Franciscan Prayer Ministry of Rochester
The Franciscan Prayer Ministry of Rochester is reaching out to the broader community of Rochester as a gesture of compassion and love. As Franciscans we serve the poor, the oppressed, the sick and the alienated. The Franciscan prayer ministers bring comfort and love to the people of God.
We celebrate "The Prayer Hour" at Saint John the Evangelist Chapel in Rochester, MN, every first Saturday of the month at 10:00 AM.
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Petition Guest Book April, 2011
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and referring to the original petition date and time
The Prayer Hour
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15 12-13
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. Matthew 16 24
Leader1: Let us give thanks to God the Father, always and for everything.
All: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Leader1: Francis was known as the lover of the Cross. He composed “The Office of the Passion” also known as “The Office of the Cross” and prayed often with affection. The first of the five parts of the Office is for “Compline” of Holy Thursday.
Excerpts from "The Office of the Passion" by Saint Francis of Assisi
The Praises Before The Office
Leader2: "Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God almighty,
Who was, and who is, and who is coming."
All:Let us praise and glorify him for ever.
Leader2: "Worthy are thou, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honour and power."
All: Let us praise and glorify him for ever.
Leader2: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
to receive power and divinity
and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and blessing."
All: Let us praise and glorify him for ever.
Leader2: Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
All: Let us praise and glorify him for ever.
Leader2: "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord."
All: Let us praise and glorify him for ever.
Leader2: "Praise our God, all you his servants,
and you who fear him, the small and the great.:
All: Let us praise and glorify him for ever.
Leader2: Praise him in his glory, heaven and earth, "and every creature
that is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth,
and such as are on the sea, and all that are in them."
All: Let us praise and glorify him for ever.
Leader2: Glory be the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
All: Let us praise and glorify him for ever.
Leader2: As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen
All: Let us praise and glorify him for ever.
Prayer
Leader2: All-powerful, all holy, most high and supreme God, sovereign good, all good,
every good, you who alone are good, it is to you we must give all praise,
all glory, all thanks, all honour, all blessing; to you we must refer all good always.
All: Amen.
A minute of Silence
First Office: COMPLINE of Holy Thursday derived from "Psalms"
Leader2:Separate the audience (Right and Left)
All: Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary, among all the women of the world there is none like you; you are the daughter and handmaid of the most high King and Father of heaven; you are the mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ; you are the spouse of the Holy Spirit. Pray for us, with St Michael the archangel and all the powers of heaven and all the saints, to your most holy and beloved Son, our Lord and Master.
All: 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.
Right: My wanderings you have counted; my tears are stored in your flask; are they not recorded
in your book? (55:9).
Left: All my foes whisper together against me (40:8); and take counsel together (70:10).
Right: They repaid me evil for good and hatred for my love (108:5).
Left: In return for my love they slandered me, but I prayed (108:4).
Right: My holy Father, King of heaven and earth, be not far from me, for I am in distress; be near,
for I have no one to help me (21:12).
Left: Then do my enemies turn back, when I call upon you; now I know that God is with me (55:10).
Right: My friends and my companions stand back because of my affliction (37:12).
Left: You have taken my friends away from me; you have made me an abomination to them;
I am imprisoned, and I cannot escape (87:9).
Right: Holy Father, be not far from me; O my God, hasten to aid me (1:20).
Left: Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation! (37:23).
All: 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.
All: Antiphon: Holy Virgin Mary, among all the women of the world there is none like you; you are the daughter and handmaid of the most high King and Father of heaven; you are the mother of our most holy Lord Jesus Christ; you are the spouse of the Holy Spirit. Pray for us, with St Michael the archangel and all the powers of heaven and all the saints, to your most holy and beloved Son, our Lord and Master.
All: 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.
Gospel Reading:
Lector: As we listen to the same reading of the Gospel of our Lord, let us reflect on this question: “How is the Lord speaking to me today?”
Lector: John 15:7-17
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. 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 Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandments: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”
Lector:(a minute of silence)
Franciscan:Reflection:
Examples of The Story of the Divine Mercy Prayer from St. Faustina's Diary
Shortly before the outbreak of World War II, a simple, uneducated, young Polish nun receives a special call from Jesus. Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska became a unique apostle of Christ. Saint Faustina was canonized by the Church on April 30, 2000. Her diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul, has become the handbook for devotion to The Divine Mercy. The following historical realities are found in Saint Faustina’s Diary. Through Saint Faustina, Jesus is communicating with us on a personal level, during this Holy Hour.
