Daily Readings: Tuesday 30th January 2024
FIRST READING: 2 Samuel 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30—19:3
“My son Absalom, would that I had died instead of you.”
A reading from the second Book of Samuel
In those days:
Absalom chanced to meet the servants of David.
Absalom was riding upon his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, “Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.” And Joab took three darts in his hand, and thrust them into the heart of Absalom.
Now David was sitting between the two gates; and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall, and when he lifted up his eyes and looked, he saw a man running alone.
And the watchman called out and told the king.
And the king said,
“If he is alone, there are tidings in his mouth.”
And the king said, “Turn aside, and stand here.”
So he turned aside, and stood still.
And behold, the Cushite came; and the Cushite said,
“Good tidings for my lord the king!
For the Lord has delivered you this day from the power of all who rose up against you.”
The king said to the Cushite,
“Is it well with the young man Absalom?”
And the Cushite answered,
“May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up against you for evil, be like that young man ”
And the king was deeply moved,
and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he wept, he said,
“O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!
Would I had died instead of you,
O Absalom, my son, my son!”
It was told Joab,
“Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.”
So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people; for the people heard that day,
“The king is grieving for his son.”
And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 (R. la)
- Turn your ear, O Lord, and answer me.
Turn your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my soul, for I am faithful;
save the servant who trusts in you, my God. R
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I cry to you all the day long.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for I lift up my soul to you, O Lord. R
Lord, you are good and forgiving,
full of mercy to all who call to you.
Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer,
and attend to my voice in supplication. R
ALLELUIA Matthew 8:17
- Alleluia. R. Alleluia.
- Christ took our infirmities and bore our diseases.
- Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mark 5:21-43
“Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
At that time:
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him; and he was beside the sea.
Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, and begged him, saying,
“My little daughter is at the point of death.
Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.”
And he went with him.
And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.
And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.
She had heard the reports about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, shall be made well.”
And immediately the haemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.
And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said,
“Who touched my garments?”
And his disciples said to him,
“You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’”
And he looked around to see who had done it.
But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth.
And he said to her,
“Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said,
“Your daughter is dead.
Why trouble the Teacher any further?”
But ignoring what they said,
Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue,
“Do not fear, only believe.”
And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. When they came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, he saw a tumult, and people weeping and wailing loudly.
And when he had entered, he said to them,
“Why do you make a tumult and weep?
The child is not dead but sleeping.”
And they laughed at him.
But he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was.
Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi”; which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.”
And immediately the girl got up and walked; for she was twelve years old.
And immediately they were overcome with amazement.
And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Daily Readings: Wednesday 31st January 2024
FIRST READING 2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17
I have sinned in numbering the people; but these sheep, what have they done?
A reading from the second Book of Samuel
In those days:
King David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, who were with him,
“Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and number the people, that I may know the number of the people.”
And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: in Israel there were eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand.
But David’s heart struck him after he had numbered the people. And David said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. But now, O Lord, I pray you, take away the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.”
And when David arose in the morning, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, David’s seer, saying, “Go and say to David,
‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’”
So Gad came to David and told him, and said to him,
“Shall three years of famine come to you in your land?
Or will you flee three months before your foes while they pursue you?
Or shall there be three days’ pestilence in your land?
Now consider, and decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.”
Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress; let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is great; but let me not fall into the hand of man.”
So the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning until the appointed time; and there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba seventy thousand men.
And when the angel stretched forth his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord repented of the evil, and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people,
“It is enough; now stay your hand.”
And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking down the people, and said, “Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done?
Let your hand, I pray you, be against me and against my father’s house.”
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7 (R. see 5a)
- O Lord, forgive the guilt of my sin.
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is remitted.
Blessed the man to whom the Lord imputes no guilt,
in whose spirit is no guile. R
To you I have acknowledged my sin;
my guilt I did not hide.
I said, “I will confess my transgression to the Lord.”
And you have forgiven the guilt of my sin. R
So let each faithful one pray to you
in the time of need.
The floods of water may reach high,
but such a one they shall not reach. R
You are a hiding place for me;
you keep me safe from distress;
you surround me with cries of deliverance. R
ALLELUIA John 10:27
- Alleluia. R. Alleluia.
- My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; and I know them, and they follow me. R. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mark 6:1-6
“A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
At that time:
Jesus came to his own country; and his disciples followed him.
