St leo's mass server

26/11/2021

26/11/2021

ST. JOHN BERCHMANS FEAST DAY

AUGUST 13 old calendar
NOVEMBER 26 new calendar

So many miracles were attributed to him after his death at the age of 22, that his cultus soon spread to his native Belgium, where 24,000 copies of his portrait were published within a few years of his death. He was known for his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and to Our Lady, to whom he composed a Chaplet in honor of her Immaculate Conception.

Our true worth does not consist in what human beings think of us. What we really are consists in what God knows us to be. To merit the protection of Mary, the smallest act of veneration would be enough, provided that it is performed with constancy. If I do not become a Saint when I am young, I shall never become one. [In fact, he died at the early age of 22 and he had, without any doubt, reached his goal of sanctity.] As he was dying, he pressed to his heart his Crucifix, his Rosary, and the Book of Rules, saying: These are my three treasures; with these I shall gladly die.

To An Altar Boy

To be Christ’s page at the altar, To serve Him freely there. Where even the Angels falter, Bowed low in reverent prayer. To touch the throne most holy, To hand the gifts for the feast, To see Him meekly, lowly, Descend at the word of the priest. To hear man’s poor petition, To sound the silver bell, When He in sweet submission, Comes down with us to dwell. No grander mission surely Could Saints or men enjoy; No heart should love more purely, Than yours my altar boy. God bless you, lad, forever, And keep you in His care, And Guard you that you never Belie the robes you wear. For white bespeaks untainted A heart both tried and true; And red tolls love the sainted The holy martyrs knew. Throughout life, then, endeavor God’s graces to employ; And be in heart forever A holy altar boy. ——
by St. John Berchmans
St. John Berchmans, be my patron!

Prayers From the Raccolta

Saint John, angelic youth, sweet-scented flower of innocence, stalwart soldier of the Company of Jesus, ardent defender of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin, whom the all-wise Providence of God hath set forth as a light and pattern, in order that He might reveal in thee the treasures of that holiness which consisteth in the devoted and holy fulfillment of the common duties of life, I earnestly beseech thee to make me ever constant and faithful in observing the duties of my state of life, pure in heart, fearless and strong against the enemies of my eternal salvation, and cheerfully obedient to the promptings of God’s holy will. By thy singular devotion to the loving Mother of Jesus Christ, who looked upon thee also as her dear son, obtain for me the grace of a fervent love for Jesus and Mary, together with the power of drawing many others to love them in like manner. Wherefore, dear Saint John, I choose thee as my special patron, humbly beseeching thee to make me zealous in the things that pertain to the praise of God, and to assist me by thy mighty help, to lead a life filled with good works. Finally, when the hour of death cometh, do thou, of thy loving kindness, cherish in me those motions of humble confidence, which at the moment of thy departure from this world to thy mansion in the skies, as thou didst lovingly clasp to thy breast the Image of Jesus Crucified, together with Mary’s Rosary and thy Book of Rules, impelled thee to utter these sweet words: “these three things are my dearest possessions; with these I am content to die.” Pray for us, Saint John, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Grant, we beseech Thee O Lord God, unto Thy faithful servants, to copy the pattern of innocence and faithfulness in Thy service, wherewith the angelic youth, John, did consecrate to Thee the very flower of his years. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Litany to Saint John Berchmans

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

Response :Pray for us.

St. John Berchmans, whom the Lord preserved from evil,
St. John Berchmans, who did all things well,
St. John Berchmans, faithful in little things,
St. John Berchmans, devoted server at Holy Mass,
St. John Berchmans, obedient to your parents,
St. John Berchmans, submissive to your teachers,
St. John Berchmans, model for your companions,
St. John Berchmans, who from the earliest childhood chose the Blessed Virgin as guardian of your chastity,
St. John Berchmans, who so tenderly called Mary ‘Mother,’
St. John Berchmans, zealous promoter of devotion to Mary,
St. John Berchmans, mirror of the religious life,
St. John Berchmans, lover of the Blessed Sacrament,
St. John Berchmans, lover of the missions,
St. John Berchmans, lover of mortification,
St. John Berchmans, faithful to your holy Rule,
St. John Berchmans, faithful imitator of St. Aloysius,
St. John Berchmans, ornament of the Society of Jesus,
St. John Berchmans, model of students,
St. John Berchmans, patron of youth. …

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

V. Pray for us, Saint John Berchmans,
R. That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
V: Let Us Pray Grant, we beseech You, O Lord God, that we Your servants may follow, in Your service, the example of innocence and fidelity by which the angelic St. John Berchmans consecrated to You the flower of his youth, through Christ Our Lord.
R. Amen.

