Cebu Inspirations

      Thus says the Lord:

Here is my servant whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom my soul delights.

I have endowed him with my spirit

that he may bring true justice to the nations.

He does not cry out or shout aloud,

or make his voice heard in the streets.

He does not break the crushed reed,

nor quench the wavering flame.

Faithfully he brings true justice;

he will neither waver, nor be crushed

until true justice is established on earth,

for the islands are awaiting his law.

I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right;

I have taken you by the hand and formed you;

I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations,

to open the eyes of the blind,

to free captives from prison,

and those who live in darkness from the dungeon.
  

(        Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7      )

  R.           The Lord will bless his people with peace.
   

    O give the Lord, you sons of God,

  give the Lord glory and power;

give the Lord the glory of his name.

  Adore the Lord in his holy court.

 R.            The Lord will bless his people with peace.
     

       The Lord’s voice resounding on the waters,

  the Lord on the immensity of waters;

the voice of the Lord, full of power,

  the voice of the Lord, full of splendour.

 R.          The Lord will bless his people with peace.
  

     The God of glory thunders.

  In his temple they all cry: ‘Glory!’

The Lord sat enthroned over the flood;

  the Lord sits as king for ever.

 R.            The Lord will bless his people with peace. 

(    Psalm 28(29):1-4,9-10    ) 

     Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘The truth I have now come to realise’ he said ‘is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.

  ‘It is true, God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ – but Jesus Christ is Lord of all men. You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.’

     (      Acts 10:34-38      )      

   Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him. ‘It is I who need baptism from you’ he said ‘and yet you come to me!’ But Jesus replied, ‘Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands.’ At this, John gave in to him.

  As soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’

(             Matthew 3:13-17        )    

      Lyrics:  

Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ, 

vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve 

Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ 

Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes 

in hac lacrimarum valle.  

Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte; 

Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, 

nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. 

O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.  

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, 

Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope. 

To thee do we cry, Poor banished children of Eve; 

To thee do we send up our sighs, Mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.  

Turn then, most gracious advocate, Thine eyes of mercy toward us; 

And after this our exile, 

Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. 

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. 

 Song Title: Salve Regina Artist(s): Anonymous Publisher: Public Domain  

     My Peace I Give Unto You 

It’s A Peace That The World Cannot Give

It’s A Peace That The World Cannot Understand 

Peace To Know Peace To Live

My Peace I give unto you.

My Joy I Give Unto You 

It’s A Joy That The World Cannot Give

It’s A Joy That The World Cannot Understand 

Joy To Know Joy To Live

My Joy I give unto you.

My Love I Give Unto You 

It’s A Love That The World Cannot Give

It’s A Love That The World Cannot Understand 

Love To Know Love To Live

My Love I give unto you.

Composer:  Keith Routledge

      How to pray the Chaplet of The Divine Mercy: 

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary, and The Apostles Creed. 

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and the Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. 

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. (Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades). 

4. Conclude with (three times): Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.  Optional Closing Prayer: Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion — inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. 

 Jesus' Words to Sister Faustina, as recorded in The Diary of St. Faustina: "Say unceasingly this chaplet that I have taught you. Anyone who says it will receive great Mercy at the hour of death. Priests will recommend it to sinners as the last hope. Even the most hardened sinner, if he recites this Chaplet even once, will receive grace from My Infinite Mercy. I want the whole world to know My Infinite Mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in My Mercy...." 

(Click here for Chaplet video: <https://youtu.be/HKlOLyYs3Os>)

 The people that walked in darkness

has seen a great light;

on those who live in a land of deep shadow

a light has shone.

You have made their gladness greater,

you have made their joy increase;

they rejoice in your presence

as men rejoice at harvest time,

as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.

For the yoke that was weighing on him,

the bar across his shoulders,

the rod of his oppressor,

these you break as on the day of Midian.

For all the footgear of battle,

every cloak rolled in blood,

is burnt,

and consumed by fire.

For there is a child born for us,

a son given to us

and dominion is laid on his shoulders;

and this is the name they give him:

Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God,

Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.

Wide is his dominion

in a peace that has no end,

for the throne of David

and for his royal power,

which he establishes and makes secure

in justice and integrity.

From this time onwards and for ever,

the jealous love of the Lord of Hosts will do this.

(   Isaiah 9:1-7 )

R.   Today a saviour has been born to us: he is Christ the Lord. 

 O sing a new song to the Lord,

  sing to the Lord all the earth.

  O sing to the Lord, bless his name.

R.   Today a saviour has been born to us: he is Christ the Lord. 

Proclaim his help day by day,

  tell among the nations his glory

  and his wonders among all the peoples.

R.   Today a saviour has been born to us: he is Christ the Lord. 

 Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad,

  let the sea and all within it thunder praise,

let the land and all it bears rejoice,

  all the trees of the wood shout for joy

at the presence of the Lord for he comes,

  he comes to rule the earth.

R.   Today a saviour has been born to us: he is Christ the Lord. 

With justice he will rule the world,

  he will judge the peoples with his truth.

R.   Today a saviour has been born to us: he is Christ the Lord.

(  Psalm 95(96):1-3,11-13 )

 God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and saviour Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it could be his very own and would have no ambition except to do good. 

(   Titus 2:11-14  )

   Caesar Augustus issued a decree for a census of the whole world to be taken. This census – the first – took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to his own town to be registered. So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee and travelled up to Judaea, to the town of David called Bethlehem, since he was of David’s House and line, in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to a son, her first born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn.

  In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to watch their flocks during the night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified, but the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly with the angel there was a great throng of the heavenly host, praising God and singing:

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and peace to men who enjoy his favour.’

(     Luke 2:1-14    )