Prayer for Saint Rafqa

RAFQA "... Bshouf b'inayk"
I see with your eyes

1. 'Inda akdami salibika
Text: St. Theresa of the Child Jesus.
Edited by Rev. Elias Jamhouri.

Jesus, my only love, at the foot of your cross,
how lovely it is, every evening, to throw
flowers to you!
Shedding the petals of the spring rose for you
I wish I could dry your tears.
The rose petals, caressing your face
Tell you that my heart is yours, for all time.
Seeing my rose, without its petals, you
understand my message
And you smile at my love.

2. 'lMalkut rawmo: 'Al turo Moran
Text: Rev. Charbel Chahine.

What desire attracted you towards
the crucifixion in the shade of the crucified!
O Rafqa, bearing the wound of the
Beloved in your bones, you became a love
that sings.

In your eyes are found the splendor of the
Lord and the sumptuousness of the
redeemer that strolls there full of marvel.
He wanted a gentle heart, and you were
that, warm like the sun that shines
over the entire world.

In the hour of suffering we bend our knee,
we search for piety.
O Rafqa, be the goodness of God in the
hour of tears.

3. Sughito: Ayyu chawqin
Text: Rev. Charbel Chahine

On the mountain, our Lord formed his
disciples. In the same way, on the
mountain Rafqa formed her students with
all her love and with alla her soul.
The evening, the disciples of Rafqa desired
to see her again early the next morning.

On the mountain the cross of the Lord was
planted.
On the mountain, in the image of her
master, Rafqa was crucified on the
cross of mystery and suffering.
The nails driven into her hands
have become like the ring of her wedding
celebrated under the arms of the cross.

From the mountain of Lebanon the Lord
called his betrothed
and from the mountain of Lebanon Rafqa
went with her Lord towards the land full
of life:
She was victorious in the earthly battle, she
was crowned with glory, She intercedes
always for us.

4. Ya man hamalti
Text: Maronite Liturgy.
Edited by Rev. Elias Jamhouri & Rev. Najem Chahwan.

Rafqa, you who made of your suffering a
continual offering, remember us
before the cross.
Stay with us, apostle of suffering and of
martyrdom, pour into our hearts
the joy of giving.
Give us once again the clarity of love and
of praise,
heal our wounds and plant hope in us.
We look for the dawn to see your radiant
face, after the long
night of martyrdom.

5. Qom Fawlos: Dam'atul hubbi
Text: Rev. Charbel Chahine.

O Rafqa, perhaps the tears of love do not
sleep?
They made your wounds more beautiful
and the bones implore:
What silence! No moaning, no lamenting!
Is it that the Lord has made you
forget all sufferings?
In the bosom of my soul how can my
suffering cry out?
It is love that is reflected in my tears.
O Rafqa, intercede for us when the words
moan in us.
Bring us the true light and grant us peace.

6. Atural ayyamu
Text: Rev. Rafael Matar (Maronite Liturgy)

The days tired of her - she who made
herself familiar with suffering, or the
nun who suffered was consumed with the
lamps of years?
The closed eye becomes a source of a
continual stream of light;
The spirit abandons the body, as happy as
an exile returning to his homeland.

In a prayer of an inflamed echo:
My Lord, you are total suffering. Because
of the sins of the world you walk
bent over, with bloodied feet.
My back, collarbone, and neck are all
hollowed out - more tender than the
breeze of a rose. Lord, grant that I may love
you in the deepest depths of
my soul as well as in the praise of my lips.

O Rafqa, we are threatened by the fatigue
that gnaws away in our depths; we
are nearly unconscious, and our world
nothing but tears and blood.
Ask courage for our hearts. Perhaps then
the will to sing praise to the
Trinity will reawaken in an encounter
without end.

7. Bo'ut mor Ya'qub: Salatuki Rafqa
Text: Rev. Charbel Chahine.

O Rafqa, your prayer is a reproach that
touched the limits of the sky;
it travels there imploring and then returns
to the earth, abounding in mercy.
In the name of your sufferings, that you
bore without a word, dry our tears
with your goodness.

Is it true that from the vessel shines out the
content? You, you are nothing
but broken bones; yet from your face
shines forth happiness.
Your God is marvelous. How could it be
that you had to drink that most
bitter vinegar? How could He have
permitted it? And how is it that you
remained an offering of love and of incense?

Glory to the Father, actions of grace to the
Son, thanksgiving to the spirit.
The Triune God radiant on your face has
never left you again.
O Rafqa, when we cry out to you full of
bitterness, you fold your hands.
Then, the gaze of God will be an
abundance of love.

8. Bo'ut mor Ya'qub: Qdomaw seghdat
Text: Rev. Charbel Chahine.

She knelt before the Lord of all and she
implored Him to inscribe in herself the
story of the Passion that He had borne for
our salvation.
Immediately he descended, the nails in his
hands and the blood on his side.
In this way He began to inscribe in her as
He wanted.

