Opening Prayer: Liturgical Catechesis (Soft instrumental music may be played in the background such as For the Beauty of the Earth) Leader: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. All: Amen. God uses common things of His created earth and elevates them as sacred signs and symbols of His presence among us. During the Triduum we bless the new fire from which we light the Easter Candle that leads the procession into the dark church where, when it reaches the sanctuary, the Exultet is proclaimed: (The lit candle is brought in and placed on the prepared table as the reader begins) Reader 1: On this, your night of grace, O holy Father, accept this candle, a solemn offering, the work of bees and of your servants hands, an evening sacrifice of praise, this gift from your most holy Church. O Lord, we pray you that this candle, hallowed in the honor of your name, may preserve undimmed, to overcome the darkness of this night. receive it as a pleasing fragrance, and let it mingle with the lights of heaven. May this flame be found still burning by the Morning Star: the Morning Star who never sets, Christ, Your Son. (*From Roman Missal; Easter Vigil; Easter Proclamation) All: We are the Light of the world. May our Light shine before all. (The decanter of oil is brought in and placed on the table as the reader begins) Reader 2: To you, therefore, O Lord, we pray, that by your + blessing you may graciously sanctify the rich substance of this Oil you have created, and permeate it with the strength of the Holy Spirit by means, too, of the power at work in your Christ, from whose holy name is named the Chrism, with which you have anointed your priests and kings, prophets and martyrs. And may this Oil become the Chrism of salvation for those who will be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, and make them partakers of eternal life, sharers of heavenly glory. (*Prayer of Consecration of Chrism at Chrism Mass)
All: May we be sealed with your Holy Spirit so that we may belong to you. (The basket of bread and grapes is processed in and placed on the prepared table as the reader begins) Reader 3: Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life. Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink. (*From Roman Missal) All: Blessed be God forever. With humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O Lord. (The Book of the Gospels is processed in and placed on the prepared table as the reader begins) Reader 4: Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach. (*From Ordination to the Diaconate) All: O Lord, may this Book of the Gospels be an instrument of your Word to guide our lives, inspire our service, enliven our praise, and strengthen our trust in you. Send us out to authentically proclaim your Good News. Leader: Lord, may these images of your creation bring us closer to you so that we may lead others to find you in every experience of our lives. This we ask in the name of Jesus, your Son. All: Amen.
RITE OF BAPTISM SYMBOLS & Prayers WATER Father, you give us grace through sacramental signs, which tell us of the wonders of your unseen power. In baptism we use your gift of water, which you have made a rich symbol of the grace you give us in this sacrament. At the very dawn of creation your Spirit breathed on the waters, making them the wellspring of all holiness. The waters of the great flood you made a sign of the waters of baptism, that make an end of sin and a new beginning of goodness. Through the waters of the Red Sea you led Israel out of slavery, to be an image of God's holy people, set free from sin by baptism. In the waters of the Jordan your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Spirit. Your Son willed that water and blood should flow from his side as he hung upon the cross. After his resurrection he told his disciples: Go out and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Father, look now with love upon your Church, and unseal for her the fountain of baptism. By the power of the Spirit give to the water of this font the grace of your Son so that in the sacrament of baptism all those whom you have created in your likeness may be cleansed from sin and rise to a new birth of innocence by water and the Holy Spirit.
The celebrant touches the water with his right hand and continues: We ask you, Father, with your Son to send the Holy Spirit upon the water of this font. May all who are buried with Christ in the death of baptism rise also with him to newness of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. All: Amen. LIGHT (Candle) Parents and godparents, this light is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly. This child of yours has been enlightened by Christ. He (she) is to walk always as a child of the light. May he (she) keep the flame of faith alive in his (her) heart. When the Lord comes, may he (she) go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom. OIL ANOINTING BEFORE BAPTISM We anoint you with the oil of salvation in the name of Christ our Savior; may he strengthen you with his power, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. AND ANOINTING AFTER BAPTISM The God of power and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet, and King, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life. WHITE GARMENT N., you have become a new creation, and have clothed yourself in Christ. See in this white garment the outward sign of your Christian dignity. With your family and friends to help you by word and example, bring that dignity unstained into the everlasting life of heaven.
