Novena of spazio + spadoni | THIRD DAY
The Novena is a time of waiting that spazio + spadoni wishes to fill with a personal reflection on works of mercy
On the altar, 9 unlit candles, in a row (one will be lit each day at the conclusion of the prayer)
If praying as a family, the same candle can be lit each time.
DAY 3 – Dec. 18: DRESSING THE IGNUDI
– Symbol: a coat
Initial hymn: your choice, depending on your repertoire
CEL. In the name of the Father,
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
ASS. Amen.
– The Word
From the Gospel according to Luke (3: 10.11)
“The crowds questioned him, “What shall we do?” He answered, ‘He who has two tunics, let him give one to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.’”
From an essay by Dominican theologian Antoinette Potente, “Doing Mercy” (EMI)
“We were born naked, then dressed and several times clothed. Today we also have too many clothes. But this evolutionary flow is not the same for everyone. In fact, we were all born naked and then clothed, but some later were stripped and became naked again, precisely because others have too many clothes.”
Today’s work of mercy: clothing the naked
A coat, on the third day of the novena,
to remind those who are still naked,
are cold, have nothing to cover themselves.
To tell us to clothe the naked…
Jesus, as we wait for Christmas, give us watchful eyes to see, beyond the trappings;
Jesus, as we wait for Christmas, make us able to understand the reasons for so much nakedness;
Jesus, as we wait for Christmas, explain to us the tenderness with which to cover those who are naked.
The third lamp (or candle) is lit as the reader reads a prayer from “Mercy I Want,” p. 21; 24:
Come and clothe us you Lord, as you did Adam and Eve.
Come and clothe us you Lord,
when our garment of sons is in tatters.
Come and clothe us you Lord,
When our sin makes us feel naked.
Lord, you who were born naked in Bethlehem
And died naked on the cross,
restore dignity and hope
to those who continue
to be denuded
by selfishness and wickedness.
CEL. Beloved, today, we have been reflecting and praying on the third work of mercy. Let us make these words become deeds. God’s mercy is at work — ALWAYS!
God bless you. In the name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit.
ASS. Amen.
Final hymn: your choice according to your repertoire