VIGIL for PEACE in SYRIA

and throughout the world proclaimed by our Holy Father, Pope FRANCIS

Saturday, 7 September 2013 the Vigil of the XXIII Sunday in Ordinary Time

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In other years, the Vigil of the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

ORDER OF THE VIGIL FOR PEACE IN SYRIA

INTRODUCTORY RITES
All stand. ENTRANCE ANTIPHON The Lord said: I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction. You will call upon me, and I will answer you, and I will lead back your captives from every place. GREETING V. The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit.

EAR brothers and sisters: at the bidding of our Holy Father Pope Francis, and in solidarity with men and women of good will around the world, we come to keep vigil for peace throughout the earth, but especially in Syria. Let us listen with quiet hearts to the Word of God; let us meditate upon the promises of peace God has given us in times past; and in these days of uncertainty and rumors of war, let us pray that, through the intercession of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, our God may pour out upon the people of Syria and the whole world that peace which passes all understanding. PENITENTIAL ACT V. Therefore, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate this vigil of prayer. Silence is kept. I confess to Almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do, And, striking their breast, they say: through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; Then they continue: therefore, I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. The minister concludes: V. May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. R. Amen. 2

V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. V. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy. V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy. COLLECT V. Let us pray.

GOD of Compassion, hear the cries of the people of Syria: Bring healing to those suffering from the violence, Bring comfort to those mourning the dead, Strengthen Syrias neighbors in their care and welcome for refugees, Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms, And protect those committed to peace. O God of Hope, Inspire leaders to choose peace over violence and to seek reconciliation with enemies, Inspire the Church around the world with compassion for the people of Syria, And give us hope for a future of peace built on justice for all. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit: one God, forever and ever. R. Amen. All are seated. Silence is kept for private prayer.

1:30 PM FIRST READING & RESPONSORY

READING I V. A reading from the book of the prophet Zechariah ( 9:9-10). Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king is coming to you, a just savior is he, Humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; The warriors bow will be banished, and he will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. V. The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks be to God. RESPONSORY V. Kindness and truth shall meet. R. Kindness and truth shall meet. Show us, O Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation. Near indeed is his salvation to those who fear him, glory dwelling in our land. R. Kindness and truth shall meet; justice and peace shall kiss. 3 Truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven. R. The Lord himself will give his benefits; our land shall yield its increase. Justice shall walk before him, and salvation, along the way of his steps. R.

COLLECT V. Let us pray. All stand.

GOD, author and lover of peace, to know you is to live, to serve you is to reign; defend against every attack those who cry to you, so that we, who trust in your protection, may not fear the weapons of any foe. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit: one God, forever and ever. R. Amen. All are seated. Silence is kept for private prayer.

2:00 PM JOYFUL MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

PRAYERS OF THE ROSARY I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be World without end. Amen. O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven: especially those in most need of thy mercy.

INTENTIONS FOR THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES 1) Incarnation: Mary said yes in the midst of oppression 2) Visitation: Mary is the Mother of the Prince of Peace 3) Nativity: Jesus, the Prince of Peace, opposed by earthly ruler 4) Presentation: Jesus' Peace brings consolation to the long-suffering 5) Finding in the Temple: Jesus teaches the wise true peace Silence is kept for private prayer.

2:30 PM SECOND READING & RESPONSORY

READING II V. A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah ( 59:6b-8, 15-18). Their works are evil works, and deeds of violence are in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they hasten to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of wickedness, violence and destruction are on their highways. The way of peace they know not, and there is no justice on their paths; Their roads they have made crooked, no one who walks in them knows peace. Fidelity is lacking, and whoever turns from evil is despoiled. The LORD saw this, and was aggrieved that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, was appalled that there was none to intervene; Then his own arm brought about the victory, and his justice sustained him. He put on justice as his breastplate, victory as a helmet on his head; He clothed himself with garments of vengeance, wrapped himself in a mantle of zeal. According to their deeds he repays his enemies and requites his foes with wrath; to the coastlands he renders recompense. V. The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks be to God. RESPONSORY V. You, O Lord, are my refuge. R. You, O Lord, are my refuge. With all my voice I cry to the Lord, with all my voice I entreat the Lord. I pour out my trouble before him; I tell him all my distress. R. On the way where I shall walk they have hidden a snare to entrap me. Look on my right and see: there is no one who takes my part. I have no means of escape, not one who cares for my soul. R. I cry to you, O Lord. I have said: "You are my refuge all I have in the land of the living." Listen, then, to my cry for I am in the depths of distress. R.

COLLECT V. Let us pray. All stand.

