LEADER: Brothers and sisters, we have gathered here together to remember and pray for Lorenzo that our good Lord may give him eternal rest in His kingdom, strength for those of us who love him dearly to bear this temporary separation. We believe that Jesus is here with us now as we pray for Lorenzo. Let’s begin with our sign of faith… In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

ALL: Amen.

 

The Apostle’s Creed

1 Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be

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1. The First Joyful Mystery - The Joy of the Virtuous Soul

 

LEADER: Scripture Reading - Wisdom 3:1-9

 

​​But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish, they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction, but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace, he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt-offering he accepted them. In the time of their visitation, they will shine forth and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them forever. Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect.

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LEADER: This is the Word of the Lord

ALL: Thanks be to God.

 

The first reading from the Book of Wisdom speaks of the joy and the destiny of the virtuous soul. It assures us that those who have lived their lives as faithful children of God will live with him forever in his love.

 

1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be.

Fatima Prayer: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

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LEADER: O Mary, conceived without sin

ALL: Pray for us who have recourse to thee.

LEADER: Eternal rest grant unto Lorenzo, O Lord

ALL: And let perpetual light shine upon him

LEADER: May he rest in peace

ALL:  Amen.

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2. The Second Joyful Mystery - The Joy of Life without End

 

LEADER: Scripture Reading - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

 

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord, himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

 

LEADER: This is the Word of the Lord

ALL: Thanks be to God.

 

This reading from the First letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians assures us that we are created and destined for eternal life, that is, life with God forever and ever.

 

1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be.

Fatima Prayer: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

 

LEADER: O Mary, conceived without sin

ALL: Pray for us who have recourse to thee.

LEADER: Eternal rest grant unto Lorenzo, O Lord

ALL: And let perpetual light shine upon him

LEADER: May he rest in peace

ALL:  Amen.

 

3. The Third Joyful Mystery - The Joy of Knowing that through Believing in Jesus, We will live forever.

 

LEADER: Scripture Reading - John 11:21 – 27

 

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

 

LEADER: This is the Word of the Lord

ALL: Thanks be to God.

 

In this reading from the Gospel of St. John, Jesus himself assures us that all those who believe in him will live forever.

 

1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be.

Fatima Prayer: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

 

LEADER: O Mary, conceived without sin

ALL: Pray for us who have recourse to thee.

LEADER: Eternal rest grant unto Lorenzo, O Lord

ALL: And let perpetual light shine upon him

LEADER: May he rest in peace

ALL:  Amen.

 

4. The Fourth Joyful Mystery - The Joy of Union with Jesus Forever

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LEADER: Scripture Reading - John 6:51 - 57

 

​​I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

The Jews, therefore, quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

 

LEADER: This is the Word of the Lord

ALL: Thanks be to God.

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In this reading from St. John’s Gospel, Jesus assures us that, when we receive holy communion, we really receive his body and blood. Through holy communion, the risen Christ becomes for us the food of eternal life. “Whoever eats this bread will live forever”.

 

1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be.

Fatima Prayer: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

 

LEADER: O Mary, conceived without sin

ALL: Pray for us who have recourse to thee.

LEADER: Eternal rest grant unto Lorenzo, O Lord

ALL: And let perpetual light shine upon him

LEADER: May he rest in peace

ALL:  Amen.

 

5. The Fifth Joyful Mystery - The Joy of Hearing Jesus Calling the Virtuous Soul into Life Everlasting with Him.

 

LEADER: Scripture Reading - John 5: 24 - 29

 

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to execute judgment because he is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

 

The reading reminds us that those who believe in Jesus, who accept his Word and who act upon it will be saved and will live forever with God. A word of Jesus heard and relished with love, gives new life to the hearer, the very life of God himself.

 

1 Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, 1 Glory Be.

Fatima Prayer: O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

 

LEADER: O Mary, conceived without sin

ALL: Pray for us who have recourse to thee.

LEADER: Eternal rest grant unto Lorenzo, O Lord

ALL: And let perpetual light shine upon him

LEADER: May he rest in peace

ALL:  Amen.

 

ALL: Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.

To you, do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you, do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

LEADER: Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God

ALL: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

 

ALL: O GOD, whose only begotten Son, by His life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life, grant, we beseech Thee, that meditating upon these mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

 

LEADER: Day 1 - Lord our God, receive our supplications, prayers, and mortifications, and sighs in suffrage for the holy souls for whom we make this novena; and we pray that by the motherly love bestowed on you by your most holy Mother, when she followed you on the way of sorrow up to Mount Calvary, and grant what we ask of you in this novena for your greater honor and glory. 

ALL: Amen.

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LEADER: Day 2 - Merciful God, we beseech you, by the pain which your Holy Mother saw you suffer and agonize on the cross, that the holy souls in purgatory be freed from those pains; especially for the soul of Lorenzo, for whom we are praying and offering in this novena. Bring those who are submerged in their sins to a true knowledge of their guilt and grant what we ask of you in this novena, for your greater honor and glory. 

ALL: Amen.

