This week Patriarch Elias Howayek will be beatified in the Patriarchal Residence in Diman, Lebanon. There is something special about our Maronite Patriarchs. In particular, Blessed Estephan Douaihy and soon-to-be Blessed Elias Howayek.
July 31, 2025: The Feast of the Three Hundred and Fifty Maronite Martyrs
While on the road, not far from home, the three hundred and fifty monks were martyred for their steadfast faith. These faithful sons defended truth and gave their lives so willingly for love of Christ, true God and man.
September 8: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today the Church honors Mary, who is blessed among women, and considers this day as the beginning of our salvation in her Son, Jesus Christ. The name, “Mary”, comes from Aramaic and signifies either “the elevated one” or “queen of the sea”. May the prayers of the Virgin, our Queen, protect us. Amen.
From the Synaxarion for the Birthof the Virgin, Maronite Prayer of the Faithful.
September 1, 2022: Saint Simeon the Stylite
When Simeon set to work on his pillar, he dug deep foundations; for the deeper the foundations, the higher the building will rise. Simeon’s foundation was prayer, austerity and constant penance. Unbelievers were converted by his preaching. A monastery and city grew up around his pillar. What was once a desert wasteland became a sanctuary of prayer and devotion for multitudes. He healed the sick, reconciled the angry, brought peace to the troubled and demanded justice for the poor and imprisoned. When he was censured for his extravagant way of life, he pointed to the praying crowds below and said “God has put to use even my foolish extravagance.”
From the Sedro of the Feast of Saint Simeon, the Younger, Fenquitho.
August 21, 2022: 12th Sunday of Glorious Pentecost
The apostles Jesus chose had been blessed by his great love.
At the Jordan they were called, filled with Spirit and with fire.
Then with strength they went forth preaching to the world
to restore the truth.
Verse from the Maronite hymn, Joyfully a Light Has Dawned
August 15: The Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin
Ancient tradition tells us and our own faith assures us of what the Church has solemnly proclaimed: the Virgin Mary has entered, body and soul, into heaven. After her death the Virgin Mother of God, without undergoing corruption, has entered heaven, by a special privilege of God, with her body glorified as was her Son’s. As God had preserved her from the stain of original sin, made her a mother and yet preserved her as a virgin, so also has he brought her to himself in her integral human nature of body and soul.
May our Virgin Mother intercede for us and may her prayers protect us. Amen.
From the Synaxarion for the Assumption of the Virgin, Maronite Divine Office.
August 6, 2022: The Transfiguration of Our Lord
In the night on Mount Tabor Jesus showed himself as Lord.
Like the sun shining brightly, his face brightens all the world.
Shout with Joy from the mountains. "Jesus showed himself as Lord."
Offer praise to the Lord God. his face brightens all the world.
Lord, your face once was hidden; now it shines throughout the world.
May our minds be enlightened by your love and peace and light.
July 24, 2022: Eighth Sunday of Glorious Pentecost, The Feast of Saint Anne
Mary’s glory is recounted In the East and in the West.
Giving Honor, magnify her, Queen of hearts and mother best.
Giving Honor, magnify her, Queen of hearts and mother best.
He who made her and who chose her
All the world cannot contain
From the time of her creation
He protected her from stain.
Maronite Hymn, Cedars of Lebanon Hymnal, Second Edition.
July 23, 2022 — The Feast of Saint Sharbel
Sharbel spends his nights awake until his eyes meet the light of dawn; in his heart he carries the heart of the world which longs for the heavenly light. Alleluia, what a wonderful hope!
“With your tears, you irrigate the earth,” said the Lord to Adam in Paradise. Sharbel irrigated the earth with his blood, melting himself like a candle. Alleluia, how blessed is he!
He is a saint from among us, from the heights of the cedars and the hearts of the rocks. O Sharbel, intercede for us; the Lord gave you the glory of Lebanon. Alleluia, protect Lebanon!
Psalm of the Readings, Maronite Divine Liturgy for Saint Sharbel, Fenqitho.
July 10, 2022: The Feast of the Blessed Massabki Brothers
“We do not fear the one who kills the body…
a crown is prepared for us in heaven,…
we have our souls … and we do not wish
to lose them, we are Christians and we wish
to die as Christians.
Proclamation by Francis Massabki before his martyrdom, Jule 10, 1860
June 29, 2022: The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
Glory to you, O Christ, on [the] feast of your apostles Peter and Paul, Inspire us to meditate on their lives, to assume their zeal and to be your witnesses by our lives.
May we bear your gospel by word and action, and deserve to glorify you one day with them in your kingdom, for ever.
Amen.
From the Morning prayer for Peter and Paul, Maronite Divine Office.
June 19, 2022 (3rd Sunday of Glorious Pentecost); June 24, 2022 The Sacred Heart of Jesus and The Birth of John the Baptist
This is the man sent by God as a witness to the Light.
