| |

Presider’s Page for 5 January (Second Sunday of Christmas)

Opening Comment
We gather to celebrate the first Sunday of 2020, with thankfulness for the year and the decade just finished. We ask God for continuing care and protection as face this New Year, not knowing what it will bring.
Penitential Rite
Confident that God’s mercy has no end, we remember our sins: (pause)
Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of Peace: Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you are Son of God and Son of Mary: Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you are Word made flesh and splendour of the Father: Lord, have mercy
Alternative Opening Prayer (from 1998 ICEL Missal)
God most high,
your only Son embraced the weakness of our flesh
to give us the power to become your children;
your eternal Word chose to dwell among us,
that we might live in your presence.
Grant us a spirit of wisdom
to know how rich is the glory you have made our own,
and how great the hope to which we are called
in Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
in the splendour of eternal light,
God for ever and ever.
Introduction to the Scripture Readings
Ecclesiasticus 24: 1-2, 8-12 — Wisdom will pitch her tent among the chosen people, predicts the author of Ecclesiasticus. This saying came true when the Word became flesh in Jesus. We are reminded of this in the response to the psalm which follows.
Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18 — As God’s children, we are chosen to share in divine wisdom, a wisdom that reached its fullness in Christ.
John 1:1-18 — The Gospel of Christmas Day is repeated, to reinforce the simple yet profound message: The Word became flesh
BIDDING PRAYERS
Introduction (by the Presider) Let us bring our prayers to God, who in Jesus was made flesh.

  1. That all men and women of goodwill may see the full beauty of God, revealed in Jesus (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
  2. That dialogue among people of different faiths may produce peace and justice (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
  3. That those who claim the name of Christian may accept the mystery of Jesus, human and divine (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
  4. That this New Year may bring peace to the nations of the Middle East (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
  5. That refugees and all homeless people may be protected from danger (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
  6. That in this 2,020th year of our Saviour, all of us may have the grace and courage to make a new start together (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.

The presider prays for the dead: For those who have died (especially N and N), that perpetual light may shine on them (pause for silent prayer). Lord, hear us.
Conclusion (by the Presider) O God, your Word reveals your care and compassion: receive the prayers we make, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Lord,
as we recall the birth of your only Son,
make holy the gifts we bring,
for his coming shows us the way of truth
and promises life in the kingdom of heaven,
where he lives and reigns for ever and ever.
PREFACE: Christmas 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.
In the great mystery of his birth,
the God we cannot see
has now appeared in human form.
The one begotten before all ages
begins to live in time.
He has come to raise the fallen world,
to make creation whole again,
and to lead humanity from exile
back to your heavenly kingdom.
And so, with all the angels and saints,
we sing the joyful hymn of your praise: Holy, holy, holy.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II (from 1998 ICEL Missal, with interpolation for Sunday morning)
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. Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Lord our God,
let the workings of this holy mystery
rid us of all that is evil
and bring to fulfilment
those things for which we rightly yearn.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
SOLEMN BLESSING: Beginning of the New Year
May God, the source of every blessing,
grant you the fullness of grace
and keep you safe throughout the coming year.
R. Amen.
May God safeguard the purity of your faith,
give you an unwavering hope
and a love that patiently endures to the end.
R. Amen.
May God order your works and days in peace,
listen to your every prayer,
and lead you safely to eternal life.
R. Amen.
A May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
Suggested Songs  Christmas Carols, ‘Christ be our Light’.

Similar Posts

The making of bishops

Articles, Editor's Choice
3 Comments

Joshua J. McElwee reports in the National Catholic Reporter that the recent meeting of the Council of Cardinals discussed the role of Nuncios in the appointment of bishops. It seems the Council of Cardinals previously discussed the selection of bishops around the world in their meeting held last April.
Are they talking to anyone other than themselves about how bishops are chosen and appointed?

The Poetry of life – and I was thinking!

Articles, Editor's Choice
6 Comments

Seamus Ahearne has been reflecting on his life’s vocation and work, and “has been thinking” and thankfully writing for us.
As always his thoughts are a wonderful antidote to the often banal, myopic, clichéd and uninspiring writing that is done about church and religion in Ireland.
His words challenge all of us to find new ways of ministering to each other.

“there is an absence of gratitude. There is a crudity in our public discourse. How can there be Eucharist if we don’t come in humility to say thanks to God? If we don’t stop to be aware of the ‘gracefulness’ of life; if we don’t stop in utter amazement at the very mystery of life in nature, in people, in moments. If we don’t look at a baby and become more human; if we don’t look at a leaf and become more human; if we don’t look at the exuberance of a child for First Communion and become more human; if we don’t look at the act of faith of two lovers in marrying and become more human; if we don’t see the selflessness of parents and become more human; if we don’t see the prayerfulness of our faithful and become more human.”

Child abuse scandal ‘almost fatally destroyed’ Catholic Church

Articles, Editor's Choice
11 Comments

RTE carried coverage by Joe Little of comments made by Gerry O Hanlon SJ by video-link from Dublin to Australia’s Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

UPDATED
Updated with a Link to a statement from The Truth Justice and Healing Council, the body set up by the Catholic Church in Australia to coordinate the Catholic Church’s response to the Royal Commission Into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse with a commitment to justice and compassion for survivors.

And a Link to opening statement by Senior Counsel at the Royal Commission’s 50th public hearing of the Royal Commission into Institutional responses to child sexual abuse.

Join the Discussion

Keep the following in mind when writing a comment

  • Your comment must include your full name, and email. (email will not be published). You may be contacted by email, and it is possible you might be requested to supply your postal address to verify your identity.
  • Be respectful. Do not attack the writer. Take on the idea, not the messenger. Comments containing vulgarities, personalised insults, slanders or accusations shall be deleted.
  • Keep to the point. Deliberate digressions don't aid the discussion.
  • Including multiple links or coding in your comment will increase the chances of it being automati cally marked as spam.
  • Posts that are merely links to other sites or lengthy quotes may not be published.
  • Brevity. Like homilies keep you comments as short as possible; continued repetitions of a point over various threads will not be published.
  • The decision to publish or not publish a comment is made by the site editor. It will not be possible to reply individually to those whose comments are not published.