Tuesday April 30, 2024
OUR LADY, MOTHER OF AFRICA (FEAST)
Office: Proper, Te Deum
Mass Proper; Gloria
Preface of BVM
Vestment: White
Today’s Rosary: The Sorrowful Mysteries
Click HERE for the Previous Catholic Daily Reading
OUR LADY, MOTHER OF AFRICA
On this day, together with the missionary Sisters of our Lady of Africa, we celebrate the memorial of Mary of Africa. This celebration encourages us to turn to Mary in order to experience her maternal intercession and assistance in our daily life.
May Devotion begins tomorrow
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
People will never cease to praise you, as they recall the power of the Lord for ever.
COLLECT
Lord, as we honour the glorious memory of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Africa, we ask that by the help of her prayers we too may come to share the fullness of your grace and live in harmony and peace as one family. Through our Lord…
FIRST READING
They devoted themselves to prayer with Mary the Mother of Jesus.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostle (Acts1:12-14)
(After Jesus was taken up into heaven,) the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brethren.
The word of the Lord.
Also Read: Daily Reading for Monday, April 29th, 2024
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Luke1:46-47.48-49.50-51.52-53.54-55 (R. 49)
R/. He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my savior. R/.
For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generation will call me blessed;
For he who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is his name. R/.
And his mercy is on those who fear him
From generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm,
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. R/.
R/. He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalt those of low degree;
He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich he has sent empty away. R/.
He has helped his servant Israel,
In remembrance of his mercy,
As he spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his posterity forever. R/.
ALLELUIA
ALLELUIA. Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise. You are the Mother of Christ, you are the Mother of the Church. ALLELUIA
Gospel
And the mother of Jesus was there.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 2:1-11)
At that time: There was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what is that to you or to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast.” So they took it. When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who has drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
Celebrant:
As we honour the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Africa, let us ask the Lord to fill the African continent with his peace and to preserve the local churches of Africa as faithful messengers of Christ.
FOR THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH IN AFRICA: that they may remain docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in fulfilling the mandate of proclaiming the Gospel to all nations. We pray O Lord.
FOR AFRICAN LEADERS: that they may shun nepotism, religious bigotry and ethnic sectionalism in national life, and promote justice, peace and unity among the people. We pray O Lord.
FOR ALL MOTHERS: that they may always find joy in their children, and be enabled to nurture them towards attaining full human and spiritual maturity. We pray O Lord.
FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF AFRICA: that they may be given the wisdom to be able to make the right decisions as they journey through life, and may have access to affordable quality education and good work in their countries. We pray O Lord.
FOR OTHER INTENTIONS: (the sick, church projects or other activities).
FOR THE DEAD, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF OUR PARISH COMMUNITY AND FAMILY MEMBERS: that they may find eternal rest with the Lord. We pray O Lord.
We pray in silence for our private intentions.
Celebrant:
God our Father, you chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the Mother of your Son and the Mother of Africa. Helped by her maternal guidance, may we share in the heavenly reward promised by her Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
R/. Amen.
TODAY’S REFLECTION
We glorify God for the gift of our Heavenly Mother whom we honour today as our Lady Mother of Africa. Her role on our continent cannot be overemphasized. She reigns as a caring and an observant Queen of every Continent, at the side of her Son the King of the World. She is for the reason a credible intercessor for all our needs here on our Continent. We acknowledge her position as Our Lady and Mother and beseech her intercession for all her distressed and anguished children dispersed all over the African landscape and beyond and for countries hijacked by bad leaders and torn apart by hate, anger and dishonesty. Mary Our Lady, Mother of Africa pray for us.
CROSS OVER PRAYER FROM APRIL TO MAY 2024. From 11pm – 12am On my knees for you before the EUCHARISTIC JESUS
Taking back what is yours by Divine mandate can only be done by the strength by the prayer of God. Getting to the end of the journey you have started is made possible by the Hand that is the GREATEST. GOD is that Hand and He will lead you to your blessings
+ appreciate God with praises for His protection so far
+ Acknowledge God as your Leader and Helper
+ Pray that God will manifest Himself this Month
+ pray that God will uproot every obstacle on your way to the blessings of this year
+ Pray with Ephesians 5:8-13 – that the Light of God will expose the barriers to my destined blessings and bring me the rich harvest of my prayers
+ Pray with Psalm 125 – Let my trust be in you, LORD, that nothing will shake me
Intercession
1. Pray God to lead you to reposes every stolen blessing in your life
2. That God will release and increase the anointing to pray upon you
3. Pray against any hidden barrier to your life’s purpose
4. Pray God to expose the wickedness being raised to hinder your blessings and disappoint their efforts to stop your blessings
5. Pray God to protect your blessings and bring you to enjoy them
6. Pray Psalm 23:5 upon your life
7. Pray the Rosary (1st Glorious Mystery – The Resurrection), as the enemies couldn’t stop Christ from rising, LORD, no enemy will cut short the journey to my blessings
MAY PRAYER
– Against pretended friends smiling before me but wicked behind me
– Unite me to my destined blessings, HOLY SPIRIT
– Get me through the seen and unseen obstacles of life
– Unhindered by my fears shall I reclaim all that is mine
– Set me, LORD, like a seal on Ur heart, never to be forgotten
– Take me to the place of my blessings O GOD
At the end of your prayer, anoint yourself and your household, saying I AM ANOINTED FOR THE LIGHT TO BRING A RICH HARVEST OF BLESSINGS, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TRUTH; sprinkle Holy Water on yourself and over your house – GOD, THIS SANCTIFICATION WILL ESTABLISH MY LIFE AND THIS HOME AMEN
Declaration: I AM POSSESSING MY POSSESSION IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. AMEN
Conclude with a Hymn of Trust
TRUST AND OBEY
When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word.
What a glory he shed on our way!
While we do his good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Chorus:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But his smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, Not a sigh nor a tear
Can abide while we trust and obey.
