Feast Day of St. Lorenzo Ruiz

September 28, 2008

  

     

“I AM A CHRISTIAN, AND THIS I PROFESS UNTIL THE HOUR OF MY DEATH AND FOR GOD I SHALL GIVE MY LIFE. ALTHOUGH I DID NOT COME TO JAPAN TO BE A MARTYR, NEVERTHELESS AS A CHRISTIAN AND FOR GOD I SHALL GIVE MY LIFE.” St. Lorenzo Ruiz.

Happy Feast Day of St. Lorenzo Ruiz to all the Filipino people! 

It has been three (3) years since the time I assumed the responsibility of taking care of the Novena and Mass in Honor of San Lorenzo Ruiz De Manila in the Parish, it is just my regret that this year I was not able to sponsor a procession in his honor due to concerns on possibility of heavy rains that does not happen anyway.

Im sharing to you juys the novena to San Lorenzo Ruiz and his short life story! Again Happy Feast Day!

OPENING PRAYER

Almighty God, you have given us St. Lorenzo Ruiz as a model of an unwavering fidelity and unflinching courage as he withstood the forces of death to defend his faith. Give us the same courage and fidelity to remain steadfast as we face the difficulties and temptations of our daily life.

 

We present all our petitions to God through your help so that by our actions, we may know and love more Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  We humbly implore your intercession in this novena, for the glory of God and in honor of your triumph as a martyr of Christ and defender of Christianity.

 

O courageous St. Lorenzo Ruiz, you were an exemplar father, a witness of Christ until the last hours of your earthly life.  You did not hesitate to say that even if you have a thousand lives, you will give them all to Jesus.  Intercede for us before the throne of the Most High and inspire us, especially the fathers among us, to lead our families in prayer and worship. 

Amen.

 

FIRST DAY / Friday

(September 19, 2008)

Almighty God, you chose St. Lorenzo Ruiz, a humble sacristan of Binondo to carry the gospel to Japan.  We are also called to be your missionaries, to announce the gospel and the joy of your Kingdom.  Enlighten us that we may learn to carry this mission faithfully and effectively, first in our homes and then in our neighborhood.  St. Lorenzo Ruiz, you diligently did your work as a sacristan, preparing the daily masses and other sacraments.  Help us to be committed to our parish work and activities and see them as our way of evangelizing. 

Amen.

 

RESPONSORY:

Leader: Jesus has many who love his Kingdom in heaven, but few who bear his Cross.  He has many who desire comfort, but few who desire suffering.  He finds many to share his feast, but few his fasting.  All desire to rejoice with him, but few are willing to suffer for his sake.

 

Response:       May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal 6:14).

 

Leader: Why do you fear to take up the Cross, which is the road to the Kingdom?  In the Cross is salvation and life, protection against our enemies, infusion of heavenly sweetness: in the Cross is strength of mind, joy of spirit, excellence of virtue, perfection of holiness.  There is no salvation of soul nor hope of eternal life, save in the Cross.

 

Response:       May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal 6:14).

 

Leader:            Take up the Cross, therefore, and follow Jesus, and go forward into eternal life.  Christ has gone before you, bearing Cross; he died for you on the Cross that you also may bear your cross and desire to die on the Cross with him.  And if you share his sufferings, you will also share his glory.

 

Response:       May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal 6:14).

 

Leader:            See how the Cross, all things consist; and in dying on it, all things depend.  There is no other way to life and to true inner peace than the Way of the Cross.  Go where you will, seek what you will: you will find no higher way above nor safer way below than the road of the Holy Cross.

 

Response:       May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal 6:14).

 

Leader:            The Cross always stands ready, and everywhere it awaits you.  You cannot escape it, wherever you flee; for wherever you go, you bear yourself, and always find yourself.  Look up or down, without you or within, and everywhere you must have patience, if you wish to attain inner peace, and win an eternal crown.

 

Response:       May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world (Gal 6:14).

 

ALL:     Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us to follow you not only to the breaking of bread but also to the drinking of the cup of your passion.  Help us to love you for your own sake and not for the sake of comfort for ourselves.  Make us worthy for your name, Jesus, our crucified and risen Lord and savior, now and forever.  Amen.

 

  

SECOND DAY / Saturday

(September 20, 2008)

Almighty God, you gave St. Lorenzo Ruiz priest companions who were after his welfare.  They protected him when he was falsely accused of murder in Binondo and allowed him to go with them to Japan.  We pray also for our priests and may they always be inspired to work for the welfare of their flock.  St. Lorenzo Ruiz, bless and intercede for our shepherds that they may be able to guide us in our parish activities.  Let them be models of faith and charity, light in our communities that we may become beacons of fraternal love in our world.  Amen.

