Thursday after Ash Wednesday - OM: Saints Cyril and Methodius - Communion & Liberation Mass

THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

Prompt our actions with your inspiration, we pray, O Lord, and further them with your constant help, that all we do may always begin from you and by you be brought to completion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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SAINTS CYRILLE ET METHODE

Mémoire facultatif (en Europe: fête) des saints Cyrille, moine, et Méthode, évêque.

Ces deux frères de Thessalonique, envoyés par le patriarche de Constantinople, Photius, en Moravie, y prêchèrent la foi chrétienne et composèrent un alphabet propre pour transcrire du grec en slavon les livres saints.

Quand ils vinrent à Rome, Cyrille, qui jusque là s’appelait Constantin, atteint par la maladie se fit moine et s’endormit dans le Seigneur en ce jour, l’an 869.

Méthode, ordonné évêque de Sirmium par le pape Adrien II, évangélisa infatigablement la Pannonie, dut supporter bien des querelles qui lui furent infligées, mais soutenu toujours par les pontifes romains, il reçut la récompense de ses travaux à Valehred en Moravie, le 6 avril 885.

[Martyrologe romain]

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O God, who enlightened the Slavic peoples through the brothers Saints Cyril and Methodius, grant that our hearts may grasp the words of your teaching, and perfect us as a people of one accord in true faith and right confession. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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COMMUNION AND LIBERATION
COMMEMORATIVE MASS

On Monday evening in the Archbishops' Chapel beneath Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, I joined the Communion and Liberation community for the annual Mass commemorating the 31st anniversary of Pontifical recognition of CL's statutes (on February 11 itself) and the death 8 years ago (on February 22) of CL's inspiring founder Don Luigi Giussani.  Msgr. Maurizio Bravi from the Apostolic Nunciature concelebrated the liturgy and a small chorale led several hymns.  A reception took place in the parish hall afterwards.  [Photos: courtesy of Andre Potworoski.]