Liturgy of the Word
Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 10, 2020 Cycle A
White priestly vestments symbolize purity
and integrity of the life of faith.
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Liturgical Year Cycle
2019-2020
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 98:1-2 O sing
a new song to the Lord, for he has worked wonders; in the sight
of the nations he has shown his deliverance, alleluia.
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 Lord be with you.
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:
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, and so
prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
Priest: You were sent to heal the contrite of
heart: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: You came to call sinners: Christ, have
mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Priest: You are seated at the right hand of
the Father to intercede for us: Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
The Absolution:
Priest:
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
All:
Amen.
The Gloria: The Glory of God prayers have existed from the second century. They repeat the angels praise of God which heralded the birth of Christ on earth. Our praise is lifted again through the years as we rejoice at His coming as Lord, God, the most high Jesus Christ, who at Christmas took on our human nature while at the same time being the son of Man. This ancient hymn expresses our recognition of God's glory and love. It calls upon Christ as our holy and divine mediator, and the Holy Spirit who forever binds us together in God's love.
Priest and All: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory. Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive your prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. 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: Almighty
ever-living God, constantly accomplish the Paschal Mystery
within us, that those you were pleased to make new in Holy
Baptism may, under your protective care, bear much fruit and
come to the joys of the eternal. 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 Acts of the Apostles.
First Reading: Acts 6:1-7
As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
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 33:22, Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19
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: Exult, you just, in the Lord; praise
from the upright is fitting. Give thanks to the Lord on
the harp; with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.
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.
The Second Reading: Taken from the New Testament, often from a letter
written by St. Paul.
Priest/Reader:
A Reading
from a letter of St. Peter.
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-9
Beloved: Come to
him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and
precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let
yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy
priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ. For it says in Scripture: Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone,
chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be
put to shame.
Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and A stone that that make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall.
They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny. You are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
The Alleluia: An ancient expression of joy anticipating the Lord's message we will hear in the Gospel.
John 14:6
Cantor:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
All: R/. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Cantor: I am the way, the truth, and
the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, except
through me.
All: R/. Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
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 with your
spirit.
Priest/Deacon: A
reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
All: Glory to you, Lord.
The Gospel: John 14:1-12
John wrote to show
that Christ was
the Messiah, the Divine Son of God.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do
not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God;
have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many
dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you
that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you
to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am
going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we
do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the
life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
If know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on
you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him,
“Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for
us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long
a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has
seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the
Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and
the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do
not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing
his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the
Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works
themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in
me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than
these, because I am going to the Father.”
Priest/Deacon: 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: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all 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: 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 no 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 holy 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.
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 m 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: O God, who by the wonderful exchange effected in this sacrifice have made us partakers of the one supreme Godhead, grant, we pray, that, as we have come to know your truth, we may make it ours by a worthy way of life. Through Christ our Lord.
Eucharistic Prayer: (Number One: 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 and just.
Preface Prayer:
Priest: It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, O Lord, but in this time above all to laud you yet more gloriously, when Christ our Passover has been sacrificed.
For, with the old order destroyed, a universe cast down is renewed, and integrity of life is restored to us in Christ.
Therefore, overcome with paschal joy, every land, every people exults in your praise and even the heavenly Powers, with the angelic hosts, sing together the unending hymn of your glory, as they acclaim:
Acclamation:
Priest and All: Holy,
Holy, Holy Lord, God of hosts. 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: To
you, therefore, most merciful Father, we make humble prayer and
petition through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord: that you
accept and bless these gifts, these offerings, these holy and
unblemished sacrifices, which we offer you firstly for your holy
catholic Church. Be pleased to grant her peace, to guard,
unite and govern her throughout the whole world, together with
your servant _____ our Pope, and _____ our Bishop, and all those
who, holding to the truth, hand on the catholic and apostolic
faith.
Remember, Lord, your servants _____ and _____, and all gathered here, whose faith and devotion are known to you. For them, we offer you this sacrifice of praise or they offer it for themselves and all who are dear to them: for the redemption of their souls, in hope of health and well-being, and paying their homage to you, the eternal God, living and true.
