The announcement earlier this week that the Vatican is organizing a global, simultaneous eucharistic adoration for Sunday has really caught people's imaginations.
Pope Francis will preside over adoration and benediction in St. Peter's Basilica beginning at 5 p.m. Rome time Sunday, the date most dioceses in the world celebrate the feast of the Body and Blood of the Lord.
To celebrate at the same time as the pope, Catholics in Mumbai would begin at 8:30 p.m.; those in New York would begin at 11 a.m.; in Seattle at 8 a.m.; in Honolulu at 5 a.m. and at 1 a.m. Monday in Sydney.
I have received at least four phone calls and half a dozen emails from people looking for the prayers that will be used for the event. They were at first only available in Italian. Now we have them in English and Spanish.
I will reprint them below for you convenience, but I need to thank Cindy Wooden of Catholic News Service for pointing the direction in finding the prayers.
In English, the prayers are:
1. "For the Church spread throughout the world and united today in the adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist as a sign of unity: May the Lord make her ever more obedient to hearing his Word in order to stand before the world 'ever more beautiful, without stain or blemish, but holy and blameless.' That through her faithful announcement, the Word that saves may still resonate as the bearer of mercy and may increase love to give full meaning to pain and suffering, giving back joy and serenity."
2. "For those around the world who still suffer slavery and who are victims of war, human trafficking, drug running, and slave labor. For the children and women who are suffering from every type of violence. May their silent scream for help be heard by a vigilant Church so that, gazing upon the crucified Christ, she may not forget the many brothers and sisters who are left at the mercy of violence. Also, for all those who find themselves in economically precarious situations, above all for the unemployed, the elderly, migrants, the homeless, prisoners, and those who experience marginalization. That the Church's prayer and its active nearness give them comfort and assistance in hope and strength and courage in defending human dignity."
Y en Español:
1. "Por la Iglesia, extendida en todo el mundo y hoy en señal de unidad recogida en la adoración de la Santísima Eucaristía. Que el Señor la haga cada vez más obediente a la escucha de su Palabra para presentarse ante el mundo siempre "mas hermosa, sin mancha, ni arruga, sino santa e inmaculada". Que a través de su fiel anuncio, la Palabra que salva resuene aún como portadora de misericordia y haga que el amor se redoble para dar un sentido pleno al dolor y al sufrimiento, devolviendo alegría y serenidad".
2. "Por aquellos que en los diversos lugares del mundo viven el sufrimiento de nuevas esclavitudes y son víctimas de la guerra, de la trata de personas, del narcotráfico y del trabajo "esclavo"; por los niños y las mujeres que padecen todas las formas de la violencia.¡Que su grito silencioso de ayuda encuentre a la Iglesia vigilante para que, teniendo la mirada puesta en Cristo crucificado no se olvide de tantos hermanos y hermanas dejados a merced de la violencia!. Por todos aquellos que, además, se encuentran en la precariedad económica, sobre todo los desempleados, los ancianos, los inmigrantes, los que carecen de hogar, los presos y cuantos experimentan la marginación. ¡Que la oración de la Iglesia y su cercanía activa les de consuelo y ayuda en la esperanza y fuerza y audacia en la defensa de la dignidad de la persona!"
