It is summer time in Alberta, which means prayer walks hosted by the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton has returned.
The group prayer walk has finished, however, you may use this as a guide for your own prayer walk at your leisure.
Tip: If you’re traveling with two vehicles, park one car at the end point, then carpool to the starting point.
Edmonton’s French Quarter
The French Quarter is an historic area of Edmonton which began east of the city of Strathcona. A strong vibrant French community exists to this day, thanks to La Cité Francophone, St. Thomas d’Aquin French Catholic Parish, and the University of Alberta’s Faculté Saint-Jean. The French University of Alberta campus includes a grotto and a statue dedicated to Albertan Venerable Brother Anthony Kowalczyk (Frère Antoine). He is being considered for beatification.
The Chaplet of St. John the Baptist
The chaplet of St. John the Baptist consists of the medal, 3 introductory beads, the centre medal, followed by 7 groups of 5 beads. A copy of only the chaplet without the stops may be downloaded here.
Opening Prayer and Opening Beads (St. Junghasang Korean Roman Catholic Church)
On the medal:
God, come to my assistance. Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory be to the Father,
And to the Son,
And to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning is now,
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Opening beads:
1. “Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God.” (Is 40:1)
2. “The voice of one crying in the desert – prepare the way of the Lord.” (Is 40:3).
3. “Behold, I send you Elijah the prophet, before the Day of the Lord comes, the great and dreadful day. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” (Mal 4:5-6).
The Benedictus (St. David’s Anglican Church)
On the centre medal:
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to His people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty savior, born of the house of His servant David. Through His holy prophets He promised of old that He would save us from the hands of our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship Him without fear, holy and righteous in His sight, all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His way, to give His people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
The Visitation (St. Paul’s Lutheran Church)
Reflect on the mystery of the visitation with Mary and Elizabeth, and pray for the unborn and those faced with the pressure of abortion.
Our Father…
First set of beads
1 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Mt 3:2)
2 “One mightier than I comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop and untie. I baptize you with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Mk 1:7-8)
3 ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29)
4 “The Bride belongs to the Bridegroom. The Bridegroom’s friend stands and listens, and rejoices when he hears the Bridegroom’s voice. This joy of mine is now complete.” (John 1:29)
5 “He [Jesus] must increase; I must decrease.” (John 1:31).
The birth of John the Baptist (Youth Emergency Shelter Society)
Reflect on the mystery of the birth of John the Baptist, and pray for those in broken families.
Our Father…
Second set of beads
1 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Mt 3:2)
2 “One mightier than I comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop and untie. I baptize you with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Mk 1:7-8)
3 ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29)
4 “The Bride belongs to the Bridegroom. The Bridegroom’s friend stands and listens, and rejoices when he hears the Bridegroom’s voice. This joy of mine is now complete.” (John 1:29)
5 “He [Jesus] must increase; I must decrease.” (John 1:31).
The preaching of John (Mill Creek Christian Assembly)
Reflect on the mystery of the preaching of John in the wilderness, and pray for priests, deacons, religious, and those with the responsibility to teach and preach the good news.
Our Father…
Third set of beads
1 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Mt 3:2)
2 “One mightier than I comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop and untie. I baptize you with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Mk 1:7-8)
3 ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29)
4 “The Bride belongs to the Bridegroom. The Bridegroom’s friend stands and listens, and rejoices when he hears the Bridegroom’s voice. This joy of mine is now complete.” (John 1:29)
5 “He [Jesus] must increase; I must decrease.” (John 1:31).
The baptism of Jesus in the Jordan (St. Thomas d’Aquin French Catholic Parish)
Reflect on the mystery of the baptism of Jesus, and pray for inquirers, catechumens, neophytes, and new Christians.
Our Father…
Fourth set of beads
1 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Mt 3:2)
2 “One mightier than I comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop and untie. I baptize you with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Mk 1:7-8)
3 ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29)
4 “The Bride belongs to the Bridegroom. The Bridegroom’s friend stands and listens, and rejoices when he hears the Bridegroom’s voice. This joy of mine is now complete.” (John 1:29)
5 “He [Jesus] must increase; I must decrease.” (John 1:31).
St. John sends the first disciples to Jesus (Faculté Saint-Jean Grotto)
Reflect on the mystery of St. John sending the first disciples to Jesus, and pray for our Catholic education system.
Our Father…
Fifth set of beads
1 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Mt 3:2)
2 “One mightier than I comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop and untie. I baptize you with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Mk 1:7-8)
3 ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29)
4 “The Bride belongs to the Bridegroom. The Bridegroom’s friend stands and listens, and rejoices when he hears the Bridegroom’s voice. This joy of mine is now complete.” (John 1:29)
5 “He [Jesus] must increase; I must decrease.” (John 1:31).
The temptation of John the Baptist (La Cité Francophone)
Reflect on the mystery of the temptation of John the Baptist, and pray for any personal intentions for one another for anything that draws us away from God.
Our Father…
Sixth set of beads
1 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Mt 3:2)
2 “One mightier than I comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop and untie. I baptize you with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Mk 1:7-8)
3 ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29)
4 “The Bride belongs to the Bridegroom. The Bridegroom’s friend stands and listens, and rejoices when he hears the Bridegroom’s voice. This joy of mine is now complete.” (John 1:29)
5 “He [Jesus] must increase; I must decrease.” (John 1:31).
The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist (Montgomery Place)
Reflect on the mystery of the martyrdom of John the Baptist, and pray for those at the Montgomery Seniors Centre, seniors, and those with illness and facing end of life matters.
Our Father…
Last set of beads
1 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” (Mt 3:2)
2 “One mightier than I comes after me, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop and untie. I baptize you with water. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Mk 1:7-8)
3 ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29)
4 “The Bride belongs to the Bridegroom. The Bridegroom’s friend stands and listens, and rejoices when he hears the Bridegroom’s voice. This joy of mine is now complete.” (John 1:29)
5 “He [Jesus] must increase; I must decrease.” (John 1:31).
Closing Prayer (Assumption Catholic Parish)
O Lord Jesus Christ, whose way was prepared by St. John the Baptist, grant that through his intercession, our hearts may be prepared for You. May he teach us to rejoice in your presence, and guide us to true repentance, that we may become your true friends and disciples. Grant that we, like St. John, may be faithful witnesses to You and share Your glory forever.