Nov 20, 2022: The Announcement to Mary

The second Sunday of the Season of Announcement commemorates the announcement to Mary that she is to be the Mother of God. The feast actually recalls two aspects of the same salvific mystery: the incarnation of the divine Word and the motherhood of Mary. For this reason, the feast was given different names according to the aspect which was being emphasized. With time, the incarnation of the Son of God was stressed on the feast of the Birth of Our Lord and today’s feast became a Marian feast.

Nov. 13, 2022: The Announcement to Zechariah

The Season of Announcement is a commemoration of those events surrounding and culminating with the incarnation of Jesus. The season opens with the announcement to Zechariah that John, the Forerunner of Jesus, was to be born.

Sunday, Nov 6, 2022: Consecration of the Church

Through the outpouring of the Spirit of Christ, the Church has come into being and continues the mission of Christ in the world. It is now the Church which proclaims to mankind God’s saving love for the world.

The Sunday of the Consecration of the Church invites individual Christians to renew their personal consecration to the Lord and his Church, and to strive to realize God’s kingdom on earth.

Nov. 1, 2022: All Saints Day

On this day we call to mind all the men and women, children of the Church, who have followed the path of righteousness. We remember the prophets, apostles and martyrs, the hermits, ascetics, men and women religious, as well as all Christians who have led holy lives.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope.

To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.

Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God. That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ

September 26: Feast of St. John the Evangelist

John began as a disciple of John the Baptizer. Later he became a follower of Jesus and his beloved disciple. During the Last Supper it was John who rested his head on the chest of the Lord and followed him up to the cross. May his prayers be with us. Amen.

From the Synaxarion for John the Apostle, Maronite Prayer of the Faithful

September 18, 2022: The Flight of the Lord Jesus to Egypt

Hail to you, O blessed angel who accompanied the Savior and defended Him from all misfortune!
Hail to you, O virgin who cared for the virgin, the daughter of the Father and spouse of the Holy Spirit!
Hail to you, O luminous star in the heavenly Church; you guide her children along the right path!

Praises to St. Joseph from the Divine Liturgy on his feast day (March 19), Fenqitho.

September 14, 2022: The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Blessed are you, O hold wood of the cross, symbol of power and honor;
Blessed are you, O cross of Christ, raised in our churches and at the head of our processions as a sign of victory.

Proclamation from the Exaltation of the Cross morning prayer, Maronite Divine Office

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

July 3, 2022 (Fifth Sunday of Glorious Pentecost)

When the apostles, filled with the Spirit,
went through the whole world preaching the Good News,
nations were brought back to their Creator.
And now all peoples sing of God’s glory.

Verse from the Maronite Hymn, “As Aaron Offered Incense”

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 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