Bulletin

The ‘saints next door’, have a significant place in the celebration of the solemnity of All Saints. We acknowledge and give thanks for all the saints; the great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us as we make our pilgrim journey towards our eternal home with God.

Almighty ever-living God,

increase our faith, hope and charity,

and make us love what you command,

so that we may merit what you promise.

Almighty ever-living God                                                                                                                       

grant that we may always conform our will to yours    

 and serve your majesty in sincerity of heart.

May your grace, O Lord, at all times go before us,                     

follow after us and make us always determined                                

to carry out good works.

Collect: Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness

surpass the merits and desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us

to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask.

Collect: O God, who manifest your almighty power above all by pardoning and showing mercy, bestow your grace abundantly upon us and make those hastening to attain your promises heirs to the treasures of heaven.

O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law upon love of you and of our neighbour, grant that, by keeping your precepts, we may merit to attain eternal life.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Today’ readings all deal with the power of the cross. The veneration of the Cross gained prominence after Constantine’s conversion and the legalization of Christianity in 313 AD. Christian symbols could now be displayed without fear.

O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption,  

 look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters, 

 that those who believe in Christ may receive true freedom and an everlasting inheritance.

The celebration of the Dedication of our Church brings back memories for some of us. But for all of us it is an occasion to reflect on the meaning of the Church and of the Altar. The prayer below is the Collect of today’s mass. The text is from the official Vatican preface explaining how the Catholic Church understands a church and its altar. It certainly merits reading and reflection.