Prayer

Lord our God, you invite us always to give you our love and you are pleased with a cheerful giver. Give us a youthful spirit, to be like St. John, always eager to seek you and to do your will. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. (Amen)

I wish you all a Happy Feast Day.

26/11/2021

Readings at Mass Of Saint John Berchmans

A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians (4:4-9)

Rejoice in the Lord always.
I shall say it again: rejoice!
Your kindness should be known to all.
The Lord is near.
Have no anxiety at all,
but in everything, by prayer and petition,
with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers,
whatever is true,
whatever is honorable,
whatever is just,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received
and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.

*The Word of the Lord*

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (9:57-62)

As they were proceeding on their journey
someone said to Jesus, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him,
“Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”

And to another Jesus said, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But He answered him,
“Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”

To him Jesus said,
“No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind
is fit for the kingdom of God.”

*The Gospel of the Lord.*

26/11/2021

As we celebrate the Patron of Altar Servers today let’s quickly go through the:

Quotes of Saint John Berchmans

“If I do not become a saint when I am young, I shall never become one.”

“To merit the protection of Mary, the smallest act of veneration would be enough, provided that it is performed with constancy.”

“… our Lord has been knocking at the door of my heart. At first I would not open to Him. But seeing that, at my studies and on my walks, no matter what I might be doing, I always have felt myself impelled to settle my future state of life, after many Communions and many good works, I have come to the conclusion yes, I am resolved to serve our dear Lord, with His grace, in the religious life.”

“It is not easy, I admit, for parents and friends to give up their children. But what would they do if our dear Lord long may He spare them were to call them to Himself?”

“So now, with my whole heart, I offer myself to Jesus Christ to fight under His colors.”

“I hope, you will rejoice, and praise God, and thank Him that your son should be found worthy, not to be given to God, for he does not belong to you, but to be restored to Him.”

At Mass: “Obedience can never be troublesome, dear brother; especially when it gives one the privilege of serving at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.”

Early in August, 1621: “I declare that there is here really present the Son of God, the Father Almighty, and of the most Blessed Mary, ever Virgin; I protest that I wish to live and die a true son of our Holy Mother, the Catholic Apostolic, Roman Church, a true son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a son of the Society.”

“I want to be a Saint,” he said; “yes, and a great Saint, too! Is it possible to conceive that one should not attain an eminent sanctity with all the powerful means of sanctification the society has at its disposal?”

John constantly repeated “that perfection does not consist in doing great things, but in doing well what obedience orders and advises.”

Again, he used to say: “Set great store on little things”;

and another of his sayings was: “Do great penance for small faults. Be a miser and a merchant in spiritual things.”

Like all saints, he was severe to himself alone. “A mother to others, a judge to myself.”

“My penance above all others,” he used to say, “is common life. May I die rather than violate deliberately the smallest order ar rule. I would rather lose my health altogether than not keep a rule in „order. to preserve it.”

“Rather die than for health’s sake break a single rule.”

As he was dying, he pressed to his heart his Crucifix, his Rosary, and the Book of Rules, saying: “These are my three treasures; with these I shall gladly die.”

26/11/2020

Eldest son of a shoemaker, John was born at Diest, Brabant. He early wanted to be a priest, and when thirteen became a servant in the household of one of the Cathedral canons at Malines, John Froymont. In 1615, he entered the newly founded Jesuit College at Malines, and the following year became a Jesuit novice. He was sent to Rome in 1618 to continue his studies, and was known for his diligence and piety, impressing all with his holiness and stress on perfection in little things. He died there on August 13. Many miracles were attributed to him after his death, and he was canonized in 1888. He is the patron of altar boys. His feast day is November 26.

