O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in reparation for my sins, for the intentions of all my relatives and friends, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.
Diwali Prayer Service
The service begins with welcoming attendees and includes bhajans (hymns), a penitential rite where attendees acknowledge darkness in their lives, and an exchange of peace. Scripture readings are from 1 John and Matthew, followed by a homily. Prayers of the faithful are offered asking Jesus to guide them. The concluding prayer praises God for illuminating lives through Jesus Christ and asks that attendees become bearers of Jesus to non-Christian brethren.
Welcoming The faithful is received with sandal paste. The priestis welcomed with an Arathi.
Celebrant: The people who walk in darkness have seen a dazzlingbrightness. A great light has dawned in the east, mocking the sunand the moon, putting the stars of heaven Christ the Lord. “In hislight we see light”. Enter without pretensions into this joyfulencounter with Him. May the eyes of the Father rest upon your eyes, the love of the Son throb in your heart and all its movements and thecomradeship of the Spirit walk with you.
All:Amen.
Commentator: Myriad little lamps illumining millions of our homesproclaim the festival of lights. We rejoice with all the people of ourland and bring to the altar our own little lamps. Indian traditionattributes the origin of Diwali to the coronation of Rama, as the kingof Ayodhya. On that night, it is said, there was illumination all overthe country. Another legend attributes the feast to the coronation of the good king Vikramaditya.
All these traditions reveal an underlying theme: Diwali is rejoicing at thevictory of good over the forces of evil, jnanaoverajnana, sat over asat.
Penitential Rite: The faithful accuse themselves of their being the cause of darkness.
Commentator: As an expression of our deep sorrow for ourinfidelities to the covenant with the lord, yearning for full fellowshipwith him and others, and determined to make a total commitment of ourselves to the designs of the lord let us do the panchanga pranama.
Celebrant: May the god of peace who brought from the dead ourlord Jesus enable you to stand before him face to face. In his light,there is no darkness. Bask in its shadow it is brighter than sun. May its flames lick the hearth of your soul and purify it of dross and decay, equipping you with everything that is good through JesusChrist to whom be the glory for ever and ever.
All: Amen
Exchange the sign of peace. Commentator: In the beginning when god created the universe,the earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the Spirit of God was moving over the water. God commanded “let there be light andthere was light.” God was pleased with what he saw. Then heseparated the light from darkness and he named the light ‘day’ andthe darkness night. Lord, it is night. A sea of darkness engulfs us. Terror, ignorance, unbelief, worries, poverty, sin and death. Destroy allpowers of darkness. Let the light of resurrection shine.
Bhajan Liturgy of the Word: Homage is paid to the Bible with doublearathi.(pushpa and dhupa).
Celebrant: Fountain of truth, knowledge and bliss, he who drinks of your stream will not thirst. May he who quickens the intellect andkindles the heart strengthen you with his power to proclaim thesaving word. Commentator: As a sign of our openness to receive God’s wordinto our life. We shall keep our palms open and turned upwardsresting on our knees.
First reading: 1 Jn: 1/5-10. Gospel:Mt: 5/14-16 or Jn: 8/12. Homily
Prayer of the Faithful Celebrant: Jesus is the true light that enlightens every person. As wecelebrate the Feast of Lights let us ask Jesus the light of life topenetrate our life.
Response: Jesus our light, guide us.(Spontaneous prayers).
Concluding Prayer: We praise and thank you God our Father forthis day, the day in which we rejoice with our Hindu brethren andstrengthen our relationship with them. You have illumned the universe with the sun and the moon and the stars and you have illumined our lives with the greatest of lights- Jesus Christ. Grant that each of us become bearers of Jesus and through us may Jesus be known to our non-christian brethren. This we ask you through Jesus your Son. Amen.