INTRODUCTORY RITES

Acts of prayer and penitence prepare us to meet Christ as He comes in Word and Sacrament. We gather as a worshipping community to celebrate our unity with Him and with one another in faith.

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON

If it is not sung, it is recited by all or some of the congregation.

Joined together as Christ's people, we open the celebration by raising our voices in praise of God who is present among us. This song should deepen our unity as it introduces the Mass we celebrate today.

I saw the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, like a bride adorned in readiness for her husband.

GREETING

When the priest comes to the altar, he makes the customary reverence with the ministers or deacons and kisses the altar. Then, with the ministers or deacons, he goes to his seat. After the entrance song, all make the sign of the cross:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The priest welcomes the congregation in the name of the Lord. The congregation shows union with God, neighbor, and the priest by a united response to his greeting.

A.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

B.

The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. OR And also with you.

C:

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

RITE OF BLESSING AND SPRINKLING HOLY WATER

After greeting the people the priest remains standing at his chair. A vessel containing the water to be blessed is placed before him. Facing the congregation, he invites the congregation to pray, using these or similar words:

Dear friends, this water will be used to remind us of our baptism. Let us ask God to bless it, and to keep us faithful to the spirit He has given us.

A.

God our Father, Your gift of water brings life and freshness to the earth; it washes away our sins and brings us eternal life. We ask you now to bless + this water, and to give us your protection on this day which you have made your own. Renew the living spring of your life within us and protect us in spirit and body, that we may be free from sin and come into your presence to receive your gift of salvation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

B.

Lord God almighty, creator of all life, of body and soul, we ask you to bless + this water; as we use it in faith, forgive our sins, and save us from all illness and the power of evil.

C.

Lord God almighty, hear the prayer of Your people; we celebrate our creation and redemption. Hear our prayers and bless + this water which gives fruitfulness to the fields, and refreshment and cleansing to man. You chose water to show Your goodness when You led Your people to freedom through the Red Sea and satisfied their thirst in the desert with water from the rock. Water was the symbol used by the prophets to foretell Your new covenant with man. You made the water of baptism holy by Christ’s baptism in the Jordan: by it you give us a new birth and renew us in holiness. May this water remind us of our baptism, and let us share the joy.

(Omitted when the rite of blessing and sprinkling holy water has taken place or some part of the liturgy of the hours has preceded.)

Before we hear God’s word, we acknowledge our sins humbly, ask for mercy, and accept his pardon.

After the introduction to the day’s Mass, the priest invites the congregation to recall their sins and to repent of them in silence:

C:

My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.

Then, after a brief silence, one of the following forms is used.

A:

I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault (strike breast) in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

B:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, show us your mercy and love.

And grant us your salvation.

C:

The priest or other minister makes the following or other invocations:

You were sent to heal the contrite: Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

You plead for us at the right hand of the Father: Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

At the end of any of the forms of the penitential rite:

Unless included in the penitential rite, the Kyrie is sung or said by all, with alternating parts for the choir or cantor and for the congregation:

As the Church assembled in the Spirit we praise and pray to the Father and the Lamb.

When the Gloria is sung or said, the priest or the cantors or everyone together may begin it:

The priest invites us to pray silently for a moment and then, in our name, expresses the theme of the day’s celebration and petitions God the Father through the mediation of Christ in the Holy Spirit.

Priest and congregation pray silently for a while. Then the priest says the opening prayer and concludes:

The proclamation of God’s Word is always centered on Christ, present through His Word. Old Testament writings prepare for Him; New Testament books speak of Him directly. All of scripture calls us to believe once more and to follow. After the reading we reflect upon God’s words and respond to them. 

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel:

The angel brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the facade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple, south of the altar. He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east, where I saw water trickling from the southern side. He said to me, "This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which makes it fresh. Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fall. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM:

The congregation repeat the response sung by the cantor the first time and then after each verse.

The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High.

God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Therefore we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.

The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High.

There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High. God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed; God will help it at the break of dawn.

The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High.

The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob. Come! behold the deeds of the Lord, the astounding things he has wrought on earth.

The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High.

SECOND READING:

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians:

Brothers and sisters: Your are God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it. But each one must be careful how he builds upon it, for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

ALLELUIA (Gospel Acclamation)

Jesus will speak to us in the gospel. We rise now out of respect and prepare for His message with the alleluia.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

The congregation repeats the alleluia after cantor’s alleluia and then after the verse. During Lent one of the following invocations is used as a response instead of the alleluia:

A.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!

