Second Sunday of Lent
March 16, 2014 Cycle A
Purple priestly vestments symbolize penance and preparation.
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Liturgical
Year Cycle A 13-14
Introductory Acts Of Worship
The Entrance Prayers:
On Sunday, usually a hymn praising God
is sung in place of reciting a Psalm from the Bible which invites us to
enter more deeply into the mystery of God's love for us. The recited
weekday Psalm expresses a youthful heart and spirit, delighted that we may come
before the living God.
Entrance Song
/ Entrance Psalm (Antiphon)
Entrance Song
Psalm 27:8-9 Of you my heart
has spoken: Seek his face. It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face from me.
The Priest Approaches and Kisses the Altar: The altar is a symbol of Christ. In it are cut five crosses to recall the five wounds of Christ. The altar also represents the Church and has embedded in it the relics of her saints. The priest comes to the altar to celebrate the Sacrifice in the Church's name. Because of the glory surrounding the altar upon which the divine Sacrifice will be made, the kiss of the priest unites the Church to Christ, its Redeemer.
Priest:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All:
Amen.
The Greeting:
We are welcomed in God's name. Our
response unites us to our neighbor, to the priest and to God. (The priest
may select from several forms of greeting).
Priest: The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.
All:
And with your spirit.
The Penitential Prayers:
We recognize our guilt for past sins,
express our sorrow for them, and ask that Mary, the angels, the saints, and our
brothers and sisters in Christ pray for the Lord God's mercy. (The priest
may select from several forms).
Priest: As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of Christ's love, let us acknowledge our failures and ask the Lord for pardon and strength.
All: I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault 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.
The Absolution:
Priest: May almighty God have
mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All:
Amen.
The Collect: The
priest lifts the united prayers and petitions of the congregation to God the
Father through the merits of Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.
Priest: O
God, who have commanded us to listen to your beloved
Son, be pleased, we pray, to nourish us inwardly by your word, that, with
spiritual sight made pure, we may rejoice to behold your glory. Through
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Liturgy of the Word
Christ is made known to us through the
Old Testament which prepares us to recognize Him. In those days, God
inspired men who spoke His message. Now, the New Testament Gospel reading
announces His presence to us directly through His Son. Both
readings bring God's message to us. Our responsibility is to respond.
The First Reading:
From the Old Testament
Priest/Reader: A reading from the book of Genesis.
First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a
The Lord said to Abram: “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from
your father’s house to a land that I will show you. “I will make of you a
great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you
will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse
you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you.” Abram
went as the Lord directed him.
Priest/Reader:
The Word of the
Lord.
All:
Thanks
be to God.
The Responsorial Psalm:
This Psalm praising God, is a prayer to God,
or recommends the practice of virtue. It is sung as an interlude between
the scriptural readings. It provides yet another instructional setting and
invites the assembly to imitate the cantor who sings a repeated response to the
verses of an ancient Psalm many of which are attributed to King David. The
verses are sung first by a cantor (song leader) accompanied by instruments, the
refrain is sung by the people.
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
Cantor: Lord, let your mercy be
on us, as we place our trust in you.
All:
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place
our trust in you.
Cantor: Upright is the word of the Lord, and all his works
are trustworthy. He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord
the earth is full.
All:
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place
our trust in you.
Cantor: See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear
him, upon those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from death and
preserve them in spite of famine.
All:
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place
our trust in you.
Cantor: Our soul waits for the Lord, who is our help and our
shield. May your kindness, O Lord, be upon us who have put our hope in
you.
All:
Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place
our trust in you.
Priest/Reader: A Reading
from the second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy.
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8b-10
Beloved: Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that
comes from God. He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our
works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ
Jesus before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance of our
savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to
light through the gospel.
Cantor: Praise to you, Lord
Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!
All Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless
glory!
Cantor: From the shining cloud the Father's voice is
heard: this is my beloved Son; hear him.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless
glory!
