Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus. I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you’. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus.
Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
‘Your brother was dead, and is alive.’
At that time: The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable: ‘There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.” And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. ‘But when he came to himself, he said, “How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’ ” ‘And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.” And they began to celebrate. ‘Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.” But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, “Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!” And he said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.” ’
Notes from meeting on 25 March 2025:
Picture
A Picture of Jesus on the Cross, either side are the two thieves! His Heart is wrenched when one of them says “ If You are the Messiah save yourself and us”. Jesus asks His Father to forgive us as we don’t know what we are doing. The other thief reprimands him saying "We deserve our punishment but this man is innocent". The Heart of Jesus bursts with love and he says to Him, “Today I tell you, you will be with Me in Paradise".
"My dear little children, My Son loves each person so much, but the example of the bad thief causes Him such pain. The other thief shows such remorse and faith by his words, My Son’s Heart overflows with love. My Son loves all peoples especially those who respond with love of Him and your reward will be great, but once again He asks you to pray earnestly for those like the bad thief, these are the ones that break His Heart, He wants them to turn to Him and be resurrected from death to new life in Him. Pray to the Holy Spirit for graces to fall on all of Mankind, pray that people who are hard of heart will recognise Jesus in you and want to follow Jesus as you do, pray for hearts that think only of the things of this World and that they will be converted by love. Lastly pray for the gift of love for yourself, your families and all you come into contact with, for love restores all and Jesus is Love. I bless you in the Name of my Crucified Son who suffers for such love of you and all of Mankind."
Mary
Lord, Have Mercy, Lord, Have Mercy, Lord, Have Mercy On Your People. Lord, Have Mercy, Lord, Have Mercy, Lord, Have Mercy On Your People.
Intercessions
Pray for all Mothers.
Lord give us a spirit of Hope in this Holy Year of Hope.
Sacred Heart of Jesus have Mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.
Pray for the sanctity of life from conception to natural death.
Pray for upbuilding of Marriage and Family.
Pray for peace in our Country and our communities.
Pray for our young people that they may be protected from the evil one, that they may find a home in the loving Heart of Jesus.
Pray for healing for
Pope Francis, John Morgan, a young man in hospital, Rosie, Adam Grey with cancer, Charlotte, Susan, Kyle, Catherine and Peter, Anne Shepherd, Felicity, Jessica, Marie Bedingfield, Milo, John Joynes, Vanessa, Cathy, Matthew, Gina Hardy, Jeff Shore, Owen McEneaney, Reese, Tony, Joan, Jackie, Nathan, David, Derek, Malcolm, Hollie, and Harlan Moon.
Pray for healing for Lynn and Anne both with chronic illness. Pray for Gina (aged 31) who has had a pancreas and kidney transplant recently but has had to go back to surgery because the pancreas is not working properly. Pray for Alan Guile may the Lord strengthen him and his ministry.
Pray for Grace who is dying - Lord be with her
Pray for all in our Parishes who are ill in body, mind or spirit.
Pray for Disha that he may find employment.
Pray for all those we have been asked and have promised to pray for.
Pray for all who are grieving give them strength, consolation and healing.
Pray for our Priests and for vocations to the Priesthood.
Pray for lost souls.
Pray for the conversion of the World.
Lord we continue to pray for Peace in Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza and throughout the World.
Lord we pray for persecuted Christians throughout the World.
Lord we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all peoples and nations.
Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory may they be granted eternal rest.
Mary, Mother of God, Theotokos, pray for us. Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us. Mary, Bride of the Spirit, pray for us.
