As Christians we are called to give witness to our beliefs. We are fortunate to have role models for guidance. We call them saints, holy people of God. To honor a saint is to praise God. We do not praise saints, not even Mary. We pray to saints that they may intercede on our behalf to God. All prayer petitions ultimately go to God. Prayer and devotions to saints are ways of expressing closeness with them.


"The Great Circle of Saints" Prayer Celebration Notes

Focus		Recognizing our connection to the saints
Materials		Prayer table, Bible, candle, music, liturgy copies
Reading		Acts 4:8-12; Psalm 96:1-3,11-13
Music		"Set Your Sights on the Higher Gifts," "With Hope and Healing," [Meditation Track] Blest Are We CD 7-8; "Go Light Your World," Chris Rice, Spirit and Song CD,(OCP Publications); "Christ, Be Our Light, Bernadette Farrell, (OCP Publications); "City of God," Dan Schutte, (OCP Publications)
Preparation		Select a leader and a Scripture reader, and assign 3 groups for the antiphonal reading. Print out and photocopy the liturgy, "The Great Circle of Saints," for participants. To prepare participants for the liturgy, discuss with them how saints have modeled God’s love in many different ways. Have each participant select a saint and prepare a one-sentence petition to that saint to share during the liturgy.
Adaptation		Direct participants to the index of their text to find references to all the saints mentioned. From this source, have them select descriptive sentences to include in their petitions.
Additional Materials		For a full year of liturgies, from which this one was adapted, see Prayer Celebrations, Middle School Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-30570-1 Blest Are We Music CD, Levels 7 & 8 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36394-9 Blest Are We Audio Cassette, Levels 7 & 8 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-364534-6 Blest Are We Song Book for Grades 1-8, School Edition Words and melody for students; contains music for grades 1-6 (school) and 7-8 (parish and school) Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36617-4 Blest Are We Accompaniment Book for Grades 1-8, School Edition Contains accompaniment music for grades 1-6 (school) and 7-8 (parish and school) Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36618-2