Presider’s Page for 23 July (16th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
We have been called together by the Spirit of God to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The Spirit teaches us to pray, and moves us to glorify the Lord’s name.
• Today is World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly.
Penitential Rite
To prepare ourselves for this celebration, let us call to mind our weakness and God’s strength: (pause)
You raise the dead to life in the Spirit: Lord, have mercy.
You bring pardon and peace to the sinner: Christ, have mercy.
bring light to those in darkness: Lord, have mercy.
Alternative Opening Prayer (from 1998 ICEL Missal)
O God, patient and forbearing,
you alone know fully
the goodness of what you have made.
Strengthen our spirit when we are slow
and temper our zeal when we are rash,
that in your own good time
you may produce in us a rich harvest
from the seed you have sown and tended.
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
Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 — God is a lenient judge, who understands our weakness.
Romans 8:26-27 — St Paul teaches that the Spirit comes to help us in our weakness.
Matthew: 24-43 — Within God’s family there will always be faithful and unfaithful members, just as fields yield both wheat and weeds. God will sort them out at the end of time.
BIDDING PRAYERS
Introduction (by the Presider) Brothers and sisters, the Spirit helps us choose words to pray properly. Open to the Spirit’s help, let us bring our needs to the Father:
- For all Christians, that they may have the grace to defeat the evil around them (pause for a moment’s silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
- For a remedy to Climate Change — that our earth may be healed and protected (pause for a moment’s silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
- For an end to war and all forms of conflict — that humanity may prosper (pause for a moment’s silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
- For our elders, that they may grow in wisdom (pause for a moment’s silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
- For grandparents, that they may be surrounded with love (pause for a moment’s silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
- For those among us who are finding life difficult, that the goodness of friends may bring them through (pause for a moment’s silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
The Presider prays for the dead: For those whose earthly journey is over (especially N and N). We also include in our prayers grandparents who have died, and our older friends (pause for a moment’s silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
Conclusion (by the Presider) God of love and compassion, you do marvellous deeds: attend to the sound of our voice and take pity on us, we pray, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
O God,
you have fulfilled the many offerings of the Old Law
in the one, perfect sacrifice of the New.
Receive the gifts of your servants
and bless them as you blessed the sacrifice of Abel,
so that what each of us has offered to your honour and glory
may advance the salvation of all.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
PREFACE (Sundays in Ordinary Time VIII)
It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
holy Father, almighty and eternal God.
When sin had scattered your children afar,
you chose to gather them back to yourself
through the blood of your Son and the power of the Spirit.
Thus a people made one by the oneness of the Trinity
shines forth as your Church,
the body of Christ and the temple of the Spirit,
to the praise of your manifold wisdom.
And so we join the multitude of angels
in their joyful 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
Lord,
remain close to the people
you have enriched with these heavenly mysteries,
and grant that we may pass from our former ways
to new life in the risen Christ.
We make our prayer in the name of Jesus, the Lord.
Songs at Mass (suggestions) ‘How Great Thou Art’; ‘Ag Críost an Síol’; ‘Spirit of the Living God’.