2015 Year of Consecrated LifeWAKE UP THE WORLD !

Chrism Mass

Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar

Wednesday 1 april 2015

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The Year of Consecrated Life calls us to live the present with passion. Grateful remembrance of the past leads us, as we listen attentively to what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Church today, to implement ever more fully the essential aspects of our consecrated life.

From the beginnings of monasticism to the “new communities” of our own time, every form of consecrated life has been born of the Spirit’s call to follow Jesus as the Gospel teaches (cf. Perfectae Caritatis, 2). For the various founders and foundresses, the Gospel was the absolute rule, whereas every other rule was meant merely to be an expression of the Gospel and a means of living the Gospel to the full. For them, the ideal was Christ; they sought to be interiorly united to him and thus to be able to say with Saint Paul: “For me to live is Christ” (Phil 1:21). Their vows were intended as a concrete expression of this passionate love.

The question we have to ask ourselves during this Year is if and how we too are open to being challenged by the Gospel; whether the Gospel is truly the “manual” for our daily living and the decisions we are called to make. The Gospel is demanding: it demands to be lived radically and sincerely. It is not enough to read it (even though the reading and study of Scripture is essential), nor is it enough to meditate on it (which we do joyfully each day). Jesus asks us to practice it, to put his words into effect in our lives.

Pope Francis21 November 2014

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Communities of Consecrated Life in the Diocese of Meath

Blessed Sacrament Sisters, Camillians, Carmelites, Charity of Jesus and Mary Sisters, Christian Brothers, Congregation of the Holy Spirit, Franciscan Brothers and Priests, Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady, Loreto Sisters, Medical Missionaries of Mary, Mercy Sisters, Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary, Order of St Benedict, Presentation Sisters, Salesians, Sisters of the Holy Family of St Emilie de Rodat, Society of St Paul.

Prayer for the Year of Consecrated Life

O God, throughout the ages you have called women and men to pursue lives of perfect charity through the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

During this Year of Consecrated Life, we give you thanks for these courageous witnesses of Faith and models of inspiration. Their pursuit of holy lives teaches us to make a more perfect offering of ourselves to you.

Continue to enrich your Church by calling forth sons and daughters who, having found the pearl of great price, treasure the Kingdom of Heaven above all things.

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.

Church of God cho sen- peo ple sing your praise to

God. He has called you out of dark ness

in to- his mar vel- lous- light.

Glo ri- a!- Glo ri- a!- in ex cel- sis- De o,-

Glo ri- a!- Glo ri- a!- in ex cel- sis- De o.-

Opening Rites

Entrance Procession Church of God (Daly)

Gloria Lourdes Mass (Lécot)

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First Reading Isaiah 44: 1-8

Liturgy of the Word

Hear now, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you in the womb and will help you: Do not fear, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my spirit upon your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring.

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Responsorial Psalm Psalm 89 (Feeley)

I will sing for e- ver- of your love, O Lord, I will sing for e- ver- of your love.

They shall spring up like green grass, like willows by flowing streams. This one will say, “I am the Lord’s”, another will be called by the name of Jacob, yet another will write on the hand “I am the Lord’s”, and adopt the name of Israel. Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god. Who is like me? Let them proclaim it, let them declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to come?* Let them tell us what is yet to be. Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? You are my witnesses!

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation (Joncas)

Gospel John 6: 59-63, 66-70

Jesus taught at Capernaum in the synagogue and, after hearing it, many of his followers said “This is intolerable language. How can anyone accept it?” Jesus was aware that his followers were complaining about it and said, “Does this upset you? What if you should see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before?

It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”

And after this many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him. Then Jesus said to the Twelve, “What about you, do you want to go away too?” Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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If your life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade you at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind. That is the one thing that would make me completely happy. There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing, never thinking you are better than others. And look out for each other’s interests, not just for your own. In your minds, you must be the same as Christ Jesus.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Second Reading Phil. 2:1-4

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Renewal of Priestly Promises

After the Homily, the Bishop speaks with the priests in these or similar words.

Beloved sons, on the anniversary of that day when Christ our Lord conferred his priesthood on his Apostles and on us, are you resolved to renew, in the presence of your Bishop and God’s holy people, the promises you once made?

The Priests, all together, respond: I am.

Bishop: Are you resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to him, denying yourselves and confirming those promises about sacred duties towards Christ’s Church which, prompted by love of him, you willingly and joyfully pledged on the day of your priestly ordination?Priests: I am.

Bishop: Are you resolved to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God in the Holy Eucharist and the other liturgical rites and to discharge faithfully the sacred office of teaching, following Christ the Head and Shepherd, not seeking any gain, but moved only by zeal for souls?

Priests: I am.

Then, turned towards the people, the Bishop continues:

Bishop: As for you, dearest sons and daughters, pray for your Priests, that the Lord may pour out his gifts abundantly upon them, and keep them faithful as ministers of Christ, the High Priest, so that they may lead you to him, who is the source of salvation.

