EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 2, n. 25)
5th Sunday of Easter, Year B
May 14-20, 2006
“Branches of the True Vine”
(+) In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
(A moment of silence)
SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or any appropriate song may be sung.
WORDS OF ST. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA
For Christ and in Christ, we have been reborn through the Spirit in order to bear the fruit of life; not the fruit of our old, sinful life but the fruit of a new life founded upon our faith in him and our love for him. Like branches growing form a vine, we now draw our life from Christ, and we cling to his holy commandment in order to preserve this life.
SILENT ADORATION
OPENING PRAYER
(By Blessed James Alberione)
Leader: Jesus, my Life, my joy and source of all good, I love you.
Above all, I ask of you that I may love you more and more
and all those redeemed by your blood.
You are the vine and I am the branch:
I want to remain united to you always so as to bear much fruit.
You are the source:
pour out an ever greater abundance of grace to sanctify my soul.
You are my head, I, your member:
communicate to me your Holy Spirit with all his gifts.
Assembly: May your kingdom come through Mary.
Console and save those dear to me.
Free the souls in purgatory.
Multiply and sanctify those called to the apostolate.
Part I
JESUS MASTER TRUTH
Listening to the Word
FIRST READING: Acts 9:26-31
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
GOSPEL READING: Jn 15:1-8
PERSONAL REFLECTION
(As a tool for personal reflection, please visit the PDDM Website: www.pddm.org // www.pddm.us for BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD [Series 4, n. 25]: A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy. The Biblico-Liturgical Reflections are an aid for a deeper understanding of the Gospel reading.)
SONG: Any Eucharistic hymn or suitable song of praise may be sung.
Part II
JESUS MASTER WAY
Confrontation with the Word
POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
Leader: We open our hearts to listen to the promptings of the living Word. Let us ask ourselves with limpid honesty:
A. Do we try to live a life of intimate union with Christ and with apostolic fruitfulness in response to his declaration: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in and I in him will bear much fruit” (Jn 15:5)?
B. What are our experiences of personal intimacy with the Lord? What are our experiences of rupture and difficulties in personal intimacy and self-giving? What are the trials and hardships we experience in being branches of the true vine? What are our apostolic endeavors to be a fruitful branch in the vine?
C. Do we look to Paul the Apostle, a great mystic, as a model of abiding in the vine and of apostolic fruitfulness? Do we cultivate a true devotion to St. Paul? Are our hearts filled with thanksgiving for the consolation of the Holy Spirit and for the vivifying sap of divine grace that enable the Church to grow and be fruitful?
PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(Cf. Commission Francophone Cistercinne, Prieres au fil des heures, Vivante liturgie 99, Paris: Publications de Saint-Andre-Centurion, 1982, 101)
Assembly: In these Easter days,
Lord God,
your vine receives new sap.
Hold the branches to the vine:
thus will charity make us live
one for another
in the one who died and rose for us,
Jesus, the Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Part III
JESUS LIFE
Acting upon the Word
PERSONAL PRAYER
CONTEMPLATING WITH MARY THE FACE OF CHRIST: The Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary may be prayed in part or in full.
THE WAY OF SOLIDARITY: PRAYER OF INTERCESSION
Leader: Christ, the true and living vine, calls us to abide in him and be fruitful. With faith and joy let us cry out to him, saying:
(R.) LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.
1. For the Holy Father’s General Intention for this month of May: FOR CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD: Strengthened by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, may they build a world of peace and justice. (R.)
2. For the Holy Father’s Mission Intention for this month of May: FOR THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS IN MISSION COUNTRIES: May they adopt laws to protect human life from conception to its natural end. (R.)
3. For the faithfulness and love we need to remain deeply rooted to the living vine, Jesus Christ. (R.)
4. For apostolic fruitfulness in our endeavor to proclaim the Easter news of the Lord’s resurrection and glory. (R.)
5. For new sap and vitality as new branches are grafted to the living vine. (R.)
6. For a deeper life of contemplation and a more efficacious apostolic action. (R.)
7. For the spiritual strength and consolation needed by those who are discouraged in their ministry and by those who are persecuted for their faith. (R.)
8. For those who were faithful to the vine even to death. (R.)
(Other prayers may be added.)
THE LORD’S PRAYER
CONCLUDING PRAYER
Leader: Father,
we have been engrafted into the living vine Jesus Christ
and have experienced the depths of his wonderful love for us.
Help us to cling to the vine and abide in him.
May our life of service be fruitful
and grant success to all our apostolic endeavors.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Assembly: Amen.
FINAL SONG: Any suitable Eucharistic hymn or song of praise may be sung.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
60 Sunset Ave., Staten Island, NY 10314
Tel. (718) 494-8597 // (718) 761-2323
Website: WWW.PDDM.US