carolling and to be sung during the Twelve Days of Christmas and at New Year's. This text is most usually sung to the English tune "FOREST GREEN" as arranged by Ralph Vaughan Williams in The English Hymnal and The Hymnal 1940.  

Some parishes sing my hymn text to George Frederick Handel's tune CHRISTMAS (No. 577 in The Hymnal 1940) by doubling the fourth and eighth line in each stanza.

NOW LIGHT YOUR LAMPS

Now light your lamps, ye Christians wise
and gather 'neath Christ's Star.
The Light of lights, the Prince of Peace
has come here from afar.
No warrior he, the Word made flesh,
the servant of us all,
the Child whose breathing brings us peace,
whose heartbeat saves us all.

God's mother's face reveals his light
as moon shines by the sun,
And Joseph's eyes filled full with joy
gleam bright with God's own Son.
O Christ our God, true face of God
now cradled in their arms,
O please accept what gifts we bring:
our hearts, our minds, our love.

Child Jesus, hear our fervent prayer
for peace to reign on earth,
for great and small, for rich and poor,
for each to know their worth.
Though fallen be the human race
and sin and hate abound
give peace to all for in each face
thy image still is found.

O sing, you blessed company
of faithful people, Sing !
for God the Child whose very light
demands the darkness flee.
O Trinity of endless light,
with love our praise we bring
where Wisdom found a cave for house
to bring forth earth's true king. 

Copyright © 2007 Vincent Uher
Suggested tunes: Forest Green, Winchester Old (see below)
vincentuher3 at gmail dot com

Click on the hymn image above 
for a larger version for viewing and printing