Liturgical Leaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

55May 2023
August 2016 First Friday FIRST FRIDAY Year C

PEOPLE WITH A FATHER, A HOME,

A DESTINY – THANKS TO JESUS

O
n this First Friday of May we are invited to reflect on the im-
mense love of Jesus for all of us and, indeed, for all human
beings. Thanks to him, we are not orphans, for we know that
we have a Father that loves us tenderly. We are not homeless
i nerants but pilgrims on our way home – the house of the Father
where Jesus has prepared a wonderful place for us. We are not
a species condemned to ex nc on. Rather, we are people with a
future. Our eternal des ny is to be with the Blessed Trinity and all
the saints forever in the heavenly mansion, earned for us through
Christ’s death and confirmed by his resurrec on.
For all these wonderful gifts, let us offer thanks to Jesus and the Father through the
Eucharist we are about to start.

Entrance Antiphon
(To be recited only when no
Entrance Hymn is sung.)
You have redeemed us,
Lord, by your Blood, from ev-
ery tribe and tongue and peo-
ple and nation, and have made
us into a kingdom, priests for
our God, alleluia.
Greeting
P –The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the love of God the Fa-
ther, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you all!
All – And with your spirit!
Penitential Act
P –As we gather to celebrate the
Eucharist on this First Friday of
May, let us humbly acknowl-
edge our sins and ask the Lord
for pardon and strength. (Pause)
P –Lord Jesus, you are the ful-
fillment of the promises of
old. Lord, have mercy!
All – Lord, have mercy!
P –Lord Jesus, you died and
rose from death to earn for
us a place in heaven. Christ,
have mercy!
All – Christ, have mercy!
P –Lord Jesus, you are the Way,
the Truth, and the Life.
Lord, have mercy!
All – Lord, have mercy!
P –May almighty God have
mercy on us, forgive us our sins
and bring us to everlasting life.
All –Amen!
Collect (Opening Prayer)
P –O God, author of our freedom
and of our salvation, listen to the
voice of our pleading and grant
that those you have redeemed by
the shedding of your Son’s Blood
may have life through you and,
under your protection, rejoice for
ever unharmed.
Through our Lord Je-
sus Christ, your Son, who
lives and reigns with you in
the unity of the Holy Spir-
it, God, for ever and ever.
All – Amen!
1st Reading Acts 13:26-33
Jesus Christ fulfilled God’s
promise of salvation, especially
through his death and resur-
rection. Such was the “Good
News” that Paul preached in all
the Jewish synagogues during
his first missionary journey, as
we learn from today’s excerpt
from the Book of Acts.
R –A proclamation from the
Acts of the Apostles
When Paul came to An-
tioch in Pisidia, he said in
the synagogoue: “My broth-
ers, children of the family of
Abraham, and those others

