Greeting
May the Lord stand by you and give you power. May he rescue you from all evil and bring you safely to his kingdom. May he always be with you.
Introduction
Today we celebrate with joy the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. They are the two pillars on whom our Lord built his Church and to whom he entrusted the faith. Their own faith had been tested, when Peter denied Christ and Paul persecuted Christ in his disciples. Then their faith was strengthened and they dedicated their whole life to the spread of the gospel. We can learn from them today how to let Christ possess us so much that we live for him and his Church and are even willing to suffer for that faith. Let us give thanks today to the Lord for giving us these great apostles.
Penitential Act
We accept the faith of the apostles but do we really live
that faith? Let us examine ourselves before the Lord. (PAUSE)
-When we show little interest in the struggles of the Church
in today’s world, Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
-When we criticize the Church too easily and do little to
make it better, Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
-When we try to use the Church to serve us rather than
serving the Church, Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy on us, Lord, and forgive us all our sins. Make
us, your Church, a true community of faith and love and lead us to
everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
United in faith with Peter and Paul, let us pray to God for
fidelity and zeal (PAUSE)
Lord our God, we thank you today for your apostles Peter and
Paul. Give us their faith and fidelity, that we may build among us, as a
community of faith and love, the Church for which they lived and died. Give
us their conviction and courage to let the whole world share in the Good News of
your Son Jesus Christ, that he may be everything to all, now and for ever. R/
Amen.
General Intercessions
Today let us pray for the Church, the People of God on the
march, that we may truly be the Church of Christ. Let us say: R/ Lord,
remember your Church.
– For the Church in our time, that the Holy
Spirit may guide it through the present pains of renewal, keep it faithful to
the gospel and inspire it to speak its message in the language of our time, let
us pray: R/ Lord, remember your Church.
– For the Pope, Peter’s successor, that he may
be our rock of faith and the sign of unity in the Church, let us pray: R/
Lord, remember your Church.
– For our bishops, that they may exercise their
authority as a service to building community; for priests and religious, that
they may bear witness to what they preach by their way of living the gospel,
let us pray: R/ Lord, remember your Church.
– For missionaries, that they may proclaim the
gospel as Good News to all and that they may help each people and culture to
encounter Christ each in its own way, let us pray: R/ Lord, remember your
Church.
– For all Christians, that they may have
compassionate hearts, open to all who suffer and are in need, to bring them
healing and help, let us pray: R/ Lord, remember your Church.
– For us here present and for all Christian
communities, that we may build up one another in faith and love, let us pray: R/
Lord, remember your Church.
God our Father, your Son promised to be with his Church
until the end of time. Let him stay with us always for he is our Lord for ever.
R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, in these signs of bread and wine you are about
to give us Jesus, your Son. Make us aware that you let him come among us not to
keep him to ourselves as a prized possession, but, like your apostles Peter and
Paul, to take him to all people far and near. Make your Son recognizable in us,
that all people may praise you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
With the whole Church of Peter and Paul, with all who are
strengthened and united by their faith and with all who are inspired by their
missionary zeal, we now join in the sacrifice of our one Lord Jesus Christ.
Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer
Concerned, with Peter and Paul, to make God’s kingdom
come to all the world, we now pray Jesus’ prayer to the Father: R/ Our
Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver your Church, Lord, from every evil and grant it
freedom and peace. Help us to build up together, a community of faith and love,
in which people can recognize the face of him for whose return in glory we wait
in joyful hope, our Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is Christ, the Son of the living God, who has the words
of eternal life. To whom else should we go? Happy are we to be invited to the
table of the Lord. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God, in Peter and Paul, two pillars of your Church,
you have exemplified two characteristics of the body of your Son: fidelity to
the living tradition and to missionary dynamism. Let the Spirit of Jesus stay
with us to give always room for both, that in the diversity of gifts we may all
be united in one loyalty and one faith, in Jesus Christ, our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
Let us ask for God’s blessing, that we may be the Church of
Peter, firm in the faith, built on rock, united as the one body of Christ which
cannot be overcome. May we also be the Church of Paul, dynamic, without
boundaries, restless until Christ is known to all. May God bless you and this
one Church: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go and be to the whole world the body of the Lord. R/ Thanks be to God.
