Fourth Sunday of Lent
Penitential Act: Confiteor
I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;
Therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints; and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.
-AND/OR-
Lord have Mercy,
Christ have Mercy,
Lord have Mercy
Liturgy of the Word
The LORD said to Joshua,
“Today I have removed the
reproach of Egypt from you.”
While the Israelites were encamped
at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho,
they celebrated the Passover
on the evening of the
fourteenth of the month.
On the day after the Passover,
they ate of the
produce of the land
in the form of unleavened
cakes and parched grain.
On that same day
after the Passover,
on which they ate of the
produce of the land,
the manna ceased.
No longer was there
manna for the Israelites,
who that year ate of the
yield of the land of Canaan.
~Thanks be to God
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Brothers and sisters:
Whoever is in Christ
is a new creation:
the old things
have passed away;
behold, new things have come.
And all this is from God,
who has reconciled
us to himself through Christ
and given us the
ministry of reconciliation,
namely, God was reconciling
the world to himself in Christ,
not counting their
trespasses against them
and entrusting to us
the message of reconciliation.
So we are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were
appealing through us.
We implore you
on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him
to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become
the righteousness of God in him.
The Word of the Lord,
~Thanks be to God
Gospel Acclamation
King of endless glory!
I will get up and go to my
Father and shall say to him:
Father, I have sinned against
heaven and against you.
R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ,King of endless glory!
Tax collectors and sinners
were all drawing
near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes
began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes
sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus
addressed this parable:
“A man had two sons,
and the younger son
said to his father,
‘Father give me the
share of your estate
that should come to me.’
So the father divided
the property between them.
After a few days,
the younger son collected
all his belongings
and set off to a distant country
where he squandered
his inheritance on a
life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything,
a severe famine
struck that country,
and he found himself in dire need.
So he hired himself
out to one of the local citizens
who sent him to his farm
to tend the swine.
And he longed to eat his fill
of the pods on which the swine fed,
but nobody gave him any.
Coming to his senses he thought,
‘How many of my
father’s hired workers
have more than
enough food to eat,
but here am I,
dying from hunger.
I shall get up and go
to my father and
I shall say to him,
“Father, I have sinned
against heaven
and against you.
I no longer deserve
to be called your son;
treat me as you would treat
one of your hired workers.”’
So he got up and
went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off,
his father caught sight of him,
and was filled with compassion.
He ran to his son,
embraced him and kissed him.
His son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned
against heaven and against you;
I no longer deserve
to be called your son.’
But his father ordered his servants,
‘Quickly bring the finest robe
and put it on him;
put a ring on his finger
and sandals on his feet.
Take the fattened calf
and slaughter it.
Then let us celebrate with a feast,
because this son of mine was dead,
and has come to life again;
he was lost, and has been found.’
Then the celebration began.
Now the older son
had been out in the field
and, on his way back,
as he neared the house,
he heard the
sound of music and dancing.
He called one of the servants
and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him,
‘Your brother has returned
and your father
has slaughtered the fattened calf
because he has him back safe and sound.’
He became angry,
and when he refused
to enter the house,
his father came out
and pleaded with him.
He said to his father in reply,
‘Look, all these years
I served you
and not once did I
disobey your orders;
yet you never gave me
even a young goat
to feast on with my friends.
But when your son returns
who swallowed up
your property with prostitutes,
for him you slaughter
the fattened calf.’
He said to him,
‘My son, you are here with me always;
everything I have is yours.
But now we must
celebrate and rejoice,
because your brother was
dead and has come to life again;
he was lost and has been found.’”
~ Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
Homily
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,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate
of the Virgin Mary,
and became 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.
Universal Prayer: Prayers of Petition ~ Risen Lord, hear our prayer
Offertory song:
Eucharistic Acclamations:
R: Blessed be God forever
R: Blessed be God forever
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
R: May the Lord accept the sacrifice
at your hands for the
praise and glory of his name,
for our good
and the good of all His holy Church
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
R: And with your spirit
R: We lift them up to the Lord
R: It is right and just.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full,
full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.
We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your
Resurrection, until you come again.
Or
When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup
We proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
Or
Save us, Savior of the world,
for by your Cross and Resurrection
you have set us free
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Lord’s Prayer
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,
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
For the kingdom, the power and glory are yours now and forever. ~Amen
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
My Jesus, I believe that you are present
in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love you above all things,
and I desire to receive you into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment 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.
Concluding Rite
Closing Song
Vocations Prayer
Bless our diocese with the grace of many vocations
to the priesthood, diaconate and to religious life.
Through the intercession of the Blessed Mother,
grant to those You have called
the willingness and the generosity of spirit
to give of themselves in devoting their lives and their talents to the service of our Lord and to His Church.
Increase the faith of all within our diocese,
and especially the faith of those You are calling.We ask this through Christ, Your Son our Lord. ~ Amen