The Gospel:
The Liturgy of the Word is completed
by the reading of the Gospel. Before its reading, the members of the
assembly trace the sign of the cross upon the forehead to indicate their mental
acceptance of the Truth, on the lips to indicate their readiness to announce it,
and over the heart to indicate their sincere desire to accept it into their
lives. The "Good News" of the Gospel tells that God's kingdom has come for
all to hear, accept, and announce to the world for its salvation. It
is God who is speaking to us. Christ comes to teach us by the example of
His life and by His own words.
Priest: Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your
holy Gospel. Through the words of the Gospel may our sins be wiped away.
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And
also with you.
Priest/Deacon: A
reading from the holy Gospel according
to Matthew.
All: Glory
to you, Lord.
The Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9
Matthew wrote to show that Christ
was the
Messiah and fulfilled the Jewish prophecies.
Jesus
took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by
themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to
them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good
that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one
for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright
cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This
is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the
disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus
came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” And when the
disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.
As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, “Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Priest: The
Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Priest's Sermon:
The priest develops, explains, and comments upon the Master's words,
so our minds may be
enlightened, and our
hearts enriched.
(A priestly reflection upon this Gospel)
Profession of Faith: We state in the Nicene Creed the principles of our faith in precise and definite terms.
All: I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with 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 no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
General Intercessions: We pray for the needs of the pope, civic leaders, our own needs, those of others, the sick, the dying, those who have died, the church, and the world. The response of all to each intercession: Lord, hear our prayer.
All: Lord, hear our prayer.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
Gifts of bread and wine symbolizing ourselves are presented to the priest who will offer them to God the Father. Through the Holy Spirit, they will become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ whom we receive in Holy Communion. Jesus unites Himself with us for our spiritual nourishment and strength. Today, when individuals do not present their own personal offerings of bread and wine, the monetary contribution symbolizes the material of their united sacrifice. The priest makes and offering of the bread and wine to God.
Preparation of the Bread and Wine:
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you:
fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of
life.
All:
Blessed be God for ever.
Priest: 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.
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have
received the wine we offer you; fruit
of the vine and work of human hands it will become our spiritual drink.
All: Blessed be God for ever.
Priest: With
humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O Lord, and may our
sacrifice in your sight this
day be pleasing to you, Lord God.
The Priest's Hands are Washed: This act was traditionally necessary because the priest handled the various gifts presented by the people. Now, the cleansing act using water reminds the priest and ourselves of the need to cleanse not only the hands but the soul. Soon, the priest's hands will hold the actual body of Christ, and we will become His dwelling place.
Priest: Wash
me o Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Pray, brethren, that
my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
All: 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 holy Church.
Prayer over the Gifts: Speaking in our name, the priest asks the Father to accept the gifts we offer through him.
Priest: May this sacrifice, O Lord, we pray, cleanse us of our faults and sanctify your faithful in body and mind for the celebration of the paschal festivities. Through Christ our Lord.
Eucharistic Prayer:
(Number Two: The priest may select from several forms).
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And
with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
All: It is right to
give him thanks and praise.
Preface Prayer:
Priest: It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord. For after he had told the disciples of his coming Death, on the holy mountain he manifested to them his glory, to show, even by the testimony of the law and the prophets, that the Passion leads to the glory of the Resurrection. And so, with the Powers of heaven we worship you constantly on earth, and before your majesty without end we acclaim:
Acclamation:
Priest
and All:
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.
Priest: Lord, you are holy indeed, the fountain of all
holiness. Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy, so that
they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
The priest repeats the words which
Christ used at his Last Supper when He changed the bread into His Body and the
wine into His Blood. His Body and Blood are truly present but under the
appearance of bread and wine. The death of Christ is prolonged in each of
those who receive Him worthily. We apply His death to ourselves so that we
may share His glory. This moment is the most solemn on earth because it is
Divine act which enables us to apply to ourselves the Cross which Christ
willingly took upon Himself.
We are called to die to sin and
lift our very selves to God so that we become changed; to do as God would have
us do, to become what God would have us become. Our own little cross can
lift us into union with Christ's Cross so we may earn the joys of everlasting
happiness with God the Father.
