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.
John, who declared the truth of God’s commandments before Herod was privileged to point to the incarnate Truth, Jesus Christ, and call the people to follow him. John died in the fidelity to God’s truth. Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, died to reconcile us to the Father and each other. May the prayers of John the baptizer be with us.
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.
July 23, 2025 — 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 17, 2025: Feast day of Saint Marina
The life of man in patience is gained as the Bible says. And everyone who is patient until the end is given the crown. Hence we see in Saint Marina a proof. She has gained the glory of joy through grace-filled patience.
She saw the world as a heaving sea of punishment, With the seafarers shipwrecked, overcome by evil consequences. And that the monastic life is the safe port and the achiever of hopes. Her spirit became captivated with love for the life of a hermit to calm the mind.
Jesus Christ our Lord, you are the radiance of the Eternal Father. You enlightened the world with your divine teachings and filled it with knowledge through the simplicity of your apostles. Make us worthy to praise you as we celebrate the feast of your chosen apostles Peter and Paul. By their witness, may we come to understand your hidden mysteries and keep your life-giving commandments, that we may be made worthy to share in their happiness. We raise glory and thanks you you, to your Father, and to your Holy Spirit, for ever.
Come in peace, Mediator of the two testaments. You perfected them both, for the old was yours to complete, and the new was yours to announce.
Come in peace, prophet and apostle. For truly you are the last of the prophets and the first among apostles.
Come in peace, great priest. Your birth was greeted with signing and dancing, and with a dance and a song, your martyr’s crown was won.
Who can fully comprehend God as Holy Trinity? So great is this mystery far beyond our scrutiny! The Father, before all time, begot the Son, the Eternal Word. The Begotten Son took flesh from the holy Virgin’s womb. The Spirit was sent to give courage and perfect. All creation worships him, the Lord of all in three persons, one true God.
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.
June 1, 2025 (Seventh Sunday of the Resurrection); June 2, 2025 (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
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.
O Christ, may we always glorify your resurrection, especially on this day, with chaste heats, clear consciences 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.
Jesus Christ our Lord, during this season of your glorious resurrection, make us worthy to live in joy and give you praise. Renew us with your Holy Spirit that we may proclaim, in word and deed, the glory of your resurrection. With all those who have been clothed with you in holy Baptism we worship you , we give you thanks, and we glorify you, your Father, and your Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
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.
Who can praise the greatness of your mercy, O Word of God, and what voice can bless you who are above all praise? Neither mind or tongue can describe the marvels you have performed on this holy day of your resurrection from the dead. With the psalmist David, we exclaim:
“This is the day the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice!”
This is the day which has no equal.
This is the great feast, crown and jewel of all feasts.
And now, Christ our God, on this day of your resurrection from the dead, we ask you to grant us the forgiveness of our sins and faults. Through the fragrance of this incense, which we offer you, grant justice to the oppressed and comfort to the afflicted. Bring back those far away, direct those who are near, and guide those who travel. Protect the priests, purify the deacons, and pardon the sinners; watch over the just, protect the orphans, and help the widows. Remember those who have died in the faith and grant them rest in your heavenly kingdom; may we celebrate with them the feast that never ends, and proclaim your glory, and that of your Father, and your holy and living Spirit, now and for ever.
Amen.
Glory to you, O holy One. You descended from the heavenly dwellings to the earthly depths. In your compassion you took the form of a slave to forgive your servants. You walked on the waves of the sea in order to sanctify Adam, who was created in the image of your majesty.
O Lord, you sanctified those who are impure and with your hyssop you purified sinners and made them whiter than snow. Through your powerful grace, forgive me and your servants, who ask you for the pardon of their faults and the forgiveness of their sins. As you forgave the family of Cornelius through the hand of Simon Peter, the Apostle, in the same way, may pardon of sins descend upon us and upon all the children of your flock, who have been redeemed by your precious blood.
We glorify you, your Father, and your Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
Amen.
From the Liturgy for Saturday of the Light (Prayer of Forgiveness)
O Lord and High Priest, fragrant incense of forgiveness, you offered yourself on the wood of the cross for foolish sinners.. You sacrificed yourself for our sake. Now, O Lord, cancel the debt of our guilt and save us from retribution. Remove the scourge of anger and all suffering from us. Encourage us with your joyful hope and your healing remedy. In your compassion, pardon the faithful departed, and we shall praise you with them, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
Amen.
