Spiritual Program

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FRIDAY MORNING OPENING SPIRITUAL

A Woman of Faith

League Prayer

All:	Hail Mary…
Leader:	“What must this women, Mary, have been like? This Woman who was chosen by God as mother for His God-Son. She was blessed among women! She was the first creature who was able to say an unconditional yes to God’s will.

Reading: Isaiah 55: 3-8

All:	No one heard the word of God more than Mary; she opened herself completely to it. No one put it into practice more than she; through her it became flesh. Mary is the perfect example of how to listen. Through Mary’s listening, the world became God within us.
Right	Jesus living in Mary, come and live in me. Here is a body to move among people. Reach out again to others.
Left:	Jesus giving in Mary, come and give in me. Here are two hands that are able to give, teach them to share with others.
Leader:	Mary, teach us here today. As Christian women of the Catholic Women’s League, we are called to serve, to hear the word, to live it and to believe. We are called to know that we are deeply loved, and this spirit of love is within us to share. You are waiting for our “yes” released in love. Teach us, Mary to be fully open, loving and forgiving. Help us to serve each other in all we do. This we ask in Jesus’ name.
All:	Amen
All:	Each one of us has a mission to fulfil, a mission of love. At the hours of death, when we come face to face with God, we are going to be judged on love; not how much we have done, but how much love we have put into our actions ¹
Leader:	Blessed Mary, so humble
All:	Obtain for us the blessing of Jesus
Leader:	Blessed Mary, in mourning
All:	Comfort us in our daily trials.
Leader:	Blessed Mary, pure of heart.
All:	Help us have uncluttered hearts.
Leader:	Blessed Mary, lover of peace.
All:	Help us become a peaceful people
Leader:	Blessed Mary, desirous of justice.
All:	Aid us in doing the will of God.
Leader:	Let us pray, Lord, help us to perform our CWL duties with the same response that Mary gave. Help us to use our special talents to help others. Give us the courage to love and understand, to change the things we are capable of, to make this a better world. Helps us to always work together, for ourselves, our parish, our diocese, our province and our country in love. We ask this in Jesus’ name. ²
All:	She is my strength, Most Holy Virgin, privileged one from birth. Her love restores the weakest to citadels of worth. Without fear, I speak to her and even as I start, the words which seem the hardest are closest to my heart. There comes a captured moment in the quietness of day when through the healing silence I somehow hear her say: “Don’t worry, I am with you through loneliness and fear. I will be your confidence. Remember, I am here.” And so I do remember at any time or place the power of my endurance is in her warm embrace. ³
Hymn:	*Hail Mary: Gentle Woman*

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Credits / source:
¹ St. Teresa of Calcutta
² Lynn L’Heureux, Alberta Mackenzie Provincial Council
³ (Kathy Vignoli, printed in The Marian Helpers’ Bulletin, August-September/89)
Kay Allen – Newfoundland and Labrador

FRIDAY AFTERNOON OPENING SPIRITUAL

Prayer for Water ⁴

O God, who created the Earth and all that is in it, we thank you for the abundant blessing of water and its availability in our lives.

You created water to be a source of life for your people. However, our community struggles with ensuring access of this gift to all of your people.

Help us to be better stewards of your creation by being more aware of our misuse of water.

Help us to advocate for public policies and private actions that make water more accessible to all of our global family. Amen

Hymn: Flow River Flow

⁴ Credits / source:: Catholic Health Association of the United States

FRIDAY AFTERNOON CLOSING SPIRITUAL

Psalm 27

All:	The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?
Right:	The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink?
All:	The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?
Left:	When evildoers draw near to devour my flesh, it is they, my enemies and foes, who stumble and fall.
All:	The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?
Right:	Though an army encamp against me my heart would not fear. Though war break out against me even then would I trust.
All:	The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?
Left:	There is one thing I ask of the Lord, for this I long, to live in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to savor the sweetness of the Lord, to behold his temple.
All:	The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?
Right:	For there he keeps me safe in his tent in the day of evil. He hides me in the shelter of his tent, on a rock he sets me safe.
All:	The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear?
Left:	And now my head shall be raised above my foes who surround me, and I shall offer within his tent a sacrifice of joy. I will sing and make music for the Lord.
All:	The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear? 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