SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER, PRIEST

PRAYER BEFORE HOLY MASS  Act of Love before Mass  

FRIDAY THE IST WEEK  IN ADVENT YEAR C 

YOUR FAITH DESERVES IT

O my God, I love Thee with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with no other desire than to be inseparably united to Thee. It is through Thy Divine Son that this union is about to be realized within me. In Holy Communion I long to identify myself with Him, that it will no longer be myself, but Him, who lives in me; and when I have received Jesus within myself, then I shall love and be loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit. Readings Lectures Reflection  St. Francis Xavier

First Reading Isaiah 29 :17-24

 

In a very short time, the deaf will hear and the eyes of the blind will see

The Lord says this:

In a short time, a very short time, shall not Lebanon become fertile land and fertile land turn into forest? The deaf, that day, will hear the words of a book and, after shadow and darkness, the eyes of the blind will see. But the lowly will rejoice in the Lord even more and the poorest exult in the Holy One of Israel; for tyrants shall be no more, and scoffers vanish, and all be destroyed who are disposed to do evil: those who gossip to incriminate others, those who try at the gate to trip the arbitrator and get the upright man’s case dismissed for groundless reasons. Therefore the Lord speaks, the God of the House of Jacob, Abraham’s redeemer: No longer shall Jacob be ashamed, no more shall his face grow pale, for he shall see what my hands have done in his midst, he shall hold my name holy. They will hallow the Holy One of Jacob, stand in awe of the God of Israel. Erring spirits will learn wisdom and murmurers accept instruction.

Responsorial Psalm

The Lord is my light and my help

 

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Behold, our Lord will come with power

and will enlighten the eyes of his servants.

Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 9:27-31

'Take care that no-one learns about this'

As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting, ‘Take pity on us, Son of David.’ And when Jesus reached the house the blind men came up with him and he said to them, ‘Do you believe I can do this?’ They said, ‘Sir, we do.’ Then he touched their eyes saying, ‘Your faith deserves it, so let this be done for you.’ And their sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, ‘Take care that no one learns about this.’ But when they had gone, they talked about him all over the countryside.

Lord make me aware of my blindness. My spiritual and physical blindness. Help me see my faults to see and know my weaknesses. Be merciful to me Lord. Show me Lord my faults, my needs. I come before you Lord and trust in your saving help and mercy. Save me Lord, heal me of all my infirmities. May your grace and mercy abide in me.

Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. Saint Francis  Xavier pray for me.  My Guardian Angel pray for me, guide and guard me. Come Lord Jesus, Maranatha.

Sorrowful Mystery of the Holy Rosary