Saturday: First, Third and Fifth Weeks


Morning Prayer

Reading: Hebrews 10: 35- 36

Do not , therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God , you may receive what was promised.

Canticle of Zechariah
Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
who shepherds the people and sets them free.

God raises from David’s house
a child with power to save.
Through the holy prophets
God promised in ages past
to save us from enemy hands,
from the grip of all who hate us.

The Lord favored our ancestors
recalling the sacred covenant,
the pledge to our ancestor Abraham,
to free us from our enemies,
so we might worship without fear
and be holy and just all our days.

And you child, will be called
Prophet of the Most High,
for you will come to prepare
a pathway for the Lord
by teaching the people salvation
through forgiveness of their sin.

Out of God’s deepest mercy
a dawn will come from on high,
light for those shadowed by death,
a guide for our feet on the way to peace.

Intercessions
Jesus, your mother Mary is the model for us of loving fidelity to your will. Through her intercession we ask for the same grace.

Mary , you said yes to the angel’s word, even though you had no knowledge of the consequences:
--- Help us say yes to all that God asks of us .

Mary, in Nazareth you listened and pondered all things in your heart:
--- Help us to enter into a rhythm of contemplation and action.

Mary, at Cana you knew that God would listen to your prayer:
--- Help us to do whatever God tells us.

Mary, you stood by the cross and loved with a heart pierced with sorrow:
--- Help us to love with hearts that know no limits.

Mary, you were present in the upper room when the church was born of the life- giving Spirit .
--- Help us to witness to the life of the Spirit in the church and world.

Prayer
Mary our mother, help us during this Lenten season to be attentive to the will of your Son, generous in our response, and loving in our service to those in need. Mother of Mercy, pray for us. Amen.

BLESSING

Purify our hearts, O God, that we may be freed from sin. Amen.
Renew our hearts, O God, that they may burn with love for you. Amen.
Open our hearts, O God, that we may welcome all persons as our brothers and sisters. Amen.