GOD, merciful and strong, who crush wars and cast down the proud: be pleased to banish violence swiftly from our midst and to wipe away all tears, so that we may all truly deserve to be called your children. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit: one God, forever and ever. R. Amen. All are seated. Silence is kept for private prayer.

3:00 PM LUMINOUS MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

INTENTIONS FOR THE LUMINOUS MYSTERIES 1) Baptism: Jesus is the Son of the Father of Peace 2) Wedding Feast at Cana: Mary's peace comes from trust in Jesus 3) Proclamation of the Kingdom: God's reign is the essence of peace 4) Transfiguration: The Glory of the Prince of Peace is overwhelming 5) Institution of the Eucharist: The Eucharist is the bond of peace Silence is kept for private prayer.

3:30 PM THIRD READING & RESPONSORY

READING III V. A reading from the book of Lamentations ( 3:1-24). I am one who has known affliction under the rod of Gods anger, One whom he has driven and forced to walk in darkness, not in light; Against me alone he turns his handagain and again all day long. He has worn away my flesh and my skin, he has broken my bones; He has besieged me all around with poverty and hardship; He has left me to dwell in dark places like those long dead. He has hemmed me in with no escape, weighed me down with chains; Even when I cry for help, he stops my prayer; He has hemmed in my ways with fitted stones, and made my paths crooked. He has been a bear lying in wait for me, a lion in hiding! He turned me aside and tore me apart, leaving me ravaged. He bent his bow, and set me up as a target for his arrow. He pierced my kidneys with shafts from his quiver. I have become a laughingstock to all my people, their taunt all day long; He has sated me with bitterness, filled me with wormwood. He has made me eat gravel, trampled me into the dust; My life is deprived of peace, I have forgotten what happiness is; My enduring hope, I said, has perished before the LORD. 6

The thought of my wretched homelessness is wormwood and poison; Remembering it over and over, my soul is downcast. But this I will call to mind; therefore I will hope: The LORDs acts of mercy are not exhausted, his compassion is not spent; They are renewed each morninggreat is your faithfulness! The LORD is my portion, I tell myself, therefore I will hope in him. V. The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks be to God. RESPONSORY V. Out of the depths, I cry to you, Lord R. Out of the depths, I cry to you, Lord Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice! O let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleading. R. If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive? But with you is found forgiveness: for this we revere you. R. My soul is waiting for the Lord. I count on his word. My soul is longing for the Lord more than watchman for daybreak. R. Let the watchman count on daybreak and Israel on the Lord. Because with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption R. Israel indeed he will redeem from all its iniquity. R. COLLECT V. Let us pray. All stand.

GOD, who willed that your Only Begotten Son should undergo the Cross to save the human race, grant, we pray, that we, who have known his mystery on earth, may merit the grace of his redemption in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit: one God, forever and ever. R. Amen. All are seated. Silence is kept for private prayer.

4:00 PM SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

INTENTIONS FOR THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES 1) Agony in the Garden: Jesus drinks the cup of wrath for our sins against peace 2) Scourging at the Pillar: Jesus suffers the blows of the people of Syria 7

 3) Crowning with Thorns: The Prince of Peace wins his crown with the martyrs of Syria 4) Carrying the Cross: Jesus embraces his death to bring us peace 5) Crucifixion & Death: Jesus' death brings eternal peace Silence is kept for private prayer.

4:30 PM FOURTH READING & RESPONSORY

READING IV V. A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians ( 4:305:2) And do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. [And] be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. V. The Word of the Lord. R. Thanks be to God. RESPONSORY V. May the Lord defend the poor, and crush the oppressor. R. May the Lord defend the poor, and crush the oppressor. To the king's son your justice, that he may judge your people in justice and your poor in right judgment. R. May the mountains bring forth peace for the people and the hills, justice. May he defend the poor of the people and save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor. R. In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails. He shall rule from sea to sea, from the Great River to earth's bounds. R. For he shall save the poor when they cry and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak and save the lives of the poor. R. Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, who alone works wonders, ever blessed his glorious name. Let his glory fill the earth. R.

COLLECT V. Let us pray. All stand.

GOD, who show a father's care for all: grant, in your mercy, that the members of the human race, to whom you have given a single origin, ay form in peace a single family and always be united by a fraternal spirit.Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit: one God, forever and ever. R. Amen. All are seated. Silence is kept for private prayer.

5:00 PM GLORIOUS MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY

INTENTIONS FOR THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES 1) Resurrection: Jesus conquered death & sin 2) Ascension: Jesus reigns and brings peace 3) Pentecost: The Spirit restores Babel & ends strife 4) Assumption of Mary: Mary goes before us to intercede for peace 5) Coronation of Mary: Our Lady, Queen of Peace SALVE REGINA Salve, Regina, Mater misericordi, vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve. ad te clamamus exsules filii Hev, ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte; et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.

