SATURDAY, DECEMBER 17 The Final Days of Advent Joining the chorus of our ancestors in faith, Come, Emmanuel. For the Jewish people, first to hear God s Word, For those who follow God s law, living witnesses of faithfulness, For parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, guardians and teachers of the treasures of faith, For those forgotten in our family tree, remembered forever by God, For the sick and suffering, awaiting Wisdom s healing touch, For (add intention), For those who have gone before us, examples of fidelity to the Way, Come, O Wisdom, Source of God s Law, Guide on our path. Show us the path of knowledge that our works may reveal your truth and lead us to the eternal company of those gathered around God Most High, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. LECTIONARY 193 Genesis 49:2, 8 10; Psalm 72:1 2, 3 4ab, 7 8, 17; Matthew 1:1 17
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25 Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord The Creed precedes the Prayer of the Faithful. Turning with joy to greet God who loves us, Abide with us. For the Church, herald of the gift of the Christ child to your beloved people, For the world, called to share the delight of angels and shepherds, For every person, made holy by your coming as a human being, For the rejected and cast out, companions of the Son of David, For the sick and dying, those for whom your Compassion was made flesh, For (add intention), For the dead, freed by the advent of the Child born this day, Shine on us, God of light, and reveal to us your Beloved One, the Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace. As we keep the festival of Christ s birth, may your brightness shine through us and bring joy and peace to those shrouded by sorrow and fear. We ask this through the Son you have given, our Savior Jesus Christ, now and for ever. LECTIONARY 13 (VIGIL) Isaiah 62:1 5; Psalm 89:4 5, 16 17, 27, 29; Acts 13:16 17, 22 25; Matthew 1:1 25 or 1:18 25 LECTIONARY 14 (DURING THE NIGHT) Isaiah 9:1 6; Psalm 96:1 2, 2 3, 11 12, 13; Titus 2:11 14; Luke 2:1 14 LECTIONARY 15 (DAWN) Isaiah 62:11 12; Psalm 97:1, 6, 11 12; Titus 3:4 7; Luke 2:15 20 LECTIONARY 16 (DAY) Isaiah 52:7 10; Ps 98:1, 2 3, 3 4, 5 6; Hebrews 1:1 6; John 1:1 18 or 1:1 5, 9 14
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4 Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious As those invited to follow Jesus, Abide with us. For Christians everywhere, for all who find in Jesus their Teacher and Savior, For ordained and lay ministers, for all who lead others to the Messiah, For spiritual directors and pastoral counselors, for all who point the way to the presence of Christ, For spiritual seekers and those who struggle with faith, for all who are hungry for relationship with God, For the sick and the struggling, for all who seek healing in Christ, For (add intention), For those who have died and for those who mourn them, for all who await God s call to eternal life, God of our journey, your Anointed One beckons us to come and see, and in his presence we find you. Give us courage to follow Jesus way and faithful companions to accompany us, that we may lead others to our teacher and Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns now and for ever. LECTIONARY 207 1 John 3:7 10; Psalm 98:1, 7 8, 9; John 1:35 42
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1 Ash Wednesday Trusting in the mercy of the Father who sees our hearts, Have mercy, God, in your kindness. For a Church rich in righteousness and abundant in mercy, For a community of religions eager for integrity and willing to seek peace, For a nation and a world hungry for justice and quick to charity, For a people brokenhearted for those who suffer and moved by compassion to care, For a society longing to care for the sick and ready to meet the needs of the vulnerable, For (add intention), For a communion of saints flung open to all who seek God s forgiveness, Hear us, God of compassion, lest we receive your wondrous grace in vain. Rend our hearts, change our minds, return us to faithfulness to you. May we be made righteous in Christ for the sake of all the world, through the same Christ our Lord. LECTIONARY 219 Joel 2:12 18; Psalm 51:3 4, 5 6ab, 12 13, 14 and 17; 2 Corinthians 5:20 6:2; Matthew 6:1 6, 16 18