Saint Faustina was born as Helena Kowalska in the village of Glogowiec west of Lodz, Poland, on August 25, 1905. To this simple uneducated, but courageous woman religious, who trusted the Lord without limit, Jesus consigned the great mission to proclaim His message of Mercy directly to the whole world:
“Today, I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world, I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing it to My merciful Heart” (Diary 1588)
“You are the secretary of My mercy; I have chosen you for that office in this and the next life” Diary 1605)…to make know to souls the great mercy that I have for them, and to exhort them to trust in the bottomless depth of My mercy” (Diary, 1567)
+February 22, 1931
47 In the evening, when I was in my cell, I saw the Lord Jesus clothed in a white garment. One hand [was] raised in the gesture of blessing, the other was touching the garment at the breast. From beneath the garment slightly drawn aside at the breast, there were emanating two large rays, one red, the other pale. In silence I kept my gaze fixed on the Lord; my soul was struck with awe, but also with great joy. After a while, Jesus said to me:
Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the signature: “Jesus, I trust in You”. I desire that this image be venerated, first in your chapel, and [then] throughout the world.
48 I promise that the soul that will venerate this image will not perish. I also promise victory over [its] enemies already here on earth, especially at the hour of death. I Myself will defend it as My own glory.
369 ...When we returned home, I dropped into the Chapel for a moment, and then I heard the voice in my soul: There is more merit to one hour of meditation on My Sorrowful Passion than there is to a whole year of flagellation that draws blood; the contemplation of my painful wounds is of a great profit to you, and it brings Me great joy...
378 ... God has promised a great grace especially to you and to all those ... who will proclaim My great mercy. I shall protect them Myself at the hour of death, as My own glory. And even if the sins of souls are as dark as night, when the sinner turns to My mercy, he gives Me the greatest praise and is the Glory of My Passion. When a soul extols My goodness, Satan trembles before it and flees to the very bottom of hell.
379 During one of the Adorations, Jesus promised me that; with souls that have recourse to My mercy, and with those that glorify and proclaim My great mercy to others, I will deal according to My infinite mercy at the hour of their death.
My Heart is sorrowful, Jesus said, because even chosen souls do not understand the greatness of My mercy. Their relationship [with Me] is, in certain ways, imbued with mistrust. Oh how much that wounds My heart! Remember My passion, and if you do not believe My words, at least believe My wounds.
474 Friday, September 13, 1935
In the evening, when I was in my cell, I saw an Angel, the executor of divine wrath. He was clothed in a dazzling robe, his face gloriously bright, a cloud beneath his feet. From the cloud, bolts of thunder and flashes of lightning were springing into his hands; and from his hand they were going forth, and only then were they striking the earth. When I saw this sign of divine wrath which was about to strike the earth, and in particular a certain place, which for good reasons I cannot name, I began to implore the Angel to hold off for a few moments, and the world would do penance. But my plea was a mere nothing in the face of the divine anger. Just then I saw the Most Holy Trinity. The greatness of Its majesty pierced me deeply, and I did not dare to repeat my entreaties. At that very moment I felt in my soul the power of Jesus’ grace, which dwells in my soul. When I became conscious of this grace, I was instantly snatched up before the Throne of God... I found myself pleading with God for the world with words heard interiorly.
475 The words with which I entreated God are these: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ for our sins and those of the whole world; for the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us.
476 The next morning, when I entered the chapel, I heard these words interiorly: Every time you enter the chapel, immediately recite the prayer which I taught you yesterday. When I had said the prayer, in my soul I heard these words:
This prayer will serve to appease My wrath. You will recite it for nine days, on the beads of the rosary, in the following manner: First of all, you will say one OUR FATHER and HAIL MARY and the I BELIEVE IN GOD. Then on the OUR FATHER beads you will say the following words: “Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.” On the HAIL MARY beads you will say the following words: “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.” In conclusion, three times you will recite these words: “Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
This is “The Divine Mercy Chaplet”, and it is prayed for the Sick and the Dying.
