Sacred Heart Holy Hour 2

The blood of Christ, while it reveals the grandeur of the Father's love, shows how precious man is in God's eyes and how priceless the value of his life. The Apostle Peter reminds us of this: "You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Pt 1:18-19).

Precisely by contemplating the precious blood of Christ, the sign of his self-giving love (cf. Jn 13:1), the believer learns to recognize and appreciate the almost divine dignity of every human being and can exclaim with ever renewed and grateful wonder: "How precious must man be in the eyes of the Creator, if he ‘gained so great a Redeemer’ (Exultet of the Easter Vigil), and if God ‘gave his only Son’ in order that man ‘should not perish but have eternal life' (cf. Jn 3:16)!" Furthermore, Christ's blood reveals to man that his greatness, and therefore his vocation, consists in the sincere gift of self. Precisely because it is poured out as the gift of life, the blood of Christ is no longer a sign of death, of definitive separation from the brethren, but the instrument of a communion which is richness of life for all. Whoever in the Sacrament of the Eucharist drinks this blood and abides in Jesus (cf. Jn 6:56) is drawn into the dynamism of his love and gift of life, in order to bring to its fullness the original vocation to love which belongs to everyone (cf. Gen 1:27; 2:18-24). It is from the blood of Christ that all draw the strength to commit themselves to promoting life. It is precisely this blood that is the most powerful source of hope, indeed it is the foundation of the absolute certitude that in God's plan life will be victorious. "And death shall be no more," exclaims the powerful voice which comes from the throne of God in the Heavenly Jerusalem (Rev 21:4). And Saint Paul assures us that the present victory over sin is a sign and anticipation of the definitive victory over death, when the word that is written shall come about: "Death is swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

(1 Cor 15:54-55).

A few moments of silence

Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.

You breathed life into Adam

R....Lord, you give us life!

A reading from the Book of Genesis 9:1-7 LFM 338

[From man in regard to his fellow man

I will demand an accounting for human life.]

God blessed Noah and his sons and said to them:

"Be fertile and multiply and fill the earth.

Dread fear of you shall come upon all the animals of the earth

and all the birds of the air,

upon all the creatures that move about on the ground

and all the fishes of the sea ;

into your power they are delivered.

Every creature that is alive shall be yours to eat;

I give them all to you as I did the green plants.

Only flesh with its lifeblood still in it you shall not eat.

For your own lifeblood, too, I will demand an accounting:

from every animal I will demand it ,and from man in regard to his fellow man I will demand an accounting for human life.

If anyone sheds the blood of man,

by man shall his blood be shed;

For in the image of God has man been made.

Be fertile, then, and multiply;

abound on earth and subdue it."

The word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

A few moments of silence

Psalm 139: 1b-3, 13-14b, 23-24 LFM 440

Guide me Lord, along the everlasting way.

O Lord, you have probed me and you know me;

you know when I sit and when I stand;

you understand my thoughts from afar.

My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,

with all my way you are familiar.

Guide me Lord, along the everlasting way.

Truly you have formed my inmost being;

you knit me in my mother’s womb.

I give you thanks that I am fearfully,

wonderfully made;

wonderful are your works.

. Guide me Lord, along the everlasting way.

Probe me, O God, and know my heart;

try me, and know my thoughts;

See if my way is crooked,

and lead me in the way of old.

Guide me Lord, along the everlasting way.

After a period of silent prayer:

.

Litany of the Sacred Heart

Hymn: O Sacred Heart O Love Divine

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

God of all creation. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, through whom all things were made. Lord, have mercy.

Spirit of life and truth, Lord, have mercy.

On each child just conceived Lord, have mercy.

For their safety and health Lord, have mercy.

For nine months of growth Lord, have mercy.

That an angel may protect them Lord, have mercy.

For peace and for hope Lord, have mercy.

On all new fathers, Lord, have mercy.

On fathers who are alone, Lord, have mercy.

On fathers unemployed, Lord, have mercy.

On fathers addicted, Lord, have mercy.

On fathers who are abusive, Lord, have mercy.

On young fathers who are afraid, Lord, have mercy.

On fathers who've run away, Lord, have mercy.

On all new mothers, Lord, have mercy.

On mothers who are alone, Lord, have mercy.

On mothers unemployed, Lord, have mercy.

On mothers addicted, Lord, have mercy.

On mothers who are abusive, Lord, have mercy.

On young mothers who are afraid, Lord, have mercy.

On mothers who are in pain, Lord, have mercy.

On those who defend life, Lord, have mercy.

On those who love the child in the womb, Lord, have mercy.

On those who pray for the unborn child, Lord, have mercy.

On all who work to change unjust laws, Lord, have mercy.

On all who live the Gospel of Life, Lord, have mercy.

On Politicians who work for life, Lord, have mercy.

On our Prime Minister, Lord, have mercy.

On the members of the Supreme Court Lord, have mercy.

On all too little to vote or persuade, Lord, have mercy.

On all who work for life, Lord, have mercy.

On doctors of life and of truth, Lord, have mercy.

On doctors who gaze on life's mysteries, Lord, have mercy.

On physicians who see into the womb, Lord, have mercy.

On surgeons who heal the unborn child, Lord, have mercy.

On all who defend the child in the womb, Lord, have mercy.

On nurses who love little babies, Lord, have mercy.

On nursing students, Lord, have mercy.

On those who first hear the heartbeat, Lord, have mercy.

On those who first feel a kick, Lord, have mercy.

On nurses who cradle the newborn, Lord, have mercy.

On nurses who foster the unborn, Lord, have mercy.

On all who protect defenseless life, Lord, have mercy.

On judges who struggle with justice, Lord, have mercy.

On lawyers who seek to speak truth, Lord, have mercy.

On judges who love life, Lord, have mercy.

On all out judges Lord, have mercy.

On those who argues before them, Lord, have mercy.

On the unborn child who rests in their hands, Lord, have mercy.

On all victims of abortion, Lord, have mercy.

On the woman whose memories cause her to cry, Lord, have mercy.

On those whose pain nags and holds on, Lord, have mercy.

On the unborn who rest with God, Lord, have mercy.

On all who seek mercy, Lord, have mercy.

On all who seek peace, Lord, have mercy.

On all who seek healing, and mercy and perfect peace, Lord, have mercy.

God our loving Father, grant wisdom to those who govern us,

compassion and courage to those who work to defend human life,

and safety and care to every human being.

For you alone who formed us in our mother's wombs,

and who call us home to heaven,

are God, for ever and ever. Amen.