The Cup of Freedom
The leader takes bread, breaks it, dips the first piece in salt water and eats it, saying:
Take the Lahmo, break it, and dip the first piece in salt water, and eat it. Remember the tears our
ancestors shed when they abandoned their lands.
The leader takes the second piece, dips it in horseradish, and eats it, saying:
Dip the second piece in “Maurorae” and eat it. Remember the bitterness our ancestors experienced
under humiliation.
All recite Psalm 85, Prayer for peace and justice:
You once favored, LORD, your land, restored the good fortune of [Maron].
You forgave the guilt of your people, pardoned all their sins.
You withdrew all your wrath, turned back your burning anger.
Restore us once more, God our savior; abandon your wrath against us.
Will you be angry with us forever, drag out your anger for all generations?
Please give us life again, that your people may rejoice in you.
Show us, LORD, your love; grant us your salvation.
I will listen for the word of God; surely the LORD will proclaim peace to his people,
to the faithful, to those who trust in him. Near indeed is salvation for the loyal;
prosperity will fill our land. Love and truth will meet; justice and peace will kiss.
Truth will spring from the earth; justice will look down from heaven.
The LORD will surely grant abundance; our land will yield its increase.
Prosperity will march before the Lord, and good fortune will follow behind.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
The leader takes the cup of wine, saying:
Take the cup of wine and drink from it. This is the cup of Freedom. Remember the martyrs whose blood
shed for the sake of Freedom.
Rose among thorns
After they drink, he says:
Because of the many disasters happened in the world, especially in the Middle East, during that period of
time (13th- 16th century), Pope Leo X described the Maronite Church as a rose among thorns, an
impregnable rock in the sea, unshaken by the waves and fury of the thundering tempest.
The woman passes a rose surrounded by thorns, saying:
Take this Rose surrounded by thorns and smell it. It represents our Church in the midst of chaos.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