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LEADER: Day 3 - Almighty Father, to whom nobody asks without the hope of receiving, by the intercession of St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin Mary, enables the suffering souls in purgatory to be able to leave that place, especially for the soul of Lorenzo. We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

ALL: Amen.

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LEADER: Day 4 - Gracious God, through whose mercy the saints rest in glory, we beg you to set free those blessed souls in purgatory, especially for the soul of Lorenzo, for whom we are praying in this novena. May you radiate your compassion and love to them so they may enter into your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

ALL: Amen.

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LEADER: Day 5 - Sovereign Lord, in whom it is proper to be merciful, through the intercession of St. Michael, the archangel, and by the sorrow of your Blessed Mother who suffered when the soldier pierced your side with a lance, have mercy on the soul of Lorenzo for whom we are offering this novena and bring him/her to your eternal rest in heaven, for the better glory and honor of your name.

All: Amen.

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LEADER: Day 6 - Lord Jesus Christ, incline your ears to our petitions. Have mercy on the souls in purgatory, especially for the soul of Lorenzo for whom we make this novena. We humbly ask you to set them free and bring them to happiness in heaven, for the greater glory and honor of your name.

ALL: Amen.

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LEADER: Day 7 - Lord of mercy, hear our prayer. May our brother Lorenzo, whom you called your son on earth, enter into the Kingdom of peace and light, where your saints live in glory. We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

ALL: Amen.

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LEADER: Day 8 - Creator and Redeemer of all mankind, through the infinite merits of passion, death, and resurrection, we beg you to shower the immense treasures of your clemency on those blessed souls, especially for the eternal repose of the soul of Lorenzo. Bring those who are in sin to true knowledge and repentance and grant what we ask for in this novena, through Christ, our Lord.

ALL: Amen.

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LEADER: Day 9 - Lord God, you are the glory of the believers and the life of the just. Your Son redeemed us by dying and rising to life again. Our brother Lorenzo, was faithful and believed in the resurrection. Give to him the joys and the blessings of the life to come. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

ALL: Amen.

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LEADER: Let our response be, “Have mercy on the soul of Lorenzo”

LEADER: Jesus, through your blood on the cross,(R)

LEADER: Jesus, through the blow you received on your sacred face,(R)

LEADER: Jesus, through the cruel scourging you endured,(R)

LEADER: Jesus, through the crown of thorns that pierced your head,(R)

LEADER: Jesus, through your carrying of the cross. (R)

LEADER: Jesus, through your face covered with blood which you allowed to be imprinted on the veil of Veronica. (R)

LEADER: Jesus, through your garments which were cruelly removed from your wounded body. (R)

LEADER: Jesus, through your holy body nailed on the cross. (R)

LEADER: Jesus, through your side pierced with a lance and from which flowed blood and water. (R)

 

Litany

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LEADER: O God of love, you love both the living and the dead with immense, compassionate love. We join with all the angels and saints in heaven in praising your glory now as we pray with them:

ALL: Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes In the Name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

 

LEADER: After every invocation, let us pray: “Pray for the soul of Lorenzo”

LEADER: Holy Mother of God, refuge of sinners. (R)

LEADER: Saint Joseph, patron of a happy death. (R)

LEADER: All you holy apostles and martyrs, who gave your life for Christ. (R)

LEADER: All you holy women and men known and unknown. (R)

LEADER: All you holy laborers, who worked hard while on this earth. (R)

LEADER: All you holy housewives, whose everyday work on earth was a service of love and devotion. (R)

LEADER: All you holy fathers and mothers, who sacrificed so much for your families while you were on earth. (R)

LEADER: All you holy priest and holy religious, who served God faithfully on earth. (R)

LEADER: All you holy people, who loved God greatly while on earth. (R)

LEADER: All you holy Christians, who faithfully followed Jesus on earth. (R)

LEADER: All you holy people from our parish, our neighbors, and our friends who have gone before us into heaven. (R)

 

ALL: Prayer of Thanksgiving.

O loving Father in heaven, we thank you that you created us for eternal life. We know that our beloved Lorenzo is with you now, enjoying and delighting in your love forever.

We thank you for his life on earth and for all the good things he did throughout his life.

We willingly surrender Lorenzo into your hands now and forever, O God, our loving Father. May he rest in your peace forever.

We ask for your peace and strength for all those who mourn his departure from this life and who will miss him greatly. Help them who mourn his departure to find encouragement in your Word and to deepen and renew their hope in their own resurrection someday.

We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus who has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us too with you forever. Amen.

 

ALL: Do not be afraid, For the Father loves and cares for us. Do not be afraid, for Jesus Christ walks by our side. Do not be afraid, for the Holy Spirit gives us courage. Do not be afraid, for we are in God’s hands. Go now and face the future with hope. Trust in God’s love. Proclaim His goodness. Bear witness to Jesus His Son, Be guided by the Holy Spirit.

 

LEADER: May the divine assistance remain always with us.

ALL: Amen.

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LEADER: And may the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. 

ALL: Amen.

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LEADER: May the blessing of the Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit descend upon us and remain with us always.

ALL: Amen.