Prayer - We Are Called to Be Saints - The Marist Brothers

WE ARE CALLED TO BE SAINTS
“Awesome in his saints is God, the God of us all.”
Call to Prayer:
In the understanding of the Catholic Church, a
saint is someone who has practiced the
Christian faith, especially the main virtues of
Faith, Hope and Love to the highest degree of heroism. Such holy men and
women may be found anytime, anywhere. Saints are not persons who belong to
the past. They live among us here and now. We too can become saints. We
are all called to holiness.
“Be holy for I am holy,” says the Lord. If we do our daily job with love, if we
practice Christian charity every day of our life, we will become saints. It’s not that
far-fetched, not something we need shun, but something that comes with our
baptismal commitment and promises.
Scripture Reading:
(The author of the letter to the Hebrews recounts the deeds of valiant men and women (saints) from the Old
Testament in Hebrews 11:33-12:2.)
Sisters and brothers, all of the saints by faith conquered kingdoms, sought
justice, obtained the fulfillment of promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength
from weakness, became valiant in battling good over evil. Some were tortured,
refusing to bend for their release. Others again suffered mockery and beatings,
even chains and jailings. They were stoned, they were put to the test, they were
killed by the sword. They went about destitute, anguished, afflicted (of whom the
world was not worthy) wandering in deserts, mountains, caverns and holes in the
ground. And all of these, in spite of the positive witnessing of faith, failed to
receive what was promised, for God was keeping something better in store for
us, so that they were not to reach their final perfection without us. And so,
having such a cloud of witnesses over us, let us get rid of the sin entangling us,
and run with endurance to the fight proposed to us, contemplating the author and
goal of our faith, Jesus Christ.
Response:
Leader: Holiness is shown not by what we say, but by what we do in life.
All: Whoever acknowledges me before all, I will also acknowledge before my
Father in Heaven.
Leader: Whoever disowns me before all, will also disown my Father in Heaven.
All: Holiness is shown not by what we say, but by what we do in life.

Reflection activity:
How can I help those that I encounter every day embrace their holiness?
How can I enhance my own pursuit of holiness each day?
Intercessions:
Leader: The examples of sainthood are many, the daily call to make the
extraordinary is constant. Let us pray for the grace to respond with courage and
generosity.
Response: Lord, hear our prayer.
• For the grace and courage to respond without holding back to the
demands of the Gospel, our vocation as Marists and the invitations we
receive from events and people during the course of each day, we pray…
• For those who suffer inner doubt, and skepticism about the world around
them, that they may be inspired by those who have gone before us and
maintained the convictions and faith, we pray…
• That our students, faculties, and staff may see in us a model of the
Christian life, and that some might be inspired to follow in our footsteps,
we pray…
• In gratitude for the Marist example given to our school through
__________ (add local Marist “saints.”) May they rest in peace, we pray…
Our Father
Closing Prayer:
( additional intentions)
Good and Gracious God, we thank you for the examples of the valiant men and
women who accepted their call to bear witness to you in joy and in pain, in
suffering, and even in death. We ask your grace to be as courageous as they
even in the little things that befall us each day, that with joy we might radiate our
convictions and our confidence in your presence with us. This we ask through
Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Saint Marcellin Champagnat…pray for us.
Mary, our Good Mother …pray for us.
Let us remember…
.
Prayer service prepared by Bro. Rene Roy, FMS