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PRAYERS

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem obliges members with certain spiritual and temporal responsibilities, most importantly daily prayer for peace in the Holy Land. The following are ancient and contemporary prayers that knights and dames are encouraged to incorporate into their daily spiritual exercises.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come; before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

The Memorare was given to the Order in the 12th century by St. Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, when he urged the Second Crusade. Praying the Memorare to Our Lady, Queen of Palestine is especially encouraged. The Blessed Virgin Mary, under this title, was officially declared patroness of the order in 1994, by order of the Apostolic See. 

Lord Jesus, who has willed to call me to the Ranks of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, I humbly ask You, by the intercession of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, of Saint Joseph, Saint Peter, Saint Paul and all the Saints, to help me to remain faithful to the traditions of our Order, in practicing and defending the Catholic, Apostolic and Roman Religion against impiety and in exercising charity to my Neighbor and above all to the poor and sick in the Holy Land. Grant to me and my confreres the grace to support by prayer and sacrifice the maintenance of the Holy Places and the work of His Beatitude the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. Give me the strength to be able to execute these desires with a truly Christian spirit, for The Glory of God, the peace of the world, and the good of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Amen

O Lord Jesus Christ, for your five wounds that we carry on our insignia we pray to You.
Give us the strength to love all beings of the world that Your Father has created, and, more so, our enemies.

Free our soul and heart from sin, from partiality, from egoism and from cowardice so that we can be worthy of Your sacrifice.

Let your Spirit fall upon us all, the Knights, Dames, and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre, so that it may render us as convinced and sincere ambassadors of peace and love, among our brothers and sisters, and especially among all those who do not believe in You.

Give us faith to face the problems of everyday life and to deserve one day to approach Your presence humbly, but without fear. Amen.

O Mary Immaculate,
gracious Queen of Heaven and of Earth,
behold us prostrate before thy exalted throne.
Full of confidence in thy goodness
and in thy boundless power,
we beseech thee to turn a pitying glance upon Palestine,
which more than any other country belongs to thee,
since thou hast graced it with thy birth,
thy virtues and thy sorrows,
and from there hast given the Redeemer to the world.
Remember that there especially
thou wert constituted our tender Mother,
the dispenser of graces.
Watch, therefore, with special protection
over thy native country,
scatter from it the shades of error,
for it was there the Sun of Eternal Justice shone.
Bring about the speedy fulfilment of the promise,
which issued from the lips of Thy Divine Son,
that there should be one fold and one Shepherd.
Obtain for us all that we may serve the Lord
in sanctity and justice during the days of our life,
so that, by the merits of Jesus
and with thy motherly aid,
we may pass at last from this earthly Jerusalem
to the splendors of the heavenly one. Amen.

To you, Virgin Mother Mary,
Queen of the Land of Christ
we come to praise you, to thank you
and entrust to you all your children, inhabitants and pilgrims
of this Land.

Virgin, Daughter of Zion,
teach us the love you have for everyone, without distinction.
Show us your merciful heart,
give us your clarity of vision.

As in the days of Nazareth
teach us to listen attentively to the voice of God
and to his Word of life.
Teach us fidelity in our daily work
and silence capable of creating profound communion.
Like in Cana
watch over families,
so that there is no lack of joy and unity.

As on the streets of Galilee and Judea,
precede us on the path of discipleship
in the footsteps of your beloved Son
to the supreme offering at the foot of Calvary.

As in the Upper Room, intercede with the gift of the Spirit
that cries in us: “Abbà”.

The One Father for Jews, Christians and Muslims,
Help us all to walk
on the paths of forgiveness and reconciliation
so the walls that divide may fall.

Mother of the Prince of Peace,
also gift us the taste of Heaven
that supports our hope,
so that soon “justice and peace will kiss”
this Holy Land and the entire earth.
Amen.

His Beatitude, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, asked several contemplative monastic communities of his diocese to write a prayer to Mary Queen of Palestine, patron of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, whose feast falls on October 25.

The hope expressed is that with the Virgin Mary we place ourselves before the One for whom nothing is impossible. Faced with the difficult situation of the Holy Land, we strengthen our trust in the Mother of the Prince of Peace, confident of the power of her intercession in favor of justice.

Our Lady, Queen of Palestine, extend your hand over the Holy Land and over all who live there:

Jews, Muslims, Druze and Christians, Palestinians, Israelis, migrant workers and refugees.

Our Lady, intercede for us all and especially for the Church, the Body of your Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord.

We have been sent to preach Good News to all in the land that is yours and His, the land of the patriarchs, kings, prophets, apostles and of the first community formed to walk in the way of your Son, the Mother Church of Jerusalem.

This mission needs the courage and the perseverance, the wisdom and the faith that were yours, pray for us.

On your knees He, who was your Lord and Master, learnt to speak and to pray, to act and to obey.

We ask you to teach us to speak and to pray, to act and to obey today in the land called to be holy.

In the midst of war and hatred, walls, occupation and discrimination, fear and rejection, instruct us how to be instruments of justice and peace, pardon and reconciliation.

We affirm with you that he is our peace.

Show us the way to incarnate in our life as Church both fidelity to your Son and an embracing love for all in this land, especially for those who are the poorest and the most excluded, the homeless, the refugees, the prisoners, those who are maltreated, oppressed and are victims of injustice.

Our Lady, Queen of Palestine, you are our mother, given to us by your Son on the Cross.

With you, we are called to be witnesses to the Resurrection that already heralds His Kingdom.

Modeling ourselves on you, we ask Him to anoint us as Spirit filled proclaimers of the Good News that He has vanquished death by His death on the Cross and has given life to those in the tombs.

May we, members of His Body the Church, be living signs that point to the Kingdom that is already among us. Amen.

Mother Mary, Queen of Palestine, pray for us!

Contributed by Father David Neuhaus, S.J.

My soul to God—by the full spiritual life;
My life to Christ the King;
My heart to our Blessed Lady; and
My own honor – the ineffable honor that comes to him who called the Church my Mother and to him who calls God, my Father and strives to live like His Son.

 

The Holy Father has entrusted these intentions for 2021 in a particular way to encourage Christians to deepen their daily prayer by praying for others.

January
Human Fraternity
May the Lord give us the grace to live in full fellowship with our brothers and sisters of other religions, praying for one another, open to all.

February
Violence Against Women
We pray for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded.

March
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Let us pray that we may experience the sacrament of reconciliation with renewed depth, to taste the infinite mercy of God.

April
Fundamental Rights
We pray for those who risk their lives while fighting for fundamental rights under dictatorships, authoritarian regimes and even in democracies in crisis.

May
The World of Finance
Let us pray that those in charge of finance will work with governments to regulate the financial sphere and protect citizens from its dangers.

June
The Beauty of Marriage
Let us pray for young people who are preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community: may they grow in love, with generosity, faithfulness and patience.

July
Social Friendship
We pray that, in social, economic and political situations of conflict, we may be courageous and passionate architects of dialogue and friendship.

August
The Church
Let us pray for the Church, that she may receive from the Holy Spirit the grace and strength to reform herself in the light of the Gospel.

September
An Environmentally Sustainable Lifestyle
We pray that we all will make courageous choices for a simple and environmentally sustainable lifestyle, rejoicing in our young people who are resolutely committed to this.

October
Missionary Disciples
We pray that every baptized person may be engaged in evangelization, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavor of the Gospel.

November
People Who Suffer from Depression
We pray that people who suffer from depression or burn-out will find support and a light that opens them up to life.

December
Catechists
Let us pray for the catechists, summoned to announce the Word of God: may they be its witnesses, with courage and creativity and in the power of the Holy Spirit.