961 This morning after completing my spiritual exercises, I began at once to crochet. I sensed a stillness in my heart; I sensed that Jesus was resting in it. That deep and sweet consciousness of God's presence prompted me to say to the Lord, "O Most Holy Trinity dwelling in my heart, I beg You: grant the grace of conversion to as many souls as the [numbers of] stitches that I will make today with this crochet hook." Then I heard these words in my soul: My daughter, too great are your demands. "Jesus, You know that for You it is easier to grant much rather than a little." That is so, it is less difficult for Me to grant a soul much rather than a little, but every conversion of a sinful soul demands sacrifice. "Well, Jesus, I offer You (304) this whole-hearted work of mine; this offering does not seem to me to be too small for such a large number of souls; You know, Jesus, that for thirty years You were saving souls by just this kind of work. And since holy obedience forbids me to perform great penances and mortifications, therefore I ask You, Lord: accept these mere nothings stamped with the seal of obedience as great things." Then I heard a voice in my soul: My dear daughter, I comply with your request.
1074 When I went for adoration, I heard these words: My beloved daughter, write down these words, that today My heart has rested in this convent [the Cracow house], Tell the world about My mercy and My love.
The flames of mercy are burning me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain the cause Me when they do not want to accept them! My daughter, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace.
Tell [all people], My daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls.
1075 Souls who spread the honor of My mercy I shield through their entire lives as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a Judge for them, but the Merciful Savior. (21) At that last hour, a soul has nothing with which to defend itself except My mercy. Happy is the soul that during its lifetime immersed itself in the Fountain of Mercy, because justice will have no hold on it.
1209 (57) Jesus, I trust in You.
Novena to The Divine Mercy
which Jesus instructed me to write down and make before the Feast of Mercy. It begins on Good Friday.
I desire that during these nine days you bring souls to the fountain of My mercy, that they may draw therefrom strength and refreshment and whatever grace they need in the hardships of life, and especially at the hour of death.
On each day you will bring to My Heart a different group of souls, and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy, and I will bring all these souls into the house of My Father. You will do this in this life and in the next. I will deny nothing to any soul whom you will bring to the fount of My mercy. On each day you will beg My Father; on the strength of My bitter Passion, for graces for these souls.
I answered. "Jesus, I do not know how to make this novena of which souls to bring first into Your Most Compassionate Heart." Jesus replied that He would tell me which souls to bring each day into His Heart.
First Day
1210 Today, bring to Me all mankind, to Me all mankind, especially all sinners and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me.
1211 Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which (58) we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from it. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Oh omnipotence of Divine Mercy,
Salvation of sinful people,
You are a sea of mercy and compassion;
You aid those who entreat You with humility.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy forever and ever. Amen.
Second Day
1212 Today bring to me the souls of priests and religious, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave Me the strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them, as through channels, My mercy flows out upon mankind.
Third Day
1214 Today bring to Me all devout and faithful souls, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. these souls brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness.
Fourth Day
1216 Today bring to Me the pagans and those who do not yet know Me. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.
Fifth Day
1218 Today bring to Me the souls of heretics and schismatics, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart; that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal, and in this way they alleviate My Passion.
Sixth Day
1220 Today bring to me the meek and humble souls and the souls of little children, and immerse them in My mercy. these souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who would keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble soul is able to receive My grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.
Seventh Day
1224 Today bring to me the souls who especially venerate and glorify My mercy, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over My Passion and entered most deeply into My Spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.
Eighth Day
1226 Today bring to Me the souls who are in the prison of Purgatory, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury (64) of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice.
Ninth Day
1228 Today bring to Me souls who have become lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: "Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will." For them, the last hope (65) of salvation is to flee to My mercy.
Intercessions: The Community's prayer petitions
Leader3: The Community’s petitions are read (The Lord is touching someone who…)
Leader3:A minute of silence
Leader1: Saint Francis inspired us how to pray
All: Our Father... (Chanted)
All: “We adore thee, Christ, here and in all thy Churches which are in the whole world, and bless thee, because by thy holy cross thou hast redeemed the world.”
(During Special Occasions)
Excerpts of The Divine Mercy Chaplet
The Passion of Christ
Leader1: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
All: Amen
The Agony in the Garden
Leader1:
The Lord went to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the garden he said to them, “Pray that you may not undergo the test.” However they were exhausted and tired and fell asleep from grief. In the meantime the Lord kneeling, he prayed saying, “Father if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still not my will but yours be done.” This is the example of righteousness, trusting the will of the Father. The beloved Father sent him an angel to strengthen him and gave him courage to carry his mission of self-sacrifice for the salvation of humanity who he loves so much.
Leader1: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
All: In atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
(Repeat three times...the following)
Leader1: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
All: Have mercy on us and on the whole world.
