Daily Book of Prayers

Book of Prayers for the members of the Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands and the Commandery of Gozo

Daily Prayers

Act of Contrition O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I detest all my sins, because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.

Act of Charity O my God, I love You above all things because You are infinitely good, and for Your sake I love my neighbour as myself.

Act of Faith O my God, I believe in you and in all that you teach through your Holy Church because you have said it and Your word is true. I believe, help my unbelief.

Act of Hope O my God relying on Your promises, I hope that through the infinite merit of Jesus Christ, You will grant me pardon of my sins and the graces necessary to serve You in this life and to obtain eternal happiness in the next. Amen.

Prayer of the Order Almighty God, who chooses Your elect out of every nation, and show Your glory in their lives, grant, we pray You, that following the example of Your servant Saint Lazarus, we may be fruitful in good works, to the praise of Your Holy Name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Prayer to Saint Lazarus Dear patron and assistant of the poor and sick. With this prayer I request your assistance, and with the aid of the Holy Spirit may the Lord always protect me during sickness or in health. Saint Lazarus give me the strength to overcome all the temptations on earth. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer to Blessed Gerard Blessed Gérard, you dedicated your life for the sick who you viewed as “the poor of Christ”. Be a friend to us and help us to walk in the light of Christ viewing the sick and needy as Christ’s representatives on earth. Following your example, may our lives proclaim the love and mercy of Jesus in all our actions geared to become “servants and slaves to our Lords, the sick". Amen.

Prayer to Our God the Father Our Father, Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy Name; Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary Hail Mary, full of grace. Our Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Prayers for our leaders in the Order Dear Lord, I pray now for our leaders in the Order that they will continue to be faithful to You and to Your church. Help them to always seek Your direction in their life. I pray that they are faithful in all that they do, faithful to Order, but most of all I pray that they are always faithful to You in what you would have for them to do to accomplish Your plan.

Amen.

Prayers for our Spiritual Protector Dear Lord, I pray now for the Spiritual Protector of the Order. May the Lord preserve him, give him a long life, make him blessed upon the earth, and may the Lord not hand him over to the power of his enemies. I beseech you, that both by word and example, he may edify all those under his charge; so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may arrive at length unto life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for the departed Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.

May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Glory Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Symbolism of the Order

The badge insignia of the Order • It is made of gold to symbolise charity and remind us love all our neighbours in need whether their need is material or spiritual.

• It is coloured green to symbolise the hope that consoles the afflicted and to inspire us with the courage to perform good deeds.

• Its eight points remind us of the Beatitudes, while the pointed ends remind us of our duty to defend the faith against all foes.

• The golden orb on each point represents the fruit of the Holy Spirit being the promised reward for good charitable deeds.

The sword presented to the newly invested knight • The cross-guard (quillion) formed across the handle of the sword reminds us of a cross and Christ’s passion.

• As a weapon given to the newly invested knight, it serves to remind the bearer of his obligation to protect the weak and to defend the faith.

The rose presented to the newly invested dame • The five petals of the rose represent the five wounds of Christ and His sacrifice to save us.

• It is coloured red to remind us of the blood shed by the Christian martyrs who died in defence of their beliefs.

• Roses also remind us of the love we should exhibit towards our neighbours especially those in need.

The Medieval Knight’s Oath Be without fear in the face of your enemies Be brave and upright that God may love thee. Speak the Thruth always, even if it leads to your death. Safeguard the helpless and do no wrong. That is your oath

Vigil Service

INTRODUCTION Chaplain: In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Lord be with you Congregation: And with your spirit Grand Prior: Brothers and sisters in Christ, you seek admission to an ancient and noble Order of Chivalry. The spiritual riches of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem open themselves to you as you study its history and traditions. The Order has its historical roots not only in the great movement of Christian chivalry in the Middle Ages, but also in the care and service of those afflicted by the disease of leprosy, the wounded and the sick.

In ages past, and in our own time, it has maintained, as an absolute requirement, the duty laid on all its members, upon their entry into the Order, of devotion to the values of chivalry and to corporal works of mercy. One of the defining marks of our Order today is its ecumenical character, and it has always counted among its number members of the great spiritual families of Christendom. From you who wish to be admitted into our ancient Order of Christian men and women, it is my duty first to seek a profession of belief and trust in God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. From those who are members already, I ask a renewal of our baptismal faith.

PROFESSION OF FAITH Chaplain: Do you believe and trust in God the Father?

Congregation: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

Chaplain: Do you believe and trust in his son, Jesus Christ?

Congregation: I believe in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; he ascended into heaven; he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Chaplain: Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?

Congregation: I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church; the Communion of Saints, the Forgiveness of Sins, the Resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

MEDITATIONS Chaplain: Members of the ancient Order of St Lazarus, we are called to serve the Saviour under the banner of the Green Cross. This cross is eight-pointed to exhort us to the practice of the virtues termed Beatitudes. In this spirit let us call to mind those Beatitudes. After each, I will invite you to meditate and consider to what service within our Order you are to be called.

You will then make your vows.

Chaplain: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

(Meditation & Silence) (Who are the “poor in spirit�? They are those individuals who live their lives with total trust in God depending on Him to help them grow through their every challenge and cross [see also Matthew 6:26-34] The key to happiness is living our lives with childlike trust in his care for us. To what extent are you poor in spirit? To what extent is your primary security in God and not in worldly things?)

Chaplain: Let us pray.

Congregation: Come into our hearts, O God, unworthy though we are, that we may seek your will and your Kingdom.

Chaplain: Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

(Meditation & Silence) (We are blessed when we can grieve for the pain of others thus exhibiting a compassionate spirit. Do you allow the sufferings of others to touch your heart? Are you compassionate?)