And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get all this?
What is the wisdom given to him?
What mighty works are wrought by his hands!
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offence at him.
And Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.”
And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them.
And he marvelled because of their unbelief.
And he went about among the villages teaching.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Daily Readings: Thursday 1st February, 2024
FIRST READING: 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12
“I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, Solomon, and show yourself a man .”
A reading from the first Book of Kings
When David’s time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying,
“I am about to go the way of all the earth.
Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the Lord may establish his word which he spoke concerning me, saying,
‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail you a man on the throne of Israel.’ ”
Then David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
And the time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.
So Solomon sat upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was firmly established.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM 1 Chronicles 29:10b, 11ab, 11d-12a, 12bcd (R. 12b)
- O Lord, you rule over all.
Blessed are you, O Lord,
the God of Israel our father,
for ever and ever. R
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power,
and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty;
for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. R
You are exalted as head above all.
Both riches and honour come from you. R
You rule over all.
In your hand are power and might;
and in your hand it is to make great
and to give strength to all. R
ALLELUIA Mark 1:15
- Alleluia. R. Alleluia.
- The kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the Gospel.
- Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mark 6:7-13
“He began to send them out.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
At that time:
Jesus called to him the Twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.
And he said to them, “Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.
And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them.”
So they went out and preached that men should repent.
And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Daily Readings: Friday 2nd February 2024 (Feast of the Presentation of the Lord)
“The Lord whom you seek will come to his temple”
First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
A reading from the Book of Malachi
Thus says the Lord God:
“Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me,
and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple;
the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
“For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap;
he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver,
and he will purify the sons of Levi
and refine them like gold and silver,
till they present right offerings to the Lord.
Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem
will be pleasing to the Lord
as in the days of old and as in former years.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory!
O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Who is this king of glory?
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant;
the Lord, the valiant in war.
O gates, lift high your heads;
grow higher, ancient doors.
Let him enter, the king of glory!
Who is this king of glory?
He, the Lord of hosts,
He is the king of glory.
SECOND READING Hebrews 2:14-18
“Like his brethren in every respect.”
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews
Since the children share in flesh and blood,
Jesus himself likewise partook of the same nature,
that through death he might destroy him
who has the power of death,
that is, the devil,
and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage.
For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham.
Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God,
to make expiation for the sins of the people.
For because he himself has suffered and been tempted,
he is able to help those who are tempted.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Luke 2:32
Alleluia. Alleluia.
A light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL Luke 2:22-40
“My eyes have seen your salvation.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
(as it is written in the law of the Lord,
“Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice
according to what is said in the law of the Lord,
“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
And his father and his mother marvelled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”
And there was a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher;
she was of a great age,
having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, and as a widow till she was eighty-four.
She did not depart from the temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day.
And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord,
they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
OR SHORTER: Luke 2:22-32
* A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
When the time came for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord
(as it is written in the law of the Lord,
“Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice
according to what is said in the law of the Lord,
“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.
And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Or
FIRST READING Sirach 47:2-11
David praised the Lord God with all his heart and loved God.
A reading from the Book of Sirach
As the fat is selected from the peace offering, so David was selected from the sons of Israel.
He played with lions as with young goats, and with bears as with lambs of the flock.
In his youth did he not kill a giant, and take away reproach from the people, when he lifted his hand with a stone in the sling and struck down the boasting of Goliath?
For he appealed to the Lord, the Most High, and he gave him strength in his right hand to slay a man mighty in war, to exalt the power of his people.
So they glorified him for his ten thousands, and praised him for the blessings of the Lord, when the glorious diadem was bestowed upon him.
For he wiped out his enemies on every side, and annihilated his adversaries the Philistines; he crushed their power even to this day.
In all that he did he gave thanks to the Holy One, the Most High, with ascriptions of glory; he sang praise with all his heart, and he loved his Maker.
He placed singers before the altar, to make sweet melody with their voices.
He gave beauty to the feasts, and arranged their times throughout the year, while they praised God’s holy name, and the sanctuary resounded from early morning.
The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his power for ever; he gave him the covenant of kings and a throne of glory in Israel
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 18:31, 47 and 50, 51 (R. see 47b)
- Blest be the God of my salvation!
