An Endless Love

Holy Hour February 3, 2011

I.

PRE-HOLY HOUR 7:00 SELF PREPARATION FOR THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) 7:25 INTRODUCTION

In our own experiences, how do we define love? What is it that we can sacrifice in the name of love? We usually define love as an intense affection for another person based on familial or personal ties. It is a feeling of warm personal attachment, as for a parent, child or friend. But for God, what is love for Him? A famous passage would say, For God so love the world that He gave His one and only begotten son, Jesus Christ. Indeed, His love is the greatest performance of all that is truly unconditional and powerful. He sacrificed his only son to give us a chance to mend our separation from Him because of our sins. It is the ultimate sacrifice of His immense affection to all his chosen people. Gods love does not put on conditions and agreements. He just loved us so much that it is beyond our comprehension to fathom His intention and infinity. We can probably emulate such love for others and we know of a lot of people who sacrificed their lives and beliefs to show others how deeply they love them. It is when doing such deeds that achieve the highest fulfillment in life. So immense is the happiness that nothing can specifically describe it. In this month of February, which we usually consider as the hearts month, may we serve as instruments of Gods love to other people. We may find it difficult to sacrifice our lives for others but merely sacrificing our time just for them is indeed a great manifestation of love. May we be like Jesus Christ that despite sufferings and pains, still, He has the burning passion of helping other people and reverently serving God. May we also remember that God loves us so much because He is love.

II.

HOLY HOUR PROPER

7:30 Introductory Rite Commentator: All please rise. (Entrance Hymn) Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Commentator: Amen Priest: The grace and peace of God, our Father, be with you all. Commentator: And also with you Priest: Let us pray Commentator: Amen. Please be seated and listen to the Word of the Lord.

7:35 LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah But with everlasting love I have taken pity on you, says the Lord, your redeemer

Is 54, 5-14

He who has become your husband is your Maker; his name is the LORD of hosts; Your redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, called God of all the earth. The LORD calls you back, like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, A wife married in youth and then cast off, says your God. For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great tenderness I will take you back. In an outburst of wrath, for a moment I hid my face from you; But with enduring love I take pity on you, says the LORD, your redeemer. This is for me like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah should never again deluge the earth; So I have sworn not to be angry with you, or to rebuke you. Though the mountains leave their place and the hills be shaken, My love shall never leave you nor my covenant of peace be shaken, says the LORD, who has mercy on you. O afflicted one, storm-battered and unconsoled, I lay your pavements in carnelians, and your foundations in sapphires; I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of carbuncles, and all your walls of precious stones. All your sons shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. In justice shall you be established, far from the fear of oppression, where destruction cannot come near you.

The Word of the Lord.

Commentator: Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Ps. 18, 2-3, 3-4, 47, 51

R:

I love you, Lord, my strength

I love you, O Lord, my strength, O Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliver. R: I love you, Lord, my strength

My God, my rock of refuge, My shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! Praised be the Lord, I exclaim, And I am safe from my enemies. R: I love you, Lord, my strength

The Lord live! And blessed be my Rock! Extolled be God my savior. You who gave great victories to your king And showed kindness to your anointed. R: I love you, Lord, my strength

Commentator: All please rise to honor the Holy Gospel (Gospel Acclamation) Priest: The Lord be with you. Commentator: And also with you. Priest: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John Commentator: Glory to You, O Lord.

Gospel

Jn 3, 16-18

A reading from the holy gospel according To John God sent his Son to save the world through Him.

Jesus said to Nicodemus: Yes, God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, That whoever believes in him may not die but may have eternal life. God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, But that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in him avoids condemnation, But whoever does not believe is already condemned For not believing in the name of Gods only Son.

This is the gospel of the Lord.

Commentator:

Praise to You, O Lord, Jesus Christ.

7:45 HOMILY Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Commentator: (the moment the Priest opens the tabernacle) All please kneel. Penitential song: Kami Nakasala Priest: May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Commentator: Amen (moments of silence)

7:55 PETITIONS Priest: Let us pray to our God and Father of all that all may be united in the heart of his Son and let us say: Father, give us compassionate hearts. For the Church of Jesus Christ, That, like our God, it may care for those Who are least favored and least loved, And that thus it may prove That the gospel is still good news today. Let us pray to the Lord: Father, give us compassionate hearts. For the whole wide world, That the Holy Spirit may guide them To do away with the scandal of division and competition And to heal the wounds of separation. Let us pray to the Lord: Father, give us compassionate hearts. For those who live without love, For victims of wars, discrimination, injustice, That they may not give up hope in God Because of the failures of people And that they may be our concern. Let us pray to the Lord: Father, give us compassionate hearts. For our Christian communities, That we may not tolerate anyone to be in need; That all may contribute their share To make us one of heart and soul, Let us pray to the Lord: Father, give us compassionate hearts. For all of us, That we may forgive one another from the heart, Seek no revenge, bear no grudges, Learn to see others as people Loved by the same Father in heaven. Let us pray to the Lord: Father, give us compassionate hearts.

God our Father, help us look at one another with your own eyes that we may accept one another and build up one another in the love of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Priest: Commentator: Amen

8:00 SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Commentator: (When lights have been turned off) Those who are moved by the Holy Spirit to confess their sins may now approach the Sacrament individually. 8:20 Commentator: Priest:

(when lights have been turned on) All please rise. Let us join our hands as we sing together the prayer which our Savior, Jesus, taught us. (The Lords Prayer)

8:22 BENEDICTION RITES Commentator: All please kneel. All sing: TANTUM ERGO Come adore this wondrous presence Bow to Christ, the source of grace Here is kept the ancient promise Of Gods earthly dwelling place Sight is blind before Gods glory Faith alone may see His face Glory be to God, the Father Praise to His co-equal Son Adoration to the Spirit Bond of love in Godhead one Blest be God by all creation Joyously while ages run. Amen. Amen.

Priest: You have given them bread from heaven. All: Containing in itself all sweetness. Priest: Let us pray. O God we possess a lasting memorial of your passion in this wondrous Sacrament, Grant that we may venerate the mysteries of Your Body and Blood that we may always feel within ourselves the effect of your redemption. You who live and reign forever and ever. All: Amen. Priest: Let us recite the Divine Praises in reparation of our sins.

Commentator: 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 Hid 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 Immaculate Conception Blessed be Her glorious Assumption Blessed be the Name of Mary, Virgin and Mother Blessed be St. Joseph, Her most chaste Spouse Blessed be God on his Angels and His Saints Commentator: (the moment the Priest closes the tabernacle) All please rise

8:27 CLOSING HYMN