Feast of Corpus Christi — June 6, 2021
In these times when not all feel free to gather together as a Christian Community to celebrate Mass, let us unite ourselves spiritually to the Mass as it is being celebrated in our churches.
One way you can do this by joining broadcast Masses on radio, television, or via the internet.
This resource is offered to provide a ritual by which families, "the domestic church," can keep the Lord's day holy by joining together to celebrate part of the Church's liturgy at home. Ideally, the head of the family will lead the service; other members of the family should take on roles as readers.
It would be appropriate to celebrate this service at the usual time the family would attend Mass. If possible, prepare a suitable prayer space with a crucifix, holy picture and/or a candle or two. If the family is blessed with musical talent, hymns would be appropriate.
GREETING
PENITENTIAL ACT
After a pause for silent reflection,
the leader continues.
GLORY TO GOD
Glory to God in the highest,
We praise you, we bless you
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
For you alone are the Holy One,
COLLECT
O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament
Awaiting his return, we offer our unified prayer of praise.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
and on earth peace to people of good will.
we adore you, we glorify you,
we give you thanks for your great glory,
Lord God, heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, (Jesus),
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
have left us a memorial of your Passion,
grant us, we pray,
so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood
that we may always experience in ourselves
the fruits of your redemption.
Who live and reign with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
FIRST READING
When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
SECOND READING
Brothers and sisters: When Christ came as high priest of the
good things that have come to be, passing through the greater
and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging
to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary,
not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood,
thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats
and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes can sanctify
those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much
more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit
offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from
dead works to worship the living God.
For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death
has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the
first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised
eternal inheritance.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I A.M. the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord;
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they
sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples said to him, "Where
do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city
and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him.
Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, `The Teacher
says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with
my disciples?"' Then he will show you a large upper room furnished
and ready. Make the preparations for us there." The disciples
then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had
told them; and they prepared the Passover.
While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke
it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." Then
he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all
drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant,
which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not
drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink
it new in the kingdom of God." Then, after singing a hymn, they
went out to the Mount of Olives.
The Gospel of the Lord.
REFLECTION
All that the Lord has said, we will heed and do. (Exodus 24:7)
When Moses splashed blood of sacrificed animals on the altar
and then on the people, he was sealing a covenant between them
and God. And just like any other sacred agreement, something
was required of both parties. For his part, God was promising
to bless the Israelites and take them as his own "treasured possession"
(Exodus 19:5). For their part, the people were promising to worship
him and obey his commandments (24:7).
Centuries later, when Jesus shed his blood on the cross, he established
a new covenant with us (Mark 14:24). For his part, he promised
to cleanse us of sin "once for all" (Hebrews 9:12). He also poured
out his Spirit, who would write his law on our hearts rather
than on tablets of stone (8:10; Jeremiah 31:31-34). For our part,
he asks us to follow his commandments, seek his forgiveness when
we stray, and reflect his love and mercy to the people around
us.
This means that you are not just a passive recipient of this
precious covenant; rather, you have a part to play in upholding
it. Of course, God doesn't expect you to do it on your own. He
has given you his Holy Spirit and all the grace you need to be
faithful to him.
Today is the feast of Corpus Christi. As you receive Jesus in
Holy Communion today, take the opportunity to actively affirm
the covenant God has made with you. Just as he renews his covenant
with you every time you receive the Eucharist, you can renew
your love and commitment to him. Tell him how grateful you are
that he has bound himself to you in an unconditional, irrevocable
bond of love. Then open your heart to his grace and let it strengthen
your determination to love and serve him all the days of your
life.
Father, thank you for the covenant love you show me in the Eucharist.
PROFESSION OF FAITH
I believe in one God,
I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
[All bow during these two lines:]
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
GENERAL INTERCESSIONS
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
We pray to the Lord.
LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Amen.
My Jesus, I believe that you are present
Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
I embrace You as if You were already there,
Amen.
PRAYER OF BLESSING
of the Lord, they all answered with one voice, "We will do everything
that the Lord has told us." Moses then wrote down all the words
of the Lord and, rising early the next day, he erected at the
foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve
tribes of Israel. Then, having sent certain young men of the
Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace
offerings to the Lord, Moses took half of the blood and put it
in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking
the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who
answered, "All that the Lord has said, we will heed and do."
Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying,
"This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with
you in accordance with all these words of his."
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
is the death of his faithful ones.
I A.M. your servant, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
and I will call upon the name of the Lord.
My vows to the Lord I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
whoever eats this bread will live forever. Jn 6:51
GOSPEL
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made,
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and become man.
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the Prophets.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
we present these prayers to our Sustainer and our Hope.
that we may grow in unity and love
as we manifest Christ's saving love in the world.
that God will heal the wounds and mistrust between Christians,
help them work together for God's glory,
and speed the day when all can share the Body of Christ.
that through our reception of the Body and Blood of Christ,
we may be empowered to be the Body of Christ
and sustained along our journey
until we receive our promised inheritance.
that we may grow in our awareness of all God's blessings
and make use of all the opportunities that we have to use them.
particularly those who are being persecuted for the faith:
(pause)
that the Word of God and the love of fellow Christians
may bring them strength and support.
we have been asked to pray, and, particularly,
those who are placed in quarantine and isolation,
(pause)
that God's healing touch may bring them comfort and peace.
those who have died from the coronavirus pandemic,
(pause)
that they experience the joy of God's heavenly family for all
eternity.
in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
We humbly bring these prayers in the name of Christ,
our Portion and our Cup.
hallowed be thy name.
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
in the most Blessed Sacrament.
I love You above all things
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
come at least spiritually into my heart.
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Lectionary for Sunday Mass
© 1998, 1997, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington,
DC
Prayers at Home When Gathering for Mass Is Not Possible
© 2020, the Diocese of Clonfert and the Diocese of Elphin,
Ireland
The Roman Missal © 2011, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC
Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest: Leader's
Edition
© 2007, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington,
DC
The Word Among Us, © 2020 The Word Among Us.