Chaplain; Let us pray.

Congregation: O Lord, who died upon the cross, grant us grace to console those who mourn, and may you be by our side in all adversity, and especially at the hour of our death to give us strength and consolation.

Chaplain: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

(Meditation & Silence) (Jesus described himself as "meek and humble of heart". Yet, Jesus was in no way weak or timid, but He had a gentle strength about Him. We will be blessed when we discover how to exercise courage and strength in a meek and humble way . Would you describe yourself as meek in your strength?)

Chaplain: Let us pray.

Congregation: O God, who became man and humbled himself even unto death on the Cross, help us to learn true humility and patience, knowing ourselves to be created in your image.

Chaplain: Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

(Meditation & Silence) (Righteousness is a deep hunger and thirst for doing what is right and true and noble in a fiercely intense way being ready to bear ridicule, persecution and even death for what is right, true and just. To what extent do you have an intense passion for truth and justice? What hinders you from developing more of your hunger for justice?)

Chaplain: Let us pray.

Congregation: O God, who has created the world and declared it good, stir up in us a fervent desire for Justice and Truth, and give us the strength to promote and defend the same.

Chaplain: Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

(Meditation & Silence) (The true disciple of Jesus seeks to be merciful in all ways. The opposite of mercy and compassion is coldness and lack of forgiveness. Developing this value keeps our hearts free of coldness and unforgiveness. Are you are a merciful person or do you tend to hold onto hurts? What hinders you for developing this gospel value?)

Chaplain: Let us pray.

Congregation: O God, whose Son Jesus Christ prayed for those who persecuted and crucified Him, help us to show ourselves merciful to all humanity, even to those who may scorn and despise us.

Chaplain: Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. (Meditation & Silence) (The pure in heart are primarily those who act with pure motives in all their actions avoiding being manipulative in their actions. Do you act with mixed motives in what you do?)

Chaplain: Let us pray.

Congregation: O God of love, wipe from our hearts the stains of sin and faithlessness, and reveal to us the light of your great love, that, so illumined, we may desire only that which is pure and holy.

Chaplain: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. (Meditation & Silence) (We should seek to live the Prayer of St. Francis: "Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace". Work for peace in one’s family, neighbourhood, workplace. Build bridges between warring individuals and groups and nations. Would you consider yourself a peacemaker in your relationships with others?

Are you sometimes a source for generating conflict?)

Chaplain: Let us pray.

Congregation: O Lord our God, breathe into us your Spirit of peace, that we may through our lives become examples to all who would replace hatred by the service of others.

Chaplain: Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

(Meditation & Silence) (Living by Christian norms is often difficult in today’s world.

Sometimes one may be persecuted for speaking up for the poor and against injustices. Do you stand steadfast behind what you believe is right and fair? Are you a true living disciple of Jesus in your daily life?)

Chaplain: Let us pray.

Congregation: O Lord our God, keep us steadfast amidst the trials of life. Give us patience under suffering; enable us to remain faithful in the dark hours and always to seek your Kingdom.

Grand Prior: As members of the Order we commit ourselves to a rule of life, which is based upon these eight Beatitudes. As we try to model our lives on Christ we hope and pray that others might see Him in us. Our worship and charitable works should be to the glory of God and for the good of all His people. Let us now consider our chivalric commitment, that it may answer the call of our Lord, who asks us to show forth simplicity and charity, and to defend the Faith.

THE VOWS Chaplain: After prayer and meditation with confrères and consoeurs in the Order of Saint Lazarus, and having renewed your determination to serve the Lord, you may now make your vow before God. May the Blessed Virgin, Saint Lazarus and all the saints of our Order pray for you.

Postulants: I do solemnly swear by Almighty God and His Name, and in free and voluntary desire, to serve as a Knight of the holy Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem. I do swear by the Eternal Power of the Trinity, to be both a true and chivalric Knight to aid my brethren. I also swear by all that is holy and dear unto me, to aid those less fortunate than I, to relieve the distress of the world and to fulfil my knightly obligations. This oath do I give of my own free and independent will, so help me God - in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Chaplain: Defend us, O Lord, with Thy heavenly Grace, that we may continue thine for ever, and daily increase in Thy Holy Spirit more and more, until we come unto Thine everlasting kingdom.

Congregation: Amen.

Ending Prayers Chaplain: Let us say together the prayer that Jesus gave us.

Congregation: Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done; On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen.

Chaplain: Let us pray the prayer of our Order.

Congregation: O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast called us to serve as members of the Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, keep us united in thy love and service, and make us faithful to the ideals of Christian chivalry. May the Holy Spirit, guide us and grant us strength that we fail not in the duties of our calling, that care for those burdened with leprosy, the unity of Christians and the defence of the Faith may be our goal and constant desire, to the honour of God the Holy and ever blessed Trinity. Amen.

Chaplain: Let us pray the prayer to our founder Blessed Gerard.

Congregation: Blessed Gérard, you dedicated your life for the sick who you viewed as “the poor of Christ”. Be a friend to us and help us to walk in the light of Christ viewing the sick and needy as Christ’s representatives on earth.

Following your example, may our lives proclaim the love and mercy of Jesus in all our actions geared to become “servants and slaves to our Lords, the sick". Amen.

THE BLESSING Chaplain: Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no-one evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour all men; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, protect each and every one of you, both now and forever.

Congregation: Amen.

THE DISMISSAL Chaplain: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord under the banner of Saint Lazarus.

Congregation: Thanks be to God

Š Grand Priory of the Maltese Islands – Military & Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem Malta, 2015