Ann: Greeting: Welcome my sisters and brothers to this most joyous day in Free Spirit’s life!
We are celebrating the Beatitudes, think of the word “beautiful” and we are receiving Mary Francis into our beloved family, our Catholic family that has given and continues to give us untold treasure. We are honored to have our dear Bishop Bridget Mary in the house! Surely, the goodness of our Abba Godde is in this place in a special and intense way tonight.
Opening Meditation: Mary Francis to introduce meditation and topic for today’s liturgy.
I am so pleased to be among you all today, to proclaim my faith and be received into the Roman Catholic Church through the congregation of the Free Spirit Inclusive Catholic Community and with the support and blessing of Rev Ann Harrington and Bishop Bridget Mary Meehan. Also present today are some members of my beloved Sacred Balance spiritual community. I would like to offer a musical version of the Beatitudes as our contemplation for this service. It is rather long, nearly 5 minutes, but I feel that the music, chanting, and scripture is a fitting way to sink into the Presence of the Spirit of the Christ that promises the faithful the divine reward for our earthly service and suffering.
Meditation: Owen and Moley O'Suilleabhain, 'I am with You (the Beatitudes).' (as contemplation)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNk-PLDanuU
(4 mins 50 seconds)
Lyrics:
Amen
Truly I say to you, gather in my Name I am with you.
Blessed are the poor in Spirit, the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Blessed are the gentle, they shall inherit the land.
Amen
Truly I say to you, gather in my Name I am with you.
Blessed are those who mourn, they shall be consoled.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, the justice of God shall be theirs.
Blessed are the merciful, mercy shall be shown unto them.
Blessed are the poor of heart, they shall behold their God.
Amen
Truly I say to you, gather in my Name I am with you.
Blessed are those who bring peace, they shall be children of God.
Blessed are those who suffer in the cause of right, the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
*****
Opening Prayer: Bridget Mary
Loving and gracious God, you call each of us by name and draw us into the life of your Son, Jesus, who shows us the way of love, justice, and mercy. Today, we rejoice as we welcome Mary Francis into the Catholic Church, in an inclusive community, where all are embraced in your boundless love. Bless and strengthen our new sister in Christ, O God, as we accompany her on her journey. All: Amen
*****
LITURGY OF THE WORD
Lynn READER 1: First Responsorial Reading: Psalm 1
The Blessed and the Wicked
All: R. Blessed are they who hope in God.
Blessed the people who follow not
the counsel of the wicked,
nor walk in the way of sinners,
nor sit in the company of the insolent,
but delight in the law of God
and meditate on God’s law, day and night.
All: R. Blessed are they who hope in God.
They are like a tree
planted near running water,
that yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever they do prospers.
All: R. Blessed are they who hope in God
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For God watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
All: R. Blessed are they who hope in God.
Alleluia: More Light by Christopher Grundy, video by MT Streck ARCWP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8XaUlqb8t0
Barbara READER 2: Gospel: Matthew 5: 1-12 - The Sermon on the Mount
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. We affirm the sacredness of these words with a hearty AMEN!
Mary Francis - Homily
I am moved by the promises of Jesus in the famous Sermon on the Mount. Of course, he said a lot more than just the list of promises we’ve heard this morning, but these are called ‘The Beatitudes’. The word beatitude means ‘supreme blessedness’. As a faithful servant of the Christ, a contemplative, and a social activist, I rely on the words of Jesus to bolster my resolve in times of trouble. We find ourselves in times of trouble once again…times where people are being pitted against one another, where greed, hatred and oppression have run rampant once again as they did in Jesus’ time. We find ourselves in the position, like Jesus, of having to speak truth to power…even when there is clear and present danger in doing so. To me, this is when we need to lean heavily into the reassurances of the beatitudes to remember that the poor, meek and needy are blessed by God in spite of what we see happening in the world. Jesus reassures us that those of us hungering and thirsting for righteousness will be satisfied; those of us who are persecuted in the cause of right will be justified. Here is when our faith is being tested. Will we stand with those who have no power or go silent and preserve our own well-being? I know that I am preaching to the converted…to social activists like myself who watch for ways to stand up for the powerless and marginalized people of our culture…and yet, the risk of doing so in today’s world seems to be getting greater and greater. I read this week that Pope Francis spoke up against the current administration’s new immigration policies…calling out the Catholic VP on their unchristian nature and correcting his theology around loving our neighbors. The Pope has lots of power, backing and protection and I’m glad he’s using his voice and his influence for the cause of right over might. You and I may not have such protections under social or criminal law anymore. We may in fact be called by our faith to put ourselves in harm’s way for the sake of the Way of the Christ and the love of our neighbors. For me, the beatitudes bolster my courage and my conviction that we are here to love one another and care for one another. They also strengthen my resolve to respond to the promptings of the Spirit on behalf of those who have no voice and no power…just as Jesus did. Being a follower of Jesus the Christ is a high calling and I feel reassured by Jesus’ teachings in the Beatitudes that all will be well for the souls of those who do as He did. In times like these, we can look to the fellowship of the faithful and the words of our Teacher Jesus to continue the struggle against injustice and tyranny.