B.

Praise and honor to You, Lord Jesus Christ!

C.

Glory and praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ!

D.

Glory to You, Word of God, Lord Jesus Christ!

GOSPEL

Before proclaiming the gospel, the deacon asks the priest: Father, give me your blessing. The priest says:

The Lord be in your heart and on your lips that you may worthily proclaim His gospel. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. The deacon answers: Amen.

If there is no deacon, the priest says inaudibly:

Almighty God, cleanse my heart and my lips that I may worthily proclaim your gospel.

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Jn 3:13-22

Glory to You, Lord.

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said: "Take these out of here, and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."

His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said to this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

At the end:

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then the deacon or priest kisses the book, saying inaudibly:

May the words of the gospel wipe away our sins.

HOMILY

God’s word is spoken again in the homily. The Holy Spirit, speaking through the lips of the priest or deacon, explains and applies today’s biblical readings to the needs of this particular congregation. He calls us to respond to Christ through the life we lead.

PROFESSION OF FAITH

As a people we express our acceptance of God’s message in the scripture and homily. We summarize our faith by proclaiming a creed handed down from the early Church. ALL SAY THE PROFESSION OF FAITH ON SUNDAYS.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven: (bow head) by the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have not end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

In celebrations of Masses with Children, the Apostle’s Creed may be said after the homily.

APOSTLE’S CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

As a priestly people we unite with one another to pray for today’s needs in the Church and the world.

After the priest gives the introduction, the deacon or other minister sings or says the invocations.

Lord, hear our prayer.

(or other response, according to local custom.) At the end the priest says the concluding prayer:

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Made ready by reflection on God’s Word, we enter now into the Eucharistic sacrifice itself, the Supper of the Lord. We celebrate the memorial, which the Lord instituted at His Last Supper. We are God’s new people, the redeemed brothers and sisters of Christ, gathered by Him around His table. We are here to bless God and to receive the gift of Jesus’ body and blood so that our faith and life may be transformed.

PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS

OFFERTORY SONG

The bread and wine for the Eucharist, with our gifts for the Church and the poor, are gathered and brought to the altar. We prepare our hearts by song or in silence as the Lord’s table is being set.

While the people’s gifts are brought forward to the priest and are place on the altar, the offertory song is sung.

PREPARATION OF THE BREAD

Before placing the bread on the altar, the priest says inaudibly:

Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation. Through Your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.

If there is no singing, the priest may say this prayer aloud, and the congregation may respond:

Blessed be God forever.

PREPARATION OF THE WINE

When he pours wine and a little water into the chalice, the deacon or priest says inaudibly:

By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, Who humbled Himself to share in our humanity.

Before placing the chalice on the altar, he says:

Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation. Through Your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.

If there is no singing, the priest may say this prayer aloud, and congregation may respond:

Blessed be God forever.

The priest says inaudibly:

Lord God, we ask You to receive us and be pleased with the sacrifice we offer You with humble and contrite hearts.

Then he washes his hands, saying:

Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my sin.

INVITATION TO PRAYER

Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.

May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of His name, for our good, and the good of all His Church.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS

The priest, speaking in our name, asks the Father to bless and accept these gifts.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

We begin the Eucharistic service of praise and thanksgiving, the center of the entire celebration, the central prayer of worship. We lift our hearts to God, and offer praise and thanks as the priest addresses this prayer to the Father through Jesus Christ. Together we join Christ in His sacrifice, celebrating His memorial in the holy meal and acknowledging with Him the wonder works of God in our lives.

INTRODUCTORY DIALOGUE

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

PREFACE

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks. Your house is a house of prayer, and your presence makes it a place of blessing. You give us grace upon grace to build the temple of your Spirit, creating its beauty from the holiness of our lives. Your house of prayer is also the promise of the Church in heaven. Here your love is always at work, preparing the Church on earth for its heavenly glory as the sinless bride of Christ, the joyful mother of a great company of saints. Now, with the saints and all the angels we praise you forever:

ACCLAMATION

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Then the priest continues with the following Eucharistic Prayer. (see Eucharistic Prayers for complete list.)

