St. Dominic Savio

Dominic was born on 2nd April 1842 at San Giovanni di Riva, near Chieri (Turin). When he made his first Holy Communion, at the age of seven, he wrote down the following as his plan of life: “I will go to confession very often and go to communion as often as my confessor gives me permission. I will celebrate Sundays and feast days as holy days. Jesus and Mary will be my friends. Death rather than sin.”

When he was twelve he was accepted by Don Bosco to go to the Oratory in Turin, and he asked Don Bosco to help him ‘become a saint’. He was a gentle lad, always calm and cheerful, and he put great efforts into his studies and into helping his companions in every way, teaching them their Catechism, tending the sick, sorting out quarrels, etc.

One day he told a boy who had just arrived at the Oratory: “You ought to know that here we find holiness through being very happy! We try to avoid sin, which robs us of God’s grace and our peace of mind, and we carry out our duties as well as we can.”

Dominic kept faithfully to this plan, strengthened by the sacraments and his devotion to Mary, and accepted hardships gladly. God blessed him with special gifts. When Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception on 8th December 1854, Dominic consecrated himself to Mary and began to make even greater progress in holiness. In 1856 he set up the ‘Sodality of Mary Immaculate’ with a group of his friends, to carry out apostolic work together. Mamma Margaret (Don Bosco’s mother), who had come to Turin to help her priest son, said one day: “You have many good boys, but none can match the good heart and soul of Dominic Savio. I see him so often at prayer, staying in church after the others; every day he slips out of the playground to make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament. When he is in church he is like an angel living in Paradise.”

Dominic died in Mondonio on 9th March 1857, just under a month before his fifteenth birthday. His remains are in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. He was canonized on 12th June 1954.

Pope Pius XI described him as “small in size, but a towering giant in spirit.” He is the patron saint of boy choristers.

God Honors His Words

May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering..."
Psalms 141:2

"I am the Light of the Word; anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark, he will have the light of life."
John 8:12

The Lord says: " So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it."
Isaiah 55:11

God honors his words. He wants us to remind him of his promises and call him to perform what he has declared.

Our Way to Holiness

During the early years of the Church, the followers of Christ did not have a name. They went around talking about Jesus and teaching his doctrine. They were known for the love they had for one another and for their celebration of the Eucharist in the Mass. In Antioch, were Hellenists pagans were converted, they finally found a name for themselves: "Christians." That name simply signified that they were followers of Christ. The name today still has the same meaning. The true Christian follows Christ so intimately that he begins to see and live with God as the first apostles did. The true Christian identifies himself with God. He mediates on and teaches the doctrine of Christ. And he is generous enough to help Christ bear his cross. A true Christian must be able to say the same words uttered by St. Paul: "I live, but is not I who lives but Christ who lives in me."

Jesus Christ became man not just to give us his doctrine. He could have easily sent a prophet or inspired the writing of a book if that were his only purpose in become man. Christ also offers himself as an example to us, as a model that we can imitate. Christ only asks us to carry our crosses for he, too, carried His own cross. He asks us to pray for he, too, spent sleepless nights in prayer. He asks us to foster fraternal love for he himself cried over the death of his friend Lazarus.

In order to follow Christ, we must first be drawn to him and be in love with him. The power of love can be likened to the attraction of iron to a magnet. Since we cannot love somebody we don't know, we must first make it a point to try to know Christ. We can get to know Christ by studying and meditating on the Gospels, by reading other books about Christ's life and by closely following the liturgy in which the principal mysteries of the life of Christ are relived. As our knowledge of Christ grows, so will our love for him strengthen.

