Monthly Liturgy Guide
The Body and Blood of Christ

Sign of the Cross

Greeting

Blessed be the Lord Jesus,
the Bread that gives life to the world.
May his grace and peace be with you all.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Option A
We are the People of God journeying in faith towards the Promised Land of
eternal life. We need food for the journey. We receive this food in the
Eucharist where we are nourished by the word of God and the bread of life.

Lord Jesus, you nourish our minds with the bread of faith.
Lord, have mercy.

You nourish our spirits with the bread of hope.
Christ, have mercy.

You nourish our hearts with the bread of love.
Lord, have mercy.


Option B
As we come to the Lord's table to be nourished by the Word and the
Eucharist, let us acclaim Jesus as our Lord and Savior. (pause)

Lord Jesus, you were moved to pity for the hungry crowd
and you multiplied bread to feed them:
Lord, have mercy.

Christ Jesus,
in the Eucharist you nourish us with your body and blood:
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus,
you have prepared a banquet for us in your Father's kingdom:
Lord, have mercy.

 

Opening Prayer

Option A   [ICEL - Year C]
You have blessed all generations, O God most high,
in Jesus, our compassionate Savior,
for through him you invite us to your kingdom,
welcome us to your table,
and provide us with nourishment in abundance.

Teach us to imitate your unfailing kindness
and to build up Christ's body, the church,
by generously handing on to others
the gifts we have received from your bounty.

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. AMEN


Option B   [LTP - Year C ]
Blessed are you, God most high,
maker of heaven and earth,
whose covenant with Abraham
is a blessing of peace
for all peoples of the world,
and whose covenant in Jesus
nourishes and sustains
all who hunger for the bread of life.

As often as we eat the bread and drink the cup
that proclaim the Lord's death,
let the love of Christ compel us
to hand on to others,
the blessings we ourselves have received from your hands.

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. AMEN.

Liturgy of the Word

Homily

Credo

 

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

P        We know that the Father loves us because he has lavished abundant gifts upon us. Confident that he hears our prayers we present our petitions before him.

            Our response is:

CM      Nourish your people, Lord.
          
(Please repeat)

For the Church: (pause)
that all Christians may live a truly eucharistic life,
a life of intimate union with Christ
and of humble loving service to one another: we pray:

For the lonely who hunger for the bread of companionship;
and the sick who hunger for the bread of good health:
the underfed who hunger for the bread that nourishes and sustains;
for all who hunger for the Bread of Life, we pray:

For the millions of refugees throughout the world. (pause)
May they receive the bread that they need;
May they also live in hope that one day they can return in safety to their homeland: we pray:

For peace between peoples and nations;
that Israelis and Palestinians will stop their hostilities;
that warring factions in Iraq and elsewhere will respect each other's right to exist;
we pray:

[The Presider may add a Petition that is local / relevant]

P     Father, may the food we eat at this banquet satisfy all our hungers
       and make us a strong and united community in Christ.
       We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. AMEN.

 

During the Presentation of the Gifts or while the Gifts are being placed upon the Altar

So that the words may be heard there should not be any singing;
gentle background music may help.


P     Blessed are you, Creator God.
       You give us this BREAD,
       the bread shaped by our hands,
       the bread of toil and pain,
       the bread for sharing.
       We bring it before you:
       let it become the BREAD of our feast,
       food for our journey,
       and the bread of life.

A     Blessed be God forever.



P     Blessed are you, Creator God.
       You give us this WINE,
       fruit of the work of many hands,
       the wine of joy and song.
       We bring it before you:
       let it become the WINE of our celebration,
       the wine of the everlasting Kingdom.

A     Blessed be God forever.

Prayer over the Gifts

Our God and Father,
as a meal brings a family together
and is a sign of unity,
let your Son keep us together
in friendship, peace
and a common concern for the poor and needy.
We ask this through him
who gives himself to us and stays with us,
Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord for ever. AMEN.

