Vigil for Life – 19th January 2013
Opening Chant O Christe Domine Jesu (Taizé)
All sing: O Christe Domine Jesu
Entrance procession of the Blessed Sacrament, Exposition, Incensation.
Opening Preamble:
Here in your adorable presence O Lord,
we give you thanks for the gift of life.
Be with those who are overwhelmed by
the responsibility of caring for that gift
Be with those who are able to celebrate that gift with joy and hope.
Whatever their situation
may we embody your compassion and love for them.
May they have the support of family, friends and community
in all the challenges they face.
All say: Lord Jesus, you are the source and lover of life.
Reawaken in us respect for every human life.
Scripture Reading from the prophet Isaiah 46:3
Listen to me, O house of Jacob,
all the remnant of the house of Israel,
who have been borne by me from your birth,
carried from the womb;
even to your old age I am he,
even when you turn grey I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.
All say: Lord Jesus, you are the source and lover of life.
Reawaken in us respect for every human life.
Silent Prayer
Chant O Christe Domine Jesu (Taizé)
All sing: O Christe Domine Jesu
All say: Together with Mary, your Mother, in whose womb
you took on our human nature.
Help us to choose life in every decision we take.
Scripture Reading from Psalm 22
Yes, it was you who took me from the womb,
entrusted me to my mother’s breast.
To you I was committed from my birth,
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
O Lord, do not leave me alone,
my strength, make haste to help me!
All say: Together with Mary, your Mother, in whose womb
you took on our human nature.
Help us to choose life in every decision we take.
Silent Prayer
Chant Bless the Lord my soul (Taizé) (with verses)
All sing: Bless the Lord, my soul
And bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul,
Who leads me into life.
All say: Help us to see in each child
the marvellous work of our Creator.
Open our hearts to welcome every child
as a unique and wonderful gift.
Gospel Reading Luke 1:41ff.
Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”
All say: Help us to see in each child
the marvellous work of our Creator.
Open our hearts to welcome every child
as a unique and wonderful gift.
Silent Prayer
Chant O Lord you hold and protect me (Taizé) – from Psalm 139
All sing: O Lord, you hold and protect me
you know all my heart’s desire
Guide my steps along the everlasting way
Guide my steps along the everlasting way
All say: Guide the work of doctors,
nurses and midwives.
May the life of a mother and her baby in the
womb be equally cherished and respected.
Gospel reading Mark 6:53-56
Having made the crossing, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Genessaret and tied up. No sooner had they stopped out of the boat than people recognised him, and started hurrying all through the countryside and brought the sick on stretchers to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, to village, or town, or farm, they laid down the sick in the open spaces, begging to let them touch even the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched him were cured.
All say: Guide the work of doctors, nurses and midwives.
May the life of a mother and her baby in the
womb be equally cherished and respected.
Silent Prayer
Chant Veni Sancte Spiritus (Taizé)
All sing: Veni sancte spiritus
All say: Help those who make our laws
to uphold the uniqueness and sacredness of every human life,
from the first moment of conception
to natural death.
Scripture Reading from the letter of St James 3:17
The wisdom that comes down from above
is essentially something pure:
It also makes for peace,
and is kindly and considerate;
it is full of compassion
and shows itself by doing good;
nor is there any trace of partiality or hypocrisy in it.
All say: Help those who make our laws
to uphold the uniqueness and sacredness of every human life,
from the first moment of conception
to natural death.
Silent Prayer
Chant Veni Sancte Spiritus (Taizé)
All sing: Veni sancte spiritus
All say: Give us wisdom and generosity
to build a society that cares for all.
We ask this in the joyful hope of eternal life with you,
and in the communion of the Blessed Trinity.
Scripture Reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians 4: 12-15
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.
All say: Give us wisdom and generosity
to build a society that cares for all.
We ask this in the joyful hope of eternal life with you,
and in the communion of the Blessed Trinity.
Silent Prayer
Song Stand Beside Me – Psalm 139 (Columba McCann)
All sing: Stand beside me, walk before me,
hold and shelter me, touch and heal me.
The Lord’s Prayer
’Tantum Ergo’
All sing: Tantum ergo sacramentum veneremur cernui
et antiquum documentum novo cedat ritui
praestet fides supplementum sensuum defectui
Genitori, genitoque laus et jubilatio,
salus, honor, virtus quoque sit et benedictio
procedenti ab utroque compar sit laudatio. Amen.
Divine Praises
All say: Blessed be God.
Blessed be his holy name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true man.
Blessed be the name of Jesus.
Blessed be his most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be his most precious blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the most holy sacrament of the altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and immaculate conception.
Blessed be her glorious assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.
Concluding Prayer Lord our God, in this great sacrament,
we come into the presence of Jesus Christ, your Son,
born of the Virgin Mary and crucified for our salvation.
May we who declare our faith
in this fountain of love and mercy
drink from it the water of everlasting life.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Benediction
Deposition
Concluding Chant Into your hands O Father (Taizé)
All sing: Into your hands O Father, I commend my spirit
Into your hands O Father, I commend my spirit