Christ wants us to treat him like a friend. Christ wants to be our best friend. To be a friend to Christ is to talk with and confide in him regularly. This is what prayer is all about. And just as we talk to friends about many things, we should also talk to God about everything that occupies our minds. "You wrote to me. "To pray is to talk to God. But about what?" About what? About him, and yourself; joys, sorrows, success and failures, great ambitions, daily worries - even your weaknesses! And acts of thanksgiving and petitions - and love and reparation"

Jesus Christ is not simply an historical figure. He is very much present and alive. He talks to us through the Gospels; he is really present in the Eucharist; he gives us strength through the Sacramnets, and he makes himself present in the souls of men, especially in the children and in the poor.

Our Life on Earth...

Our life on earth is only temporary. We are just passing through. Life on earth is a journey. What is important is that we reach our goal. We must always be alert and vigilant so that we don't lose our way. Moreover, we are only given one chance. If we waste it, we lose it forever. We won't be given another opportunity.

TSMHC

Call to Worship

PRESIDER: This is the day our God has made.

ALL: Let us be glad and rejoice.

PRESIDER: Praise the Name of our God.

ALL: Who made heaven and earth.

PRESIDER: God has done great things for Mary.

ALL: Praise the name of our God.

HYMN: Help of Christians, Guard our Nation

(Tune: Ode to Joy – Beethoven)

Help of Christians, guard our nation,

That it be a place of peace,

Where the love of Christ unites us

And all racial tensions cease.

Help of Christians, lead us forward,

With this dream in ev’ry heart:

To create a place of welcome

Where injustice has no part.

Help of Christians, chosen patron,

Of this fair Philippine land,

You have shown a way to follow,

True to all that God has planned.

May our lives like yours be faithful,

May our loving be as true,

Till we see our God for ever,

Who has done great things for you.

PSALM Ps 34::2-7

Antiiphon:: My soul proclaims the greatness of God.

I will never stop thanking God,

with constant words of praise.

My soul will boast of God;

the poor will hear me and be glad.

Join me in praising the Lord,

together tell of God’s name.

I asked and the Lord responded,

freed me from all my fears.

Turn to God, be bright with joy;

you shall never be let down.

I begged and God heard,

took my burdens from me.

Glory to you, Source of all Being, Eternal Word and Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,

world without end. Amen.

Antiiphon:: My soul proclaims the greatness of God.

Litany of Praise

READER 1: For Mary, who is a sign of hope and source of unity in Christ for all Filipinos.

ALL: We praise you God.

READER 2: For Mary, who is woman, wife, mother, a person for us today.

ALL: We praise you God.

READER 3: For Mary, who, as our Patroness, shows love and care towards our land and its people.

ALL: We praise you God.

READER 4: For Mary, who is model and bearer of the Truth and Light of the Gospel

ALL: We praise you God.

PRESIDER: Trusting in God who cares for all our needs we pray together…

Our Father………

PRESIDER: May we continue to journey with Mary and all those who love

God and seek truth. ALL: Amen.

Final Prayer

Loving God, you place deep in our hearts the love of Mary, Help of Christians.

Through her prayers grant wisdom to our leaders and integrity to our citizens.

Under her protection may Filipinos be granted harmony, justice and peace.

We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

N.B. The Te Deum may be prayed on this day

Reading Sirach 4:11-13

Wisdom teaches her children and gives help to those who seek her. Whoever loves

her loves life, and those who seek her from early morning are filled with joy. Whoever

holds her fast inherits glory, and the Lord blesses the place she enters.

A period of silence

Responsory

PRESIDER: With the help of Mary, may we live in the hope of your kingdom.

ALL: With the help of Mary……..

PRESIDER: With our nation under the patronage of Mary.

ALL: May we live in the hope of your kingdom.

PRESIDER: Glory to you……..

ALL: May we live in the hope of your kingdom.

Gospel Canticle

Antiiphon:: Mary’s faith, hope and love models true discipleship through all ages.

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 our enemies’ hands, from the grip of all who hate us.

The Lord favoured 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 our God

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.

