Day 4 : Man and the Purpose of His Existence
The Rosary
The Doxology
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended onto hell. On the third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. AMEN.
The Joyful Mysteries -- Mondays & Saturdays
- The Annunciation
- The Visitation
- The Birth of the Lord
- The Presentation
- The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
The Sorrowful Mysteries -- Tuesdays & Fridays
- The Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane
- The Scourging at the Pillar
- The Crowning with Thorns
- The Carrying of the Cross
- The Crucifixion and Death of the Lord
The Luminous Mysteries -- Thursdays
- The Baptism of Jesus
- Christ's Manifestation at the Wedding in Cana
- The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God
- The Transfiguration
- The Institution of the Holy Eucharist
The Glorious Mysteries -- Wednesdays & Sundays
- The Resurrection
- The Ascension
- The Descent of the Holy Spirit
- The Assumption of Mother Mary
- The Coronation of Mother Mary as Queen
Hail Holy Queen
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy. Hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee, do we cry, poor banish children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, Oh most gracious Advocate thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this, our exile, show us the Blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Oh Clement, Oh loving, Oh Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.
The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Entrance Song
Come Holy Ghost, Creator Blest
And in our souls, take up your rest
Come with your grace and heavenly aid
To fill the hearts which you have made
To fill the hearts which you have made
The Act of Contrition
Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and I am afraid of the pains of Hell. But most of all, I have offended Thee my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do my penance, to amend my life and sin no more. AMEN.
Salutations
Opening Prayers
Oh most powerful Paraclete, God the Holy Spirit, we humbly ask of you to sanctify us and give us the best of health, give us the strength and courage to overcome our sinfulness.
Praises to the most Blessed Trinity
Prayers continued after Reflection...
Reflection
Day 4 : Man and the Purpose of His Existence
Leader: The "five days" of creation showed GOD'S WISDOM for creating the less perfect to the more perfect when HE created man on his sixth day of work. "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them" (Gen 11:27).
MAN - THE PERSON. Being in God's image makes the individual man and woman, a PERSON, a "someone" and not a "something". He is capable of self-knowledge, knownledge of the things around him and of having friendships with other persons. He is also capable of loving. He is called into a Covenant with God and can make a response of love not known by any other creature.
In material creation only man can know and love God. He was willed by God for his own sake and he is called to share in God's own life. St. Caterine of Siena asked, "What made God establish man in so great a dignity?"
MAN IS COMPOSED OF BODY AND SOUL. Using symbolic language, the Bible says that God willed man to be both corporeal and spiritual. "Then the Lord God formed man of fust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being" (Gen. 2:7). In Scripture "soul" can mean human life or the entire human person. It is the spiritual rinciple within man.
The spiritual soul is the "form" of the body. Man is not the union of two natures. I man, spirit and matter form one nature. The only difference is that when man is devoid of life, when the soul separates from the body during death, the body rots and returns to dust. The soul lives into eternity because it is Immortal.
God creates every spiritual should immediately upon conception. It is not "produced" by the parents and does not perish at death. It is reunited with the body at the final resurrection.
GOD MADE MAN, MALE AND FEMALE, HE MADE THEM. Becauseman was alone, God created a "helper fit for him" (Gen. 2:19-20). Woman is mde as a COMPANION, NOT A SLAVE. When God fashioned the woman, the man cried out in wonder, "This, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh." (Gen. 2:23). By this, Adam knowledges that woman shares his humanity.
God willed that man and woman would have perfect equality as human persons. "Being man" or "being woman" is a great reality and each possesses an inalienable dignity. In contrast, God is neither man nor woman. He is pure spirit. The different perfections of man and woman (as mother, father, husband, wife) reflect and speak of God's infinite perfections.
MAN AND WOMAN ENJOYS TO FRIENDSHIP OF GOD. Man was created in friendship with his Creator, in harmony with himself and with all creation, and in a state surpassed only by the new creation in Christ.
Our first parents, Adam and Eve, enjoyed an original "sate of holiness and justice" by which they shared in divine life. While remaining in this divine intimacy, they would not suffer or die. They also possessed a personal inner harmony and a harmony with each other, and with creation. In other words, they enjoyed a Person-to-Person Relationship with God. This was called "original justice".
This divine gift of original "state of holiness and justice" was realized within man himself because he was free from the triple concupiscence that now subjects all men. These are sensual pleasure, covetousness of earthly good, and false self-assertion. These three evils are sensual lust, enticement for the eyes and a pretentious life. In the garden of Paradise, work was not a burden because man was always in harmony with the Will of God. Unforunately, our first parents lost this entire harmony by their sin.
Now, man can rightly ask. Where does evil come from? "I seek to know where evil comes from and there was no solution." says St. Augustine.
This is because evil or sin comes from within man. Committing a sin is man's assertion of his self-pride, self-worth, not remembering that he is only a creature of God. And when we commit a MORTAL SIN we reject the Image of God in us rationally and functionally. That is why we are always disturbed when God is NO LONGER within us. Remember man's life is NOT for the joy and happiness of this world but for the world to come, and that is ETERNAL LIFE and HAPPINESS. Life with and towards God must be man's direction here on earth.
Prayer
Novena Prayers (cont)
Petitions to the Blessed Trinity
God eternal Son, image of the splendor and greatness of the Father, teach us how to be humble and truthful in our words and actions. Give us the grace to follow your footsteps the way your Apostles and disciples followed you. Grant us the courage to bear the burdens of our daily life which are just very little compared to the sufferings you have encountered, due to our sinfulness. Bless us with the Love that had consumed your being just to give us our salvation, choosing death in order to give us back our life. May your Sacred Heart be always a constant source and fountain of the kindness, of your mercy, and goodness with which you have redeemed us. May your image in front of us, be a constant reminder that you really care for us, and may your presence in the Blessed Sacrament bring us joy, peace, and eternal happiness.
Oh God, the Holy Spirit, mutual love of the Father and the Son, grant, we beseech you, that all of humanity be endowed with that same mutual love and togetherness which exists in the most Blessed Trinity. Enkindle our hearts with the fire of your eternal Love. Purify and sanctify our souls with the virtues that we need so that we can achieve that eternal life prepared for us. AMEN.
Consecration to the Three Divine Persons
Oh Jesus, we desire to serve you with that same love that impels you to remain with us in the Holy Eucharist for the nourishment of our souls. Strengthen us, Oh Lord, and make pure our hearts and minds so that we may serve you with our pure and true love.
Oh Holy Spirit, we desire to dedicate our whole being to you and offer ourselves, body and soul, in the same manner that our Mother Mary has dedicated herself to you in union with Saint Joseph and the martyrs and all the saints in Heaven. With them, we praise, honor and glorify YOU, now and forever. AMEN.
Concluding Prayers
Final Prayer
Final Song -- Hymn to our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fatima
We come on bended knees
To beg your intercession
For peace and unity
Dear lady, won't you show us
The right and shining way
We pledge our love and offer you
A rosary each day
You promised at Fatima
Each time that you appeared
To help us if we pray to you
To vanish war and fear
Dear Lady on first Saturdays
We ask your guiding hands
For grace and guidance here on earth
And protection of our land
¡VIVA SANTISIMA TRINIDAD!