Theotokos Prayer Group - Second Sunday of Lent - 16 March 2025

Second Sunday of Lent - 16 March 2025

Glory to you, O Christ, Wisdom of God the Father.
From a bright cloud, the Father’s voice was heard:
‘This is my beloved Son, listen to him’.
Glory to you, O Christ, Wisdom of God the Father.

Gospel:    Luke 9:28b-36

‘As Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face was altered.’

At that time: Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah’ — not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!’ And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

Notes from meeting on 11 March

Picture

Picture of Jesus handing Blessed Mother His Crown of Thorns, Blessed Mother then turns to us and our hearts open wide, She snaps off a blooded thorn and places it into each persons heart, each heart closes over the thorn and it blooms into a beautiful white flower, in the centre is the word "Prayer".

"My dear little children,
As you each open your hearts, you receive the thorn dipped in the Blood of my Son Jesus, the Blood acts like rooting powder and the thorn grows deep roots. Each time you pray the plant gets bigger and stronger till it blooms and praying becomes much more easy and effective!
Open your hearts my little ones and receive this much needed gift of prayer!
This gift of Prayer will be enhanced by the water of the Holy Spirit, this gift of Prayer will action the Holy Trinity's wishes for the Inhabitants of the Earth, that Is to know the Love of Jesus and to turn to Him.
My Jesus weeps for love of Mankind.
Mary"

Thank you Jesus for Your Precious Blood poured out over us, thank You for Your Passion and Your death on the Cross. Thank you that You gave up Your Life for us completely, fully, freely that we may be reconciled, saved, healed, united with the Father through Your sacrifice. Praise You Lord, Our King, Our Saviour, Our Redeemer and Our Brother.

Lenten Reflection - part2

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
FOR LENT 2025

Let us journey together in hope

Second, to journey together. The Church is called to walk together, to be synodal.  Christians are called to walk at the side of others, and never as lone travellers. The Holy Spirit impels us not to remain self-absorbed, but to leave ourselves behind and keep walking towards God and our brothers and sisters. Journeying together means consolidating the unity grounded in our common dignity as children of God (cf. Gal 3:26-28). It means walking side-by-side, without shoving or stepping on others, without envy or hypocrisy, without letting anyone be left behind or excluded. Let us all walk in the same direction, tending towards the same goal, attentive to one another in love and patience.

This Lent, God is asking us to examine whether in our lives, in our families, in the places where we work and spend our time, we are capable of walking together with others, listening to them, resisting the temptation to become self-absorbed and to think only of our own needs. Let us ask ourselves in the presence of the Lord whether, as bishops, priests, consecrated persons and laity in the service of the Kingdom of God, we cooperate with others. Whether we show ourselves welcoming, with concrete gestures, to those both near and far. Whether we make others feel a part of the community or keep them at a distance. This, then, is a second call to conversion: a summons to synodality.

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

Thank the Lord that Maisie is now out of hospital.

Pray for Joseph in hospital with burns.

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 18 March 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.

Charity
Charity is a principal characteristic of the Christian life. No one can think that pilgrimage and the celebration of the indulgence of the Jubilee can be reduced to a form of magical ritual, without knowing that it is a life of charity that gives them ultimate meaning. Furthermore, charity is the preeminent sign of the Christian faith and its specific form of credibility. In the context of the Jubilee, the apostle Peter's invitation cannot be forgotten: "Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Pet. 4:8).

According to John the evangelist, love toward one's neighbour, which comes not from man but from God, will ensure that true disciples of Christ will be recognized in the future. It is apparent, therefore, that no believer can claim to believe if they do not then love, and conversely, they cannot say they love if they do not believe. Paul the apostle also reiterates that faith and love make up the identity of the Christian; love is what begets perfection (see Col. 3:14), faith what enables love to be such. Charity, therefore, has its special place in the life of faith; moreover, in light of the Holy Year, Christian witness must be reaffirmed as a more expressive form of conversion.

The Jubilee Prayer

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.

Amen