(Luke 1:68-79)

Glory to you Source of all Being……………

Anttiiphon:: Mary’s faith, hope and love model true discipleship through all ages

Intercessions

PRESIDER: We praise and thank God, through Mary, for the many gifts we have and appreciate as Filipinos.

For peace in our country (Pause)

The beauty of our country and its weather (Pause)

Our standard of living (Pause)

Freedom of religion (Pause)

Our youth (Pause)

Our parents and families and the values we inherited (Pause)

For our nation (Pause)

For our indigenous brothers and sisters (Pause)

For all that Mary inspires in us (Pause)

PRESIDER: Help us to grow in our gratefulness and keep calling us back to the living out of these Christian values which we treasure.

PRESIDER: Let us pause now to open our hearts to receive and embrace what

today will bring….

PRESIDER: Trusting in God who cares for all our needs we pray together,

Our Father….

Final Prayer

Mary, Help of Christians, watch over us with love.

Intercede for us with your Son, to bless Philippines,

so that we can be people of peace –

people who love and respect each other,

and people who love and respect our land, Philippines.

We make this prayer through Jesus, your Son. Amen.

Evening Prayer

(Have ready a candle to light before prayer begins)

The Church gathers in the evening to give thanks for the day that is ending. In the earliest tradition this began with the lighting of the lamps as darkness fell and the hymn of praise of Christ who is our ‘radiant light’.

Proclamation of Light

As the evening lights are lit the preside says

PRESIDER: Light and peace in Jesus Christ our Lord.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

Invitation to Worship

PRESIDER: O God, come to our aid

ALL: O God, make haste to help us.

PRESIDER: Let us pause for a moment and hold with gratitude the events of

this day….

HYMN: as for Morning Prayer

PSALM Ps 148::1--7 (or from Morning Prayer)

Anttiiphon:: My soul proclaims the greatness of God.

Praise the Lord!

Across the heavens, from the heights,

all you angels, heavenly beings,

sing praise, sing praise!

Sun and moon, glittering stars,

sing praise, sing praise.

Highest heavens, rain clouds,

sing praise, sing praise.

Praise God’s name,

whose word called you forth

and fixed you in place for ever

by eternal decree.

Let there be praise:

from depths of the earth,

from creatures of the deep.

Glory to you, Source of all Being………

Anttiiphon:: My soul proclaims the greatness of God.

Responsory as ffor MORNING PRAYER

Reading John 19:25-27

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s

sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother

and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother,

“Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”

And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

A period of silence

Canticle

Anttiiphon:: as for Morning Prayer

Any sung/spoken version of the MAGNIFICAT

THE MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation
Mary learns that she has been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.

2. The Visitation
Mary visits Elizabeth, who tells her that she will always be remembered.

3. The Nativity
Jesus is born in a stable in Bethlehem.

4. The Presentation
Mary and Joseph take the infant Jesus to the Temple to present him to God.

5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
Jesus is found in the Temple discussing his faith with the teachers.

The Mysteries of Light

1. The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan
God proclaims that Jesus is his beloved Son.

2. The Wedding Feast at Cana
At Mary’s request, Jesus performs his first miracle.

3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
Jesus calls all to conversion and service to the Kingdom.

4. The Transfiguration of Jesus
Jesus is revealed in glory to Peter, James, and John.

5. The Institution of the Eucharist
Jesus offers his Body and Blood at the Last Supper.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. The Agony in the Garden
Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before he dies.

2. The Scourging at the Pillar
Jesus is lashed with whips.

3. The Crowning With Thorns
Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns.

4. The Carrying of the Cross
Jesus carries the cross that will be used to crucify him.

5. The Crucifixion
Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies.

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection
God the Father raises Jesus from the dead.

2. The Ascension
Jesus returns to his Father in heaven.

3. The Coming of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit comes to bring new life to the disciples.

4. The Assumption of Mary
At the end of her life on earth, Mary is taken body and soul into heaven.

5. The Coronation of Mary
Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

TSMHC/rico3.18.12