The Arlington diocese has published a prayer card on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. The prayer featured on the card was composed incorporating the themes of preparation year one (“Remember”) and two (“Rejoice”) along with the jubilee year theme of “Renew.”
The opening of the prayer was inspired by the Scripture passage “…who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (I Pt 2:9) The passage speaks about Jesus being the cornerstone of the Catholic faith and who calls us out of a spiritual darkness into the light of his truth. The jubilee year theme “renew” focuses on sharing the Catholic faith with others in word and deed.
The second and third portion of the prayer incorporates all of themes together — “remembering” the past in gratitude with a focus on the Eucharist, “rejoicing” with Mary on the current vitality of our diocese and, “renewing” and strengthening our faith for the future through evangelization and mercy, as the Lord says in the Book of Revelation, “Behold I make all things new,” which is emblazoned on the cover of the prayer card, below the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The prayer cards have been distributed to diocesan parishes and are available for download from the diocesan website at arlingtondiocese.org/prayerguides.
DIOCESAN GOLDEN JUBILEE: RENEW
Heavenly Father, in your mercy you have called us out of darkness, into your own wonderful light.
In the gift of the Eucharist we receive the Body and Blood of your Only-Begotten Son, and we remember in gratitude the good things you have done for us.
As you invite us to rejoice, with Mary, in the work of the Lord, may you who “make all things new” now renew us in the Holy Spirit, and inspire us to share the Good News of the Gospel so that all may come to know the love of the Heart of Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
Amen.