With his baptism of water he announced the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The old was brought to an end; what was new began.
Praises to John the Baptist Korozooto from Fenqitho, A Treasury of Feasts
June 12, 2022 (Sunday of the Most Holy Trinity), June 13, 2022 St. Anthony of Padua
Anthony was born in the city of Lisbon around the year 1195. He first entered the Augustinian order and later became one of the first disciples of St. Francis. He lived a holy life and was noted for his preaching, teaching and writings. He died at the age of thirty-six on the 13th of June in the year 1231. Since he passed his later years of his life in the city of Padua, the name of this city was attached to his name. Devotion of Saint Anthony was brought to Lebanon by the Franciscan missionaries in the fifteenth century.
May his prayers be with us. Amen.
From the Synaxarion for the Maronite Divine Office
June 5, 2022 — The Feast of Pentecost
O God, enlighten our understanding with the rays of your Holy Spirit, and awaken our souls from the sleep of selfishness. May your rich gifts come upon us this morning, as they came upon the apostles in the upper room of Sion; we shall be strengthened by them and give witness to you today, all the days of our lives, and for ever.
Amen.
Morning Prayer for the Feast of Pentecost, Maronite Divine Office.
May 29, 2022 (Seventh Sunday of the Resurrection); June 2, 2022 (The Four Evangelists)
Praise, glory and honor to the One who ascended to heaven, but is always on earth in the mystery of his Church.
He seated himself at the right hand of the Father, but remains close to us in the sacrament of his love.
To the Good One is due glory and honor this morning, and all the days of our lives, now and for ever.
Amen.
From the Prayer of the Faithful, morning prayer Sixth Sunday of Resurrection
Thursday, May 26, 2022 (The Ascension of Our Lord)
O Christ, you left the Father and you came into the world, then you left the world and returned to your Father, in your strength, you brought all creation to him.
To him you returned power over all things so that God might be all in all.
Grant that we may ascend to him with you and remain at his right hand, then we shall praise you, with him, and your Holy Spirit, for ever.
Amen.
From the Prayer of the Faithful, Morning prayers for the Ascension of Our Lord.
May 22, 2022 (Sixth Sunday of the Resurrection & Saint Rita of Cascia)
O Christ, may we always glorify your resurrection, especially on this day, with chaste heats, clear conciences and good deeds, so that we can sincerely proclaim it throughout the world.
May we live enlightened by it and die in the hope of our own resurrection.
Then we shall praise you in your heavenly kingdom, for ever.
Amen.
From the Prayer of the Faithful, Evening prayer.
May 15, 2022 (Our Lady of the Harvest)
Mary, you are the garden who has given the world the fruit of life. Ask your only Son to bless our seasons, harvests, and the work of our hands; may he show his word in our hearts and in our souls. May he grant this through your intercession, through the prayers and incense we offer him on this day of your feast; and we will give thanks to the glorious Trinity, now and for ever.
Amen.
From the Maronite Divine Office, Morning prayer for the Memorial of the Virgin Mary.
May 8, 2022 (Mother’s Day); May 13, 2022 (Our Lady of Fatima)
As we honor the Blessed ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of God, we ask that she intercede for us with her Son, the fruit of her womb, and we pray:
O Lord, through the prayers of your Mother, keep away from the earth and its people the devastation of wrath, and all dangers, dissension, war, famine, and epidemics. Have compassion on us, heal the sick, help the poor, save the oppressed, grant rest to the faithful departed who have left us and gone to you, and make us worthy of a safe and peaceful death, that we may raise glory to you, to your Father, and to your Holy Spirit, for ever.
Amen.
From the Prayer of Forgiveness (Commemoration of the Virgin Mary, Mother of God), Maronite Divine Liturgy
May 1, 2022 (First Sunday of May)
As we praise and glorify with hymns the blessed ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God, we ask her to petition her divine Son, saying: O Lord, through the prayers of Your Mother, keep away from earth and all its inhabitants the scourge of wrath; eliminate all its dangers and disturbances; protect us from war, captivity, famine and plague. Have compassion on our weakness, comfort our sick, help the poor and deliver the oppressed; enable us to lead holy lives; give rest to the faithful departed and grant us a happy death that we may glorify You, now and forever.
Amen.
From the Fenqitho, Common of the Virgin Mary
April 24, 2022
O Christ, illumine us with your light in this life, for you have delivered us from the shadows of death, that we might become the children of light.
May we walk in the light of your path, that we may act in the light of your grace.
May we go forward to the light of your resurrection and one day reach the light of your glory, contemplating you, face to face, in an indescribable bliss of happiness.
We shall praise you, your Father and your Holy Spirit, for ever.
Amen.
From the Prayer of the Faithful, Ramsho, New Sunday..