In communion with those whose memory we venerate, especially the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of our God, and Lord, Jesus Christ, and blessed Joseph, her Spouse, your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude; Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian and all your Saints; we ask that through their merits and prayers, in all things we may be defended by your protecting help. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Be pleased, O God, we pray, to bless, acknowledge, and approve this offering in every respect; make it spiritual and acceptable, so that it may become for us the Body and Blood of your most beloved Son, 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: On the day before he was to suffer, he took bread in his holy and venerable hands, and with eyes raised to heaven to you, O God, his almighty Father, giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you.
In a similar way, when supper was ended, he
took this precious chalice in his holy and venerable hands, and
once more giving you thanks, he said the blessing and gave the
chalice to his disciples, saying:
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, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.
The Mystery of Faith
Priest: The mystery of faith.
Priest / All: Save us, Savior of the world, for
by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.
Memorial Prayer:
Priest:
Recalls Christ's Passion,
Resurrection, Ascension, the Church, the dead, and
ourselves.
Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the
blessed Passion, the Resurrection from the dead, and the
glorious Ascension into heaven of Christ, your Son, our Lord,
we, your servants and your holy people, offer to your glorious
majesty from the gifts that you have given us, this pure
victim, this holy victim, this spotless victim, the holy Bread
of eternal life and the Chalice of everlasting salvation.
Be pleased to look upon these offerings with a serene and kindly countenance, and to accept them, as once you were pleased to accept the gifts of your servant Able the just, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek, a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim.
In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God: command these these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty, so that all of us, who through this participation at the altar receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, may be filled with every grace and heavenly blessing. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Remember also, Lord, your servants _____ and _____, who have gone before us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace. Grant them, O Lord, we pray, and all who sleep in Christ, a place of refreshment, light and peace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
To us, also,
your servants, who though sinners, hope in your abundant
mercies, graciously grant some share and fellowship with your
holy Apostles and Martyrs: with John the Baptist, Stephen,
Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter,
Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia and
all your Saints; admit us, we beseech you, into their company,
not weighing our merits, but 
granting us
your pardon, through Christ our Lord. Through whom you
continue to make all these good things, O Lord; you sanctify
them, fill them with life, bless them, and bestow them upon
us.
Doxology:
Prayer of Praise: Through
him, with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the
unity of the Holy Holy Spirit, all glory and
honor is yours, 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:
At the Savior's
command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
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, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
All: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
Prayer for Peace:
Priest:
Lord Jesus Christ, who 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 her peace and unity
in accordance with your will. Who live and reign 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: May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.
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.
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: Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes
away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to
the supper of the Lamb.
Priest and All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the world and my soul 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: John 15:01, 05
I am the true vine and you are the branches, says the Lord. Whoever remains in me3, and I in him, bears fruit in plenty, alleluia.
Communion of the Faithful:
Priest: The Body of
Christ.
The Faithful: Amen.
Priest/Deacon/Extraordinary
Eucharistic Minister:
The Blood of Christ.
The Faithful: Amen.
Cleansing of the
Vessels:
Priest: What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, that what has been given to us in time may be our healing for eternity.
Prayer after
Communion:
Priest: Graciously
be present to your people, we pray, O Lord, and lead those you
have imbued with heavenly mysteries to pass from former ways
to newness of life. Through Christ our Lord.
Concluding Rite
Priest: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
Priest: Bow
down for the blessing.
Dismissal Prayer:
(The priest may select from several
forms)
Priest:
May God, who by the Resurrection of his Only Begotten Son
was pleased to confer on you the gift of redemption and of
adoption, give you gladness by his blessing.
All: Amen.
Priest: May he, by whose redeeming work you have
received the gift of everlasting freedom, make you heirs to an
eternal inheritance.
All: Amen.
Priest: And may you, who have already risen with
Christ in Baptism through faith, by living in a right manner on
this earth, be united with him in the homeland of heaven.
All: Amen.
Final Blessing:
Priest:
And may the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the
Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you
for ever.
All: Amen.
Dismissal:
Priest:
Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.
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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Liturgical Year Cycle
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