Salesian Corner | Mermier | MSFS | Spirituality

Holy Hour on Founder's day

REFLECTIONS

Grace and peace await all who visit Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. How good it is for us to be here! We are blessed in being chosen to keep Jesus’ company in the Blessed Sacrament. Here he waits for us with all the affection of his Sacred Heart. When we come to Him in the Blessed Sacrament we come to Bethlehem, we come to Calvary and we come to the Resurrection. The Eucharist is the continuation of Christ’s Incarnation on earth, for the Eucharist is the gift of Our Lord’s passion. In the Eucharist Christ comes to us with all His power flowing out profusely on all who come into His presence. And thereby strengthening the weak, comforting the afflicted, encouraging the depressed, enlightening the confused and healing the broken hearted.

Your Response LORD WE THANK YOU AND PRAISE YOU.

We thank you Father, for the wonder of your creation. You created me out of nothing and molded a body with your hands and gave me heart to love…RESPONSE

O God our Father, we thank you for having remembered us even when we forgot you, and for having accepted us with your loving kindness… RESPONSE

O God, our Father, we thank you for all the spiritual and temporal blessings, known and unknown which we have received from your hand…RESPONSE

LET US PRAY: O Jesus, we thank you for your boundless love. Thank you for becoming our brother, our friend, for your love experienced through our brothers and sisters. We thank you for all the beautiful things you have created. We thank you Lord Jesus for your faithfulness through your Sacraments. We thank you for our crosses and sufferings, for the rewards you have promised. We adore you, we love you, we thank you. Amen.

MERMIER’S LOVE FOR MISSIONS

It was at this time that Mermier’s love for the Missions developed. He consulted Fr. Desjacques who advised him to remain at his desk. This advice of Fr. Desjacques upset him very much and during this searching period that on the 23rd. of February that his saintly mother expired. His wish now was to join the Jesuit order. He sought guidance from Fr. Godinot of the Jesuit Order, but again he did not receive a favorable answer. As a result Fr. Desjacques advised him: “Embrace the crucifix and listen to it.” When Archbishop of Chambery heard of the intentions of Fr. Mermier, he wrote to his Superior at the College of Melan: “I am not opposed to vocations; nevertheless, I think it is my duty to think of the diocese before anything else.” The Bishop to distract his ambitious plans nominated him as the archpriest of an important parish of Chaterlard at the age of 28 years. Even though Fr. Mermier had no desire to continue and remain in a parish, he did his work extraordinarily well. But the desire of the Missions was ever present before him. Fr. Mermier had this to say regarding Chaterlard, ‘a terrible spot.’ Here there reigned the spirit of ignorance, licentiousness and corruption. Fr. Mermier was not to be deterred. He organized a Mission on 18th November 1821 for eight days and Fr. Joseph Marie Mermier himself preached the Mission. However, it was not successful. Humiliated and grieved, the Parish Priest and the missionary wondered whether they should give up the preaching. Neither one nor the other said Fr. Farve: “Let us set out, let us ask God for the conversion of your people.” The result bore abundant fruits and here the two, Fr. Farve and Fr. Mermier began earnestly their new project of the Missions. Fr. Mermier resigned as the parish priest and Fr. Farve his chair of Humanities as professor.

These Missions involved the people themselves, and so they kept recollected and this helped them to make an examination of Conscience. Sermons, Reflections, Dogmas and Morals were slowly introduced. A marked changed was noticeable among the participants. Thus the Mission Apostolate was a wonderful opportunity to gain solid religious knowledge. Communities were gradually showing signs of reform. Parishioners who harbored hate and bitterness, and which divided the towns and even families gradually, fell in line.

Outcome of his Mission

The Mission created an atmosphere favorable for recollection. Attending the same sermon several times had greatly changed the attitudes towards one another. To share in the ‘grace’ of the mission each one was ‘anxious to sort out,’ their problems and as a result a number of lawsuits were settled outside of the court, and also restitution and reparations for the wrong done were carried out. Besides, grave scandals, calumnies and so many other problems were put right. Undoubtedly the consequences of such Missions overflowed parish boundaries. Neighboring parishes shared in it. Some parish Priests from elsewhere, never missed a single service. Visitors could be seen walking for several hours in the rain or snow to take part in the Mission, visitors came in large number and often more numerous than the people of the area. Fr. Mermier was quite right to put his trust in the clarion call of Missions.

Twenty years later Fr. Mermier cast a glance over the work accomplished. Greater part of the parishes had been missionized, and requests were flooding in. The enterprise was well launched. The Mission had become an essential institution and Parish Priests did all they could to encourage it. At this period the Missionaries were only ten in number. To meet the expenses, several priests set up endowment schemes for running these Missions. The Clergy too contributed very generously towards the upkeep. They appreciated the work for they had seen with what zeal these Missionaries worked for the last sixteen to eighteen years. Besides such Missions were a great help and an excellent opportunity for the Clergy to gain pastoral experience.

LITANY OF THANKSGIVING

Response We thank you and bless you.

- Thank you. O Father, for the wonder of your creation, you created me out of nothing and molded a body with your hands and gave me a heart to love you.

Response

- Thank you, O Father, for the immortal soul you breathed into me. You imprinted your own image upon it and in that image we see fully the image of your only Son.

Response

- Thank you, O Father, for the spiritual powers with which you bedecked me. You made me a little less than angels. Your love surpasses an understanding.

Response

- Thank you, O Father, for the new life you gave me, for the grace by which you made me your child and heir of heaven. Your bounty is beyond description.

Response

- Thank you, O Father, for the pardon and peace you gave me. From the bondage of sins you released me through your beloved Son. You never abandoned me even when I ran away from you. Your mercy is boundless.

Response

- Thank you, O Father, for the gifts of the Holy Spirit. You impart to me the seven fold gifts. You instill into me supernatural virtues. Your goodness is beyond our grasp.

Response

- Thank you, O Father, for the body you have given me. The senses and its faculties function at your command.

They are to serve you, the Creator. Our mortal bodies will share the immortal glory of your risen Son. In your mercy is our hope.

Let us pray

Lord our God, accept our thanks, prayers and adoration. All that we have, comes from you. We are incapable of thanking you adequately. 0 Father, in and through and with your son Jesus Christ we render to you thanks and glory and honor forever and ever Amen.

The final Prayer:

Jesus dwells within us day and night to refresh our soul, He nourishes our desires and fulfills all our desires, when we come before the Blessed Sacrament and lay before Him our needs.

Your Response will be: LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER

** Lord we prayer for our Church, may she be a light to the nations, the sign and source of your power to unite all men: For this we prayer to the Lord. Response

** Guide the Pope, Bishops and all the ministers of your Church. Bless them with your numerous blessings, to be able to shepherd your flock, and to lead mankind to the mystery of your love. Let us pray to the Lord. Response ** Lord we entrust in your loving care all those who are gathered here in your presence. Lord bless us on this day and everyday of our lives with love, peace and joy. Be at our side and assure us with your presence and grant us courage and strength to do our daily work. Let us pray to the Lord. Response

** Christ the Light of the world, that dispels all darkness, remember those who have died, especially our family members, our near and dear ones and those souls who have no one to pray for them, give them eternal life. We pray to the Lord. Response

Let us pray together, prayer the prayer Christ Himself taught us to prayer: Our Father ……

Back