If anyone has any prophecy, prayers, readings or intercessions I encourage you to please send them to m
e. Let us share with one another the gifts and inspirations of the Spirit! Also if there any changes necessary to the intercessions - please let me know
Resources 1.Theotokos Prayer Group: https://www.facebook.com/Theotokos-Prayer-Group-142398089120415 /http://theotokosprayergroup.blogspot.co.uk/ 2. Daily Mass readings can be found at: https://universalis.com/mass.htm 3. Bishops Conference of England and Wales Website - https://www.cbcew.org.uk 4. Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle Website: Home - Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle (diocesehn.org.uk) 5. Catholic Charismatic Renewal in England: http://www.ccr.org.uk/ 6. Catholic Charismatic Renewal International https://www.charis.international/en/home/ 7. Celebrate Conference website https://www.celebratetrust.org/ 8. CHARIS in England and Wales www.charisuk.com 9.CaFE - Catholic Faith Exploration (faithcafe.org)
Events
Next meeting will be on 1 April2025 at 7.30pm in The Creche in St Patricks Church, Glenfield Road, Fairfield, Stockton TS19 7PL. All welcome
Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope The 2025 Jubilee officially opened on December 24, 2024 with the rite of Opening of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter by the Holy Father. Link to Jubilee website: Jubilee 2025 https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html
I will be adding further information and reflections on the Holy Year as we get into 2025.
The Year of the Jubilee- a year of restoration, freedom and celebration. The Jubilee is first described in Leviticus 25. Every 7th year was a sabbath for the land when it was to lay fallow, and rest from agriculture. The 7th in a cycle of 7 sabbatical years was 49 years, and the year following was the 50th year. Land and property, which had been sold, was returned to its original owner or their descendants, debts were cancelled, and slaves and prisoners were freed. A ram’s horn was blown on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) to announce the start of the year of the Jubilee. It was a year of restoration and freedom, and a year of celebration.
The Jubilee represents the most radical system of continuing social reform in the Old Testament because it blocked land and wealth from becoming the focus of a wealthy elite at the expense of the ordinary people.
The word Jubilee
The Hebrew word for Jubilee is “yobel” which roughly means ‘ram’. This is because a trumpet made from a ram’s horn was used to announce the beginning of the Jubilee year in Joshua 6:1-14. The announcement of the Jubilee year with a trumpet blast became strongly connected with the eventual eschatological ushering in of the messianic era (see Isaiah 27:13 and Zechariah 9:9-17). It is not originally connected to the Latin word for Jubilee (jubilare) meaning jubilation, but in the English language, the word Jubilee came to have the dual meaning of a 50th anniversary, and a special time of celebration. The history of the Jubilee in the Bible is also related to the idea of the Sabbath and the Sabbatical year. Leviticus 25: 8-17 “You shall count seven weeks of years, seven times seven years, so that the time of the seven weeks of years shall give you forty-nine years. Then you shall sound the loud trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement, you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land. And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan. That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee for you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of itself nor gather the grapes from the undressed vines. For it is a Jubilee. It shall be holy to you. You may eat the produce of the field. “In this year of Jubilee each of you shall return to his property. And if you make a sale to your neighbour or buy from your neighbour, you shall not wrong one another. You shall pay your neighbour according to the number of years after the Jubilee, and he shall sell to you according to the number of years for crops. If the years are many, you shall increase the price, and if the years are few, you shall reduce the price, for it is the number of the crops that he is selling to you. You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God, for I am the Lord your God.
Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in or hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.
Repent, says the Lord, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God.
Gospel: Luke 13:1-9
‘Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.’
There were some present at that very time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.’ And he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vine dresser, “Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?” And he answered him, “Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig round it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ’
God our Father, in your infinite love and goodness you have shown us that prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are remedies for sin. Accept the humble admission of our guilt, and when our conscience weighs us down let your unfailing mercy raise us up. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lenten Reflection - part 3
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS FOR LENT 2025
Third, let us journey together in hope, for we have been given a promise. May the hope that does not disappoint (cf. Rom 5:5), the central message of the Jubilee, be the focus of our Lenten journey towards the victory of Easter. As Pope Benedict XVI taught us in the Encyclical Spe Salvi, “the human being needs unconditional love. He needs the certainty which makes him say: ‘neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord’ ( Rom 8:38-39)”.
Christ, my hope, has risen! He lives and reigns in glory. Death has been transformed into triumph, and the faith and great hope of Christians rests in this: the resurrection of Christ!
