Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 1, 2010, Cycle C
Green priestly vestments symbolize hope and the vitality of the life of faith.

 

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Liturgical Year Cycle C 09-10
                                     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:   69:2, 6   God, come to my help.  Lord, quickly give me assistance.  You are the one who helps me and sets me free: Lord, do not be long in coming.

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 also with you.

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:   My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.  
Priest:   Lord Jesus, you came to reconcile us to one another and to the Father: Lord, have mercy.
All:         Lord, have mercy.
Priest:   Lord Jesus, you heal the wounds of sin and division: Christ, have mercy.
All:        Christ, have mercy.
Priest:   Lord Jesus, you intercede for us with your Father: 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 peace to his people on earth.  Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thinks, we praise you for your glory.  Lord Jesus Christ, only son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.  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 Opening Prayer:    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:   Let us pray.   Father of everlasting goodness, our origin and guide, be close to us and hear the prayers of all who praise you.  Forgive our sins and restore us to life.  Keep us safe in your love.  Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
 All:        Amen.

                          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 Ecclesiastes.  

First Reading:   Ecclesiastes 1:2, 2:21-23
Vanity of vanities, says Qoheleth, vanity of vanities!  All things are vanity!  Here is one who has labored with wisdom and knowledge and skill, and yet to another who has not labored over it, he must leave property.  This also is vanity and a great misfortune.  For what profit comes to man from all the toil and anxiety of heart with which he has labored under the sun?  All his days sorrow and grief are his occupation; even at night his mind is not at rest.  This also is vanity.

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 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
 Cantor:   If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
All:           R/.  If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Cantor:   You turn man back to dust, saying, "Return, O children of men."  For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night.
All:           R/.  If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Cantor:   You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades.
All:           R/.  If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Cantor:   Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart.  Return, O Lord!  How long?
All:           R/.  If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Cantor:   Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.  And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us!  Prosper the work of our hands!
All:           R/.  If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

The Second Reading:  Taken from the New Testament, often from a letter written by St. Paul.
Priest/Reader:        A Reading from the first letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11.

Second Reading:   Colossians 3:1-5, 9-11.
Brothers and sisters: If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Thank of what is above, not of what is on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly; immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.  Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all and in all.

Priest/Reader:   The word of the Lord.
All:                            Thanks be to God.  
   
The Alleluia:  An ancient expression of joy anticipating the Lord's message we will hear in the Gospel.
 Colossians 3:15a, 16a

Cantor:    Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!
ALL:  R/.  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!
Cantor:    Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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 also with you.
Priest/Deacon:   A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
All:                             Glory to you, Lord.

The Gospel:   Luke 12:13-21
 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me."  He replied to him, "Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?"  Then he said to the crowd, "Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one's life does not consist of possessions."

Then he told them a parable.  "There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.  He asked himself, 'What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?'  And he said,  'This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones.  There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself,  "Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!'"  But God said to him, 'You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?'  Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God."

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

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:    Lord, wash away my iniquity; 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:    Merciful Lord, make holy these gifts, and let our spiritual sacrifice make us an everlasting gift to you.  We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
All:           Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer:   (Number One: The priest may select from several forms).

Priest:    The Lord be with you.
All:           And also with you. 

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:    Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.  He is the true and eternal priest who established this unending sacrifice.  He offered himself as a victim for our deliverance and taught us to make this offering in His memory.  As we eat His body which He gave for us, we grow in strength.  As we drink His blood which He poured out for us, we are washed clean.  Now, with angels and archangels, and the whole company of heaven, we sing the unending hymn of your praise.

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:   We come to you, Father, with praise and thanksgiving, through Jesus Christ your Son.  Through him we ask you to 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, _____ and _____.  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, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude; we honor Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian 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, your only Son, our Lord.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.
                                     
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:   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 of it: for 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; which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.  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:   Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life.  Lord Jesus, come in glory.

Memorial Prayer:

 Priest:   Father, we celebrate the memory of Christ, your Son.  We, your people and your ministers, recall his passion, his resurrection from the dead, and his ascension into glory; and from the many gifts you have given us we offer to you, God of glory and majesty, this holy and perfect sacrifice: the bread of life and the cup of eternal salvation.

Look with favor on these offerings and accept them as once you accepted the gifts of your servant Able, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the bread and wine offered by your priest Melchisedech.

Almighty God, we pray that your angel may take this sacrifice to your altar in heaven.  Then, as we receive from this altar the sacred body and blood of your Son, let us be filled with every grace and blessing.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Remember, Lord, those who have died and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, especially those for whom we now pray, _____ and _____.  May these, and all who sleep in Christ, find in your presence light, happiness, and peace.  Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

For ourselves, too, we ask some share in the fellowship of your apostles and martyrs, with John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia and all the saints.  Though we are sinners, we trust in your mercy and love.  Do not consider what we truly deserve, but grant us your forgiveness.  Through Christ our Lord.

Through him you give us all these gifts.  You fill them with life and goodness, you bless them and make them holy.

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.  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:                Jesus taught us to call God our Father, and so we have the courage 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 for ever.
                                     
Prayer for Peace:
Priest:   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 peace and unity of your kingdom where you live for ever and ever.  Amen.
                                     
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, 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.
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 Prayer:   Wisdom 16:20
Priest:   You gave us bread from heaven, Lord: a sweet-tasting bread that was very good to eat.

 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:   Lord, you give us the strength of new life by the gift of the Eucharist.  Protect us with your love and prepare us for eternal redemption.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.
 All:          Amen.

                                         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:   Lord, we pray for your people who believe in you.  May they enjoy the gift of your love, share it with others, and spread it everywhere.  We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.          

Priest:   May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All:          Amen.

 Priest:   Go in peace to love and serve 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 C 09-10