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Litany of the Saints

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

St. Michael, pray for us.
St. Gabriel, pray for us.
St. Raphael, pray for us.
All you holy Angels and Archangels, pray for us.
All you holy orders of blessed Spirits, pray for us.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
All you holy Patriarchs and Prophets, pray for us.

St. Peter, pray for us.
St. Paul, pray for us.
St. Andrew, pray for us.
St. James, pray for us.
St. John, pray for us.
St. Thomas, pray for us.
St. James, pray for us.
St. Philip, pray for us.
St. Bartholomew, pray for us.
St. Matthew, pray for us.
St. Simon, pray for us.
St. Thaddeus, pray for us.
St. Matthias, pray for us.
St. Barnabas, pray for us.
St. Luke, pray for us.
St. Mark, pray for us.
All you holy Apostles and Evangelists, pray for us.
All you holy Disciples of the Lord, pray for us.

All you holy Innocents, pray for us.

St. Stephen, pray for us.
St. Lawrence, pray for us.
St. Vincent, pray for us.
Sts. Fabian and Sebastian, pray for us.
Sts. John and Paul, pray for us.
Sts. Cosmas and Damian, pray for us.
Sts. Gervase and Protase, pray for us.
All you holy Martyrs, pray for us.

St. Sylvester, pray for us.
St. Gregory, pray for us.
St. Ambrose, pray for us.
St. Augustine, pray for us.
St. Jerome, pray for us.
St. Martin, pray for us.
St. Nicholas, pray for us.

All you holy Bishops and Confessors, pray for us.
All you holy Doctors, pray for us.

St. Anthony, pray for us.
St. Benedict, pray for us.
St. Bernard, pray for us.
St. Dominic, pray for us.
St. Francis, pray for us.
All you holy Priests and Levites, pray for us.
All you holy Monks and Hermits, pray for us.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us.
St. Agatha, pray for us.
St. Lucy, pray for us.
St. Agnes, pray for us.
St. Cecilia, pray for us.
St. Catherine, pray for us.
St. Anastasia, pray for us.
All you holy Virgins and Widows, pray for us.

All you Holy Men and Women, Saints of God, make intercession for us. .

Be merciful, spare us, O Lord.
Be merciful, graciously hear us, O Lord.

From all evil, O Lord, deliver us.
From all sin, deliver us.
From your wrath, deliver us.
From sudden and unprovided death, deliver us.
From the snares of the devil, deliver us.
From anger, and hatred, and all ill-will, deliver us.
From the spirit of fornication, deliver us.
From lightning and tempest, deliver us.
From the scourge of earthquake, deliver us.
From plague, famine and war, deliver us.
From everlasting death, deliver us.
Through the mystery of your holy Incarnation, deliver us.
Through your Coming, deliver us.
Through your Nativity, deliver us.
Through your Baptism and holy Fasting, deliver us.
Through your Cross and Passion, deliver us.
Through your Death and Burial, deliver us.
Through your holy Resurrection, deliver us.
Through your admirable Ascension, deliver us.
Through the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete, deliver us.
In the day of judgment, deliver us.

We sinners, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would spare us, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would pardon us, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would bring us to true penance, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would deign to govern and preserve your holy Church, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would deign to preserve our Apostolic Prelate, and all orders of the Church in holy religion, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would deign to humble the enemies of Holy Church, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would deign to give peace and true concord to Christian kings and princes, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would deign to grant peace and unity to all Christian people, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would deign to call back to the unity of the Church all who have strayed from the truth and lead all unbelievers to the light of the Gospel, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would deign to confirm and preserve us in your holy service, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would lift up our minds to heavenly desires, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would render eternal blessings to all our benefactors, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would deliver our souls and the souls of our brethren, relations and benefactors, from eternal damnation, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would deign to give and preserve the fruits of the earth, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would deign to grant eternal rest to all the faithful departed, we beseech you, hear us.
That you would deign graciously to hear us, we beseech you, hear us.
Son of God, we beseech you, hear us.

Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord. .
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord. .
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. .

Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Our Father, etc. (inaudibly).

V. And lead us not into temptation.
R. But deliver us from evil.

[psalm69]

Deign, O Lord, to rescue me;
O Lord, make haste to help me
Let them be put to shame and confounded who seek my life.
Let them be turned back in disgrace who desire my ruin.
Let them retire in their shame who say to me, "Aha, aha!"
But may all who seek you exult and be glad in you,
And may those who love your salvation say ever, "God be glorified!"
But I am afflicted and poor;
O God, hasten to me!
You are my help and my deliverer;
O Lord, hold not back!

