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 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
Lord Jesus, make us worthy to celebrate the exaltation of your glorious cross with sacred hymns and psalms. When you appear on the last day and the sign of your cross will shine brighter than the sun, gather us before you, and surround us with your eternal light, that we may raise glory and thanks to you, to your Father, and to your Holy Spirit, for ever.
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!
September 14, 2025: 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
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.
September 1, 2025: 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.
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.
