Merry Christmas from the Maronite Servants

Wishing all a Merry Christmas filled with peace and wonder.

Your Maronite Servants of Christ the Light 

Maronite Servants with our friends

Daily Mary’s Mind Gave Praise

Come, all you who have discernment, let us wonder

at the Virgin Mother, David’s daughter.

Herself most fair, to the Wonderful she gave birth;

she is the spring that provides the Fountain,

she the ship that bears joy from the Father,

that carries good news in her pure womb; she took on board and escorts

the great Steersman of creation

through whom peace reigns

on earth and in heaven.

Come, let us wonder at the Virgin most pure,

wondrous in herself,

unique in creation,

she gave birth, yet knew no man;

her pure soul with wonder was filled,

daily her mind gave praise

in joy at the twofold wonder:

her virginity preserved, her child most dear.

Blessed is He who shone forth from her!
A young dove, she carried

the eagle, the Ancient of days,

singing praise as she carried Him

in her lovely songs:

O my Son most rich, in a tiny nest

you have chosen to grow, melodious harp,

you are silent like a child, please let me sing to you

with the lyre whose cords stir the cherubim;

pray let me speak to you.

your home, my Son, is higher than all,

yet it was your wish to make me your home.

Heaven is too small to contain your splendor,

Yet I poorest of creatures, am carrying you.

Let Ezekiel come and see You on my knees;

let him kneel down and worship You, and acknowledge

It was You he saw there lifted up by the cherubim

above the chariot, and let him call me blessed

who carry You now.

Saint Ephrem the Syrian (4^th Century) a deacon and a hermit wrote hundred of hymns in honor of the Blessed Trinity, the incarnation and the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Join Us In Praying the Christmas Novena

Our Lady of Purgatory, New Bedford MA has recorded and posted the entire Novena … HERE….

Renewal of Vows - New Bedford

By Natalie Salameh

Sister Therese Maria Touma renewed her vows on Monday, December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, at the Divine Liturgy in Our Lady of Purgatory Church, New Bedford.

This was a beautiful way for our congregation to enter into the Year of Consecrated Life, called for by Pope Francis (begun Sunday, November 30).  In his recent letter to consecrated men and women, Pope Francis said that the beauty of consecration is “joy, joy…the joy of bringing God’s consolation to all.”

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, celebrating the Blessed Virgin’s conception without the original sin, is also a special feast for the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light. We are called, just like Mary, to “incarnate the Good News” as stated by Pope Francis, and to allow Christ the Light to penetrate the darkness of our world.

We ask you all, especially during this Year of Consecrated Life, to pray for vocations to our mission.    

Novena for the Glorious Birth

The Christmas Novena, beginning on December 15 is nine consecutive days of prayer and is a wonderful way of preparing ourselves for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ and getting into the true spirit of Christmas.  The incensing of the Blessed Sacrament, the prayers, the Syriac hymns and the processions all help us to worship and glorify the Word of God who is coming to save us and live among us – Emmanuel.  After the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the congregation kneels in worship and the chants “Shoubho-l-how qolo” or “Glory to the Word that became flesh.” Traditionally this “Ziah” is chanted in Syriac.   

The nine prayers (one for each day representing the nine months that Mary was pregnant with Jesus) are rich in their imagery and poetry. They give us the opportunity to adore and love our Lord at His nativity. They help us to reflect on his humility, love and divinity and at the same time our weaknesses and failures.  They help us to live our never ending love story with our Mother Mary with words such as “O Wine of the Virgins and Lily of Purity” asking for her intercession and the intercession of her beloved spouse Joseph. We then pray an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be before concluding with a beautiful prayer “We have offered you, O Wonderful Child and Unique Son, the perfume of our incense, the desire of our hearts, the surrender of our souls, the inclination of our bodies and the supplications of our lips…” Then as the priest begins to incense the Blessed Sacrament again, we sing the hymn “Arsal Allah” or “God sent his only Son, light for all the nations” which summarizes the prophesy of Isaiah about the incarnation of the Word of God. Benediction follows blessing the congregation to “Quodous, Quodous” or “Holy, Holy.”  

If you have intentions for us to include in the novena, please email them to us.  

Great Videos on Traditional Marriage

Here is one of six short and beautiful films on the cosmic, social, cultural, and religious importance of traditional marriage between men and women.  These six were shown at the Vatican as part of the International Colloquium on the Complementarity of man and woman in marriage called Humanum.  Sponsored by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and three Pontifical Councils, Pope Francis opened it with an address on the fundamental importance of traditional marriage.  You can access the other five videos on YouTube or at th Humanum website.

Children’s Retreat -Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Worcester

By Natalie Salameh

On Saturday, November 22, 2014, the Maronite Servants of Christ the Light offered a retreat day for the children of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Worcester, MA, with the focus on how God teaches us to give ourselves in love in the events of the Season of the Glorious Birth of Our Lord, the “Happy Announcements”.

Mother Marla Marie explained how the Season of Happy Announcements is made up of six Sundays, during which we see how each of the people in the Bible passages is responding generously and lovingly to the call of God in their lives.

The children were reminded of the great gift of Jesus at Christmas, and were challenged to think of ways that they can prepare for Christmas by being more generous and loving. During the day, the children were able to participate in a Nativity Play which they enthusiastically staged for their Pastor, Fr. Gaby Hoyek, and a number of volunteers.

The retreat concluded with the children actively participating in Saturday’s Vigil Liturgy, which celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation. Some of the children read the intercessions and Epistle, all sang the hymns, while others offered the gifts.

Vocation Challenge - Is God calling me?

Vocation Presentation - Brockton

We were invited to the faith formation junior high group at Our Lady of Lourdes in Brockton to offer a presentation of vocations.  The teens especially appreciated Natalie's witness story and Australian accent.

Recollection Afternoon - Dartmouth

We hosted an hosted an afternoon of recollection for the young adults from our Boston and Brockton parishes on November 9, 2014, followed by Ramsho and Supper at the Mother of Light Convent.

    

The focus of the afternoon was on the theological virtue of hope, particularly on the words of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in his Encyclical, Spe Salvi (“Saved in Hope”).   Mother Marla Marie explained how Love and Hope are closely related in the spiritual life. Love of God involves hope or trust in God. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man”. Hope enables us to look to the next life, but it also inspires and purifies our actions in this life.  Mother Marla Marie explained that with so much darkness and evil in the world today, its very easy to become hope-less. But that is not the mark of a true Christian.  We must be apostles who are filled with hope and joyful trust in God’s promises, always remembering that we are the salt and light of the earth.