O Mary, countless people have known
the overflowing joy of the mercy
which the Father has given us in Christ.
In the particular Churches throughout the world,
and still more in this center of Christianity,
the widest array of people have accepted this gift.
Here the enthusiasm of the young rang out,
here the sick have lifted up their prayer.
Blessed are You, Lord God,
ruler of all creation
and Father of us all:
we praise You for Your loving care.
Help us in our time of sorrow
and lift us when we are crushed,
for we entrust our life into Your hands, Father,
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
I would like to introduce Mr. Dismas Shigeru Kato. He was born 91 years ago in a small fishing village called Kushimoto in Wakayama Province of Japan. In his youth and when drafted into the wartime army he built up a massive debt for alcohol at different bars.
O omnipotent Father,
God of truth, God of love,
permit me to enter into the cell of self-knowledge.
I admit that of myself I am nothing,
but that all being and goodness in me
comes solely from You.
Show me my faults,
that I may detest my malice,
and thus I shall flee from self-centeredness
and find myself clothed again
My Queen and my Mother,
I give myself entirely to you;
and to show my devotion to you,
I consecrate to you this day my eyes,
my ears, my mouth, my heart,
my whole being without reserve.
Wherefore, good Mother,
as I am your own,
keep me, guard me,
as your property and possession.
Amen.
O God who lifts little lost lambs close to Your heart,
O God who gives the heart a desire to return to You,
I ask Your mercy and Your forgiveness
for all the treasures I’ve misplaced.
I give You thanks and praise for the beauty of finding them again.
Jesus Christ a King of Glory has come in Peace.
God became man, and the Word was made flesh.
Christ was born of a Virgin.
Christ suffered.
Christ was crucified.
Christ died.
Christ rose from the dead.
Christ ascended into Heaven.
Christ reigns eternal.
May Christ protect us from all storms and lightning.
Jesus, my Lord, let me go to Mary
when suffering threatens to overwhelm me.
Ask Your mother to stay with me
when I am afraid and tempted to surrender.
Let me look to Mary as my model for love,
as well as my haven of healing.
Make sure I am considerate of other people
and notice how they are affected by their suffering.
I'm not the only one.
O Mary, most sweet Mother,
to Your intercession we have recourse,
knowing that Your Divine Son will hear Your prayers.
And you, O glorious Saint Joseph,
assist us by your powerful mediation,
and offer by the hands of Mary our prayers to Jesus.
Amen.
O God, who manifests to those in error
the light of Your truth that they may
return to the way of holiness,
grant that all who profess themselves Christians
may spurn whatever is hostile to that name
and embrace whatever is in harmony with it.
Through Christ our Lord.