# Novena for faithful citizenship: day five
*2008-10-16*

> Bill Young leads the fifth day of the Novena for Faithful Citizenship, focusing on the centrality of the Eucharist and the call to recognize the dignity of all people.

## The Word of God

We begin today's reflection with a reading from 1 Corinthians 11:26-29: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord, until he comes. Therefore, whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself."

## Reflecting on the Eucharist

In light of this scripture, we are asked to reflect on how the Eucharist is central in our own lives and within our communities. We should consider where we are reaching out to the Body of Christ in our local community. We pray: Lord, we come together at the Eucharist to celebrate your death and resurrection. Help us experience authentic worship. Help us to grow in awareness of each person's dignity and increase our sensitivity to guide us to seek a way to reach them.

## A Prayer for Deliverance

Turning to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we ask for help to conquer the menace of evil that so easily takes root in the hearts of people today, weighing down our modern world and blocking the path toward the future. We pray for deliverance from famine, from nuclear war, and from every kind of war and incalculable self-destruction. We seek deliverance from sins against human life from its very beginning, from hatred, and from the undermining of the dignity of citizens of God.

## Overcoming Sin and Injustice

We ask for freedom from every kind of injustice in society, both national and international. We pray to be delivered from the readiness to trample on the truth, from strife in human hearts, and from the loss of awareness of good and evil. We ask for deliverance from sins against the Holy Spirit. O Mother of Christ, accept the cry of those laden with the suffering of individual human beings and the suffering of the whole society.

## The Power of Redemption

With the power of the Holy Spirit, we strive to conquer all sin—both individual sin and the sin of the world in all its manifestations. May the infinite saving power of the redemption and merciful love stop evil and transform its consequences. May the Immaculate Heart reveal the light of hope to all.

*Authentic worship of the Eucharist should lead us to a deeper awareness of human dignity and a commitment to overcoming injustice in the world.*