I have had a prayer for a long time…that my heart would break for the things that break the heart of Jesus. This prayer has me acutely aware of how people suffer even when God-loving people stand up and speak up for justice and change. This is the point where my heart is crushed but must hold back from despairing for those who suffer, knowing that Jesus is true to His Word and that those who will suffer despite our efforts are also covered by His grace, His protection and His peace. Jesus’ peace which passes understanding is a balm for the heart that keeps us from becoming despairing and despondent. Hoping beyond hope, we continue on doing our bit, however small and seemingly inconsequential. We hope, we believe, we know, like MLK, that ‘The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.’ In this knowing, we pray, we act, we protest, we serve.
Though I am just today being received into the Catholic Church, I have long been a devotee of the Rosary and other Catholic Intercessory Prayers like the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the Saint Gertrude prayer. When I have exhausted my effort to ‘pray with my feet’, I turn to these prayers to storm the heavens on behalf of the oppressed, the poor, the hungry; on behalf of the souls of the living and the dead; on behalf of our planet and all of life.
Finally, once received today, I will seek candidacy to become a Roman Catholic Woman Priest. The calling on my heart and soul to the mission of diversity, inclusion and equity; of justice, peace and harmony, draws me to align with the ARCWP’s mission to reform the Roman Catholic Church to reflect the life and teachings of Jesus the Christ…including the acceptance of women and other marginalized people into the ordained clergy of the Roman Catholic Church. In this desire and calling, I expect I will be persecuted for Jesus’ sake once again as I have been in my calling to ministry outside of the Catholic Church…but it is in the company of others who love Jesus and desire to emulate His Way and serve alongside Him that I draw my strength and resolve. And moreso, I trust in the Words of Jesus and in His very being, to provide the blessings and supports I will need as I go along my way following the movement of the Holy Spirit in and through my being. And so, I present myself to this community with love and longing.
*****
Shared Homily: Community is invited to share thoughts, feelings, hopes and dreams for our newest Catholic sister.
Bridget Mary:
Invitation: (At end of the homily, the candidate is invited to make the
profession of faith with the community)
Mary Francis, of your own free will you have asked to be received into
the full communion of the Catholic Church. You have made your
decision after careful thought under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
I now invite you to come forward with your sponsor and in the
presence of this community to profess the Catholic faith. In this faith
you will be one with us for the first time at the eucharistic table of
Jesus, the sign of the Church’s unity.
Mary Francis’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father/Mother Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and Earth, of all that is seen and unseen.
I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ and Our Blessed Mother Mary
came to earth to remind us that we, like Them, are One in God…God
from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, One in Being with
the Father/Mother. Through Jesus and Mary’s lives, teachings and
sacrifices, we have been given a blessed path to reunion with God.
He left us with the Holy Spirit, indwelling God in us, so that following
His example and opening to His blessings and the Mother’s grace, we
might be restored to the fullness of our beings. As we take on that
mind that was in Christ Jesus, we join Him on His Way and in His
Mission to liberate the world from suffering and ignorance.
For all that He has given, I cherish and adore Him and intone His Holy
Name, through which I align myself with His transforming power. His
message and invitation to follow Him is for every soul, making it a
universal call for all souls to unite in Christ and be restored to our
true nature. This is the second coming and the fulfillment of the
prophets; God in All and All in God, fully conscious of our shared
divinity.
Mary Francis then proclaims Profession of Faith in Rite:
I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church, the people of
God, believes, teaches, and proclaims to be revealed by God.
Bridget Mary: Act of Reception:
Mary Francis, in the name of Jesus, the Christ of the Cosmos, whose
loving kindness has led you here, so that in the unity of the Holy Spirit you
may have full communion with us in the faith that you have professed in the
presence of this community gathered here, [we receive you into the Roman Catholic Church.]