Intro to the Lord's Prayer

Before receiving the Bread of life,
let us pray the table prayer which Jesus himself has taught us:

Deliver us Lord  

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
and grant us peace in our day.
Through the body and blood of your Son
free us from selfishness and sin.
Give us the will to feed a hungry world,
as we work in joyful hope
for the coming in glory
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Rite of Peace

St Paul said:
"We who are many are one body,
for we all partake of the one bread."
Lord, grant that by partaking in this sacred meal,
we may grow in unity
and enjoy the peace of your kingdom
where you live forever and ever.

Sign of Peace
Let us now express the unity we have in Christ with those beside us.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P      While breaking the bread the Presider says aloud:
        The bread that we break:
        do we not share in the body of Christ
        when we eat this bread?

        While putting a particle of bread into the cup he says aloud:
        
         The Cup of Blessing for which we give thanks to God:
        do we not share in the blood of Christ
        when we drink from this cup?

       

A     LAMB OF GOD.....

Invitation to Communion

[Holding up the Ciborium the Presider says:]

This is the bread come down from heaven;
whoever eats of it will never die.

[He now holds up the Chalice and says:]

This is the cup of eternal life;
whoever drinks of it will live forever.

[Now, displaying the two receptacles, he says:]

Come now and receive the body and blood of Christ.


Lord, I am not worthy…




Optional Prayer to accompany the 'Breaking of Bread' - Longer Version

The 'Lamb of God ' is omitted.


Legend: Presiding Priest (PP); Presider's Assistant-Right (PAR); Assistant on Left (PAL)

PAR and PAL ( carrying 2 empty ciboria) join Presider at the Altar at the beginning of the Prayer for Peace. PAL places one empty ciborium in front of Presider. When Presider takes up large bread, PAL removes the Bread plate. Presider now proceeds to break the large bread into the empty ciborium while praying slowly:


PP God, Provider and Sustainer of life,
     we ask that in the breaking of this bread
     our eyes may be opened
     so that we may recognize the presence of your Son among us.

PAL [holding up the bread plate PAL says]
     The bread that we break:
     do we not share in the body of Christ
     when we eat this bread?
[He begins putting some of consecrated Bread into the other empty ciborium.]

PP Because there is the one bread,
     all of us, though many, are one body;
     for we all share the same loaf.

PAR [holding up the chalice PAR says]
     The Cup of Blessing for which we give thanks to God:
     do we not share in the blood of Christ
     when we drink from this cup?

ALL When we eat this bread and drink this cup
     we proclaim your death, Lord Jesus,
     until you come in glory. [sung if possible]

PP [Holding up the Ciborium he says:]
     This is the bread come down from heaven;
     whoever eats of it will never die.

[He now holds up the Chalice and says:]
     This is the cup of eternal life;
     whoever drinks of it will live forever.

[Now, displaying the two receptacles he says:]
     Come now and receive the body and blood of Christ.

ALL Lord, I am not worthy.... shall be healed.

The Presider distributes Sacred Bread to each Minister in turn.
He may request PAR to give the chalice to each Minister.
On this feast it would be good to 'give' the chalice rather than have each one 'serve himsel

 

 

Prayer after Communion   

Lord Jesus Christ,
you give us your body and blood in the Eucharist
as a sign that even now we share your life.
May we come to possess it completely
in the kingdom where you live for ever and ever. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

May the Father shower you with his goodness. AMEN.

May the Son feed you with his love. AMEN.

May the Spirit support you with his strength. AMEN.

And may the blessing…

Dismissal     

Go in peace.
And may the Body and Blood of Christ be your strength and joy.

Related Resources
 
Daily Scripture Readings
from the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops
   www.usccb.org
Liturgy Alive
Models of Liturgical Celebration                         
  www.bible.claret.org/liturgy/
 
About the Author
Fr. Kevin McHugh
is a Columban Missionary from Ireland
who has served in the Philippines for many years.
He has devoted much of his time and efforts to make the liturgical participation
come alive in our Christian communities.

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