Lindalva Justo de Oliveira was born on 20^th of October 1953, in Sitio Malhada de Arieira, Açu, Brazil. From a young age, she had a special love for the poor. As a Daughter of Charity, she dedicated her life to serving the poor and the elderly, particularly at the Retirement Home of Salvador de Bahia. She was a shining example of commitment and service, promoting a spirit of communion with everyone, especially her sisters. She remained steadfast in defending her virginity against the harassment of a patient. Her life tragically ended on Good Friday, April 9, 1993, when she was killed, thus being crowned with the gift of martyrdom. She was beatified in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, on 2^nd of December 2007.

MORNING PRAYER (LAUDS)

Invitatory Antiphon: The Lord is the King of martyrs; come let us adore Him.

Hymn

The martyrs living now with Christ

In suffering were tried,

Their anguish overcome by love

When on his cross he died.

Across the centuries they come,

In constancy unmoved,

Their loving hearts make no complaint,

In silence they are proved.

No man has ever measured love,

Or weighed it in his hand,

But God who knows the inmost heart

Gives them the promised land.

Praise Father, Son and Spirit blest,

Who guides us through the night

In ways that reach beyond the stars

To everlasting light.

Antiphon 1: We are called to honor the holy Cross.

Antiphon 2: For the souls chosen by God to love and to suffer is the same thing.

Antiphon 3: O Cross, O sufferings, how lovable you are, for having given souls the possibility to praise and love God!

Scripture Reading

2 Corinthians 1:3-5.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

Short Responsory

V. My strength, my song is the Lord.

R. My strength, my song is the Lord.

V. He is my salvation

R. My strength, my song is the Lord.

V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

R. My strength, my song is the Lord.

Benedictus Antiphon: Whoever hates his life in this world, he keeps it for eternal life.

Intercessions

The Lord grants us the joy of remembering our service of charity and testimony to the Gospel through Sister Blessed Lindalva. Let us raise our prayers to Him, so that her grace may support us in the generosity of life consecrated to God and our brothers:

R. Give us, Lord, the joy and strength of the cross.

God of goodness, let us receive this day from Your hands, to return it to You rich in works of fraternal charity. R.

Give us the desire to serve You in our brothers, and to transform the whole world into an offering pleasing to You. R.

You who made the cross a tree of life, grant its fruits of salvation to those born again in baptism. R.

May we always and everywhere carry in our bodies the passion of Your Son, so that His immortal life may be manifested in us. R.

Our Father

Concluding Prayer

O God, Who in blessed Lindalva Justo De Oliveira, consecrated service to the poor with the crown of martyrdom; grant us, through her intercession that doing the works of Your love, we may joyfully offer our lives as a sacrifice pleasing to You. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

EVENING PRAYER (VESPERS)

Hymn

Our Lord the path of suffering trod

And since His blood for man hath flowed,

’Tis meet that man should yield to God

The life he owed. Alleluia, Alleluia.

No shame to own the Crucified -

Nay, ’tis our immortality

That we confess our God who died,

And for Him die. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Filled with this thought, with patient smile

All threats the martyr doth withstand,

Fights, Lord, Thy cause, and leans the while

Upon Thine hand. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Beholding his predestined crown,

Into death’s arms he willing goes;

Dying, he conquers death; overthrown,

Overthrows his foes. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Lord, make us Thine own soldiers true

Grant us brave faith, a spirit pure

That for Thy name, Thy cross in view,

We may endure. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Eternal Father of the Word,

Eternal Word, we Thee adore,

Eternal Spirit, God and Lord,

For evermore. Alleluia, Alleluia.

Antiphon 1: We are called to honor the holy Cross.

Antiphon 2: For the souls chosen by God to love and to suffer is the same thing.

Antiphon 3: O Cross, O sufferings, how lovable you are, for having given souls the possibility to praise and love God!

Scripture Reading

1 Peter 4:13-14.

Rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

Short Responsory

R. O God, You have put us to the test, and You have given us relief.

R. O God, You have put us to the test, and You have given us relief.

V. You have tested us with fire like silver,

R. And You gave us relief.

V. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

R. O God, You have tested us and given us relief.

Magnificat Antiphon: Blessed Lindalva will dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven; her peace will last forever

Intercessions

With His blood shed on the cross, the Lord Jesus has given us the testimony of His love for Him. United with Blessed Lindalva, we ask for the strength to be faithful like her in service and generous in the gift of life:

R. Lord, our refuge and our strength, hear us.

Lord Jesus, we pray for the Catholic Church - sanctify Her in truth, so that it may spread Your kingdom among all the people. R.

You who had compassion for all human suffering, revive the hope of the sick and give them serenity and health; make us also attentive in alleviating their pain. R.

Teach us to carry our cross in union with Your sufferings, so that the light of Your glory may be manifested in us. R.

Jesus, our Savior, let us complete what is missing in us to Your passion, to share the glory of the resurrection. R.

We pray for our deceased brothers - may they be happy in the glorious communion of Your saints. R.

Our Father

Concluding Prayer

O God, Who in blessed Lindalva Justo De Oliveira, consecrated service to the poor with the crown of martyrdom; grant us, through her intercession that doing the works of Your love, we may joyfully offer our lives as a sacrifice pleasing to You. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.