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER I (Roman Canon)

We come to you, Father, with praise and thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ your Son. Through him we ask you accept and bless these gifts we offer you in sacrifice. We offer them for your holy catholic Church, watch over it, Lord, and guide it; grant it peace and unity throughout the world. We offer them for…our Pope, for…our Bishop, and for all who hold and teach the catholic faith that comes to us from the apostles. Remember, Lord, your people, especially those for whom we now pray, N… and N…Remember all of us gathered here before you. You know how firmly we believe in you and dedicate ourselves to you. We offer you this sacrifice of praise for ourselves and those who are dear to us. We pray to you, our living and true God, for our well-being and redemption. In union with the whole Church we honor Mary, the ever-virgin mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and God. We honor Joseph, her husband, the apostles and martyrs Peter and Paul, Andrew, and all the saints. May their merits and prayers gain us your constant help and protection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Father accept this offering from your whole family. Grant us your peace in this life, save us from final damnation, and count us among those you have chosen. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Bless and approve our offering; make it acceptable to you, an offering in spirit and in truth. Let it become for us the body and blood of Jesus Christ, you only son, our Lord. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. The day before he suffered he took bread in his sacred hands and looking up to heaven, to you, his almighty Father, he gave you thanks and praise. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you. When the supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave you thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

COMMUNION RITE

To prepare for the paschal meal, to welcome the Lord, we pray for forgiveness and exchange a sign of peace. Before eating Christ’s body and drinking his blood, we must be one with him and with all our brothers and sisters in Church.

LORD’S PRAYER

A.

Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our Savior gave us:

B.

Jesus taught us to call God our Father, and so we have the courage to say:

C.

Let us ask our Father to forgive our sins and to bring us to forgive those who sin against us.

D.

Let us pray for the coming of the kingdom as Jesus taught us.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.

SIGN OF PEACE

The Church is a community of Christians joined by the Spirit in love. It needs to express, deepen, and restore its peaceful unity before eating the one Body of the Lord and drinking from the one cup of salvation. We do this by a sign of peace.

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live forever and ever.

Amen.

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

And also with you.

Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

BREAKING OF THE BREAD

Christians are gathered for the "breaking of the bread," another name for the Mass. In communion, though many we are made one body in the one bread, which is Christ.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sings of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: grant us peace.

Meanwhile the priest takes the host and breaks it over the paten. He places a small piece in the chalice, saying inaudibly:

May this mingling of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.

Before communion, the priest says inaudibly one of the following prayers:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, by the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit your death brought life to the world. By your holy body and blood free me from all my sins, and from every evil. Keep me faithful to your teaching, and never let me be parted from you. Lord Jesus Christ, with faith in your love and mercy I eat your body and drink your blood. Let it not bring me condemnation, but health in mind and body.

COMMUNION

The priest genuflects, holding the host elevated slightly over the paten and facing the congregation, the priest says aloud:

This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.

Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

Facing the altar, before receiving communion, the priest says inaudibly;

May the body of Christ bring me to everlasting life.

He reverently consumes the body of Christ. Then he takes the chalice and says inaudibly;

May the blood of Christ bring me to everlasting life.

He reverently drinks the blood of Christ. The priest then gives communion to the people.

The body of Christ.

Amen.

COMMUNION SONG (ANTIPHON)

The Communion Psalm or other appropriate Song or Hymn is sung while Communion is given to the faithful. If there if no singing, the Communion Antiphon is said:

Like living stones let yourselves be built on Christ as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood.

The vessels are cleansed by the priest or deacon or acolyte. Meanwhile the priest says inaudibly;

Lord, may I receive these gifts in purity of heart. May they bring me healing and strength, now and forever.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

The priest prays in our name that we may live the life of faith since we have been strengthened by Christ himself. Our Amen makes his prayer our own.

Let us pray.

Priest and the congregation may pray silently for a while. Then the priest says the prayer after communion.

Father, you make your Church on earth a sign of the new and eternal Jerusalem. By sharing in this sacrament may we become the temple of your presence and the home of your glory. Grant this in the name of the Jesus the Lord.

Amen.

CONCLUDING RITE

We have heard God’s word and eaten the body of Christ. Now its time for us to leave, to do good works, to praise and bless the Lord in our daily lives.

GREETING

After any brief announcements, the blessing and dismissal follow:

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

BLESSING

A. Simple form

May almighty God bless you the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

On certain days or occasions another more solemn form of blessing or prayer over the congregation may be used as the rubrics direct.

B. Solemn blessing (Ordinary Time)

Bow your heads and pray for God’s blessing

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

Amen.

May his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you.

Amen.

May he look upon you with kindness, and give you his peace

Amen.

The priest always concludes the solemn blessing by adding:

May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

DISMISSAL

A.

Go in the peace of Christ.

B.

The Mass is ended, go in peace.

C.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

If any liturgical service follows immediately, the rite of dismissal is omitted.

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