PRAYER OF THE 150th JUBILEE YEAR
OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES
God our Father, among all creatures you have formed Mary, the perfect creature, the “Immaculate Conception.” In Lourdes, she proclaimed this name and Bernadette repeated it. The Immaculate Conception; this is a cry of hope: evil, sin and death are no longer victors. Mary, precursory sign, dawn of salvation! Mary, you, the innocence and refuge of sinners, we pray to you.
(Hail Mary)
Lord Jesus, you gave us Mary as our mother. She shared your passion and resurrection. In Lourdes she showed herself to Bernadette, saddened by our sins but radiant with your light. Through her, we entrust to you our joys and our sorrows, our own, those of the sick, and those of all people. Mary, our sister and our mother, our confidante, and our help we pray to you.
(Hail Mary)
Holy Spirit, you are the spirit of love and unity. In Lourdes, through Bernadette, Mary asked for a chapel, and for people to come in procession. Inspire the church which Christ is building on Peter’s faith, that it may be one. Guide the pilgrimage of the church, that it may be faithful and daring. Mary, you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you are the spouse and the servant. You are the model for Christians, and the maternal face of the church. We pray to you.
(Hail Mary)
For the many graces received here, for all the conversions, all the forgiveness, all the healings, for the vocations and promises which you have witnessed or engendered, for the love of serving others, which you have let us experience, Our Lady of Lourdes, we thank you.
With all our brothers and sisters of the human race, with all people in need of peace and justice, with young people in search of a way, you who appeared so young to little Bernadette, with all those who are in mourning, who are ill, handicapped, or facing a setback, with those who may have a reason for despair, Our Lady of Lourdes, we pray to you.
Because you are the smile of God, the reflection of the light of Christ, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, because you chose Bernadette in her misery, because you are the star of the morning, the gate of heaven and the first resurrected creature we praise you, we acclaim you and with you we sing the wonders of God.
(Magnificat)
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.
Luke 1:46-55