People: Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

Bishop: And pray also for me, that I may be faithful to the apostolic office entrusted to me in my lowliness and that in your midst I may be made day by day a living and more perfect image of Christ, the Priest, the Good Shepherd, the Teacher and the Servant of all.

People: Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

Bishop: May the Lord keep us all in his charity and lead all of us, shepherds and flock, to eternal life.

All: Amen.

Procession of Oils (Inwood)

Praise to you, Lord Je sus- Christ; praise to you, Lord Je sus- Christ.

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Procession of Oils

The vessels containing the Oils of Catechumens are presented to Bishop Smith by members of the baptism teams who take part in the preparation for baptism in the parishes of Delvin and Rathmolyon.

The Oil of the Sick is presented to the Bishop by participants in the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes. The pastoral theme in Lourdes this year is ‘Joy of Mission’ and the diocesan pilgrimage will take place from 12 to 17 September 2015.

Clergy from the Diocese of Meath who are celebrating their 25th, 50th and 60th priestly jubilees in 2015 present the vessels with the Oil for the Sacred Chrism.

Preparation of the Gifts Ubi Caritas (Gjeilo)

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Sanctus The Glendalough Mass (Lawton)

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^MS To you, therefore, most merciful Father, we make humble prayer and petition through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord: that you accept and bless these gifts, these offerings, these holy and unblemished sacrifices, which we offer you firstly for your holy catholic Church. Be pleased to grant her peace, to guard, unite and govern her throughout the whole world, together with your servant Francis our Pope and me, your unworthy servant, and all those who, holding to the truth, hand on the catholic and apostolic faith.

*1 Remember, Lord, your servants and all gathered here, whose faith and devotion are known to you. For them, we offer you this sacrifice of praise or they offer it for themselves and all who are dear to them: for the redemption of their souls, in hope of health and well-being, and paying their homage to you, the eternal God, living and true.

*2 In communion with those whose memory we venerate, especially the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ, and blessed Joseph, her Spouse, your blessed Apostles and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude, Clement, Cletus, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damien and all your Saints; we ask that through their merits and prayers, in all things we may be defended by your protecting help.

The Roman Canon

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^MS Therefore, Lord, we pray: graciously accept this oblation of our service, that of your whole family; order our days in your peace, and command that we be delivered from eternal damnation and counted among the flock of those you have chosen. Be pleased, O God, we pray, to bless, acknowledge, and approve this offering in every respect; make it spiritual and acceptable, so that it may become for us the Body and Blood of your most beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the day before he was to suffer, he took bread in his holy and venerable hands, and with eyes raised to heaven to you, O God, his almighty Father, giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take this all of you, and eat it For this is my body, Which will be given up for you.

In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took this precious chalice in his holy and venerable hands, and once more giving you thanks, he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying:

Take this, all of you, and drink from it, For this is the chalice of my blood, The blood of the new and eternal covenant, Which will be poured out for you and for many For the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.

^MS Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the blessed Passion, the Resurrection from the dead, and the glorious Ascension into heaven of Christ, your Son, our Lord, we, your servants and your holy people, offer to your glorious majesty from the gifts that you have given us, this pure victim, this holy victim, this spotless victim, the holy Bread of eternal life and the Chalice of everlasting salvation.

Be pleased to look upon these offerings with a serene and kindly countenance, and to accept them, as once you were pleased to accept the gifts of your servant Abel the just, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith, and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek, a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim.

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Acclamation of Faith The Glendalough Mass (Lawton)

In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God: command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty, so that all of us, who through this participation at the altar receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, may be filled with every grace and heavenly blessing.

*3 Remember also, Lord, your servants, who have gone before us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace. Grant them, O Lord, we pray, and all who sleep in Christ, a place of refreshment, light and peace.

*4 To us, also, your servants, who, though sinners, hope in your abundant mercies, graciously grant some share and fellowship with your holy Apostles and Martyrs: with John the Baptist, Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia and all the Saints; admit us, we beseech you, into their company, not weighing our merits, but granting us your pardon, through Christ our Lord.

Through whom you continue to make all these good things, O Lord; you sanctify them, fill them with life, bless them, and bestow them upon us.

Through him, and with him and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, for ever and ever.

Doxology and Great Amen12

Communion Rite

Agnus Dei The Glendalough Mass (Lawton)

Communion Hymns God’s Holy Gifts (Sexton)

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Post-communion Reflection Come, adore this wondrous presence (McDonagh)

Lord of all hopefulness (trad. Irish air)

Recessional Hymn

1 Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy, be there at our waking, and give us, we pray, your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

2 Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith, whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe, be there at our labours, and give us, we pray, your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

3 Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace, your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace, be there at our homing, and give us, we pray, your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

4 Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm, whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm, be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray, your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

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Brother James’ Air (based on Psalm 23, arr. Bullard)

Please take this Chrism Mass booklet home with you