Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope

Can these bones come to life? Lord God, you alone know. Prophesy over them. And Ezekiel prophesied and there was a rattling and the bones came together and the spirit came and they stood: a vast army. These bones are the whole house of Israel, and their hope is not lost. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind - and your neighbor as yourself. The whole law depends on this. Let us come to this Mass prophesying over the dry bones in our own lives, trusting the God who opens graves.

Ezekiel is led into the valley of dry bones and commanded to prophesy twice: first to the bones (they join, flesh grows), then to the spirit (it enters from four winds, they stand - a vast army). God explains: these are Israel, who say their hope is lost; but I will open their graves, put my spirit in them, and they will live. Psalm 107 sings the testimony of those who were in the desert, wandering and famished, who cried to the Lord and were rescued and led to a city. Matthew gives the double commandment: love God with everything, love your neighbor as yourself - the whole law and prophets depend on these.

Lord Jesus, you breathe the spirit into the valley of dry bones and they stand as a vast army: Lord, have mercy. Christ Jesus, you satisfy the yearning soul and fill the hungry soul with good things - the redeemed tell your story: Christ, have mercy. Lord Jesus, the whole law and the prophets depend on the love you name as greatest: Lord, have mercy.

Introduction: God our Father, you led Ezekiel into the valley of dry bones and commanded him to prophesy. You told him the bones were your people who had given up hope. You promised to open their graves and put your spirit in them. We come before you today with our own valleys.

1. For the Church - that she would prophesy over the dry-bone situations in the world, speaking God's promise before the rattling is visible; we pray to the Lord.
2. For those who hold authority over nations - that they would lead the wanderers to a city to live in, the hungry to what satisfies; we pray to the Lord.
3. For those in our community who are saying "our bones are dried up, our hope is lost" - that the spirit from the four winds would find them; we pray to the Lord.
4. For the children of our parish - on this feast of Pius X who gave them the Eucharist early - that the Lord's table would form them from the age of reason onward; we pray to the Lord.
5. For those who have loved God with all their heart and soul and mind and are exhausted by the giving - that they would find the love returned and sustained; we pray to the Lord.
6. For those who have died - especially [name] - that the God who opens graves would receive them into the vast army that stands before him; we pray to the Lord.

Concluding prayer: Father, you alone know if these bones can live. We prophesy over them anyway. Open the graves. Put your spirit in them. Let them live. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.