MONDAY, MARCH 20 Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Creed precedes the Prayer of the Faithful. Attentive to God s voice, Abide with us. For contemplatives and all who cultivate silence, For those who find in St. Joseph a model and guide, For those facing unexpected pregnancies, For those distracted by worldly noise, For those who listen for God s voice in illness, For those who wait with St. Joseph for the hour of death, For the gift of a discerning heart, For (add intention), For those who knew a happy death accompanied by St. Joseph, God of wonder, in the silence of his heart your servant Joseph heard your voice. Bless us with Joseph s attentive faith that we may prepare a place for your Word made flesh, who comes to us in the frightened and weary, the poor and forgotten, and who lives and reigns with you for ever and ever. LECTIONARY 543 2 Samuel 7:4 5a, 12 14a, 16; Psalm 89:2 3, 4 5, 27 and 29; Romans 4:13, 16 18, 22; Matthew 1:16, 18 21, 24a or Luke 2:41 51a
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12 Wednesday of Holy Week Forgiven of our failure, sustained at Christ s table, Have mercy, God, in your kindness. For the baptized who have strayed from the Way of Christ, For Church leaders who have betrayed the trust of those in their care, For politicians and business leaders who have sold out the poor for their own gain, For those who have betrayed and abandoned their families, For those who wreak havoc on their communities and neighborhoods, For those who neglect the sick, the disabled, the elderly, and the defenseless, For (add intention), For those dead of neglect or apathy to their needs, Though your people betray you, O Christ, in faithfulness you redeem those you love. Bear us with you as we remember your passion and death, that your cross may shatter Satan s power and your resurrection bring life to the world, for you live and reign for ever and ever. LECTIONARY 259 Isaiah 50:4 9a; Psalm 69:8 10, 21 22, 31 and 33 34; Matthew 26:14 25
FRIDAY, JUNE 16 Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Holding the treasure of the gospel in our own earthen vessels, Lord, hear our prayer. That God s people may be lifted up in times of persecution, That God s power may shine in the suffering of the Church, That those struck down in violence may have their wounds bound up, That those who carry the marks of illness or pain may know healing and new life, That we may testify to the life we have through the cross, That (add intention), That God who raised Jesus from the dead may restore the departed, God of the cross, the disciples of your Son share his suffering, yet you raise them up to share his life. Help us to see your new creation in our struggle, that we may proclaim with the apostles before us the life you offer in Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. LECTIONARY 363 2 Corinthians 4:7 15; Psalm 116:10 11, 15 16, 17 18; Matthew 5:27 32
SATURDAY, JUNE 24 Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist The Creed precedes the Prayer of the Faithful. With joy at the birth of the Forerunner, Abide with us. That Christ may give courage to those who preach the Good News, That the Holy Spirit may fill the young with bold words, That prophets may cleanse the nations of war and hate, That the sick may announce Christ s coming by their faithfulness, That we may go forth to prepare Christ s way, That (add intention), That the dead may be gathered with John and all the saints, God of the prophets, you made of John the Baptist a fiery prophet to your people. Open our ears to his sharp words that our hearts may be cleansed of corruption and sin. May we too be prophets to the nations, signs of the salvation you offer in Jesus Christ, who is Lord for ever and ever. LECTIONARY 586 (VIGIL) Jeremiah 1:4 10; Psalm 71:1 2, 3 4a, 5 6ab, 15ab and 17; 1 Peter 1:8 12; Luke 1:5 17 LECTIONARY 587 (DAY) Isaiah 49:1 6; Psalm 139:1b 3, 13 14ab, 14c 15; Acts 13:22 26; Luke 1:57 66, 80
TUESDAY, JULY 4 Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Texts for a proper Mass for Independence Day can be found on the following page. With unwavering faith, Lord, hear our prayer. That the baptized may remain firm in times of uncertainty, That Christian communities may comfort one another through hardship and disaster, That the fearful and anxious may find courage and confidence, That those battered by the storms of illness and pain may find hope, That we may put our trust in the One who commands storm and sea, That (add intention), That the dead may find rest in the eternal harbor of God s presence, Reveal your power, God of creation, that we may not be overcome by life s storms. May our faith hold firm in both joy and trouble, that we may praise you always through Jesus, your Son, who is Lord for ever and ever. LECTIONARY 378 Genesis 19:15 29; Psalm 26:2 3, 9 10, 11 12; Matthew 8:23 27
