Saint Alexius, patron saint of pilgrims, the homeless, the Alexian Brothers, and an exemplary Christian. We come before you with gratitude, asking for your intercession during this relaxing weekend. Please accompany us so that we may find the physical and spiritual renewal we need. Help us to be filled with love and peace during the weekend, so that we may let go of the tensions of the week and find tranquility. Give us the strength to enjoy the beautiful moments and appreciate the company of our family and friends. Be with us so that the joy and peace we experience this weekend will accompany us throughout the coming week. Teach us that rest is also part of life and that we should always seek Your presence, which refreshes and strengthens us. Bless us with Your love and grace so that we may live happily on the weekend and in our daily lives. Amen.

Balthasar Stecher - Saint Alexius, copperplate engraving, circa 1690, Herzog August Library, Wolfenbüttel, Germany.

Evening prayer

Heavenly Father, at this evening hour we give thanks to You for this day, which we have received as a gift. We thank You for the moments we have experienced, both the joys and the challenges, which all shape our lives. We ask You to bless our loved ones and protect them from all harm and illness. Grant that our love and understanding may always be strong, and help us to stand by each other despite difficulties. Bless the world with peace and love. Help us to understand and accept one another, and to build a better future for all. Amen.

Saint Alexius,

our merciful patron saint, who, having abandoned earthly riches, lived your life in poverty and humility, and who is patron of the homeless, pilgrims and the Alexian Brothers, pray for us! Help us to turn with open hearts and love to those in need. Give us the strength to recognize the dignity of those living in poverty and to help them overcome their difficulties. Guide us on the path of love and mercy, so that we may also demonstrate faith and love by our actions. Please protect the homeless, give them shelter and warmth, food and hope. Accompany the pilgrims on their journey, protect them from danger and guide them to their destination. Bless the Alexian Brothers, give them strength and endurance in their service, so that they may alleviate suffering by their loving care.

Help us to follow your example, to live our lives with humility and love, always remembering that the greatest riches are love and devotion to God and to our fellow human beings.

Amen.

This week, on Sunday, September 7, at 10 a.m., Pope Leo XIV will canonize Blessed Carlo Acutis (1991–2006), who died tragically young at the age of 15 from leukemia. Taking advantage of the opportunities offered by the internet, he created an informative website aimed at young people, which collects and catalogues Eucharistic miracles that have occurred around the world. It is no coincidence that he is revered today as the patron saint of youth and the internet. From Sunday, he will be the first saint of Generation Y.

Carlo Acutis' website: https://www.miracolieucaristici.org/en/Liste/list.html

 

A regular visitor to the Irish Alexian Brothers,

 holding a statue of Carlo Acutis

Dear Lord, as the leaves begin to turn color and the air cools with the approach of September, we offer you our thanks. We are grateful for the blessings of summer, for the warmth of the sun, and the long, lazy days. We ask for your guidance and strength as we enter this new month. Help us to embrace the change of seasons with grace and gratitude. Grant us wisdom to make wise decisions and the courage to face whatever challenges may come our way. We pray for the students, teachers, and all those returning to school and learning. May they have a year filled with knowledge, growth, and the joy of discovery. Bless our families, our friends, and our communities. May we be a source of support and encouragement to each other. Help us to be mindful of your presence in our lives, and to seek your will in all that we do. We offer this prayer in your holy name. Amen.

Pictures from the past - Sightseeing in Kleve

The General Assembly of the Alexian Brothers took place from 6 to 14 May 2016 in Kleve, Germany. All the regions and provinces were represented at the meeting, which is held every six years. The meeting reviewed the situation, present and future of each mission and the question of vocations. And on the last day of the meeting, the community elected a new General, Brother Larry Krueger.

The pictures also show three members of the Irish Alexian community, Brother Dermot, Brother Dominic Walsh, who died last year, and Brother Barry.