Very long was the history written by the
lamb. Thirty years to complete his
desire. Written, not with a pen, nor with
words, it can not be
understood without its Author. O beloved,
take the two arms of the cross.
Fly towards Him who was sacrificed for us.
love has nothing to offer but
Himself in sacrifice for the salvation of the
world.

The words took flight so as not to shout
like the mute!
The story of Rafqa is beyond all the stories
of the poets.
Though her body is modeled by pierced
hands dressed with nails,
joy gushes and dances on her lips.

The Son of God is the only lamb that
pleases, but thanks to his love he
gives us too the grace to be lambs. O
Rafqa, pray always for us, sinners,
so that we may glorify with you the
father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

9. Ifrahi
Text: Rev. Miled Tarabay.

Rejoice because your night has lit up. You
have seen the splendor,
though you cannot see. You are an offering
of pain that is consumed with joy.
You were the love, within the convent, that
murmured and implored: Lord,
answer me, and grant that I may bear for
you your suffering, that I may see
with your eyes.

Rafqa, you are the voice that intercedes for
us, that takes away the
injustice, the fatigue, that rises and touches
the heart of the
Redeemer; full of tenderness he makes free
the cedar.

10. Dayrik rah yeb'a

10.1. First song
Text: Rev. Youhanna Khawand.

O Rafqa, now I understand why, your
heart full of grace, you asked - as a law to
the living Jesus - the annihilation of your life.
Your eyes were fixed in His, the night and
the darkness enveloped you, but
the love that is stronger than death made
you shine with life and light.

Rafqa, you are the living voice that guides
us towards the roard of light,
that accompanies us along the way, that
seeds love in our world.
We read the Word of God and we sing
hymns and psalms.
You pray with us. We will rest. We will go
and cultivate our lands.

10.2. Second song
Text: Rev. Ass'ad Alseb'ali.

Ala dalalek ala dalouna, give us a page of
the Breviary of Rafqa.
O Rafqa, He who loves the heavens and
who loves you: the perfume of roses
and orange flowers.

He who errs, searching after the way of
light, Rafqa shows him the right direction.
Rafqa offered her heart to Jesus like
burning incense of praise to the Lord.
Her tears fell at the foot of the cross.
Every day she brought to the Spouse
bouquets of flowers.
Rafqa is recognized by her miracles: the
sick were healed when they implored her
on her tomb. O pilgrim, with the faith of Rafqa enter
into her house. Ask the oaks of
Himlaya, they know all about her story.

If love escapes us, who, other than the
Lord, could bring it back to us?
With my tears and the prayers of my heart:
o pupils of my eyes and beating
of my heart, your heart must remain tender
to your people.

Rafqa was small, zealous in virtue. The idea
of entering the convent pleased her.
The dust of the earth was not upon Her,
she liked only prayer.
She taught the children, laughed and forgot
herself among them.
She remained day and night in church,
contemplating the stigmata of Christ and
thinking always of Jesus, immersed in
meditation.
She asked Him for suffering and He
granted it to her, and she bore His
stigmata. Patience was her pledge. She is
blessed, Rafqa: she is the bridge
of purity.

Text: Rev. Youhanna Khawand

O Rafqa, along our way we rested in the
shade, between the walnut tree and
the fountain, where the breeze passes.
Your face which accompanied us, was
precious.
Destiny, jealous of the cedars, spies on
Lebanon.
Remain the fortress that protects.

10.3. third song
Text: Rev. Charbel Chahine

O Rafqa, the strong sun is weak compared
to your eyes. You are the light
that watches over Aito, Jrabta and
Himlaya (three locations in Lebanon).
The Lord chose you like a grain of wheat:
He planted you, love, in our land.
Do not hide your love, you, the most
beautiful blessed one.
You carried Jesus as witness. You told Him:
O Lord, Redeemer, I will speak
of you to my country, with my tears, with
my eyes.

O Rafqa, show yourself from the heights
to your dear Lebanon.
Tell him that he is in front of you and that
you will never forget him.

10.4. fourth song
Text: Rev. Youhanna Khawand.

Rafqa, with the "R", the first letter of your
name, you are a nun (rahibi).
The second letter, "F" is the joy (farah)
with which you offered your life to the
Lord.
The third letter "Q" is the holiness (qadasi)
with which your homeland has become
heaven.
The fourth letter "A" is the suffering
(alam) that took refuge in the love of the
Lord. Your name is a flame revived in us.

You, whose eyes were closed on this earth
and were opened before the eyes of God in
heaven. O Rafqa, how sweet is your face!
Watch over us because we bear your name.
Reassure our path to holiness. In you the
Lord traced a path of holiness. He who
follows you will have a sure life.

10.5. Fifth song
Text: Rev. Youhanna Khawand.

Your monastery will continue the path.
May the monasteries be full of women as
holy as you.

O Rafqa, the Lord made you beautiful and
He filled you with grace.
Make the monasteries beautiful and fill
them with abundant graces.

Your love gathers us. Remain with us.
In this way, your face known by pilgrims
will shine.

Your life is exemplary in ascetic observance
and in mission.
Your monastery will remain forever faithful
to the way of life of which you
were the example.

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