TUESDAY, AUGUST 15 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Creed precedes the Prayer of the Faithful. Rejoicing with Mary in the end of death s dominion, Lord, hear our prayer. For all God s people, heirs of the Resurrection, For all women, made in the image of God, For mothers and grandmothers, nurturers of God s image in children, For the sick, trusting with Mary in God s promises, For all of us, disciples with Mary of her Son, For (add intention), For the deceased, hoping to share with Mary the glory of her Son, God of holiness, the sting of death is forever swallowed in Christ s triumphant resurrection. Through the intercession of Mary, may we come to share the glory of her Son, and so join her and all the saints around your heavenly throne, for you live and reign for ever and ever. LECTIONARY 621 (VIGIL) 1 Chronicles 15:3 4, 15 16; 16:1 2; Psalm 132:6 7, 9 10, 13 14; 1 Corinthians 15:54b 57; Luke 11:27 28 LECTIONARY 622 (DAY) Revelation 11:19a; 12:1 6a, 10ab; Psalm 45:10, 11, 12, 16; 1 Corinthians 15:20 27; Luke 1:39 56
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 Labor Day Praising God in all that we do, Lord, hear our prayer. For ministers and all church workers, For factory workers, farmers, and harvesters, For day laborers and migrant workers, For doctors, nurses, assistants, and caregivers, For professors, teachers, and students, For artists, musicians, and actors, For those who are ill or cannot work, For (add intention), For all who labor in the service of God, Maker of heaven and earth, you created humankind as the crown of your work and gave us a share in your labor. Bless the work of our hands and give success to our endeavors, that we may praise you at work and at play, offering a fitting sacrifice of praise through our Savior, Jesus Christ, who is Lord for ever and ever. LECTIONARY 907, 909 911 Genesis 1:26 2:3 (907-1); Psalm 127:1, 2 (909-2); Matthew 6:31 34 (911-1)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11 Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. John XXIII, Pope With confidence in God our Father, Lord, hear our prayer. That the baptized may hallow God s name in faithful witness to the gospel, That God s rule may overcome the dominion of war and violence, That the bread of charity may be shared among the hungry and the poor, That mercy and reconciliation may restore nations and families, That God s blessing may bring health to the sick, That we may be strong in the face of temptation, That (add intention), That the dead may rejoice in the fullness of God s reign, Heavenly One, holy is your name in every generation. Hear us when we call upon you in the words Jesus taught us, that the world may share Christ s living bread and your mercy may abound. Grant this through Christ our Lord. LECTIONARY 463 Jonah 4:1 11; Psalm 86:3 4, 5 6, 9 10; Luke 11:1 4
With confidence in God s faithfulness, Lord, hear our prayer. That Church leaders may be voices of hope in times of fear, That the faith of the baptized may be reckoned to them as righteousness, That the world s people may trust in the ways of peace and justice, That those who grieve the loss of loved ones may find comfort and hope, That the sick may trust in the faithfulness of God, That we may give God glory as we await the fulfillment of what is promised, That (add intention), That the dead may find life among those who trust in God, Source of life and hope, you strengthen us as we await the fullness of your power. Cast out our fear and give us confidence in your promises, that we may be voices of hope in times of sorrow and signs of your faithfulness to those who despair. This we ask in Jesus name. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary LECTIONARY 472 Romans 4:13, 16 18; Psalm 105:6 7, 8 9, 42 43; Luke 12:8 12
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2 Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary Vigilant for the return of Christ, Lord, hear our prayer. That God s people may prepare for the day of glory by serving Christ in the poorest of the earth, That the twin plagues of war and disease may be overcome by servants of peace and mercy, That people affected by HIV and AIDS may find comfort, medical care, and hope, That the forgotten hungry and poor may receive a just portion of creation s bounty, That we may prepare for Christ s return by caring for the sick, That (add intention), That the dead may stand in hope before the glorious Son of Man, Come to our aid, God of glory, and deliver us from tribulation. May those overcome by violence and disease, natural disaster and neglect, find comfort and mercy among us, that together we may stand before the Son of Man and find welcome in his kingdom, through the same Christ our Lord. LECTIONARY 508 Daniel 7:15 27; Daniel 3:82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87 (psalm response); Luke 21:34 36