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.

V. Save your servants.
R. Who trust in you, O my God.
V. Be a tower of strength for us, O Lord,
R. Against the attack of the enemy.
V. Let not the enemy prevail against us.
R. And let not the son of evil dare to harm us.
V. O Lord, deal not with us according to our sins.
N. Neither requite us according to our iniquities.

V. Let us pray for our Sovereign Pontiff N.
R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies.
V. Let us pray for our benefactors.
R. Deign, O Lord, for Your name's sake, to reward with eternal life all those who do us good. Amen.
V. Let us pray for the faithful departed.
R. Eternal rest give to them, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May they rest in peace.
R. Amen.

V. For our absent brethren.
R. Save your servants, who trust in you, my God.
V. Send them help, O Lord, from your sanctuary.
R. And sustain them from Zion.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come to you.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.

Let us pray. O God, whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, receive our petition, that we, and all your servants who are bound by the chains of sin, may, by the compassion of your goodness, be mercifully absolved.

Graciously hear, we beg you, O Lord, the prayers of your suppliants, and pardon the sins of those who confess to you, that in your bounty you may grant us both pardon and peace.

In your clemency, O Lord, show us your ineffable mercy, that you may both free us from all our sins, and deliver us from the punishments which we deserve for them.

O God, who by sin are offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of your suppliant people, and turn away the scourges of your anger, which we deserve for our sins.

Almighty, everlasting God, have mercy upon your servant N., our Sovereign Pontiff, and direct him according to your clemency into the way of everlasting salvation, that by your grace he may desire those things that are pleasing to you, and perform them with all his strength.

O God, from whom are holy desires, good counsels, and just works, give to your servants that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts be set to keep your commandments, and that, being removed from the fear of our enemies, we may pass our time in peace under your protection.

Burn our desires and our hearts with the fire of the Holy Spirit, O Lord, that we may serve you with a chaste body, and with a clean heart be pleasing to you.

O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of your servants and handmaids the remission of all their sins, that, through devout prayers, they may obtain the pardon which they always desired.

Direct, we beg you, O Lord, our actions by your holy inspirations, and carry them on by your gracious assistance, that every prayer and work of ours may begin always with you, and through you be happily ended.

Almighty and everlasting God, you have dominion over the living and the dead, and you are merciful to all who you foreknow will be yours by faith and good works; we humbly beg you that those for whom we intend to pour forth our prayers, whether this present world still detain them in the flesh, or the world to come has already received them out of their bodies, may, through the intercession of all your Saints, by the clemency of your goodness, obtain the remission of all their sins. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come to you.
V. May the almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear us. R. Amen.

V. And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. R. Amen.

Sharbel Makhlouf

Monk and Hermit

The Lebanese Maronite Order of monks is the embodiment of the ancient eastern monasticism, which since early Christian times existed and thrived within widely dispersed, independent monasteries. In 1695, Lebanese Maronite monasticism was united under one order by the monk, 'Abdallah al-Qaraali, and his fellows (Khalife 1995: 1). During Saint Sharbel's time, the Lebanese Maronite Order had over 1,000 monks out of a total Maronite population of about 300,000.

At Mass on November 1, 1853 and in the presence of the superior, the novice master and the monks of the monastery, Sharbel took the monastic vows. "I, Brother Sharbel, promise God Almighty, in the presence of my Most Reverend Father General, to commit myself to obedience, chastity and voluntary poverty until death, according to our Rule and Order." (Saint Sharbel Makhlouf 1989: 28)

After pronouncing his vows, his hair was cut to show his dedication. He was then dressed in the black monastic habit, the angelic cowl [hood], the belt of the Order, the tassel and the habit (Matar 1998). Each of these has its own special meaning and is an important symbol in the novitiate's transition to monkhood.