This, then, is the third call to conversion: a call to hope, to trust in God and his great promise of eternal life. Let us ask ourselves: Am I convinced that the Lord forgives my sins? Or do I act as if I can save myself? Do I long for salvation and call upon God’s help to attain it? Do I concretely experience the hope that enables me to interpret the events of history and inspires in me a commitment to justice and fraternity, to care for our common home and in such a way that no one feels excluded?
Sisters and brothers, thanks to God’s love in Jesus Christ, we are sustained in the hope that does not disappoint (cf. Rom 5:5). Hope is the “sure and steadfast anchor of the soul”. It moves the Church to pray for “everyone to be saved” ( 1 Tim 2:4) and to look forward to her being united with Christ, her bridegroom, in the glory of heaven. This was the prayer of Saint Teresa of Avila: “Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain, and turns a very short time into a long one” ( The Exclamations of the Soul to God, 15:3).
May the Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope, intercede for us and accompany us on our Lenten journey.
Notes for meeting on 18 March
Picture
Picture of Our Lord Jesus on His Cross, Blessed Mother is looking up at Him. It is as though we were above the top of the Cross looking at Our Mother and Jesus while they are conversing. Jesus in agony says “Dear Mother will you be a Mother to mine?” Blessed Mother with tears on her cheeks replies “My Son as I said "Yes" to Gabriel and You were placed in my womb, so shall I place all of Your children into the Ark of my Immaculate Heart, I shall lead them home to You."
"My dear little ones I am with you and hold you in the Ark of my Immaculate Heart, turn to Jesus in trouble and strife and I will always do as He bids and protect you. My Heart together with my Son’s Heart will always be your refuge, for you are my Son’s People and so you are my children and this Mother will always watch over her little ones. Be at peace my dear one’s, come stay with me a while before the Holy Cross of my Son, and keep us company. Mary"
Interpretation of tongues:
My Heart burns with love of you.
I love you.
My Heart is full of love for you.
My Heart is broken.
My Heart is broken for love of you, My Heart is broken for love of you, My Heart is broken for love of you,
Intercessions
Lord give us a spirit of Hope in this Holy Year of Hope.
Sacred Heart of Jesus have Mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary pray for us.
Pray for the sanctity of life from conception to natural death.
Pray for upbuilding of Marriage and Family.
Pray for peace in our Country and our communities.
Pray for our young people that they may be protected from the evil one, that they may find a home in the loving Heart of Jesus.
Pray for healing for
Pope Francis, John Morgan, Rosie, Adam Grey with cancer, Charlotte, Susan, Kyle, Catherine and Peter, Anne Shepherd, Felicity, Jessica, Marie Bedingfield, Milo, John Joynes, Vanessa, Cathy, Matthew, Gina Hardy, Jeff Shore, Owen McEneaney, Reese, Tony, Joan, Jackie, Nathan, David, Derek, Malcolm, Hollie, and Harlan Moon.
Pray for healing for Lynn and Anne both with chronic illness. Pray for Gina (aged 31) who has had a pancreas and kidney transplant recently but has had to go back to surgery because the pancreas is not working properly. Pray for Alan Guile may the Lord strengthen him and his ministry.
Pray for Grace who is dying - Lord be with her
Pray for all in our Parishes who are ill in body, mind or spirit.
Pray for Disha that he may find employment.
Pray for all those we have been asked and have promised to pray for.
Pray for all who are grieving give them strength, consolation and healing.
Pray for our Priests and for vocations to the Priesthood.
Pray for lost souls.
Pray for the conversion of the World.
Lord we continue to pray for Peace in Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza and throughout the World.
Lord we pray for persecuted Christians throughout the World.
Lord we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all peoples and nations.
Pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory may they be granted eternal rest.
Mary, Mother of God, Theotokos, pray for us. Mary Queen of Peace, pray for us. Mary, Bride of the Spirit, pray for us.
