Sign of the Cross

Greeting

May the grace of our compassionate God be with you all.

Introduction and Litany of Praise

The Jewish people, and indeed most others too, did not touch lepers for fear that they would be infected. Yet Jesus reached out and touched them. He still reaches out to us. Let us approach him now, conscious that we need his healing touch. (pause)

Lord Jesus, you touch the untouchable with the warmth of your love:
Lord, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you are close to the outcasts and sinners:
Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, you make them whole again and restore their human dignity:
Lord, have mercy.

Opening Prayer

Option A

We come before you, O God,
confident in Christ's victory over sickness and death.

Heal us again from sin - which divides us,
and from prejudice - which isolates us,
and make us eager to reach out to all.

We ask 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 A

In Jesus you stretch out your hand, O God,
to touch the unclean,
to love the unloved,
and to draw even the most despised and excluded
into the circle of your beloved disciples and friends.

Inspired by such love,
make us eager to reach out to others.

We ask 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.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

Presider

Like the leper in the gospel who cried out for healing,
we now approach our heavenly Father
with the assurance that our prayers will be answered.

CM    Our response is: Lord, touch us with your healing love.

Please repeat:

1. For those in our society who are afflicted with leprosy and severe skin disease:
   may they receive the medical assistance and social acceptance that they need. We pray:
   
   
2. That the Lord make us his instruments to comfort those who suffer,
   to uplift the spirit of the depressed,and to bring his love and
   hope to those broken in body and spirit. We pray:
   
   
3. As we celebrate St. Valentine's Day, may the experience of being loved give each of us a glimpse of how God loves us, and may we love and serve others in return. We pray:
   
   
4. Today we remember the thousands of people of Malate who were killed here in 1945 in the Batle for Manila; we remember also the five Columban priests who stayed with them and died with them. And so we pray:

   (The following Prayer will be displayed on the Screen and led by the CM)

All Mary, Our Lady of Healing,
who inspired the women of Malate
and all women who bring life into the world
and who most understand the sacredness of life
and the insanity of war,
inspire us to work for a world without war
where all people will live in that peace which Christ promised.

Presider

God our Father,
your Son Jesus revealed how close you are to us,
especially to those who suffer.

Hear our prayers as we renew our pledge to work for your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Prayer over the Gifts

Merciful Father,
your Son Jesus did not condemn outcasts and sinners
but invited them to his table.

In his presence they found the courage to stand up and walk with dignity.
As we bring ourselves and our gifts before you
we ask you to accept us
as Jesus accepted the leper who knelt before him.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Invitation to the Lord's Prayer

God loves each of us with an everlasting love.
We profess this now as we together we say/sing: Deliver us Lord

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil,
especially from the tendency to exclude others.
Keep us from judging and condemning.
Help us to accept and respect one another
as we prepare in hope
for the coming among us of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Prayer for Peace

Lord Jesus Christ,
you stretched out your hand and touched the leper
so that he might know that he is loved and accepted.

Help us to reach out to the rejects of society
so that we may all enjoy the peace and unity of your kingdom
where you live for ever and ever.

Exchange of Peace

Like God, we can never exclude anyone from our Christian love.
Let us offer a sign of peace to those beside us.

Optional Prayer to accompany the Breaking of Bread

As the Holy Spirit strengthens your Church,
may this, your blessed and broken bread, bring life to us.
May we be living signs of the love
we share with one another.

Invitation to Communion

Whether we eat or drink or whatever we do
we do everything for the glory of God.

Blessed are we who are called to the altar-table of the Lord.

Prayer after Communion

Lord God,

we have been refreshed with the one bread

by which you continue to renew the human family.

Fill us with a compassionate love
that will inspire us in our efforts

to put an end to every form of discrimination

and bring all peoples into your kingdom.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Blessing

May the Father's kindness be with you. AMEN

May the compassion of Jesus comfort you. AMEN.

May the love of the Spirit protect you. AMEN.

And may the blessings of our loving God,
+ Father, Son and Spirit,

be with you and abide with you always. AMEN.

Dismissal

Go in peace.

And whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do everything for the glory of God.