After being vested, Sharbel carried a cross in his left hand in response to Christ's call to "take up your cross and follow me" (Mt 10:38) and a candle in his right hand to symbolize Christ, "the light of the world" (Mt 5:14). He was then led in a procession to the church to show the community's joy that it had a new member. (Matar 1998)

Sharbel was ordained a priest at the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke in 1859. (Daher 1993: 77) His monastery was under the jurisdiction of the Patriarchal Vicar who resided in Bkerke at the time. After his ordination, Father Sharbel returned to the Monastery of St. Maron. During his 19 years there, Sharbel performed his priestly ministry and monastic duties in an edifying way. He dedicated himself totally to Christ to live, work and pray in silence. Sharbel had said to his superior, "If you judge me worthy, give me the heaviest and most humiliating work." (Saint Sharbel Makhlouf 1989: 31)

At the hermitage, Saint Sharbel's companions were the Son of God, as encountered in the Scriptures and in the Eucharist, and the Blessed Mother. The Eucharist became the center of his life. Though this hermit did not have a place in the world, the world had a great place in his heart. Through prayer and penance he offered himself as a sacrifice so that the world would return to God. (Benedict 1990: 10-11)

It was in this secluded sanctuary that the monk Sharbel spent the remaining twenty-three years of his life practicing severe mortification. It is recorded by his companions that he wore a hair shirt, practiced corporal punishment, chained himself, slept on the hard ground and ate only one meal a day – the leftovers from his companions' meals. (Hayek 19526: 81-83; St. Charbel Makhlouf 1989: 41, 56-58; Sfeir 1996: 90-91)

His pillow was a piece of wood covered with an old cloth, a remnant from an old habit. His bed was made of goat hair and laid directly on the floor. Although a hermit, he was not exempt from the supervision and orders of his superiors. He was to follow strict religious practices and carry out a severe ascetic way of life. His day would start with adoration of the Eucharist, prayers and celebration of the Holy Mystery, followed by manual labor, fasting, penance, continuous prayer, little sleep, and mortification of the body…all of which Sharbel practiced with utmost humility and love. (Hayek 1956: 81-83, 107; St. Charbel Makhlouf 1989: 41, 56-58; Sfeir 1996: 90-91) FULL STORY

Father of Truth

(The Last Prayer of Saint Charbel before he died)

Father of truth,

Here is your Son,

The sacrifice in which you are well pleased.

Accept him for he died for me.

So through him I shall be pardoned.

Here is the offering.

Take it from my hands

And so I shall be reconciled with you.

Remember not the sins that I have committed

In front of your Majesty.

Here is the blood which flowered on Golgotha

For my salvation and prays for me.

Out of consideration for this,

Accept my supplication.

I have committed many sins

But your mercy is great.

If you put them in the balance,

Your goodness will have more weight

Than the most mighty mountains.

Look not upon my sins,

But rather on what is offered for them,

For the offering and the sacrifice

Are even greater than the offences.

Because I have sinned,

Your beloved bore the nails and the spear.

His sufferings are enough to satisfy you.

By them I shall live.

Glory be to the Father who sent His Son for us.

Adoration be to the Son who has freed us and ensured our salvation.

Blessed be he who by his love has given life to all.

To him be the glory.

from the Maronite Liturgy.

BTTT!

American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

God calls each one of us to be a saint.

November 1, 2006

Feast of All Saints

The earliest certain observance of a feast in honor of all the saints is an early fourth-century commemoration of "all the martyrs." In the early seventh century, after successive waves of invaders plundered the catacombs, Pope Boniface IV gathered up some 28 wagonloads of bones and reinterred them beneath the Pantheon, a Roman temple dedicated to all the gods. The pope rededicated the shrine as a Christian church. According to Venerable Bede, the pope intended "that the memory of all the saints might in the future be honored in the place which had formerly been dedicated to the worship not of gods but of demons" (On the Calculation of Time).

But the rededication of the Pantheon, like the earlier commemoration of all the martyrs, occurred in May. Many Eastern Churches still honor all the saints in the spring, either during the Easter season or immediately after Pentecost.

How the Western Church came to celebrate this feast in November is a puzzle to historians. The Anglo-Saxon theologian Alcuin observed the feast on November 1 in 800, as did his friend Arno, Bishop of Salzburg. Rome finally adopted that date in the ninth century.

Comment:

This feast first honored martyrs. Later, when Christians were free to worship according to their conscience, the Church acknowledged other paths to sanctity. In the early centuries the only criterion was popular acclaim, even when the bishop's approval became the final step in placing a commemoration on the calendar. The first papal canonization occurred in 993; the lengthy process now required to prove extraordinary sanctity took form in the last 500 years. Today's feast honors the obscure as well as the famous—the saints each of us have known.

Quote:

“After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.... [One of the elders] said to me, ‘These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb’” (Revelation 7:9,14).