Feast of Christ the Feast of Christ the kingking

November 24November 24thth 20132013

This day marks the end of the Year of This day marks the end of the Year of Faith. Pope Francis reminds us that Faith. Pope Francis reminds us that what continues is the call to all what continues is the call to all Christians to respond daily to Jesus, Christians to respond daily to Jesus, who calls us to be his disciples, sent out who calls us to be his disciples, sent out into out into the world to bear witness into out into the world to bear witness to the joy of a life lived in Faithto the joy of a life lived in Faith

The year of Faith has brought many blessings to our homes, schools parishes and dioceses.There have been many faith enriching experiences for adults and young people – courses, conferences, retreats, pilgrimages and special parish events

World Youth DayWorld Youth DayMany young adult pilgrims and their leaders travelled from Ireland to attend World Youth Day. Some were lucky enough to represent Ireland at the Vigil and met Pope Francis. The Vigil is the highlight of the pilgrimage and 3.2 million young people attended.

Pope Franciswaves from the popemobileto assembledcrowds in Rio De Janeiro

Some of the 3.2 million young people on Copacabana Beach on World Youth Day

"Go and make disciples "Go and make disciples of all nations!"of all nations!"

(cf. Mt (cf. Mt

Pilgrims gather for the closing Mass for World Youth Day.Pope Francis urges young people to bring the joy of Jesus to the world

Words of Pope Francis to Words of Pope Francis to young people……….young people……….

‘ ‘You have an important part in You have an important part in the celebration of faith! You the celebration of faith! You bring us the joy of faith and bring us the joy of faith and you tell us that we must live you tell us that we must live the faith with a young heart, the faith with a young heart, always: a young heart, even at always: a young heart, even at the age of seventy or eighty. the age of seventy or eighty. Dear young people! With Dear young people! With Christ, the heart never grows Christ, the heart never grows old! Yet all of us, all of you old! Yet all of us, all of you know very well that the King know very well that the King whom we follow and who whom we follow and who accompanies us is very accompanies us is very special: he is a King who loves special: he is a King who loves even to the Cross and who even to the Cross and who teaches us to serve and to teaches us to serve and to lovelove’ ’

We need saints without We need saints without cassocks, without veils –cassocks, without veils –

We need saints with jeans We need saints with jeans and tennis shoes.and tennis shoes.

We need saints that go to We need saints that go to the movies,the movies,

that listen to music,that listen to music, that hang out with their that hang out with their

friends.friends.We need saints that place We need saints that place

God in first placeGod in first placeahead of succeeding in ahead of succeeding in

any career.any career.We need saints that look We need saints that look

for time to pray every for time to pray every dayday

and who know how to be and who know how to be in love with purity, in love with purity, chastity and all good chastity and all good things.things.

Thoughts of Pope Francis…??

Christ the KingChrist the King It is fitting that the ending of the It is fitting that the ending of the

Year of Faith is marked on the feast Year of Faith is marked on the feast of Christ the king. of Christ the king.

Jesus knew the oppressive nature of Jesus knew the oppressive nature of secular kings, and in contrast to secular kings, and in contrast to them, he connected his role as king them, he connected his role as king to humble service, and commanded to humble service, and commanded his followers to be servants as well. his followers to be servants as well.

His teachings spell out a kingdom of His teachings spell out a kingdom of justice and judgment balanced with justice and judgment balanced with radical love, mercy, peace, and radical love, mercy, peace, and forgiveness. When we celebrate forgiveness. When we celebrate Christ as King, we are not Christ as King, we are not celebrating an oppressive ruler, but celebrating an oppressive ruler, but one willing to die for humanity and one willing to die for humanity and whose "loving-kindness endures whose "loving-kindness endures forever." Christ is the king that forever." Christ is the king that gives us true freedom, freedom in gives us true freedom, freedom in Him. Him.

Let us prayLet us pray

God our Father as the Year of Faith God our Father as the Year of Faith draws to a close we thank you for its draws to a close we thank you for its many blessings .We pray for the grace many blessings .We pray for the grace to journey in faith and to live as people to journey in faith and to live as people of His Kingdom. We ask you to help us of His Kingdom. We ask you to help us respond to the challenge Pope Francis respond to the challenge Pope Francis puts to us when he asks us to live lives puts to us when he asks us to live lives of humble service. We ask this through of humble service. We ask this through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

IntercessionsIntercessions

Response is: Response is: Hear our prayerHear our prayer. . Gathered as the family of God we place Gathered as the family of God we place

before You our prayers:before You our prayers: (1) We pray that the Church of Christ the (1) We pray that the Church of Christ the

Universal King will continue to grow. We Universal King will continue to grow. We ask you Lord to watch over it and protect ask you Lord to watch over it and protect it. Grant our Holy Father Pope Francis it. Grant our Holy Father Pope Francis our bishops and our priests the courage our bishops and our priests the courage to faithfully proclaim your Gospel.to faithfully proclaim your Gospel.

Response: Response: Hear our prayerHear our prayer

IntercessionsIntercessions

(2) Father we pray for peace today in all (2) Father we pray for peace today in all the troubled parts of the world, may the troubled parts of the world, may peace and justice once more flourish and peace and justice once more flourish and hatred and war be no more.hatred and war be no more.

Response: Response: Hear our prayerHear our prayer (3) For all who suffer illness of any kind - (3) For all who suffer illness of any kind -

in mind, body or soul, that the Lord will in mind, body or soul, that the Lord will place his healing hand upon them and place his healing hand upon them and restore them to the fullness of health.restore them to the fullness of health.

Response: Response: Hear our prayerHear our prayer

IntercessionsIntercessions

(4)(4) In this month of November we remember our In this month of November we remember our loved ones who have entered eternal life. Lord loved ones who have entered eternal life. Lord forgive them any sin they have committed and forgive them any sin they have committed and welcome them into your heavenly Kingdom.welcome them into your heavenly Kingdom.

Response: Response: Hear our prayerHear our prayer

Eternal God, you rule your Kingdom with mercy, Eternal God, you rule your Kingdom with mercy, compassion and love. Hear the prayers of your compassion and love. Hear the prayers of your family who are gathered here before you. Grant family who are gathered here before you. Grant what we need to live as worthy members of your what we need to live as worthy members of your kingdom. We unite these with the unspoken kingdom. We unite these with the unspoken prayers of our heart as we pray together :prayers of our heart as we pray together :

Our FatherOur Father………..………..