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among you who are God-
fearing, to us this word of sal-
vation has been sent. The in-
habitants of Jerusalem and
their leaders failed to recog-
nize the Messiah, and by con-
demning him they fulfilled
the oracles of the prophets
that are read sabbath after
sabbath. For even though they
found no grounds for a death
sentence, they asked Pilate to
have him put to death, and
when they had accomplished
all that was written about
him, they took him down
from the tree and placed him
in a tomb. But God raised
him from the dead, and for
many days he appeared to
those who had come up with
him from Galilee to Jerusa-
lem. These are now his wit-
nesses before the people.
We ourselves are proclaim-
ing this good news to you that
what God promised our ances-
tors he has brought to fulfill-
ment for us, their children, by
raising up Jesus, as it is written
in the second psalm, ‘You are
my son; this day I have begot-
ten you.’ ”
The Word of the Lord!
All – Thanks be to God!
Responsorial Psalm Ps 2
R –You are my Son; this day I
have begotten you!
* “I myself have set up my
king on Zion, my holy moun-
tain.” I will proclaim the de-
cree of the Lord: The Lord said
to me, “You are my son; this
day I have begotten you.” R.
* “Ask of me and I will give
you the nations for an inheri-
tance and the ends of the earth
for your possession. You shall
rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an
earthen dish.” R.
* And now, O kings, give
heed; take warning, you rulers
of the earth. Serve the Lord
with fear, and rejoice before
him; with trembling rejoice!
R.
Gospel Acclamation
All –Alleluia! Alleluia!
5 May 2023
I am the way and the truth
and the life, says the Lord;
no one comes to the Father
except through me.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Gospel John 14:1-6
In his Farewell Discourse
at the Last Supper Jesus reveals
to his distressed disciples the
purpose of his imminent “de-
parture” and of his “return”
– to bring them to heaven where
they will be with him forever.
P – The Lord be with you!
All – And with your spirit!
P – A proclamation from the
holy Gospel according to
John
All –Glory to you, O Lord!
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Do not let your hearts be trou-
bled. 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord!
All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus
Christ!
Homily
Prayer of the Faithful
P –Jesus is our way to the Fa-
ther, the only one who can ful-
fill our hope of salvation and
eternal happiness. On this First
Friday of May, let us entrust to
him the needs of all mankind
and our own as we say:
All – Lord, lead us to the Father!
C –That the Church may never
stop proclaiming to all human
beings the eternal heritage of
heaven earned by Jesus at the
cost of his life, let us pray! R.
C –That the Holy Father and all
other spiritual leaders may reap
abundant fruits of their apostolic
zeal in leading people ever closer
to God, the source of lasting
happiness, let us pray! R.
C –That our public servants
may be true to their promises and
promote the common good, with
special concern for the poor of
the land, let us pray! R.
C –That, in spite of worldly
temptations and false promises,
our youth may build their lives on
Jesus who is the Way, the Truth,
and the Life, let us pray! R.
C –That all of us may imitate St.
Joseph, who sanctified his work
by doing his best with utmost
humility and offering everything
to the Lord, let us pray! R.
C –That all the devotees of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus may show
their love for him in imitation of
Mary through concrete actions
of care, respect and service to
those in need, let us pray! R.
C –Let us pray in silence for our
personal intentions. (Pause)
Let us pray! R.
P –Lord Jesus, source of our
hope and salvation, keep us ever
faithful to our baptismal com-
mitments that we may inherit
the Kingdom prepared for us by
you, who live and reign forever
and ever.
All –Amen!
Preparation of the Gifts
P –Pray, brethren . . .
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 Offerings
P –Accept in compassion,
Lord, we pray, the offerings of
your family, that under your pro-
tective care they may never lose
what they have received, but at-
tain the gifts that are eternal.
Through Christ our Lord.
All – Amen!
Preface of Easter II
P –The Lord be with you!
All –And with your spirit!
P –Lift up your hearts!
All – We lift them up to the Lord!
P –Let us give thanks to the
Lord our God!
All –It is right and just!
P –It is truly right and just, our
duty and our salvation, at all
times to acclaim you, O Lord,
but in this time above all to laud
you yet more gloriously, when
Christ our Passover has been
sacrificed.
Through him the children of
light rise to eternal life and the
halls of the heavenly Kingdom
are thrown open to the faithful;
for his Death is our ransom from
death, and in his rising the life of
all has risen.
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 glo-
ry, as they acclaim:
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!
Memorial Acclamation
P –The mystery of faith!
All –We proclaim your Death, O
Lord, and profess your Resur-
rection until you come again!
All – Our Father . . .
P –Deliver us, Lord . . .
All –For the kingdom, the
power, and the glory are
yours, now and for ever!
Sign of Peace
Breaking of the Bread
All – Lamb of God, you take
away the sins of the world: have
mercy on us. (2×)
Lamb of God, you take P –Keep safe, O Lord, we pray,
away the sins of the world: those whom you have saved by
grant us peace. your kindness, that, redeemed
by the Passion of your Son, they
Communion may rejoice in his Resurrection.
P –Behold the Lamb of God, Who lives and reigns for ever
behold him who takes away the and ever.
All – Amen!
sins of the world. Blessed are
those called to the Supper of the
Lamb.
All –Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under
my roof, but only say the word P –The Lord be with you.
and my soul shall be healed. All – And with your spirit!
P –Bow your heads and pray
Communion Antiphon for God’s blessing. (Pause)
(To be recited only when no
Communion Hymn is sung.)
– May the Sacred Heart of
Jesus mold your hearts in
Christ our Lord was hand- imitation of the Immacu-
ed over for our transgressions late Heart of Mary, the most
and was raised again for our faithful and generous of his
justification, alleluia. partners in the fulfillment
of God’s plan of salvation.
Prayer after Communion All – Amen!
NOVENA PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
Divine Jesus, you have said, Ć „Ask, and you shall receive;
Ć seek, and you shall find; Ć knock, and it shall be opened unto
you.‰ Ć Behold me kneeling at your feet, Ć filled with a lively
faith and confidence Ć in the promises dictated by your Sacred
Heart Ć and pronounced by your adorable lips. Ć I come to ask
this favor: (Silently mention your petitions.)
To whom can I turn if not to you Ć whose heart is the source
of all graces and merits? Ć Where should I seek if not in the
treasure Ć which contains all the riches of your kindness and
mercy? Ć Where should I knock Ć if not at the door through
which God gives himself to us Ć and through which we go to
God? Ć I have recourse to you, Heart of Jesus. Ć In you I find
consolation when afflicted, Ć protection when persecuted, Ć
strength when burdened with trials, Ć and light in doubt and
darkness.
Dear Jesus, I firmly believe Ć that you can grant me the
grace I implore, Ć even though it should require a miracle. Ć
You have only to will it, Ć and my prayer will be granted. Ć I
admit that I am most unworthy of your favors, Ć but this is not
a reason for me to be discouraged. Ć You are the God of mercy
Ć and you will not refuse a contrite heart. Ć Cast upon me a
look of mercy, I beg of you, Ć and your kind heart will find in my
miseries and weaknesses Ć a reason for granting my prayer.
O Sacred Heart, Ć whatever may be your decision with regard
to my request, Ć I will never stop adoring, loving, praising, and
serving you. Ć My Jesus, be pleased to accept this my act of
perfect resignation Ć to the decrees of your adorable heart Ć
which I sincerely desire may be fulfilled Ć in and by me and by
all your creatures for ever.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Ć I know that there is but one thing
impossible to you: Ć to be without pity for those who are suf-
fering or in distress. Ć Look upon me, I beg of you, dear Jesus,
Ć and grant me the grace for which I humbly implore you Ć
through the Immaculate Heart of your most sorrowful Mother. Ć
You have entrusted me to her as her child, Ć and her prayers are
all-powerful with you. Ć Amen!
First Friday
P –May the Lord console you
in your afflictions and
strengthen you in your
struggles against all forms
of evil.
All – Amen!
P –May you always walk in his
Truth so that one day you
may live in the heavenly P –Go in peace, to love and
home he has prepared for serve the Lord as Mary
you. Most Holy did!
All – Amen! All – Thanks be to God!
P –May almighty God bless
you: the Father, and the
Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All – Amen!
WORD AND LIFE PUBLICATIONS

“LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED!”

T hat night all the disciples of Jesus were upset.
They were deeply troubled. And with good rea-
son. Their Teacher had just told them that one of
them would betray him (see Jn 13:31), and that he
would soon be going to a place where they could
not follow him. (See Jn 13:33.) Who could not be
troubled at such heart-breaking news?
But there was more; something worse still: Je-
sus had repeatedly forewarned his disciples that he
would be delivered into the hands of his enemies
who would make sport of him, torture him, and put
him to death. And although they had consistently
refused to believe him on that point, they had now
a gut feeling that the moment was dreadfully near
when the impossible was going to become a ter-
rible reality. Hence, the trouble that wrenched their
hearts. Had we been in their position, we would not
have fared any better.
Death is always a great “trouble maker,” both
when it threatens us personally and when it snatch-
es from us the people we love. It is a pirate and a
kidnapper that holds our soul hostage, demanding
ransoms that we usually are utterly unable to pay.
Hence the fear, the impotent hatred we may nour-
ish against it; the sense of despair into which it can
throw people.
Such, indeed, is death for all those who see
their life as being co-terminus with their earthly
existence – people who do not believe in the im-
mortality of their soul and in a God who rewards
virtue with eternal life. For those who believe in
a godless world and in a soul-less body, death
is the final word, the endless silence that follows
the cacophony of all the noise that characterizes
human activities on earth. Death is the final sen-
tence against which no appeal will be entertained.
But Jesus belongs to another “school of
thought” – the school of thought according to which
“for those who believe, at death, life is changed,
not ended. When the body of our earthly dwell-
ing lies in death, we gain an everlasting dwelling
place in heaven.” Death is a new birth, a birth unto
eternal life, courtesy of the God of life.
Millions of human beings had vague intuitions
about this great truth. Some philosophers wrote
eloquently about it. Jesus came to put a definitive
seal of authenticity on such intuitions and to prove
their truth with his life and resurrection.
He has come as the envoy of the eternal Father
who loves every human being as His dearest child
and has in store for him/her a death-less life in his
Kingdom of love and joy. Jesus should know this,
for he comes from that Kingdom and is the one
who has been tasked to prepare a most enjoyable
“home” for all those who believe in his word and
follow his example.
That is why he can reassure his frightened
disciples in the most solemn way: “Do not let your
hearts be troubled. Have faith in me.” There is no
reason to fear, really. Not even death, for in God’s
wonderful story book the last word is always LIFE.
Jesus’ “going away” is not a flight or an irreparable
loss. Rather, it is an intermission – an “intermission
for a cause,” which will be followed by his return in
glory. “I am going to prepare a place for you. And
when I come back, I will take you to myself, so that
where I am you also may be.”
Such is Jesus’ fear-buster assurance. Such
is his trust-building statement which grounds all
our Christian hope and spells all the difference
between a believer and an unbeliever. Such is the
way we followers of the crucified and risen Christ
should view death and all other forms of defeat and
suffering: They are “intermissions.” They are part
of the plot, but not the “core” of the story. They are
passing clouds or storms. We know that peace and
quiet will follow. And with them, life and happiness
without end. Such is the promise and the guaran-
tee of the One who said, “ I AM THE WAY, THE
TRUTH, AND THE LIFE.” And therefore, as the
song goes, “Be not afraid. I go before you always.”

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