PRAY WITH LOUIS BRISSON
A Novena on the occasion of his Beatification on September 22, 2012

Day 8: By means of us God must be omnipresent

I place myself in the Presence of God.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
God, You are here, in my thoughts and in my heart; You envelop me with Your Presence.

Louis Brisson

The aim of the system of government in vogue is to remove God entirely from the public domain, to separate Him from the lives of men; yes, they want to make the Name of God disappear from the world in general, even going so far as to heap blasphemies upon it. God has to be banished from all our habitudes, our ways of acting as well. Yet, contrary to all of that, through us the Love of God must spread everywhere. (Louis Brisson, Chapter of January 14, 1891)

Scripture Text

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father , and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of time.” (Matthew 28: 18-20)

Reflection

Not only in Louis Brisson’s time, but today as well, we are witnesses to the fact that God is becoming more and more absent from public life. Yet, contrary to each imposed separation, there lies a greater urge to paint everything in each domain once again with the same colour, that of a Christ-bearer; which clearly clamours to be done; then God will not only be at home in the Church, but also everywhere else: in the workplace, in the family, in the schools, in short, everywhere. Here the voice will be lifted up in God’s Name; though that will never be easy, it might be good, making it clear to men what Jesus Himself said to His disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me… I am with you always even to the end of time.”

Questions for reflection

• Am I ready to lift up my voice publicly for God?
• Do I separate my life into a sphere with God and a sphere without God?
• Do I want to be a Christ-bearer?

Prayer

God of Love, each day gives opportunities to bring You my “roles”: in the workplace, in the family, among friends, and by that means, all that I do, where I am. Let me discover that You are with us everyday until the end of time, and that You alone have been given all authority on heaven and on earth. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in heaven…     Glory be to the Father….