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Presider’s Page for 18 August (Ordinary Time 20)

SONGS for Today’s Mass: Be Thou My Vision; Be Not Afraid; City of God.
Opening Comment
Following Jesus may not bring us happiness in this life, but we are challenged to follow him nevertheless. We come together to worship our gracious God and to ask for help in our Christian life this week.
Penitential Rite
We begin by calling to mind the past week, and all our sins and failings, in the light of God’s enduring mercy: (pause)
You were sent to heal the contrite: Lord, have mercy.
You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy.
You plead for us at the right hand of the Father: Lord, have mercy.
Alternative Opening Prayer (from the ICEL 1998 Missal)
To set the earth ablaze, O God,
your Son submitted to a baptism unto death,
and from his cup of suffering
you call the Church to drink.
Keep our eyes fixed on Jesus
and give us strength in time of trial
to run the race that lies before us.
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
Jeremiah 38: 4-6, 8-10 Jeremiah, whose preaching disturbed his king, had to suffer for it. This illustrates Jesus’ words in the Gospel.
Hebrews 12: 1-4 We are encouraged us to keep struggling on.
Luke 12, 49-53 Those who follow Christ need not expect a trouble-free life.
BIDDING PRAYERS
Introduction (by the Presider) Let us bring our needs before God, asking for the assurance of divine help.

  1. That missionaries may have God’s help (we pray quietly for this — just for a moment). Lord, hear us.
  2. That Christians who face persecution may not give up (we pray quietly for this — just for a moment). Lord, hear us.
  3. That good people may fight injustice and prejudice (we pray quietly for this — just for a moment). Lord, hear us.
  4. That those tempted to turn from their faith may be encouraged (we pray quietly for this — just for a moment). Lord, hear us
  5. That people who are ill may find God in times of darkness (we pray quietly for this — just for a moment). Lord, hear us.
  6. That those starting at a new school this year may have God’s grace to help them in their first days (we pray quietly for this — just for a moment). Lord, hear us.

The presider prays for the dead: That all our dead may gain a place near God’s throne by their faithfulness —especially N. and N. (we pray quietly for this — just for a moment). Lord, hear us.
Conclusion (by the Presider) Loving God, you are always thinking of your people: stoop down to us and hear our cry for your help, we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Lord God,
in this wonderful exchange of gifts
accept the offerings you have given us,
that we in turn may receive the gift of yourself.
We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord.
PREFACE (Sundays in Ordinary Time II)
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.
Out of compassion for us sinners
he humbled himself to be born of the Virgin.
By suffering on the cross, he freed us from unending death;
by rising from the dead, he gave us eternal life.
And so, with angels and archangels,
with all the heavenly host,
we proclaim your glory
and join their unending chorus of praise: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER III
Lord, you are holy indeed,
and all creation rightly gives you praise.
All life, all holiness comes from you
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
by the working of the Holy Spirit.
From age to age you gather a people to yourself,
so that from the rising of the sun to its setting
a pure offering may be made
to the glory of your name.
And so, Lord God, we humbly pray:
by the power of your Spirit sanctify these gifts
we have brought before you,
that they may become the body + and blood
of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
at whose command we celebrate this eucharist.
On the night he was handed over to death,
he took bread and gave you thanks and praise;
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 and praise,
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…..
Calling to mind, Lord God
the death your Son endured for our salvation,
his glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven,
and eagerly awaiting the day of his return,
we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice.
Look with favour on your Church’s offering
and see the Victim by whose sacrifice
you were pleased to reconcile us to yourself.
Grant that we who are nourished by the body and blood of your Son
may be filled with his Holy Spirit
and become one body, one spirit in Christ.
Let him make us an everlasting gift to you,
that we may share in the inheritance of your saints,
with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, [Our Lady of Knock]
with the apostles, the martyrs,
and all your saints,
on whose constant intercession we rely for help.
Lord, may this sacrifice
which has made our peace with you
advance the peace and salvation of all the world.
Strengthen in faith and love your pilgrim Church on earth:
your servant Pope Francis, our Bishop N.,
all bishops, priests, and deacons,
all ministers of your Church,
and the entire people your Son has gained for you.
Merciful Father,
hear the prayers of the family you have gathered here before you,
and unite to yourself all your children
now scattered over the face of the earth.
Welcome into your kingdom our departed brothers and sisters
and all who have left this world in your friendship.
We hope to enjoy with them your everlasting glory,
through Christ our Lord,
through whom you give the world everything that is good.
THROUGH HIM…..
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
God of mercy,
through this holy eucharist
you make us one body in Christ.
Fashion us in his likeness here on earth,
that we may be ready to share his company in heaven,
where he lives and reigns for ever and ever.

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