Lord Jesus Christ,

On this Holy Tuesday, we remember the night You gathered with Your disciples, the night You broke bread and shared the cup, the night You showed us the depth of Your love through humble service. Teach us to love as You have loved to serve without seeking reward, to forgive without hesitation, and to give ourselves fully for others. As You washed the feet of Your friends, cleanse our hearts of pride and selfishness. Make us instruments of Your peace, ready to kneel in compassion before those in need.

In the mystery of the Eucharist, draw us closer to You and to one another. May we never take for granted the gift of Your presence, but receive You with gratitude, reverence, and joy.

Stay with us, Lord, in our moments of darkness, just as You asked Your disciples to keep watch with You. Give us strength to remain faithful, even when the path is difficult. May this sacred night renew our faith, deepen our love, and prepare our hearts for the promise of Your sacrifice and resurrection.

Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, as we enter into the silence of these holy days, help our hearts to be still. Teach us to walk with you along the path of suffering, that we may understand the depth of your love. Give us the strength to lay aside all that separates us from you, and open our eyes to your grace. In the shadow of the cross, teach us to trust, to hope in pain, and to believe in the light of the resurrection even in darkness. Stay with us, Lord, now and forever. Amen.

Our Lady of Knock, 

as Holy Week dawns, we turn to you with hearts full of devotion and hope. We remember your appearance at Knock, a beacon of faith and a sign of God's presence amidst the struggles of your people. In this sacred week, as we recall the Passion and death of your Son, Jesus Christ, we ask for your intercession. Help us to walk with Jesus through these solemn days. Grant us the grace to understand the depth of His sacrifice, the immense love He showed for humanity. Give us the strength to carry our own crosses, no matter how heavy they may seem, with faith and with hope.

May we, like you, stand firm in our faith, even in times of sorrow and uncertainty. Inspire us to be people of prayer, compassion, and unwavering love. Help us to reflect the peace and serenity that emanates from your image at Knock. As we approach the commemoration of Christ's Resurrection, fill us with the joy and the promise of new life. May our Holy Week be a time of deep spiritual renewal, leading us closer to your Son and to a deeper understanding of His divine love.

We entrust ourselves, our families and communities, our country, and all those who are suffering to your maternal care.

Our Lady of Knock, pray for us. 

Amen.

Prayer to Christ the Healer

In the comfort of your love,
I pour to you, my Saviour,
the memories that haunt me,
the anxieties that perplex me,
the fears that stifle me,
the sickness that prevails upon me,
and the frustration of all the pain that weaves
about within me.

Lord, help me to see
your peace in my turmoil,
your compassion in my sorrow,
your forgiveness in my weakness,
and your love in my need.
Touch me, O Lord, with your
healing power and strength.

The original of the stylized depiction of Jesus the Healer
shown in the picture is the work of Valentino Bianco, an American Alexian brother

Today is the Feast of Saint Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary. The photos were taken in the Chapel of St. Bernadette at the Alexian Mission in Győrújbarát, Hungary.

On the same day, March 17, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Tears in Hungary, which is the most beautiful treasure of the Cathedral of Győr. The famous painting was placed in Győr with the help of Irish Bishop Walter Lynch, who fled from Cromwell's campaign against Ireland and Scotland, is very popular among the Irish. Bishop János Püsky of Győr invited him to Győr, where he lived for the rest of his life and bequeathed the image known as the Weeping Madonna to the city in 1663.

 

In February 2013, three members of the Irish Alexian community,
Brother Dermot O'Leary, Brother Dominic Walsh and Brother Luke Polding,
visited Hungary and of course they also visited the image of the Weeping Madonna

In 2024 the Irish Alexian Brothers hosted the Lynch descendant Kathleen Lynch

 Brother Barry in front of the Irish Weeping Madonna
in the Győr Cathedral, Hungary (September, 2024)

Saint Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, we celebrate your feast day with joyful hearts. We thank you for your unwavering faith, your courageous witness, and your tireless efforts to bring the light of Christ to Ireland. We ask for your intercession as we strive to live lives of faith and service, mirroring your dedication to God and your love for your people. Guide us on our path, protect us from harm, and intercede for us before the throne of God. Amen.

Our Heavenly Father,

As we begin this new week and enter the quieter, more contemplative time of the fourth week of Lent, we turn to You in gratitude. We thank You for the awakening beauty of spring, the warmth of the sun, and the rebirth of nature, all of which bear witness to Your providential love. We thank You that the renewal of the created world reminds us that, through Your grace, our hearts too can always be renewed.

We ask You, Lord, to strengthen our faith, so that it may not live only in our words, but may also be made visible in our daily actions. Grant that our love may not remain an unspoken promise, but may be a helping hand, a comforting word, and a patient heart toward those we meet along our journey. Teach us during this season of Lent to practice sincere repentance, humility, and mercy. Help us to be more attentive to one another and to notice those who need encouragement, help, or a kind word.

Bless this week ahead of us, Lord. Grant that these new days may bring us new opportunities: opportunities for goodness, for growth, for practicing love, and for drawing closer to you. Guide our steps so that we may seek Your will in all things, and may our lives be a testimony to Your goodness. Stay with us this week as well; watch over our families, comminities, our work, ministry and our thoughts, so that every day may serve Your glory.

Amen.

Vintage postcard from Knock.

Heavenly Father, as we begin this week and enter the Third Week of Lent, we come before You with humble hearts. Thank you for the gift of a new week, a new opportunity to draw closer to You and to grow in our faith. We acknowledge our weaknesses, our struggles, and the areas in which we fall short of Your will. Grant us the grace to recognize our shortcomings and the courage to turn away from sin. Help us to resist the temptations that surround us. We pray for strength to continue our Lenten journey, to deepen our prayer life, and to practice acts of charity and kindness. May we use this time to reflect on the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and to prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter. Bless us this week with Your guidance, Your protection, and Your peace. May we be instruments of Your love in the world, and may our actions reflect Your light. We ask all this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lord, at the beginning of the week, in the season of spring and renewal, we turn to you. We give thanks for the season of Lent, a time of purification, deepening, and drawing closer to you. We give thanks for the renewal of nature, the sunshine, and the fresh air that awakens hope and confidence in us. Help us to reap the fruits of our Lenten sacrifices and enable us to let go of old bad habits so that we may begin a new life. Fill our hearts with love, joy, and patience so that we may live each day positively. We ask you to guide us this week, give us wisdom in our decisions, strength to overcome difficulties, and help us to be open to others. Grant that our faith may grow stronger, our hope may never die, and our love may help us overcome all obstacles. Bless this week and grant that, as a fruit of our faithfulness during Lent, we may grow closer to you and already experience the joy of the resurrection. Amen.

Pictures from the past - early 2010s

Alexian Brothers meeting in Germany with brothers from the Philippine, German, American, and Irish regions. To Brother Dermot's right is Brother James Classon from the US, whose death anniversary was on March 1.

Lord God,

on this Second Sunday of Lent, we turn to you, seeking your guidance and grace. We remember the promises you made and the covenants you established. Strengthen our faith, that we may trust in your unwavering love, even in times of trial and temptation.

Help us to recognize the ways in which we fall short of your will. Grant us the courage to turn away from sin and embrace the path of righteousness that you have laid before us.

We pray for all those who are struggling with doubt, fear, and despair. May they find solace in your presence and be reminded of your enduring love.

Open our hearts to receive your word, that we may be transformed by its power. May we become more like your Son, Jesus Christ, who offered himself as a sacrifice for us.

We ask all this through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

The Legend of Saint Alexius, State and University Library, Dresden, Germany.