A PRAYER SERVICE AT HOME
WHEN ATTENDANCE AT MASS IS NOT POSSIBLE

BAPTISM OF THE LORD

In these extraordinary times when we cannot gather 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.

INTRODUCTORY RITES

GREETING

PENITENTIAL ACT

  • Leader:
    • Coming together as God's family, with confidence let us acclaim the
    Father's forgiveness, for God is full of gentleness and compassion.

After a pause for silent reflection, the leader continues.

  • Leader:
    • Lord Jesus, you are the long-awaited Messiah.
    Lord, have mercy.

  • All:
    • Lord, have mercy.
  • Leader
    • Christ Jesus, you are the holy One anointed by God, Christ.
    Christ, have mercy.

  • All:
    • Christ, have mercy.
  • Leader
    • Lord Jesus, you are the chosen One of God.
    Lord, have mercy.

  • All:
    • Lord, have mercy.

GLORY TO GOD

  • All:

    • Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace to people of good will.

    We praise you, we bless you
    we adore you, we glorify you,
    we give you thanks for your great glory,
    Lord God, heavenly King,
    O God, almighty Father.

    Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
    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.

    For you alone are the Holy One,
    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.

COLLECT

  • Leader:
    • Let us pray.

    Almighty ever-living God,
    who, when Christ had been baptized in the River Jordan
    and as the Holy Spirit descended upon him,
    solemnly declared him your beloved Son,
    grant that your children by adoption,
    reborn of water and the Holy Spirit,
    may always be well pleasing to you.
    Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
    who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
    one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

  • All:
    • Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

FIRST READING

  • Reader:
    • A reading from the Prophet Isaiah.

    Thus says the Lord:

    Here is my servant whom I uphold,
    my chosen one with whom I A.M. pleased,
    upon whom I have put my spirit;
    he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
    not crying out, not shouting,
    not making his voice heard in the street.

    A bruised reed he shall not break,
    and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
    until he establishes justice on the earth;
    the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

    I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice,
    I have grasped you by the hand;
    I formed you, and set you
    as a covenant of the people,
    a light for the nations,
    to open the eyes of the blind,
    to bring out prisoners from confinement,
    and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

    The Word of the Lord.

  • All:
    • Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

  • Reader:
    • The Lord will bless his people with peace.

  • All:
    • The Lord will bless his people with peace.
  • Reader:
    • The Lord will bless his people with peace.
    Give to the Lord, you sons of God,
    give to the Lord glory and praise,
    Give to the Lord the glory due his name;
    adore the Lord in holy attire.
  • All:
    • The Lord will bless his people with peace.
  • Reader:
    • The voice of the Lord is over the waters,
    the Lord, over vast waters.
    The voice of the Lord is mighty;
    the voice of the Lord is majestic.
  • All:
    • The Lord will bless his people with peace.
  • Reader:
    • The God of glory thunders,
    and in his temple all say, "Glory!"
    The Lord is enthroned above the flood;
    the Lord is enthroned as king forever.
  • All:
    • The Lord will bless his people with peace.

SECOND READING

  • Reader:
    • Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered in the house of Cornelius, saying: "In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.
    You know the word that he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."

    The Word of the Lord.

  • All:
    • Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

  • Cantor:
    • Alleluia, alleluia.
  • All:
    • Alleluia, alleluia.
  • Cantor:
    • The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered:
    This is my beloved Son, listen to him.

  • All:
    • Alleluia, alleluia.


GOSPEL

  • Leader:
    • A reading from the Gospel according to Mark:
    This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: "One mightier than I is coming after me. I A.M. not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

    It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, "You are my beloved Son; with you I A.M. well pleased."

    The Gospel of the Lord.

  • All:
    • Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.


REFLECTION

  • Reader:
    • Daily Meditation: Mark 1:7-11

    You are my beloved Son; with you I A.M. well pleased. (Mark 1:11)

    Psychologists agree it's important to hear words that affirm us. Not empty compliments, but heartfelt words of love and appreciation. Such words can help us know that the person speaking to us respects and honors us. Affirmations like these can improve our relationships and solidify our commitment to each other.

    It's interesting, then, that one of the few times we hear the voice of God in the Scriptures—directly, not through a prophet or vision — comes in today's Gospel. God the Father tells Jesus, "You are my beloved Son; with you I A.M. well pleased" (Mark 1:11). God was pleased that Jesus was taking this first step in his ministry, and he said so. Right there, in front of John and his disciples, he revealed Jesus' identity and his fatherly love for his Son.

