Pain is the most universal of human experiences. All of us experience pain at some level of our being. It may by physical or spiritual, mental or emotional. It may be caused by illness of some sort or trauma of some kind. All of us experience pain.
Perhaps you are afflicted by illness at this moment in time, addiction, depression or have suffered the grief of bereavement. Maybe you carry a burden from the past, perhaps today you are coping with unemployment, the prospect of emigration or financial pressure.
This year here in the Parish, we would like to offer you the opportunity to join with us in uniting your pain with the pain of others as we offer it to the Lord and pray for His healing in our lives.
During the season of Lent the pain of Jesus comes sharply into focus. In Holy Week we will follow His steps as He walks the way of the Cross. The Risen Christ on Easter Sunday reminds us that pain and death never have the last word. If Christ can claim victory over death itself, then He can claim victory over our pain no matter how deep it is or how long we have carried it for.
What is the Garment of Pain?
The Garment of Pain is a simple way of drawing together the experience of pain of many people in a way that we may support one another in prayer.
How does it work?
Over the period of Lent we will invite you to place a piece of material – roughly the size of the template on the Back Page of this newsletter – in the baskets provided in the churches. The cloth represents whatever your particular pain in life happens to be. During Lent we will remember in all our Masses the intentions of those who have placed their cloth in the baskets. During the final days of Lent the pieces of cloth will be sewn together to form one big Patchwork Quilt.
During the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday we will place the cloth on the altar to symbolically unite our suffering with the offering of Christ in the Mass. On Good Friday the cloth will be draped over the cross in the church which is the focus of our prayer that day, it will also be used during the Easter Vigil.
“Christ pierces the darkness of all human suffering”
As Scripture says ‘when you approach the suffering of others take off your shoes because the ground on which you are standing is holy ground’.
The Easter fire which we light on Holy Saturday to begin our celebration of the Easter Vigil reminds us that Christ pierces the darkness of all human suffering through the light of His Resurrection. On this night we will place our cloth in the Easter fire as a sign of trust in Christ who is the light in our darkness.
So how do I take part? Choose a piece of cloth to represent your pain in life whatever it may be. During Lent your intention will be remembered at all Masses. Perhaps you might like to join us for Mass on one of the days and to pray for those who have placed cloth in the basket.
A Prayer for Lent
Lord Jesus Christ,
how often you gazed on your people and took pity on them.
Look with mercy on me and all who
carry pain in their lives.
May this season of Lent be a turning
point in our lives
that we may begin to live the joy and
peace for which we are created.
Mary, our Mother,
walk this Lenten road with us.
That with you, we may experience
in our hearts the joy of the Risen Christ. Amen
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