East Anglia Seminarians: He descended into Hell

Saturday, 11 April 2009

He descended into Hell

These words form the Creed are often passed over quickly, but there is much beauty and drama in them. In the the medieval mystery plays, the Harrowing of Hell was depicted in the most amazing imagery, with Christ bursting through the infernal gates that Satan's minions guard. Then the first Adam, the one through whom we inherited original sin, is redeemed by the Second Adam, the one in whom we inherit salvation. All the prophets and holy men and women of the Old Covenant meet the One who is the fulness of God's revelation to men, the One whose face they seek ('It is your face O Lord that I seek/ Hide not your face'). Let us pray as we await the joy of Easter tomorrow, that we will not lose hope in the Lord's saving presence in our lives, even when He seems most dead and absent.

2 comments:

Fr Paul Johnson said...: I absolutely love the 2nd reading from the office of readings today. The conversation between Christ and the 1st Adam makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on edge. Well, I say conversation, it's more one-sided that that.; 11 April 2009 at 19:29
EA Seminarians said...: Happy Easter Paul! Yes, the 2nd reading for Holy Saturday is brilliant. I hope your Triduum has gone well.; 12 April 2009 at 00:46

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Prayer for Priestly Vocations

O Lord Jesus Christ, Who moved to pity at the sight of the multitudes, scattered like sheep without a shepherd, didst say to Thy disciples: "The harvest indeed is great, but the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He send labourers into His harvest," deign to turn Thine eyes of pity on this our diocese, and to call to Thy priesthood young men, who will spend themselves and be spent for Thy honour and glory, and for the souls whom Thou has redeemed with Thy Most Precious Blood, Who livest and reignest for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for Seminarians

O Lord Jesus Christ, great High Priest, I pray that You call many worthy souls to Your holy priesthood.

Enlighten the Bishop in the choice of candidates, the Spiritual Director in molding them, and the professors in instructing them.

Lead the seminarians daily in Your unerring footsteps; so that they may become priests who are models of purity, possessors of wisdom and heroes of sacrifice; steeped in humility and aflame with love for God and man; apostles of Your glory and sanctifiers of souls.

Amen.

Prayer for the Pope

V. Let us pray for our Pontiff, Pope Benedict.
R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him to be blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies

Our Father. Hail Mary.

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant, Benedict, our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to Thy loving-kindness, in the way of eternal salvation; that, of thy gift, he may ever desire that which is pleasing unto thee and may accomplish it with all his might. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen

Prayer for the Queen

V. O Lord, save Elizabeth, our Queen.
R. And hear us on the day we call upon you.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.
R. And let my cry come before you.

[V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.]

Let us pray

Almighty God, we pray, that your servant Elizabeth, our Queen, who, by your providence has received the governance of this realm, may continue to grow in every virtue, that, imbued with your heavenly grace, she may be preserved from all that is harmful and evil and, being blessed with your favour may, with her consort and the royal family, come at last into your presence, through Christ who is the way, the truth and the life and who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.