Dedicated to the Culture of Life - Holy Ghost Catholic Church
Dedicated to the Culture of Life - Holy Ghost Catholic Church
Dedicated to the Culture of Life - Holy Ghost Catholic Church
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<strong>the</strong>m for you, drinking in <strong>the</strong>ir color one last time. Your face<br />
which drew me close and helped me <strong>to</strong> believe in love, now<br />
confronts me with <strong>the</strong> look <strong>of</strong> a distant and unknowable horizon.<br />
Bewilderment sets in; fear threatens <strong>to</strong> devour me. Truths I<br />
believe in seem far away and dreamlike. My heart is pierced, as<br />
was Mary’s, and in that moment, I share a communion <strong>of</strong> grief<br />
with The Immaculate One. But with love, she had <strong>the</strong> strength <strong>to</strong><br />
bear <strong>the</strong> full weight <strong>of</strong> Christ as He was laid in her arms. With<br />
love, her heart was prepared <strong>to</strong> wash Her Son one final time.<br />
Streng<strong>the</strong>ned by love, I do <strong>the</strong> same for my fa<strong>the</strong>r. In love, we<br />
can both say, “It is finished.” Ecce Homo! Behold Christ as He is<br />
lowered from His Cross! Behold <strong>the</strong> Sacred Body from Whom<br />
all Love flows! From conception <strong>to</strong> natural death, we belong <strong>to</strong><br />
You, O Lord. Lift <strong>the</strong> shroud from <strong>the</strong> world’s eyes! In <strong>the</strong> old<br />
and infirm we care for Christ in His Flesh. When <strong>the</strong>y are lowered<br />
from <strong>the</strong>ir crosses, disfigured with age and spent in love, we<br />
behold The Son who “became man and dwelt among us.” Whom<br />
do we take down from <strong>the</strong> Cross? He is love poured out upon us.<br />
He is reflected in each <strong>of</strong> us.<br />
All: (kneel) My soul longs, yes, faints for <strong>the</strong> courts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> living God. Blessed<br />
are <strong>the</strong> men whose strength is in <strong>the</strong>e, in whose heart are <strong>the</strong><br />
highways <strong>to</strong> Zion. As <strong>the</strong>y go through <strong>the</strong> valley <strong>of</strong> Baca <strong>the</strong>y<br />
make it a place <strong>of</strong> springs;<strong>the</strong> early rain also covers it with pools.<br />
They go from strength <strong>to</strong> strength; <strong>the</strong> God <strong>of</strong> gods will be seen<br />
in Zion. For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.<br />
I would ra<strong>the</strong>r be a doorkeeper in <strong>the</strong> house <strong>of</strong> my Godthan<br />
dwell in <strong>the</strong> tents <strong>of</strong> wickedness. (Psalm 84:1-2, 5-10)<br />
(stand)<br />
Virgin <strong>of</strong> all virgins blest!<br />
Listen <strong>to</strong> my fond request: Let<br />
me share your grief divine.<br />
Virgo vírginum praeclára,<br />
Mihi jam non sis amára:<br />
Fac me tecum plángere.<br />
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