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FEAST Jubilee
of the Consecrated Life Introductory
note to the celebration Today,
together with Simeon and Anna, we contemplate the Divine child, the Word made
flesh, who is brought to the Temple: the Temple of our heart. This
singular day in this particular year, finds us still more faithful, with a life
completely given to God (VC, 2) responding with a total and
exclusive dedication (VC, 17). Let
there be today the fiat of our task of obedience to the Gospel, to the
voice of the Church, to our rule of life. With
joy let us reconfirm our purpose of sober and austere living in order to defeat
the anxiety of possessing through the grace of giving and use the goods of the
world for the cause of the Gospel and human promotion. Preserving
with love both chastity of
body and purity of mind; living our lives with an undivided heart for the Glory
of God and the salvation of mankind. Mary,
the Virgin Mother, the Most Sacred Temple, accompanies us on this path. Above
all, she helps us in the time of trial; she who was pierced by the sword of the
Spirit and preserved in her heart that which she had contemplated. "By
your disposition, In
fact, "The contemplative life begins here, to reach its
fulfilment in the heavenly home; because the fire of love that here begins to
burn, when it sees Him whom it loves, will burn more strongly with love for him.
Therefore the contemplative life will not be taken away because, having less
light from this present world, it will reach perfection"
(Gregory the Great: Hom. in Ez II 2,9 in CCL 142,231). "For
this reason let us stir up the fervor of our souls, oh brothers, strengthen the
faith in that in which we have believed and enkindle in ourselves a yearning
towards the celestial realities. This love flames as though we were already on
the pathway. No adversity will take us away from the joy of the intimate
celebration, because if one wishes to arrive at the coveted goal there will be
no impediment on the journey that will be enough to change your desire... Thus
the spirit yearns, in fullness of desire, towards the celestial homeland" (Gregory the Great: Hom
in Ev. 14,6 in PL 76, 1130C). February
2 is the culminating moment of our Jubilee celebration. Each consecrated person
has prepared him or herself through meditation on the gift of the vocation to a
total consecration to Christ, in an experience of sincere repentance for
failings and of a renewed love for living a true rapport with God and neighbour.
Now in the Eucharistic Celebration
- with Christ, in Christ and
through Christ - and guided by the Spirit, we want to offer to the Father
our lives which have been renewed through faith, hope and charity. It
is suggested that in every location
- whether at the diocesan or
the national level - the
Eucharistic Celebration be presided over by the Pastors and participated in
amply, not only by other consecrated persons, but also by the people of God. The
Presentation of Our Lord is the feast of Christ "light
of the people" and of the encounter ("Ypapanti")
of the Messiah with his people in the Temple at Jerusalem. The
gesture of obedience to the law and offering, performed by Mary and Joseph who
bring the child Jesus to offer him in the Temple, inspires the presence at this
celebration of many consecrated men and women. These represent those who have
chosen the way of the evangelical counsels in the rich variety of charisms that
beautifies the Church with the gifts of the Spirit and prepares it to develop
the universal mission of the Gospel. Moreover these consecrated persons have
come to renew the pledge to their consecration and mission. The
celebration will develop in three moments: The
Liturgy of the Light will begin with the lighting and blessing of candles
and continue on with the procession. The
Liturgy of the Word will culminate in the homily, the prayer of
thanksgiving for the gift of the consecrated life and the pledge of fidelity in
following Christ and in the apostolic mission. The
Eucharistic liturgy will seal this encounter with Christ and this
offering, with him, of the consecrated life until He is "the
light to illumine the people". Hymn
of preparation. While
we await the arrival of the Celebrant, the candles are lighted and a hymn is
sung. Blessing of the candles The
celebrant: In the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. R. Amen. Greeting
of the assembly: The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ R.
And with your spirit. Introduction
of the celebration: Brothers
and sisters, The
Celebrant blesses the candles: Let
us pray O
God, fountain and principle of every light, Amen. He
then blesses them with Holy Water. Procession At
the same time this hymn is sung: Lumen
ad revelationem gentium, et gloriam plebis tuae Israel. 1.
Now let your servant go in peace according to your word. 2.
For my eyes have seen your salvation, prepared by you before all people. 3.
A light to illumine the people and the glory of your people Israel. 4.
Glory be the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. 5.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever will be, world without end.
Amen. Kyrie and Gloria Collect Oration Let
us pray. Omnipotent
and Eternal God, look on your faithful here united R.
Amen. First reading From
the Letter to the Hebrews In
everything he made himself the same as his brothers Intimately
united to men as to brothers, Jesus has become the pontefice misericordioso. Faithful
in service to God, he expiated our sins and liberated us from the power of Satan
and of death. His suffering is able to help us in our own trials, because he
himself was tried. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23 Come
Lord into your temple. Acclamation at the Gospel Alleluia.
Now let your servant go in peace according to your word (Lc 2:29). Allelluia. Gospel From
the Gospel according to Luke My
eyes have seen your salvation To
Jesus who was presented in the Temple and offered to God as the first son
- the synthesis and image of all the messianic hope of Israel
- came a just man who had been moved by the Spirit. Simeon's wait is
finished, and now he can die. In his expectation of redemption, is all of the
Old Testament, the old law that is now satisfied as salvation opens and the
light for all people is lighted. But not without judgement and crisis. The child
will be the discriminating reference, the point of comparison, a sign of
contradiction. He must be either accepted or refused. This test will be
reflected also in Mary. In the Presentation at the Temple, the Cross, the
Crucifixion and Our Lady of Sorrows are outlined and reflected. The prophetess,
Anna, also perceives the redemption in that child and this gives her a reason
for thanksgiving and proclaiming. Homily Thanksgiving to God for the Gift of the Consecrated Life Celebrant: Brothers
and sisters, (All
pray in silence for some seconds) Celebrant: May you
Lord, holy Father, be blessed All: Glory
and praise to you, Lord. Reader: We
glorify you, Father and we bless you, Reader: Thank
you, Father, for the gift of Christ, All: Glory
and praise to you, Lord. Reader: We
glorify you, Father, and we bless you Reader: Thank
you, Father, for the gift of Christ, All: Glory
and praise to you, Lord. Reader: We
glorify you, Father, and we bless you, Reader: Thank
you, Father, for the gift of Christ, All: Glory
and praise to you, Lord. Celebrant: Look
benignly Lord on All
acclaim by singing: Amen. Oration over the gifts Accept,
O Father, our gifts and look upon your Church, R.
Amen. The
celebration continues on in the usual manner. Oration after communion Let
us pray, O
God, who satisfied the ardent wait of the saintly Simeon, R.
Amen. Benediction Celebrant: The
Lord be with you. R. And with your Spirit. May
God, who from darkness, called you to his admirable light, R.
Amen.
May
God make you witnesses of his truth to the brethren, R.
Amen.
As
Simeon and Anna waited for and found Christ, R.
Amen.
And
may the blessing of almighty God, R.
Amen. |
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