In the footsteps of Palau

Seventh Day – November 4

Footprint of Resilience

We let these words of Father Palau echo within us:

“The Church […] is the final term of our love and is that beauty beyond description that our heart seeks.” MR 11,12

“She [the Church] said to me: I have revealed my name to you. In a thousand ways I have shown myself to you, oh son of the Prophets, and you have seen my immense beauty, as far as is compatible with your mortal condition.” MR 21,6

Scripture Text: [2 Cor 4: 5-16]

For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—“I believed, and so I spoke”—we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.

Reflection:

On this seventh day of prayer, we are given a beautiful invitation to value resilience, even more so in times when the pandemic has marked and left fractures in millions of people. We should recognize that we are fragile earthen vessels, yet entrusted to an artisan who loves us and encourages us to take care of his ecclesial, pastoral and social legacy. May the cracks in our personal lives, our community or ecclesial life not break us or cast us down, but rather encourage us to the resilience that strengthens us as we move forward. For further reflection: How do I act before the ups and downs that life presents me?

We pray together:

“The Holy Spirit always prays well and rightly in the heart of the Church and of her children, whom he inhabits.” Struggle 5, 84

  • We ask you to support and inspire life for youth who strive and seek for a better future and who emigrate in search of studies for a more dignified life. We pray to the Lord.
  • For the consequences suffered by so many of our brothers and sisters due to the economic crisis, inflation, rising prices, job losses, the increase in citizen insecurity, the deterioration of health care and the reduction of social aid that especially affect the most vulnerable classes. We pray to the Lord.

On this seventh day of the novena, we pray especially for the following communities and works of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province of America:  Community. San José, Córdoba School del Carmen, Catamarca School Del Carmen y San José, Curuzú Cuatiá Community. y School Sra. del Pilar, Goya Community and School Sta Teresa de Jesús, School support and Training Centre Estrella de Belén, Comedor Ángel de la Guarda, Mado Community Sta. María del Yguazú, San Rafael Community and school del Carmen, Santos Lugares Community Virgen del Carmen and School Santa Teresita, Yocsina Community Sta Teresa de Jesús and School Juan XXIII, Florianópolis Brasil Community Sta Teresa de Jesús, Vancouver Canadá Community Ntra Sra de las Américas, La Florida Chile Community Sta. Teresa de Jesús, Tierras Blancas Community Francisco Palau Auco Community, Sta Teresa de Jesús de los Andes, Paillaco Community Francisco Palau

Let us bring to mind and heart: Migrants, social problems.

Música: 7. Francisco, Apóstol de Es Comunión cmt-cep

In this day of the novena, let us ask for the intercession of Francisco Palau, that we may be women and men who walk in synodality, and having experienced Resilience in our lives, may we proclaim that same Resilience every day.

Father Palau Prayer

Almighty and merciful God and Father: we thank and bless you for instilling in the heart of Blessed Francisco Palau a singular love for the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, be revealing to him her beauty as illustrated in Mary, and inspiring him to serve her through prayer and apostolic activity. Grant us his prompt canonization in the Church and the special grace we are asking through his intercession. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.