*****
LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST*
Sue READER 3: Prayers of the Community
As we prepare for this sacred meal, we are aware that just as Jesus is anointed, so is each of us. As bearers of light and hope, we bring to this table our blessings, cares, and concerns.
(Please place your prayers in the chat box.)
MUSIC for prayer time: Phil Wickman, Divine Romance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlsIwmtb0U8
Sue reads the prayers and concludes with prayer.
***
Margaret: Reader 4: O Holy One, you have birthed us in goodness, gifted us with life and cherished us in love. In the heart of our being, your Spirit dwells; a Spirit of courage and vision, a Spirit of wisdom and truth.
In the power of that same Spirit, we lift our hearts in prayer, invoking anew the gift of wisdom and enlightenment, that we may continue to praise and thank you, in union with all who sing the ancient hymn of praise:
Holy, Holy, Holy: Here In This Place – New
https://youtu.be/uXyu57tR2gk
Mark: Reader 5: Holy One, we see around us the work of your hands, the fruit of your wisdom and love. The unfolding story of creation witnesses unceasingly to your creative power. We, your creatures, often deviate from that wisdom, thus hindering your creative presence in our midst.
Sending among us Jesus, our brother, you birth afresh in our world the power of Sophia-Wisdom, and in the gift of Your Spirit, your creative goodness blooms anew, amid the variety and wonder of life.
Ann: READER 6: We invoke Your Spirit upon the gifts of this Eucharistic table, bread of the grain and wine of the grape, that they may become gifts of wisdom, light and truth which remind us of our call to be just, inclusive and pour out loving-kindness onto the world.
Lynn: READER 7: On the night before he faced his own death, Jesus sat at supper with his companions and friends. He reminded them of all that he taught them. To fix that memory clearly within them, he bent down and washed their feet.
(All lift their plates and pray the following:)
When he returned to his place at the table, and while they were eating Jesus took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them saying:
“Take and eat; this is my Body
(All lift their cups and pray the following:)
Barbara: READER 8: He then raised high the cup of the covenant, spoke the grace, and offered it to them saying:
“Take and drink. Whenever you remember me like this, I am among you.”
What we have heard today with our ears, we will live with our lives. As we share communion, we will become communion; both love’s nourishment and love’s challenge.
Take this bread and wine with the words “As we receive communion, we become communion.”
(consume bread and wine)
***
Eucharistic Meditation:
Lauren Daigle, Look Up, Child (after liturgy)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N90b4O3B-kY
Maureen or Sue: READER 9: In union with all peoples living and dead, we unite our thoughts and prayers, asking wisdom and courage: to discern more wisely your call to us in the circumstances of our daily lives; to act justly and courageously in confronting the pain and suffering that desecrates the Earth and its peoples; to take risks in being creative and proactive on behalf of the poor and marginalized; and to love all people with generosity of heart, beyond the labels of race, creed and color.
And may we ever be aware and alert to the new things Your Spirit makes possible in us, as our world unfolds amid pain and beauty, into the fullness of life to which we are all called, participating in the wise and wonderful work of building community and co-creation.
Like Jesus, we will open wide all that has been closed around us, and we will live compassionate lives, living as Jesus lived, that we can awaken to your loving Spirit within and pour that loving-kindness out, first onto those around us, and then onto the whole wide world.*
Bridget Mary Closing Prayer:
Mary Francis, you have professed your faith in Jesus, who walks with the poor, who blesses the peacemakers, who hungers and thirsts for righteousness, and who calls us all to live with compassion. May the Beatitudes be your guide, shaping your heart in mercy, your hands in service, and your voice in truth. We pray together with you to the Holy One, through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit. Amen
Blessing and Dismissal
Ann: Please extend your hands in blessing
May Christ’s Spirit dwell within you, guiding your steps in love. May the Catholic community be a place of belonging for you—a home where your gifts are honored, your questions are welcomed, and your faith is nurtured. Together, may we build a Church where all are seen, all are cherished, and all are called to the fullness of life. May we walk together as one Body in Christ. All: Amen, welcome Mary Francis
Closing Music:
Benedictus, 2Cellos (instrumental)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_RjlIPuqyc
*These sections taken from The Upper Room Archive https://upperroomliturgiesrituals.blogspot.com/2022/02/
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