Presider’s Page for 26 February (8th Sun. Ordinary Time)
SONGS AT MASS (Suggestions)
Only in God; Seek ye first; I will never forget you; Be Not Afraid; My God loves me; Holy God we praise Thy Name.
Opening Comment
The Lord gathers us in to his loving embrace, the Lord who invites us not to worry about tomorrow. Setting our hearts on his kingdom, we entrust all our tomorrows to him and ask him to help us live for this, his day.
Today, the last Sunday before Lent, is Temperance Sunday.
Alternative Opening Prayer (from the 1998 ICEL Missal)
Lord God,
your care for us surpasses
even a mother’s tender love.
Through this word and sacrament
renew our trust in your provident care,
that we may abandon all anxiety
and seek first your kingdom.
We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Introduction to the Scripture readings (for Ministers of the Word)
Isaiah 49:14-15, Psalm 61, 1 Corinthians 4:105, Matthew 6:24-34. The Gospel assures us of the Father’s care for us and invites us not to worry about smallthings; the first reading eachoes the Gospel with its imge of the tender love of God; even if a mother would forget, God never would. The psalm reinforces this, oinviting deep trust in God. And Paul reminds us that those who live good lives will get the praise they deserve, when the Lord comes.
(The Alleluia is prayed/sung for the last time before Easter.)
BIDDING PRAYERS
Introduction (by the Presider): God is to us a rock, a stronghold, so we pour out our hearts before him and bring forward all our needs.
- For all who believe, that they may experience God’s tender love (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
- For Christian leaders, that they may teach by word and action (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
- For mothers, that they may be supported in their task of raising the next generation (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
- For respect for women, that all cultures may respect women’s rights and dignity (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
- On this Temperance Sunday, we remember those who find temperance hard, that God may help them (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
- For all of us, as we begin Lent this week, that we may show greater temperance, one day at a time (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
The presider prays for the dead (especially N & N): that they may rest in God, eternally (pause for quiet prayer). Lord, hear us.
Conclusion (by the presider): O God, our fortress and our strength, hear the prayers of your people and help them grow in love of your name and trust in your promises. We ask this through Jesus Christ out Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
O God,
you provide us with gifts
to be offered to your name
and you accept them as a sign of our loving service.
In your mercy
grant that the offering you enable us to make
may obtain for us an enduring reward.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
PREFACE (Sundays in Ordinary Time VII)
It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
holy Father, almighty and eternal God.
You so loved the world
that you gave your only Son as our Redeemer.
You sent him as one like ourselves,
though free from sin,
that you might love in us what you love in Christ.
Your gifts of grace, lost when we disobeyed you,
are now restored by the obedience of your Son.
And so we join the angels and saints
in the joyous hymn of your praise: Holy, holy holy….
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II (with interpolation for Sundays in Ordinary Time)
Lord, you are holy indeed,
you are the fountain of all holiness.
In communion with the whole Church,
we have assembled on this day which you have made holy,
and, rejoicing that you have made us a new creation in your risen Son,
we pray:
Send down your Spirit upon these gifts to make them holy,
that they may become for us
the body + and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
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 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,
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.
The mystery of faith…..
Remembering therefore his death and resurrection,
we offer you, Lord God,
this life-giving bread, this saving cup.
We thank you for counting us worthy
to stand in your presence and serve you.
We pray that all of us who share in the body and blood of Christ
may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.
Lord, remember your Church throughout the world:
perfect us in love
together with Francis our Pope and N. our Bishop,
with all bishops, priests, and deacons,
and all who minister to your people.
Remember our brothers and sisters
who have gone to their rest
in the sure hope of rising again;
bring them and all who have died in your mercy
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 found favour with you throughout the ages;
in union with them
may we praise you and give you glory
through your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through him, with him, In him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours, almighty Father,
for ever and ever.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Merciful Lord,
we have feasted at your banquet of salvation.
Through this sacrament,
which nourishes our lives on earth,
make us sharers in eternal life.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.