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Presider’s Page for 14 February (Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Opening Comment
‘Whatever you do at all, do it for the glory of God.’ The words are St Paul’s, from today’s second reading. We gather here to give glory to God, marking the Day of Prayer for Temperance — and preparing for the online Lenten Spring of 2021, a Lent like no other.
Collect for the Mass in Time of Pandemic (2020)
Almighty and eternal God,
our refuge in every danger,
to whom we turn in our distress;
in faith we pray
look with compassion on the afflicted,
grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners,
healing to the sick, peace to the dying,
strength to healthcare workers, wisdom to our leaders
and the courage to reach out to all in love,
so that together we may give glory to your holy name.
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.
Alternative Opening Prayer (from 1998 ICEL Missal)
We come before you, O God,
confident in Christ’s victory over sickness and death.
Heal us again from sin, which divides us, and from prejudice, which isolates us.
Bring us to wholeness of life
through the pardon you grant your people.
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
Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 — Jesus heals a leper in today’s Gospel, and tells the cured man to show himself to the priest. The reason he did this is explained by the first reading, which describes how lepers were to be treated.
1 Corinthians 10:31 to 11:1 — Paul offers himself as a model disciple, and preaches tolerance of non-Christians.
Mark 1:40-45 — Jesus feels sorry for a leper and heals him, even though it brings unwanted attention on himself.
BIDDING PRAYERS
Introduction (by the Presider) My friends, let us rejoice in God’s faithfulness, as we bring forward our intentions.

  1. That we may do everything for God’s glory this week (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
  2. That all who suffer may have comfort (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
  3. That healthcare workers may be sustained (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
  4. That our leaving Cert students may be spared from endless anxiety  (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
  5. That we may learn to be more temperate (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
  6. That on that St Valentines Day, people in love may be blessed (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.

The presider prays for the dead: For those who have died (especially N and N), that they may share the salvation won by Christ (pause for silent prayer) [We remember also those young people  who perished in the Stardust fire in Artane, Dublin, 40 years ago today]. Lord, hear us.
Conclusion (by the Presider) Faithful God, we rejoice in the mercy you show your people: hear our prayers, that we may always give you glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS (Mass in Time of Pandemic, 2020)
Accept, O Lord, the gifts we offer in this time of peril.
May they become for us, by your power,
a source of healing and peace. Through Christ our Lord.
PREFACE (Sundays in Ordinary Time IX, from 1998 ICEL Missal)
It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
holy Father, almighty and eternal God.
From sunrise to sunset this day is holy,
for Christ has risen upon us today
and scattered the darkness of death
with light and life that will not fade.
This day the risen Lord assembles us,
unfolds for us your word,
and breaks for us the bread of life.
And though the night will bring this Sunday to a close,
you call us to live in endless light,
the never-ending Day of the Lord.
And so, with the choirs of angels,
with all the heavenly host,
we proclaim your glory
and join their unending chorus of praise: Holy, holy, holy…..
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II (with interpolation for Sunday mornings)
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 (Mass in Time of Pandemic, 2020)
Prayer after Communion
O God, from whose hand we have received
the medicine of eternal life,
grant that through this sacrament
we may glory in the fullness of heavenly healing.
Through Christ our Lord.
PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE (Mass in Time of Pandemic, 2020)
O God, protector of all who hope in you,
bless your people, keep them safe,
defend them, prepare them,
that, free from sin and safe from the enemy,
they may persevere always in your love.
Through Christ our Lord.
SONGS AT MASS (Suggestions) ‘Be Not Afraid’; ‘Eat This Bread’; ‘Wait for the Lord’ (Taizé).

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Tony Flannery, on his own blog, reflects on his experience of the past four years.
“I tell myself I have coped reasonably well….
I think it has also served to strengthen my views on the urgent need for reform in the Church…
I believed the process they (the Vatican) engaged in with me was seriously unjust and abusive…
His (Pope Francis) coming brought a great ray of light and hope for the Church, and lifted my spirits also…
But there are times when the reality of this enormous upheaval in my life hits me, and I feel oppressed by it…
Some of the things that tend to make me angry:
– The total indifference shown by the Irish bishops to the sanctioning of myself and five other Irish priests.
– Bishop Crean’s banning of my invitation to speak in Killeagh … did hurt me …
– the opposition to Pope Francis by very senior figures in the Church…

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