Saint John Berchmans, SJ (Dutch: Jan Berchmans) (13 March 1599 – 13 August 1621) was a Jesuit scholastic and is a saint in the Catholic Church. In 1615, the Jesuits opened a college at Malines (Mechelen) and Berchmans was one of the first to enroll. His spiritual model was his fellow Jesuit St. Aloysius Gonzaga, and he was influenced by the example of the English Jesuit martyrs. Berchmans is the patron saint of altar servers.

As we celebrate our patron today, I pray God grant Altar Servers all over the world, the strength to serve him more fervently....
Happy Feast Day to Us.

17/11/2020

St Leo's Catholic Church, Challenge, Ibadan celebrated her yearly harvest with the theme " Harvest of God's Goodness". A day filled with thanksgiving to God and fun. Held on 8th of November 2020

04/10/2020

our Altar Servers... prepared to serve God now and forever.
LEO’S 7.00am Mass.

04/10/2020

SUNDAY OF THE YEAR(A)
“God of host, turn again, we implore. Look down from heaven and see.”

02/10/2020

*Our Aspirants bro’s and sisters, gathered at the Marian Grotto for “Hours With Mother Mary” held yesterday at the Parish.
our Mother Mary intercede for us.
John Berchmans.... Pray for us.

05/04/2020

Today marks the beginning of Holy Week. The Church celebrates the mysteries of salvation accomplished by Christ in the last days of his earthly life, from his messianic entry into Jerusalem, until his blessed passion and glorious resusrrection.

Palm/Passion Sunday
A day on which the Church enters upon the mystery of the Death, Burial and Resurrection of her Lord, brings together the triumphal procession of Christ as King of the universe and the proclamation of His Passion.
May God bless his words in our heart. Amen.
Happy Palm Sunday to you all.

06/12/2019

Advent is a time to look back in order to look forward. Celebration of the first coming of Christ in the stable at Bethlehem has meaning and purpose because of hope and expectation of His second coming on the clouds of glory. Christmas is not sterile memorial of a thing past and gone, but effectual preparation for what is to come. Have you sent your cards and done your shopping? If even our Christmas cheer cannot adequately express our love for our relatives, friends and neighbours, how much less can our devotion adequately express our love for God. So Advent begins in penitence: its colour is purple, the symbol for Christians of preparation and forgiveness. We reflect on our lives, and realise our inadequacies. But we do not remain focused on ourselves, for Advent calls us to look joyfully to God, who is coming to complete His salvation. Advent hymns and readings are thus full of happy expectation of His imminent second coming: “He is nearer now than when we first believed.” “Hills of the North rejoice!” Yet it is important to remember that we do not know the day nor the hour. Advent candles and Advent calendars count down towards Christmas Day, but the Advent season enjoins not to put preparation off to tomorrow and to be ready now. So we turn again to God’s grace, for we can never ourselves be ready. Called again to prayer and worship, to a recognition of our dependence upon him, and to the sacraments. Especially we are called to the Eucharist in which we are fed as children, looking back with a memory which makes that which is commemorated present; Advent explained and expressed. Advent causes us to change our attitudes to our lives, which are set in a proper perspective, seen from their end. We are no longer preparing for promotion or success or achievement as ends in themselves but humbly waiting on the Lord, seeking success or promotion or achievement only so far as these things promote His kingdom and His will in the world as all things move towards their consummation in Him. The great symbol of Advent is the increase of light. Candles are lit in ever greater number in growing expectation of the End. Advent is an extended meditation on the mystery of time. We look back to the moment of the incarnation, the pivot around which world history turns, in order to see the meaning of the flow of the events of human history towards their fulfilment. Assessing the importance of human events in this light gives hope even in the face of disaster and the failures of our politicking which are thereby set in their proper perspective. Advent is thus the antidote for both frenzied concern and cold cynicism. It concludes in the great celebration of the incarnation; ending at the beginning with a renewed zeal and hope in the life of Christ. Merry Christmas 🎄 in Adv. 🎅