Day 8 : The Catholic Church and her Salvific Mission
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 8 : The Catholic Church and her Salvific Mission
Leader: The Second Vatican Council asserts that "Christ is the light of the nations and with his proclamation of the GOOD NEWS in the Gospels, it is hoped that this light will shine out visibly from the Church"; just as the moon has the light from the sun, the Church has the light from Christ. The Church depends totally on the Holy Spirit, because the Spirit "has endowed the Church with holiness." Belief that the Church is One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic is inseparable from the belief in the Blessed Trinity. We do not believe in the church but in God who bestowed his gifts on the Church.
The Salvific Mission of Christ would have failed had he not established a church. This is within the divine plan of God for the second person to die on the cross to save mankind from sin.
The Church is born from Christ’s total self-giving. The blood and water flowing from Christ’s side symbolize the origin and the growth of the Church. Just as Eve came from the side of Adam, so the Church came from the side of Christ. This Church has seven (7) distinguishing marks distinct and different from any or every group in history. These marks are:
- The people of God are not the property of any one people, race, nationality or group. Membership is based on FAITH in Christ and Baptism, not from physical birth.
- The People are messianic; Christ shares with his anointing of the Spirit.
- Their dignity is to be children of God because God’s Spirit dwells within them.
- Their law is to love other as Christ loved them (John 13:34)
- Their Mission is to be the "light of the world" and the "salt of the earth", a hope for the whole human race.
- Their destiny is the Kingdom of God, in time and eternity.
Within this Church, there is Unity. This unity stimulates charity. "There is neither Jew nor Greek slave or free, male or female. All is one in Christ Jesus" (Catholic Catechism 790-791). Besides Charity, this Church has three visible bonds of common union: PROFESSION OF ONE FAITH, COMMON CELEBRATION OF WORSHIP, and APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION (Catholic Catechism 815)
In this Church, Christ gives his own life to believers through the sacraments. There are seven (7) SACRAMENTS. These sacraments serve as bridges from earth to the Heavenly Kingdom of God.
By BAPTISM a person is born again and once more the gates of God’s kingdom are opened to him. And this person shares in the mission of Christ. By CONFIRMATION, a Christian is given the SEAL of the Holy Spirit so everyone would know that he belongs to the fold of Christ as the Shepherd. And because there is a flock to be attended to, Christ established the sacrament of HOLY ORDERS. Priests take charge of the Ministerial authority and work of the Church.
Sin is primarily an offense against God, and it also damages the common union of the members in the Church. Reconciliation with God and with the members must be restored. This is achieved by the SACRAMENT OF PENANCE.
Scripture speaks extensively of MARRIAGE, its mystery, its origin and its purpose. It describes the difficulties in marriage caused by sin and the renewal of marriage by Christ. The union of man and woman was from the beginning of creation blessed by God. This same union was made more meaningful in the Wedding Feast at Cana. This definitely shows that the SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE can be bridge for families, husband and wife, father and mother and children to the kingdom of God.
St. James attests to the early Church’s own rite for the sick. The elders (presbyters) should pray over the sick person and anoint him with oil in the Lord’s name. The Lord will raise him up and forgive his sins (James 5:14-15). Tradition has recognized this rite as one of the seven sacraments, the ANOINTING OF THE SICK (used to be called EXTREME UNCTION).
All the Church’s Sacraments and ministries are oriented to the HOLY EUCHARIST, "the source and summit of Christian life". In the Eucharist, the whole spiritual good of the Church (Christ himself) is contained. In the Eucharist we are united with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life with God.
The bread and wine become Christ’s Body and Blood by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit. One the eve of his Passion, "he took bread" and "he took the cup filled with wine." The bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. The bread becomes the REAL BODY of Christ and the wine becomes the REAL BLOOD of Christ. This miracle happens during Consecration and in every Consecration during the Holy Mass. The substance of the bread and the substance of the wine through the process of TRANSUBSTANTIATION.
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!