If anyone has any prophecy, prayers, readings or intercessions I encourage you to please send them to m
e. Let us share with one another the gifts and inspirations of the Spirit! Also if there any changes necessary to the intercessions - please let me know
Resources 1.Theotokos Prayer Group: https://www.facebook.com/Theotokos-Prayer-Group-142398089120415 /http://theotokosprayergroup.blogspot.co.uk/ 2. Daily Mass readings can be found at: https://universalis.com/mass.htm 3. Bishops Conference of England and Wales Website - https://www.cbcew.org.uk 4. Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle Website: Home - Diocese of Hexham & Newcastle (diocesehn.org.uk) 5. Catholic Charismatic Renewal in England: http://www.ccr.org.uk/ 6. Catholic Charismatic Renewal International https://www.charis.international/en/home/ 7. Celebrate Conference website https://www.celebratetrust.org/ 8. CHARIS in England and Wales www.charisuk.com 9.CaFE - Catholic Faith Exploration (faithcafe.org)
Events
Next meeting will be on 25March 2025 at 7.30pm in The Creche in St Patricks Church, Glenfield Road, Fairfield, Stockton TS19 7PL. All welcome
Jubilee 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope The 2025 Jubilee officially opened on December 24, 2024 with the rite of Opening of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter by the Holy Father. Link to Jubilee website: Jubilee 2025 https://www.iubilaeum2025.va/en.html
I will be adding further information and reflections on the Holy Year as we get into 2025.
The development of the Jubilee theme in Scripture
Although there are only a few references to the Jubilee year in the Pentateuch it continued to play a major role both among the Israelites and in the emerging Christian church in the New Testament. The Jubilee year assumed greater theological importance in Israel. Although there are only a few references to the Jubilee year in the Pentateuch (Leviticus 25 and Numbers 36:4) it continued to play a major role both among the Israelites and in the emerging Christian church in the New Testament. Ezekiel 46:17 calls it the ‘year of liberty’.
While Isaiah 61:1-2 speaks of it as ‘the year of the Lord’s favour’.
‘The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn…’
In Daniel’s vision (9:24-27), he sees the eschatological messianic age of Yahweh to be inaugurated after “seventy weeks of years”.
This can be equated with 10 jubilee years: ‘for putting an end to transgression, for placing the seal on sin, for expiating crime, for introducing everlasting righteousness, for setting the seal on vision and on prophecy, for anointing the holy of holies.’
In Jeremiah 34:8-22 the liberation of slaves which King Zedekiah had ordered was not properly carried out. The Israelites reversed the agreement, reclaimed their slaves and re-enslaved them. Yahweh reprimanded the people and reminded them of their ancestral covenant with him and Jubilee protocol. Then Yahweh set war, famine and plague upon them in punishment.
2 Chronicles 36:21 also shows that Israel had failed to observe the sabbatical years in accordance with Jeremiah’s prophecy and was similarly punished.
Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in or hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever.
Please note that the Prayers & Quotations page has been updated 12/11/2012
Dates for your diary - Theotokos Prayer Group
We currently meet for a Prayer Meeting every Tuesday evening at St Patricks Church Creche, Glenfield Road, Fairfield, Stockton On Tees TS19 7PL (Rosary 7.30pm).
All welcome.
See below for 'special' nights:
Pray for:
* Lost Souls
* all Priests and Religious
* the restoration and healing of the world, for justice, compassion and peace.Lord restore your world.Lord restore your people.We pray against all evil in the world and in particular … add here any particular intention i.e. illegal drugs trade, wars, poverty, abortion, unemployment, etc..Come Holy Spirit renew the face of the earth.
* all victims of abortion - the children, mothers, fathers, families, those carrying out and assisting abortions.
* Please join in us in praying this prayer for persecuted Christians around the world
Father in Heaven, you make your sun shine on good and bad alike. Your Son Jesus Christ died for us all and in his glorious Resurrection He still retains the five wounds of his Passion. With his divine power he now sustains all those who suffer persecution and martyrdom for the sake of their fidelity to the faith of the Church. Merciful and mighty Father, do not allow Cain to return again to murder helpless Abel, innocent Abel. May persecuted Christians around the world remain, like Mary, their Mother, together at the foot of the cross of Christ the Martyr. Comfort those menaced by violence and those oppressed by uncertainty. May your Holy Spirit of love make fruitful the witness and the blood of those who die forgiving.
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