Presider’s Page for 10 April (Palm Sunday)

Suggested Songs: ‘Hail Redeemer’; ‘All Glory Praise and Honour’; ‘Jesus Remember Me’ (Taizé); ‘Praise to the Holiest’.

Opening Comment (for Mass without Procession): The events of Holy Week are laid out before us in this Sunday’s “Long Gospel”: as we gather, we prepare to enter in to the mystery of God’s love made visible in Jesus’ passion and death. We call to mind our sins……. (then, Opening Prayer, as below)

Introduction (for Mass with Blessing of Palm and Procession)
Dear friends in Christ,
since the beginning of Lent we have been preparing,
by works of charity and self-sacrifice,
to celebrate our Lord’s paschal mystery.
Today we come together to begin this solemn celebration
in union with the whole Church throughout the world.
Jesus entered in triumph into his own city, Jerusalem,
to complete his work:
to suffer, to die, and to rise again.

With lively faith and devotion,
let us recall this entry, which led to our salvation,
and follow in his footsteps.
United with him in his suffering on the cross,
may we share his resurrection and new life.

Blessing of palms (sprinkling follows)
Almighty and eternal God,
bless + these palms and make them holy;
and grant that we who joyfully accompany Christ the King today
may by his grace arrive one day
in the new and eternal Jerusalem,
where he lives and reigns for ever and ever.

After the Gospel of the palms, the invitation is given:
Acclaiming Jesus, like the people of Jerusalem, let us go forth in peace

The Opening Prayer (1998 ICEL Missal)
Almighty and eternal God,
when you sent our Saviour into the world,
you gave us all an example to follow:
in humble obedience he took upon himself a body like ours
and gave himself up to death on the cross.
In your mercy, grant us the grace
to learn from the example of his passion
and to share in the glory of his resurrection.

We ask this 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
Isaiah 50:4-7 Describes someone under attack. Our tradition applies Isaiah’s writings to the sufferings of Jesus.
Philippians 2:6-11 An ancient hymn to Christ, which tells us that Jesus achieved glory through suffering.
Luke 22:14 to 23:56 Luke’s account of the passion is probably the most familiar. We view the sufferings of Jesus through the eyes of Peter, and Simon of Cyrene, and the good thief.

BIDDING PRAYERS                                                                                   overleaf…../

Introduction (by the Presider) Let us bring our prayer to God, our strength, who makes haste to help us.

1. That Russia may end its cruel invasion of Ukraine (pause and pray quietly for a few seconds). Lord, hear us.
2. That the refugees from Ukraine may receive the care they deserve (pause and pray quietly for a few seconds). Lord, hear us.
3. That our Lenten sacrifices may support Trócaire’s work for all the world’s poor (pause and pray quietly for a few seconds). Lord, hear us.
4. That Christians everywhere may mark Holy Week with devotion (pause and pray quietly for a few seconds). Lord, hear us.
5. That the Jewish people, our brothers and sisters, may grow in love and compassion (pause and pray quietly for a few seconds). Lord, hear us.
6. That all who suffer because of COVID-19 may feel that God is close to them (pause and pray quietly for a few seconds). Lord, hear us.

The Presider prays for the dead: For all those who gone before us in faith (especially N and N), that they may journey through the valley of death to resurrection (pause and pray quietly for a few seconds). Lord, hear us.

Conclusion (by the Presider) God of compassion, in the death and resurrection of Jesus you show your love for us: hear our petitions, and grant them, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Lord,
through the passion of your only-begotten Son
draw near to us with your forgiveness,
that we who can merit nothing of ourselves
may through the unique sacrifice of Christ
experience the healing power of your mercy.
Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

PREFACE (Palm Sunday)
It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Though he was sinless, he suffered willingly for sinners;
though innocent, he accepted condemnation to save the guilty.
By his dying he washed away our sins;
by rising again from the dead
he won justification for us all.

And so, with all the angels and saints,
we sing the joyful hymn of your praise: Holy, holy, holy….

Eucharistic Prayer II (1998 Missal)
Lord, you are holy indeed,
you are the fountain of all holiness.
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 …..

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Lord,
you have fed us with this holy food
and, through the death of your Son,
have inspired us to hope for what our faith promises;
lead us by his resurrection
to the haven we so earnestly desire.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

SOLEMN BLESSING (Passion of the Lord)
In the passion of his only Son,
God, the Father of mercies,
has given you the supreme example of love.
May he bless you beyond measure
for your service of God and neighbour.
R. Amen.
May God grant you eternal life
through the death of Jesus Christ,
which has freed you from eternal death.
R. Amen.
May God inspire you to imitate the humility of Christ
and bring you to the glory of his resurrection.
R. Amen