    You need affirmation like that too. Every day. And it's available to you when you pray and worship God. As you acknowledge who he is, you also acknowledge who you are in relation to him. You open your ears to hear what he thinks about you. You begin to understand that you're his beloved child. That he appreciates your efforts to put aside your concerns to follow him.

    The people in your life need it as well — and some of them need it from you. It's not about saying something just to make them feel good. It's being alert to opportunities — especially unexpected ones — to point out something that you appreciate about them: their efforts to lead a Bible study. Their patient response to an unkind sibling. Their generosity and kindness. Tell them you are glad they are your brother or sister in Christ. Every time you do, you shine a light on the bigger picture of their lives.

    Let God tell you how he loves you, how he is pleased with you. Then go and do the same for your neighbor.

    "Father, thank you for loving me!"

PROFESSION OF FAITH

  • All:

    • I believe in one God,
    the Father almighty,
    maker of heaven and earth,
    of all things visible and invisible.

    I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
    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:

    [All bow during these two lines:]
    and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
       and become man.

    For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
    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.

    I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
    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 believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
    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.

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

  • Leader:
    • Made children of God by baptism,
    we raise up our prayers in confidence.
  • Reader:
    • The response will be: Lord, hear our prayer.
  • Reader:
    • For the Church: (pause)
    that all baptized live in justice and unity,
    faithful to the Gospel call.

    We pray to the Lord.

  • All:
    • Lord, hear our prayer.
  • Reader:
    • For the members of state legislatures: (pause)
    that God will guide them in their deliberations, help them to work together for the common good, and inspire them with new insights in confronting the issues of their communities.

    We pray to the Lord.

  • All:
    • Lord, hear our prayer.
  • Reader:
    • For all who are preparing for baptism
    and for all who are newly baptized: (pause)
    that they may be transformed by the waters of new life and allow the Spirit of God to guide their growth in faith, wisdom, and holiness.

    We pray to the Lord.

  • All:
    • Lord, hear our prayer.
  • Reader:
    • For impoverished nations who are struggling with the Coronavirus: (pause)
    that God will guide them in promoting the health of their citizens and move more prosperous nations to share resources with them.

    We pray to the Lord.

  • All:
    • Lord, hear our prayer.
  • Reader:
    • For an end to the Coronavirus pandemic: (pause)
    that God will free us from this dangerous virus, make the vaccines effective, and help us rebuild our communities of faith.

    We pray to the Lord.

  • All:
    • Lord, hear our prayer.
  • Reader:
    • For families that are separated by distance —
    members of the military, health care workers, relief workers,
    and emergency personnel, (pause)
    that they be reunited in God's boundless love.

    We pray to the Lord.

  • All:
    • Lord, hear our prayer.
  • Reader:
    • For our nation, (pause)
    that there be an end to unrest and violence,
    and all leaders strive for unity and peace.

    We pray to the Lord.

  • All:
    • Lord, hear our prayer.
  • Reader:
    • For the sick, especially those for whom 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.

    We pray to the Lord.

  • All:
    • Lord, hear our prayer.
  • Reader:
    • For all our sisters and brothers who have died, especially
    those who have died from the coronavirus pandemic,
    (pause)

    that they experience the joy of God's heavenly family for all eternity.

    We pray to the Lord.

  • All:
    • Lord, hear our prayer.
  • Reader:
    • For the prayers we now make in the silence of our hearts, (pause)

    We pray to the Lord.

  • All:
    • Lord, hear our prayer.
  • Leader:
    • God of justice and compassion, help us to be worthy servants,
    bringing justice and unity among your people.
    We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

  • All:
    • Amen.

LORD'S PRAYER

  • Leader:
    • Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our Savior gave us.
  • All:

    • Our Father, who art in heaven,
    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.

    Amen.


SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

  • All:

    • My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed
    Sacrament.
    I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into
    my soul.
    Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
    come at least spiritually into my heart.
    I embrace You as if You were already there,
    and unite myself wholly to You.
    Never permit me to be separated from You.

    Amen.

PRAYER OF BLESSING

  • Leader:
    • St Michael, the Archangel, Protect and Pray for us.
  • All:
    • Amen.
  • Leader:
    • The Lord bless us and keep us; the Lord make his face shine on us and be gracious to us; the Lord turn his face toward us and give us his peace both now and forever.
  • All:
    • Amen.
  • Leader:
    • In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
  • All:
    • Amen.
SOURCES

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.