Sign of the Cross

Greeting  

Blessed be the Lord who hears the cry of the poor
and gives sight to the blind.
May this Lord be with you all.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

Sometimes our problem is not that we cannot see,
but that we donot want to see.
In thisEucharist, let us ask the Lord to help us see the pains and
sufferings ofothers and make us more compassionate. (pause)

In today's Gospel we meet a blind man who was cured by Jesus.
Lord, that "I may see" was his prayer.
It is a prayer which we can make our own
because in many ways we too are blind. (pause)

Lord, you came to bring good tidings to the poor:
Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you came to open the eyes of the blind:
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you came to set prisoners free.
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A
Father of our Savior,
grant us the grace and courage
to cast off our sins
and turn to you for healing.
Show us in Christ the sure path of salvation
and strengthen us to follow gladly
in the way of the gospel.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity ofthe Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.

Option B
O God,
light to the blind and joy to the afflicted,
in your only-begotten Son
you have given us a high priest
who is just and compassionate
toward those who groan beneath the burden of life.
Listen, then, to our cry.
May all who are in need recognize you in Jesus of Nazareth
and gladly follow him on the way that leads to you.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity ofthe Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.



For Prisoners / Detainees

Almighty and merciful God,
from whom no secret of the heart is hidden;
you alone know who is just,
you alone can forgive the sinner.
Hear our prayer for your servants
who are detained in prison,
that, sustained by patience and hope,
they may soon resume their lives in freedom.

We ask this through our Lord JesusChrist, 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

PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

P       Jesus listened to the cries of a blind man.
         Let us ask the Father to listen to his peopleas
         we turn to him in prayer.

           With confidence we pray:

CM     Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on us.
           (Please repeat)

1. For the universal church (pause)
   that she will always be attentive to the pain of those who look to her
   for help, and minister to them in the name of Jesus.
   We pray in faith:
   
2. That the Civil and Church authorities may attend to
   and improve the situation of our brothers and sisters in prison
   and that those who are unjustly detained may be released.
   We pray in faith:
   
3. That those who are actively engaged in the Prison
   Ministry may continue to give hope to the prisoners
   through their life of loving service.
   We pray in faith:
4. That the Lord may deliver us from all forms of spiritual
   blindness, so that we may open our eyes and ears to the plight
   of the needy, the lonely, and those in prison.
   We pray in faith:
5. For those suffering from failing eyesight or blindness,
   we pray in faith:
   

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

P    Lord God,
      let your light shine on us
      so that we may walk without stumbling
      along the road to your kingdom.
      We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

Creator God,
your love appeared with a human face
in your Son Jesus Christ.
Give us new eyes
to discover in these signs of bread and wine
the love and the life of Jesus
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.  AMEN.

Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer

Christ is our great High Priest.
He intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father,
and has taught us to say / sing:
Our Father ..

Deliver us Lord  

Deliver us, Lord,
from the blindness
that prevents us from seeing
the plight of those who are in need.
Enableus to prepare in joy and hope
for the coming among us
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Lord Jesus Christ,
you give strength and joy and light
to those who follow you.
Make the lame jump for joy,
restore the sight of the blind,
so tall the captives free,
and bring to all who suffer
the hope and peace of your kingdom
where you live for ever and ever. AMEN

Exchange of Peace
From the farthest parts of the earth
God has gathered us into his Kingdom.
Let us show each other a sign of that Kingdom.

Optional Prayer to accompany the ‘Breaking of Bread’

P      Father, you give us golden fields of wheat
        whose many grains
        we have gathered, milled, and made into this one bread:
        may the members of your church
        from the farthest parts of theearth
        be gathered into your kingdom.
       
A     LAMB OF GOD.....

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus who meets us on the road
heals us from our blindness
and invites us to follow him.
Blessed are we who are called to share at histable.
Lord, I am not worthy…

Prayer after Communion   [based on 2nd Reading]

God of mercy and compassion,
we have been refreshed with the one bread
by which you continue to renew the human family.
Give us eyes that can see
and ears that can hear the needs of those who cry out in their misery
so that we can bring them your healing love
and lead them to you.
We ask this in faith through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Solemn Blessing

May the Lord
the God of infinite power
open your eyes,
enlighten your minds and
guide your hearts. AMEN

And may he bless you +
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN

Dismissal     

The Mass is ended.
Go, your faith has made you well
Thanks be to God.