As for God, his way is blameless;
the word of the Lord is pure.
He indeed is the shield
of all who trust in him. R
The Lord lives, and blest be my Rock!
May the God of my salvation be exalted.
So I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
to your name will I sing a psalm. R
The Lord gives great victories to his king,
and shows merciful love for his anointed,
for David and his seed for ever. R
ALLELUIA See Luke 8:15
For alternate Alleluia verses, see no. 509, page 1195.
- Alleluia. R. Alleluia.
- Blessed are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.
- Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mark 6:14-29
“John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
At that time:
King Herod heard of Jesus; for his name had become known.
Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.”
But others said, “It is Elijah.”
And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”
But when Herod heard of it he said,
“John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married her.
For John said to Herod,
“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him.
But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe.
When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly.
But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee.
For when Herodias’ daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl,
“Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it.”
And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.”
And she went out, and said to her mother,
“What shall I ask?”
And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”
And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.
And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head in.
He went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Daily Readings: Saturday 3rd January 2024
FIRST READING 1 Kings 3:4-13
“Give your servant an understanding mind to govern your people.”
A reading from the first Book of Kings
In those days:
Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place;
Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings upon that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.”
And Solomon said,
“You have shown great and merciful love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and merciful love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.
And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child;
I do not know how to go out or come in.
And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered or counted for multitude.
Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.
And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.
I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honour, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 119:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 (R. 12b)
- O Lord, teach me your statutes.
How shall a youth remain pure on his way?
By obeying your word. R
I have sought you with all my heart;
let me not stray from your commands. R
I treasure your word in my heart,
lest I sin against you. R
Blest are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes. R
With my lips have I recounted
all the decrees of your mouth. R
rejoice in the way of your precepts,
as though all riches were mine. R
ALLELUIA John 10:27
- Alleluia. R. Alleluia.
- My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; and I know them, and they follow me. R. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mark 6:30-34
“They were like sheep without a shepherd.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark At that time:
The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.
And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them.
As he landed he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Entrance Antiphon Ps 95:6-7
O come, let us worship God and bow low before the God who made us, for he is the Lord our God.
Collect
Keep your family safe, O Lord, with unfailing care, that, relying solely on the hope of heavenly grace, they may be defended always by your protection. 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.
FIRST READING Job 7:1 -4.6-7
“I am full of tossing till the dawn.”
A reading from the Book of Job
Job spoke, saying:
“Has not man a hard service upon earth, and are not his days like the days of a hireling?
Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hireling who looks for his wages, so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.
When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?’
But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn.
“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and come to their end without hope.
“Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 147: 1-2.3-4.5-6 (R. cf. 3a)
- Praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted.
Or: Alleluia.
How good to sing psalms to our God;
how pleasant to chant fitting praise!
The Lord builds up Jerusalem
and brings back Israel’s exiles. R.
He heals the brokenhearted;
he binds up all their wounds.
He counts out the number of the stars;
he calls each one by its name. R.
Our Lord is great and almighty;
his wisdom can never be measured.
The Lord lifts up the lowly;
he casts down the wicked to the ground. R.
SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 9:16-19.22-23
“Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!”
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
Brethren: If I preach the Gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!
For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my preaching I may make the Gospel free of charge, not making full use of my right in the Gospel.
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the Sake of the Gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Matthew 8:17
- Alleluia. R. Alleluia.
- Christ took our infirmities and bore our diseases.
- Alleluia.
GOSPEL Mark 1:29-39
“He healed many who were sick with various diseases.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
At that time: Leaving the synagogue, Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them.
That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered together about the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him followed him, and they found him and said to him, “Every one is searching for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Prayer over the Offerings
O Lord, our God, who once established these created things to sustain us in our frailty, grant, we pray, that they may become for us now the Sacrament of eternal life.
Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon Cf. Ps 107:8-9
Let them thank the Lord for his mercy, his wonders for the children of men; for he satisfies the thirsty soul, and the hungry he fills with good things.
Or: Mt 5:5-6
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be consoled.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall have their fill.
Prayer after Communion
O God, who have willed that we be partakers in the one bread and the one chalice, grant us, we pray, so to live that, made one in Christ, we may joyfully bear fruit for the salvation of the world.
Through Christ our Lord.