 

 

THIRD DAY / Sunday

(September 21, 2008)

Almighty God, you blest St. Lorenzo Ruiz with love for work as he did his duties as a sacristan with fervor and honesty.  Through human work, may we develop our potentials and talents, inspire us always to meet the challenges of our profession and give work to the unemployed.  St. Lorenzo Ruiz, you were also a notary; intercede before the throne of the Most High, that all of us may have decent jobs and thus be able to provide for our family.  Amen.

 

 

FOURTH DAY / Monday

(September 22, 2008)

Almighty God, you blest St. Lorenzo Ruiz with a happy family that became his support even though he had to leave them and flee for Japan to escape an unjust arrest.  You stirred the heart of his wife and children to put their trust in you in the absence of Lorenzo.

 

St. Lorenzo Ruiz, your life is embodied today by the millions of Filipino fathers who work abroad to support their families.  The absence of these fathers has created a lot of problems.  Intercede in the throne of the Most High to increase the faith of these mothers and children, so that their bonds with their husbands and fathers may be strengthened. Amen.

 

 

FIFTH DAY / Tuesday

(September 23, 2008) 

Almighty God, you blest St. Lorenzo Ruiz with the love for Mary, our mother.  He participated in a group that professed to pray the rosary and propagate its devotion to others.  To love Mary is to love you even more.  St. Lorenzo Ruiz, help us to love Mary so that through her, we could go near Jesus.  Inspire us to love the rosary and to recite it daily so that we will always be covered by the powerful intercession of the mother of God.  May your love for Mary increase our devotion for her.  Amen.

 

 

SIXTH DAY / Wednesday

(September 24, 2008)

Almighty God, you blest St. Lorenzo Ruiz with companions whose missionary zeal enabled them to leave their country and spend their lives spreading the gospel in foreign and even hostile lands like Japan in those times.  The spread of the gospel was the obsession of these Dominican priests who left their country without thinking of seeing it once again.  We want to imitate their zeal and spirit of sacrifice to spread the gospel.  St. Lorenzo Ruiz, you carried in your heart the flame of the gospel, influenced by the company of these missionaries who taught you that to offer one’s life for the spread of the good news is the best of all decisions.  Inspire in us the love for mission and support Filipino missionaries working abroad.  Amen.

 

 

SEVENTH DAY / Thursday

(September 25, 2008)

 Almighty God, you blest St. Lorenzo Ruiz with the gift of martyrdom.  This is a privilege you give to a chosen few.  Through the call for us all is to live our faith with much constancy, we, too, are invited to be martyrs for your sake, in the name of charity, of love, of sacrifice for our neighbors and those who are in need.  Bless us Father with much perseverance.

 

St. Lorenzo Ruiz, may your martyrdom inspire in us always the courage to serve our fellowmen and women without counting the cost, to forgive and understand them with patience and compassion, and to love them without limit, that we all may also be welcomed with the gift of eternal life in the Father’s heavenly abode, as he has received you in his heavenly embrace.  Amen.

 

 

EIGHT DAY / Friday

(September 26, 2008)

Almighty God, you blest St. Lorenzo Ruiz with the gift of fidelity.  His sufferings were terrible and the tortures that he bore were beyond human endurance.  Yet as he dangled bloodied before a filthy pit, he reaffirmed with a firm voice that even if he had a thousand lives, he would willingly give them all back to you.  Give us the same courage to withstand the temptations of our daily life.  St. Lorenzo Ruiz, inspire us to remain steadfast in our combat against sin and evil.  Give us the resistance to withstand the attacks of pleasure and easy life.  Amen.

 

 

NINTH DAY / Saturday

(September 27, 2008)

Almighty God, you blest St. Lorenzo Ruiz with the company of ardent martyrs who encouraged, strengthened and prayed for each other until they were slaughtered.  They died singing psalms in your honor, eager to meet you in the kingdom promised to all the faithful.  Eternal life filled their hearts as they withstood terrible tortures and pains.

 

St. Lorenzo Ruiz, be with us in our journey in this valley of tears, inspire us that the thirst for eternal life may posses us and that with your company, this longing for eternal life may be intensified and thus, we may be unmindful of sacrificing and suffering for Jesus’ sake.  Stir in us a deep love for heaven and a yearning to reach it soon.  Amen.