World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life 2021
Introduction
St. John Paul II established the World Day for Consecrated Life in 1997 to be celebrated in conjunction with the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas Day, which celebrates Jesus as the light of the world through the symbolic lighting of candles. We mark the 25thAnniversary of that declaration and welcome all of you to the Monastery of St. Alphonsus here in Drumcondra, Dublin for a service of prayer, music and reflection under the title ‘May We Come to the Light that Shines Forever’.
Song: Lumen Christi (Abbé Paul Décha)
All sing: Lumen Christi, Alleluia. Amen.
Prayer: Let us pray
All say: O God, true light, who create light eternal, spreading it far and wide, pour, we pray, into the hearts of the faithful the brilliance of perpetual light, so that all who are brightened in your holy temple by the splendour of these candles may happily reach the light of your glory. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
All sing: Lumen Christi, Alleluia. Amen.
A Reflection taken from St Paul’s Missal
The Presentation of the Lord describes two very old people – Simeon and Anna – who are very attractive in their old age. They have lived prayerful lives of faith and, in particular, of hope and expectation. Being wise, they are people of discernment and they recognise the moment of grace, the coming of the Messiah. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be like them in old age? The secret is to be now what we hope to be then. If we wish to be serene, wise, discerning, full of faith – then now is the time:
See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! (2 Cor 6:2).
Song: All Will Be Well (S. Warner – Julian of Norwich)
All sing: All will be well and all will be well, all manner of things will be well.
Silent Reflection
Gospel Acclamation (Lk 2:32) Mass of Hospitality by Sr Marie Dunne CHF
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the light of the world says the Lord. The one who follows me will have the light of life. Alleluia!
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke. (Lk 2:22-40)
When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:
‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel’.
Silent Reflection
Prayer:
All say: God of compassion and consolation. May your eternal light shine on all consecrated women and men
who have gone to their rest particularly in the past year. Be with those who are close to death and comfort them. Breathe your gentle grace upon them. We ask this through Christ, the light of the world. Amen.
Song: Nunc Dimittis
Silent Reflection
Prayer
All say: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May those who are ill be a light to others in their suffering. Amen.
Gospel
As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’
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