Memorial Prayer Garden of Remembrance
Holy Saturday – 26 March 2016

Fr Séamus Madigan HCF

Greeting – An Beannú

In ainm an Athar agus an Mhic agus an Spoiraid Naoimh. Amen

Psalm: Psalm 22 (23)

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pasture where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me,
to revive my drooping spirit.

He guides me along the right path; he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness.
No evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff;
with these you give me comfort.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
forever and ever.

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Prayer

Let us commemorate and commend to the loving mercy of our God, the Shepherd of Souls, the Giver of Life Everlasting, those who have died in the cause of Irish freedom throughout the troubled journey of our island’s history. This generation of freedom remembers you.

O God of truth and justice, we hold before you those whose memory we cherish and those whose names we will never know. Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world as we give thanks for all the courageous, visionary people of Ireland who dared to hope and dream of a brighter tomorrow for our country and all of its citizens. This generation of vision remembers you and prays for a river of resurrection where all citizens are respected equally in a spirit of compassion, inclusion and engagement.

Solas na bhFlaitheas dár n-anamacha
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamnacha

Blessing

May the God of peace be with us,
taking away our fears and doubts,
and may the comfort of his peace
cover those of us who are troubled or anxious.
May the blessing of peace be upon us. Amen.

In the name of God who pushes back the horizons of our hopes and invites the brave to follow. Amen

Moladh go deo le Dia – Praise God forever!

Memorial Prayer Kilmainham Jail
Easter Sunday – 27 March 2016

Fr Séamus Madigan HCF

An Beannú – Greeting

In ainm an Athar agus an Mhic agus an Spioraid Naoimh. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to reap;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
God has made everything beautiful in its time.

In this place of final moments we are intimately reminded of the comfort brought by faith to the Leaders of the 1916 Rising. On this Easter morning we remember, reflect and reimagine our belief in life after love! Now, in their own words of prayer, we recall the love and devotion of the executed Leaders for family, for country and for God.

Guímís/Let us pray

My Jesus, Mercy; May we the people of Ireland bear no malice against anyone, and live in perfect peace with Almighty God. We pray for each other, and trust the Lord will raise us up, when silent we have waited in the grave for lonely years.

Give us courage to be ready to go into darkness, danger and death trusting in your love. With your help may we act with heroism and respect all people of good will who do their duty. Give us strength to forgive and a belief to hope, that you will be with us to the end. As we draw nearer and nearer to you, we ask your blessing and protection: May we keep the faith, bring glory to you and honour to Ireland.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you, Amen.

Solas na bhFlaitheas dár n-anamnacha

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamnacha

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

Peace Blessing

May the God of peace be with us,
taking away our fears and doubts,
and may the comfort of his peace
cover those of us who are troubled or anxious.
May the blessing of peace be upon us. Amen.

In the name of God who pushes back the horizons of our hopes and invites the brave to follow,
Athar, Mac agus Spiorad Naomh. Amen 

Moladh go deo le Dia – Praise God forever!

Memorial Prayer GPO
Easter Sunday – 27 March 2016

Fr Séamus Madigan HCF

In ainm an Athar agus an Mhic agus an Spioraid Naoimh. Amen.

Guímís
God, Most Merciful and Kind, on this Easter day of new beginnings we remember the men, the women and the children of 1916 whose short lives and big dreams extended the horizons of our hopes. In your mercy the faithful departed find rest.  Look kindly we pray, on all who lost their lives during 1916 and throughout the troubled journey of our island’s history.

Solas na bhFlaitheas dár n-anamnacha
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamnacha

As we reflect on our past we thank you for all the courageous people of Ireland who dared to hope and dream of a brighter tomorrow for our country and all of its citizens. Blessed are all those who sought to build a more inclusive and just society, for they are truly the chosen of God.

Look kindly we pray, on the people of Ireland, from all traditions, at home and abroad. Help us listen and respond to the voices that challenge in 2016 as we reimagine our future. Conscious of our troubled past, ‘To you O God, we sing a new song;’ a song of compassion, inclusion and engagement, a song of listening, social justice and respect for all, a song of unity, diversity, equality and peace, a song of Céad Mile Fáilte and of care for our environment. With you O Lord, we long to sing our new song in a spirit of true freedom.

Loving God, You know my frail heart and my frayed history and now another day begins. Give us courage to step onto new ground, eyes young again with energy and dreams. Help us to believe in beginnings, to listen to the voices that challenge and to sing a new song for Ireland.

Together, on this island, we have achieved a new peace.  We cherish that peace, as we cherish all of the children of this island equally.  We pray for all those who have suffered in the Troubles of the past century, and we hope for peace and reconciliation in the century that stretches before us.

Do gach duine ata bailithe anseo ar an lá speisialta seo agus i ngach áit in Éirinn, go raibh sonas, slainte agus siochain linn.

Moladh go deo le Dia – Praise God forever!

(I now invite children from each of the four provinces of Ireland to lay flowers on this historic ground as a symbol of our unshakeable resolve to live together on this island in peace and harmony)