The Scourging at the Pillar
Leader1:
The Chief priests brought the Lord to the praetorium in front of Pontius Pilate to sentence him to death because according to Jewish law, they were not allowed to execute a Jew. Pilate questioned our Lord and found no guilt. However he ordered his guards to flagellate him, punishing him because he said that he was a King. Pilate thought that he may soften the Lord’s sentence by this gesture. The Lord has been flogged, weakened without giving any resistance, and this for our salvation.
Leader1: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
All: In atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
(Repeat three times...the following)
Leader1: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
All: Have mercy on us and on the whole world.
The Crowning with Thorns
Leader1:
The soldiers strip the Lord from his garment, clothed him with a military purple cloak and placed a reed in his right hand. One of the soldiers fashioned a crown with thorns and placed it on our Lord’s head, inflicting pain and suffering. They mocked him saying: “Here is the King of the Jews”. Spat on him, and then took the reed from his hand and struck him repeatedly. Then they brought the Lord back to the praetorium in front of Pilate. Pilate asked the Lord to sit at the judge’s bench, called stone pavement, in Hebrew “Gabbatha”. He presented Him to the crowd: “Etche Homo” who has been scourged and humiliated for his transgressions. The crowd shouted: “Crucify Him, Crucify Him”. Shall I crucify your King? We have no King but Caesar, and this man blasphemed saying that He is the Son of God. Hearing those words, Pilate got scared, washed his hands, then he handed him over to them to be crucified.
Leader1: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
All: In atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
(Repeat three times...the following)
Leader1: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
All: Have mercy on us and on the whole world.
The Carrying of the Cross
Leader1:
The soldiers took the purple cloak and gave him back His garment. Then they led him carry the cross. According to tradition the Lord carried the cross and fell three times. Our beloved Father sent Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross, and also according to tradition the beloved Father sent Veronica to wipe His face; a gesture of human compassion, at the time when humanity is about to be saved by the Lord. Then the Lord arrived at Golgotha, known as Calvary.
Leader1: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
All: In atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
(Repeat three times...the following)
Leader1: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
All: Have mercy on us and on the whole world.
The Crucifixion
Leader1:
The Lord was laid down on the cross. The soldiers nailed his hands on the crossbar and his feet at the foot of the cross. As they erected the cross the load caused by the weight of our Lord was immediately transferred to the higher stress points – the nails. Hence the flesh around the nails was in such a tension that the pain was unbearable. The Lord shouted: “Elli, Elli, Lama Sabakhtani?” My God why have you forsaken me? The beloved Father sent him his beloved mother Mary and his beloved disciple John at the foot of the cross. Thereafter, the Lord shouted: “It is finished; Father into Your hands I command my spirit.” He breathed his last.
Leader1: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ,
All: In atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
(Repeat three times...the following)
Leader1: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,
All: Have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Concluding Doxology
Leader1:
A Roman Soldier, Longinus, threw his lance and pierced the side of our Lord and immediately gushed out blood and water; the blood of the new and everlasting covenant for the forgiveness of our sins and life everlasting, and the water of righteousness, when we accept God’s trust.
This water reminds us of the Prophet Ezekiel’s dream. The Lord God brought Ezekiel in divine visions to the land of Israel, where He set him down on a high mountain. A city seems to be built, a New Jerusalem, and in this new city a new temple being built. From this new temple a stream of water is trickling from beneath the threshold of the temple. This stream of water becomes a river, and this river empties in the Dead Sea. The sea waters become fresh waters, and every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish. Along both banks of the river fruit trees shall grow; their leaves will never fade, nor do their fruits fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruits. Their fruits shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.
Leader1: Through our Lord's wounds we are reconciled with the Father, saved, healed and nourished
All Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
(three times)
The Rite of Dismissal
Leader1: Lord bless all of us present in this gathering and all of the people whom you touched during our intercessional prayers, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Hymn: "Jesus I Trust in You" by Michael J. Doyle, Jr.
Jesus I trust in You
Lord of Lords Prince of Peace humble Shepherd too
The fountain of Mercy and love so True,
Jesus Lord I trust in You.
(Jesus said:)
"Bring to me all sinners immerse them in my love
And bring to me the Clergy anointed from above
Then bring to me the faithful they help to ease my pain,
All these and more I died for that they might live again."
Jesus I trust in You
Lord of Lords Prince of Peace humble Shepherd too
The fountain of Mercy and love so True,
Jesus Lord I trust in You.
All 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
All O my Jesus forgive us of our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls into Heaven, especially those in most need of thy Mercy.
