Making Visible The Faith

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The simplest acts of kindness, the uncomplicated gratitude we can offer to God for blessings great and small, the well timed service we can offer for the good of others, the counsel that calls people to their dignity as children of God, to a change of heart and to abandon sin and to draw close to Jesus, these and more are the graced loving works of the People of God for the salvation of souls.

Saying grace at home and in public. Two forms:

  1. Bless, O Lord this food to our use, and us to thy loving service. Give us grateful hearts, and make us ever mindful of the needs of others. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
  2. V. The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord: R. And thou givest them their meat in due season. V. Thou openest wide thine hand: R. and fillest all things living with plenteousness. Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive of thy bounty: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Making the Sign of the Cross as an emergency vehicle approaches.

  • Lord, + please protect our emergency workers and those in their care.

Genuflecting before entering and leaving the pew [make the Sign of the Cross as you touch the right knee to the floor].

  • Not rushed, but made reverently accompanied by a brief prayer:
    • Lord, Thou art God, and I am Thy creation.
    • Lord Jesus, I trust in Thee.
    • Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief.

Making the Sign of the Cross when passing a Catholic Church:

  • to acknowledge the Presence of Jesus in the tabernacle and the church as the place of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The corporal works of mercy.

To feed the hungry.
To give drink to the thirsty.
To clothe the naked.
To harbour the harbourless.
To visit the sick.
To ransom the captive.
To bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy.

To instruct the ignorant.
To counsel the doubtful.
To admonish sinners.
To bear wrongs patiently.
To forgive offences willingly.
To comfort the afflicted.
To pray for the living and the dead.

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