+AMDG PRESENTATION BROTHERS & PRESENTATION FAMILY Prayer - - PDF document

+AMDG PRESENTATION BROTHERS & PRESENTATION FAMILY Prayer for Peace in Nigeria ‘Come Holy Spirit of Peace’

Students at Presentation Brothers Secondary School (PBSS), Tafawa Balewa, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Opening Hymn ♫ Lord Bless Africa ♫ (Current English Translation) Lord, bless Africa May her spirit rise high up Hear thou our prayers Lord bless us. Lord, bless Africa May her spirit rise high up Hear thou our prayers Lord bless us Your family. Chorus: Descend, O Spirit Descend, O Holy Spirit Lord bless us Your family. (Repeat) ♫ Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika ♫ (Current Xhosa Translation) Nkosi Sikelel’iAfrika Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo Iwayo Yiva imathandazo yethu Lnkosi Sikelela Nkosi Sikelela. Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika Maluphakanyisw’ uphondo Iwayo Yiva imathandazo yethu Nkosi Sikelela Thina lusapho Iwayo. Chorus: Yihla moya, yihla moya Yihla moya oyingcwele Nkosi Sikelela Thina lusapho lwayo (Repeat)

Opening Prayer God, our Father, we pray for peace throughout the world, especially in those countries where people suffer warfare and violence. In particular we pray for the gift of peace for the people of Nigeria. We remember those who have lost loved ones through violence. We raise up to you those who have suffered injury or harm. We pray for the young women abducted by people of violence. Lord, may they be returned safely to their families. Turn the hearts of the violent ones to peace. God of love, bless in a special way our Presentation Brothers, associates and students in

• Nigeria. Protect them, keep them safe and strengthen them as they continue to witness to

your love. We make this prayer through Christ, Our Lord. Amen. Psalm 10 Antiphon The Lord cares for the weak and oppressed In the Lord I have taken refuge. How can you say to my soul: ‘Fly like a bird to its mountain. See the wicked bracing their bow; they are fixing their arrows on the string to shoot upright men in the dark. Foundations once destroyed, what can the just do? The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord, whose throne is in heaven. His eyes look down on the world; his gaze tests mortal men. The Lord tests the just and the wicked: the lover of violence he hates. He sends fire and brimstone on the wicked; he sends a scorching wind as their lot. The Lord is just and loves justice: the upright shall see his face. Antiphon The Lord cares for the weak and oppressed Psalm 14 Antiphon Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God. Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent and dwell on your holy mountain? He who walks without fault; he who acts with justice and speaks the truth from his heart; he who does not slander with his tongue; he who does no wrong to his brother, who casts no slur on his neighbour, who holds the godless in disdain, but honours those who fear the Lord; he who keeps his pledge, come what may; who takes no interest on a loan and accepts no bribes against the innocent. Such a man will stand firm forever. Antiphon Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.

Canticle Antiphon God chose us in his Son and made us his adopted sons. Blessed be the God and Father

• f our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us. He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ. His purpose he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Antiphon God chose us in his Son and made us his adopted sons. Magnificat My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour. He looks on his servant in her lowliness; henceforth, all ages will call me blessed. The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy his name! His mercy is from age to age,

• n those who fear him.

He puts forth his arm in strength and scatters the proud-hearted. He casts the mighty from their thrones and raises the lowly. He fills the starving with good things, sends the rich away empty. He protects Israel, his servant, remembering his mercy, the mercy promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his sons forever. Intercessions A time of shared prayer for our Presentation Family in Nigeria. Response to each intercession: Come, Holy Spirit of Peace. Our Father… Memorare…

Final Prayer A Blessing for Peace As the fever of day calms toward twilight May all that is strained in us come to ease. We pray for all who suffered violence today, May an unexpected serenity surprise them. For those who risk their lives each day for peace, May their hearts glimpse providence at the heart of history. That those who make riches from violence and war Might hear in their dreams the cries of the lost. That we might see through

• ur fear of each other

A new vision to heal

• ur fatal attraction to aggression.

That those who enjoy the privilege of peace Might not forget their tormented brothers and sisters. That the wolf might lie down with the lamb, That our swords be beaten into ploughshares And no hurt or harm be done Anywhere along the holy mountain. Glory be to the Father…. Our Lady of the Presentation, Pray for us Blessed Edmund Rice, Pray for us Prayer for Nigeria in Distress All powerful and Merciful Father, You are the God of Justice, love and peace. You rule over all the nations of the earth. Power and might are in your hands and no one can withstand you. We present our country Nigeria before you. We praise and thank you for you are the source

• f all we have and are. Lord, we are weighed down not only by uncertainties, but also by

moral, economic and political problems. Listen to the cries of your people who confidently turn to you. God of infinite goodness, our strength in adversity, our health in weakness, our comfort in sorrow, be merciful to us your people. Spare this nation from chaos, anarchy and

• doom. Bless us with your kingdom of justice, love and peace. We ask this through Jesus

Christ our Lord. Amen. Blessed Cyprian Michael Tansi, Pray for us.

Blessed Cyprian Michael Tansi was to make Mount St. Bernard’s Cistercian Abbey, near Nottingham, England, his adopted home. He was born in Aguleri in Nigeria in 1903 and was baptised aged 9 years old. Aged 22 he entered the diocesan seminary and after

• rdination he worked zealously in Eastern Nigeria and would spend

whole days hearing confessions. In 1950 he was given permission to try his vocation as a contemplative monk in England. Although he had hoped to found a monastery in his homeland, his health failed

• him. He died in 1964 and is widely revered as a holy man of God.

Cyprian Michael Tansi was beatified by St John Paul II in 1998.