Silence is kept for private prayer.

5:30 PM THE HOLY GOSPEL & CONCLUDING PRAYERS

All stand. PSALMUS ALLELUIATICUS V. Alleluia, alleluia. R. Alleluia, alleluia. I lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall come my help? My help shall come from the Lord who made heaven and earth. R. May he never allow you to stumble! Let him sleep not, your guard. No, he sleeps not nor slumbers, Israel's guard. R. The Lord is your guard and your shade; at your right side he stands. By day the sun shall not smite you nor the moon in the night. R. The Lord will guard you from evil, he will guard you soul. The Lord will guard your going and coming both now and for ever. R. THE HOLY GOSPEL V. The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit. V. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Saint John ( 15:9-12). R. Glory to you, O Lord. Jesus said: As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Fathers commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. V. The Gospel of the Lord. R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

EARLY beloved, the Lord God is our salvation: therefore, let us raise our prayer to him for the needs of the Church and the whole world, especially those suffering in Syria. V. Lord, hear your faithful: Kyrie, eleison. R. Kyrie, eleison. (1) V. Let us pray for the holy Church of God. Silent prayer.

Almighty God, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ brought forth a new nation through the mystery of his passion, death, and resurrection: save your faithful people, especially in Syria; and grant, O most merciful Father, that they may rejoice to once more offer you the Sacrifice of the Lord's Cross in peace. 10

V. Lord, hear your faithful: Kyrie, eleison. R. Kyrie, eleison. (2) V. Let us pray for those in civil authority. Silent prayer. O God, who have entrusted the Common Good of all your people to those in civil authority: send your Holy Spirit to grant wisdom and prudence upon Barack, our President, upon the members of the United States Congress, upon the leaders of the Government and Opposition in Syria, and upon the leaders of the whole world: that through your inspiration, peace may prevail. V. Lord, hear your faithful: Kyrie, eleison. R. Kyrie, eleison. (3) V. Let us pray for members of the armed forces. Silent prayer. O Lord, God of hosts, who send your mighty prince Michael to intercede for men and women who serve their nations in the armed forces: grant peace for all, especially in Syria: that war may never again send our brothers and sisters to an untimely death. V. Lord, hear your faithful: Kyrie, eleison. R. Kyrie, eleison. (4) V. Let us pray for those suffering because of the conflict in Syria. Silent prayer. Almighty, ever-living God, comfort of mourners, shelter of refugees, and strength of all who suffer and toil: may the prayers of those who cry out in any tribulation, especially because of the conflict in Syria, come before you, that all may rejoice: because in their hour of need your mercy was at hand. V. Lord, hear your faithful: Kyrie, eleison. R. Kyrie, eleison. (5) V. Let us pray for the poor and sick throughout the world. Silent prayer. Almighty God, in your providence, give refreshment, comfort, and hope to all the poor and sick throughout the whole world; and grant, through the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that the Christian faithful may show forth your love in their works of spiritual and corporal mercy. V. Lord, hear your faithful: Kyrie, eleison. R. Kyrie, eleison. (6) V. Let us pray for those gathered here in this holy place. Silent prayer.

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O God, who hear us, your unworthy servants, as we bring our prayers to you: save us from sin, fear, and hatred; and grant that, strengthened by your holy Word and a constant recourse to your holy Sacraments, we may love our enemies as ourselves. V. Lord, hear your faithful: Kyrie, eleison. R. Kyrie, eleison. (7) V. Let us pray for the repose of the souls of the dead. Silent prayer. Rest eternal, O most merciful Father, grant unto all men and women who have died, especially because of the conflict in Syria; and grant, through the merits of the most glorious Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, and those of all the angels and saints, perpetual light to those who have died. V. Lord, hear your faithful: Kyrie, eleison. R. Kyrie, eleison. THE LORD'S PRAYER

V. At the Savior's command, and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

UR FATHER who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. BLESSING & DISMISSAL V. The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit. V. Bow down for the blessing.

AY the God of all consolation bless you, for in his unfathomable goodness he created the human race, and in the Resurrection of his Only Begotten Son he has given believers the hope of rising again. R. Amen. To us who are alive, may God grant pardon for our sins, and to all the dead, a place of light and peace. R. Amen. So may we all live happily forever with Christ, whom we believe truly rose from the dead. R. Amen. And may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, X and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you forever. R. Amen. V. Go in peace. R. Thanks be to God.

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