The Lord's Supper: Before he was given up to death, a death he freely accepted, he took bread and gave you thanks. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said:
Take this, all of you and eat of it: this is my Body which will be given up for you.
When 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; for this is the chalice of my
Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant. It will be shed for you
and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.
Memorial Acclamation: (The priest may
select from several forms).
Priest: Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Priest
and All: We
proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come
again.
Memorial Prayer: (The
priest may select from several forms).
Priest:
Recalls Christ's Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, the Church,
the dead, and ourselves.
In memory of His death and resurrection, we offer you, Father, this
life-giving bread, this saving cup. We thank you for counting us worthy to
stand in your presence and serve you. May all of us who share in the body
and blood of Christ be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit. Lord,
remember your Church throughout the world; make us grow in love, together with
_____ our Pope, _____ our bishop, and all the clergy. Remember our
brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again;
bring them and all the departed into the light of your presence. Have
mercy on us all; make us worthy to share eternal life with Mary, the virgin
Mother of God, with the apostles, and with all the saints who have done your
will throughout the ages. May we praise you in union with them, and give
you glory through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through whom you continue to create all these good things, O Lord; you make them holy, fill them with life, bless them, and bestow them upon us.
Doxology:
Prayer of Praise: Through
him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor
is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Communion Rite
In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we symbolically offer ourselves to the Lord through the gifts of bread and wine. At the Consecration, we offer our very lives to be united the God the Father through the Cross of Christ. In Communion, we find that we have not died at all, but have come to life. We have surrendered ourselves to God through His Divine Son, Jesus Christ. In return become ennobled and enriched. We give up time and we get eternity, we give up our sin and we receive grace, we surrender our self-will and receive the strength of the Divine Will, we give up ourselves and we receive everything. For the Son of God says to us that unless we receive Him we shall not have Divine life in us. But it is not really we who receive Christ as it is Christ who receives us, bringing us into Himself.
God makes His Cross the very means of our salvation and our life. While we have crucified Him, His eternal love cannot be extinguished. Christ willed to give us the very life we crucified in our Redemption, the Consecration of Holy Thursday into Communion, His death into our everlasting life.
The Lord's Prayer:
Priest:
Let us pray for the coming of the kingdom as Jesus taught us.
Priest and
All: Our
Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be they 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.
Priest: 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.
All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever.
Prayer for Peace:
Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles,
peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith
of your Church, and graciously grant the peace and unity of your kingdom where
you live for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
All: And with your spirit.
Priest: Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
Breaking of the Bread:
Priest and All: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the
world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
Priest: May this mingling of
the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive
it.
Communion of the Priest:
Priestly Preparation: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who by the will of the Father and the
work of the Holy Spirit, through
your death gave life to the world; free me by this your most holy Body and Blood
from all my sins and from every evil; keep me always faithful to your commandments, and never let me be
parted from you.
Priest: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.
Priest and All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.
Priest: May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.
May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.
Communion Antiphon:
Communion Song: Matthew 17:5
This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.
Communion of the Faithful:
Priest:
The Body of Christ.
The Faithful: Amen.
Priest:
The Blood of Christ.
The Faithful: Amen.
Cleansing of the Vessels:
Priest: Lord, may I receive these gifts in purity of heart. May they bring me healing and strength, now and for ever.
Prayer after Communion:
Priest: Let us pray.
Priest: Almighty Father, by
this sacrifice may we always remain one with your son, Jesus Christ, whose body
and blood we share, for he is Lord for ever and ever.
Concluding Rite
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Priest: Bow your heads and let us pray for God's blessing.
Dismissal Prayer: (The priest may select from several forms)
Priest:
Bless your faithful, we pray, O Lord, with a blessing that endures for
ever, and keep them faithful to the Gospel of your Only Begotten Son, so that
they may always desire and at last attain that glory whose beauty he showed in
his own Body, to the amazement of his Apostles. Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
Priest/Deacon: Go in peace.
All: Thanks be to
God.
O
my Jesus, forgive us our sins.
Save us from the fires of hell.
Lead all souls to heaven,
especially those in most need of your mercy.
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Year Cycle A 13-14