Rite of Confirmation Symbols & Prayers Collect Grant, we pray, almighty and merciful God, That the Holy Spirit, coming near And dwelling graciously within us, May make of us a perfect temple of his glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Renewal of Baptismal Promises Bishop: So now, before you receive the Spirit, I ask you to renew the profession of faith you made in Baptism or your parents and godparents made in union with the whole Church. Bishop: Do you reject Satan and all his works, and all his empty promises? All: I do. Bishop: Do you believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth? All: I do. Bishop: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? All: I do. Bishop: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who came upon the apostles at Pentecost and today is given to you sacramentally in confirmation? All: I do. Bishop: Do you believe in the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting? All: I do. Bishop: This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Laying On of Hands My dear friends:
In baptism God our Father gave the new birth of eternal life to his chosen sons and daughters. Let us pray to our Father that he will pour out the Holy Spirit to strengthen his sons and daughters with his gifts and anoint them to be more like Christ the Son of God. All- powerful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, by water and the Holy Spirit you freed your sons and daughters from sin and gave them new life. Send your Holy Spirit upon them to be their Helper and Guide. Give them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of right judgment and courage, the spirit of knowledge and reverence. Fill them with the spirit of wonder and awe in your presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord. The Anointing With Oil Bishop dips his right thumb in the Chrism and makes sign of cross on forehead of the Candidate. Bishop: N., be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. Newly confirmed: Amen. Bishop: Peace be with you. Newly confirmed: And with your spirit. Final Blessing Confirm, O God, What you have brought about in us, And preserve in the hearts of your faithful The gifts of the Holy Spirit: May they never be ashamed To confess Christ crucified before the world And by devoted charity May they ever fulfill his commands. Who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
The Rite of Marriage - Symbols Opening Prayer O God, who consecrated the bond of Marriage by so great a mystery that in the wedding covenant you foreshadow the Sacrament of Christ and his Church, grant, we pray, to these your servants, that what they receive in faith they may live out in deeds. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. The Giving of Consent & The Exchange of Vows The bridegroom says: I, N., take you, N., to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. The bride says: I, N., take you, N., to be my husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. Receiving their consent, the priest says: You have declared your consent before the Church. May the Lord in his goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with his blessings. What God has joined, men must not divide. R. Amen
The Exchange of Rings Lord, bless these rings which we bless + in your name. Grant that those who wear them may always have a deep faith in each other. May they do your will and always live together in peace, good will, and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. The bridegroom places his wife's ring on her ring finger. N., take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The bride places her husband's ring on his ring finger. N., take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Preface: It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord. For in him you have made a new covenant with your people, so that, as you have redeemed man and woman by the mystery of Christ s Death and Resurrection, so in Christ you might make them partakers of divine nature and joint heirs with him of heavenly glory. In the union of husband and wife you give a sign of Christ s loving gift of grace, so that the Sacrament we celebrate might draw us back more deeply into the wondrous design of your love. And so, with the Angels and all the Saints, we praise you, and without end we acclaim:
The Anointing of the Sick Symbols & Prayers Opening Instruction My dear friends, we are gathered here in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who is present among us. As the gospels relate, the sick came to him for healing; moreover, he loves us so much that he died for our sake. Through the apostle James, he has commanded us: Are there any who are sick among you? Let them send for the priests of the Church, and let the priests pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick persons, and the Lord will raise them up; and if they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them. Let us therefore commend our sick brother/sister N. to the grace and power of Christ, that he may save him/her and raise him/her up. Thanksgiving Over the Blessed Oil Praise to you, God, the almighty Father. You sent your Son to live among us and bring us salvation. R. Blessed be God who heals us in Christ. Praise to you, God the only- begotten Son. You humbled yourself to share in our humanity and you heal our infirmities, R. Blessed be God who heals us in Christ. Praise to you God, the Holy Spirit, the Consoler. Your unfailing power gives us strength in our bodily weakness. R. Blessed be God who heals us in Christ. God of mercy, ease the sufferings and comfort the weakness of your servant, N., whom the Church anoints with this holy oil. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. The Laying on of Hands & The Anointing of Oil Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. R. Amen.
Prayer After Anointing Father in heaven, through this holy anointing grant N. comfort in his/her suffering. When he/she is afraid, give him/her courage, when afflicted, give him/her patience, when dejected, afford him/her hope, and when alone, assure him/her of the support of your holy people. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
BENEDICTUS (Canticle of Zechariah) Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a mighty Savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies, from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Benedictus (Grade 12 +)
EXIT SLIP Liturgical Catechesis What is the intimate relationship between liturgy and catechesis? EXIT SLIP Liturgical Catechesis What is the intimate relationship between liturgy and catechesis?