Holy Hour for Life, Marriage
and Religious Liberty (part 2)

II. Holy Hour (lay-led)

Organ Prelude

Entrance Hymn: O Saving Victim

Tune: Duguet, Werner, or other familiar LM tune

1. O saving Victim, op'ning wide
   The gate of heav'n to man below!
   Our foes press on from ev'ry side:
   Thine aid supply, Thy strength bestow. 
   
   
2. To thy great name be endless praise,
   Immortal Godhead, One-in-Three:
   O grant us endless length of days
   When our true native land we see. Amen.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Opening Prayer

Leader: Let us pray. Lord our God, in this great Sacrament we come into the presence of Jesus Christ, Your Son, born of the Virgin Mary and crucified for our salvation. May we who declare our faith in this fountain of love and mercy drink from it the water of everlasting life. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

Scripture Reading

Quiet Meditation

• Part of the Liturgy of the Hours may be prayed.
• The Rosary or a Litany may be prayed.

Intercessions

Leader: God is the author of life, marriage, and liberty. In Him we place our faith as we pray the following petitions:

Leader: For Pope Benedict XVI, bishops, priests, and all the faithful, that we may be strengthened by the grace of the Holy Spirit to continue proclaiming the intrinsic dignity of all human life from conception to natural death, the unique meaning of marriage, and the importance of religious liberty for all. Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: For all those who serve us in public office, that they may have the wisdom and courage to uphold conscience rights and protect all people from being forced to violate their moral and religious convictions. Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: For greater respect for the inviolable dignity of all human life from conception to natural death, especially for the most vulnerable among us, including the unborn, the poor, the immigrant, the infirm and elderly. Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: For the healing of troubled and broken marriages and families, and for renewed understanding of and reverence for God’s loving plan for marriage as the permanent, faithful and fruitful union of one man and one woman. Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: For the protection of conscience rights and religious liberty, and that all people of good will may work together against the increasing threats to these fundamental rights. Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: For all of us gathered here before the Lord in His Most Blessed Sacrament, that we may live our faith in confidence and charity, trust in the Lord’s mercy, and witness to Him so as to invite others to seek His Face. Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: Almighty and merciful Father, we give You thanks for all of Your many blessings, and we ask You to hear these petitions in the name of Your Son, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Let us pray to the Lord.
All: Amen.

Prayer for Life, Marriage and Religious Liberty

Leader: Together let us pray.

All: All powerful, ever-living God, we come before you at an important time on the history of our nation. Over two hundred years ago our country claimed its place among the families of nations; for what has been achieved we give you thanks, for the work that still remains we ask your help.

May our bishops, priests and all the faithful be strengthened by the grace of the Holy Spirit to continue proclaiming the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death, the unique meaning of marriage, and the importance of religious liberty for all. natural

May all who serve us in elected office be enlightened by your law in their hearts, that they enact laws and policies that uphold the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death, the dignity of marriage as the permanent, faithful and fruitful union of a man and a woman, and authentic liberty for all.

We turn to you, loving Father, with fervant prayer for our own parish, that we will always be aware of the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death, the beauty of God's plan for marriage, and the significance of full and authentic religious liberty.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Closing Hymn: Holy God, We Praise Thy Name

Tune: Grosser Gott

1. Holy God, we praise Thy name! Lord of all, we bow before Thee.
   All on earth Thy scepter claim; All in heav'n above adore Thee.
   Infinite Thy vast domain, Everlasting is Thy reign,
   Infinite Thy vast domain, Everlasting is Thy reign. 
   
   
2. Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit, Three we name Thee;
   While in essence only One, Undivided God we claim Thee;
   And adoring, bend the knee, While we own the mystery,
   And adoring, bend the knee, While we own the mystery.

Organ Postlude