Wisdom 6:12–16
Wisdom is found by those who look for her.
Psalm 62(63):2–8
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Do not grieve about those who have died in Jesus.
Matthew 24:42, 44
Be watchful and ready: you know not when the Son of Man is coming.
Matthew 25:1–13
The wise and foolish virgins
Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
With these words we are invited to partake of Communion in the Body and Blood of Christ. They combine two biblical phrases. The first is taken from the words of St John the Baptist when he announced to the crowd the identity of Jesus—an identity that was revealed to John by the Spirit coming to rest upon Jesus at his baptism in the Jordan. The second phrase is taken from the Book of Revelation’s vision of those invited to the heavenly banquet being blessed. It is with these reminders of the Spirit and being blessed that we share in the victory of Christ and are drawn into fellowship with all the beloved as we approach the altar in Communion.
‘Nourished by this sacred gift, O Lord, we give you thanks and beseech your mercy, that by the pouring forth of your Spirit, the grace of integrity may ensure in those your heavenly power has entered.’ —prayer after Communion
Apocalypse 7:2–4, 9–14
I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language.
Psalm 23(24):1–6
R. Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.
1 John 3:1–3
We shall be like God because we shall see him as he really is.
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you that labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord.
Matthew 5:1–12a
How happy are the poor in spirit.
This Sunday, our usual cycle of readings is replaced by readings assigned to the Solemnity of All Saints. This solemnity enables us to affirm again the very heart of our Sunday assembly:
It is a people called to bring to God the prayers of the entire human family, a people giving thanks in Christ for the mystery of salvation by offering his Sacrifice. Finally, it is a people made one by sharing in the Communion of Christ’s Body and Blood.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §5
This people is united in serving the world. We acknowledge the long, faithful history of many people. By their ‘conscious, active and faithful participation in the mystery of the Eucharist’, this people has grown in holiness and has been taken into the heavenly eucharistic banquet.
‘As we adore you, O God, who alone are holy and wonderful in all your Saints, we implore your grace, so that, coming to perfect holiness in the fullness of our love, we may pass from this pilgrim table to the banquet of our heavenly homeland.’
—prayer after Communion
Exodus 22:20–26
If you are harsh with the widow and orphan, my anger will flare against you.
Psalm 17(18):2–4, 47, 51
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
1 Thessalonians 1:5–10
You broke with idolatry and became servants of God; you are now waiting for his Son
John 14:23
All who love me will keep my words, and my Father will love them and we will come to them.
Matthew 22:34–40
The commandments of love
By ‘Mass with a congregation’ is meant a Mass celebrated with the participation of the faithful. It is moreover appropriate, whenever possible, and especially on Sundays and holy days of obligation, that the celebration of this Mass take place with singing and with a suitable number of ministers.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §115
Week by week, we are blessed by the generous gifts of so many ministers who not only give of their time to minister during the Sunday Mass, but who are also willing to undertake regular training to develop and improve their skills. We should never take their generosity for granted, but we must express our thanks for their generosity. Each of us is called to contribute to each celebration by our full, conscious and effective participation, both externally and interiorly.
‘May your Sacraments, O Lord, we pray, perfect in us what lies within them, that what we now celebrate in signs we may one day possess in truth.’
—prayer after Communion
Isaiah 45:1,4–6
I have taken Cyrus by his right hand to subdue nations before him.
Psalm 95(96):1,3–5, 7–10
R. Give the Lord glory and honour.
1 Thessalonians 1:1–5
We constantly remember your faith, your love and your hope.
Philippians 2:15–16
Shine on the world like bright stars; you are offering it the word of life.
Matthew 22:15–21
Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.
Now the centre and summit of the entire celebration begins, namely, the Eucharistic Prayer, that is, the prayer of thanksgiving and sanctification. The priest invites the people to lift up their hearts to the Lord in prayer and thanksgiving; he unites the congregation with himself in the Prayer that he addresses in the name of the entire community to God the Father through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §78
Sometimes we may think that the eucharistic prayer is the work of the presiding celebrant alone, since only he has the authority to proclaim this prayer. However, this prayer is the centre and high point of the entire celebration. So the priestly people of God have a vital role to play as they together acclaim that it is right and just to give thanks to the Lord our God. During this prayer, the holy people of God must contribute, in their heart, the praise and thanks to God.
‘Grant, O Lord, we pray, that, benefiting from participation in heavenly things, we may be helped by what you give in this present age and prepared for the gifts that are eternal.’ —prayer after Communion
Isaiah 25:6–10
The Lord will prepare a banquet for every nation.
Psalm 22(23)
R. I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Philippians 4:12–14, 19–20
With the help of the One who gives me strength, there is nothing I cannot master.
cf. Ephesians 1:17, 18
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our heart that we might see how great is the hope to which we are called.
Matthew 22:1–14
Invite everyone you can to the wedding.
Churches, therefore, and other places should be suitable for carrying out the sacred action and for ensuring the active participation of the faithful. Sacred buildings and requisites for divine worship should, moreover, be truly worthy and beautiful and be signs and symbols of heavenly realities.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §288
The touchstone for judging the appropriateness of church space is its ability to serve the active participation of the faithful. However, its functionality is not the only ground for evaluation: the space must also be worthy and beautiful, so that it can invite our attention to the glory of heaven. The elements within our liturgical space must be able to draw us to more than meets the eye. Over time, the space can accumulate much junk, which distracts. We need to re-evaluate our worship space regularly.
‘We entreat your majesty most humbly, O Lord, that, as you feed us with the nourishment which comes from the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, so you may make us sharers of his divine nature.’ —prayer after Communion
Isaiah 5:1–7
Against the Lord’s vineyard
Psalm 79(80):9, 12–16, 19–20
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
Philippians 4:6–9
If there is anything you need, pray for it.
cf. John 15:15
I call you friends, says the Lord, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
Matthew 21:33–43
This is the landlord’s heir: come, let us kill him.
Among the faithful, the schola cantorum or choir exercises its own liturgical role, ensuring that the parts proper to it, in keeping with the different types of chants, are properly carried out and fostering the active participation of the faithful through singing.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §103
The choir does not stand apart during the celebration; the choir has its proper liturgical part to play in the liturgy and it is meant to foster the active participation of the faithful. All musicians are called to enhance the participation by all in the ceremony. They are to ensure that their unique talents do not compete with the assembly but blend with it. It would be inappropriate to draw attention to their ministry by clapping them during the celebration.
‘Grant us, almighty God, that we may be refreshed and nourished by the Sacrament which we have received, so as to be transformed into what we consume.’ —prayer after Communion
Ezekiel 18:25–28
When the sinner renounces sin, he shall certainly live.
Psalm 24(25):4–9
R. Remember your mercies, O Lord.
Philippians 2:1–11
Be united in your love.
John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
Matthew 21:28–32
Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
In the absence of an instituted lector, other lay persons may be commissioned to proclaim the readings from Sacred Scripture. They should be truly suited to perform this function and should be carefully prepared, so that the faithful by listening to the readings from the sacred texts may develop in their hearts a warm and living love for Sacred Scripture.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §101
One of the ongoing developments provided by the Second Vatican Council liturgical reform has been the growing number of ministers available to our Sunday celebrations. While these ministers may not be instituted in their ministry, they do contribute to the vitality of our celebrations. Men and women, young and old, have been trained to serve the community by proclaiming the Word of God and other ministries. Week after week, we are sustained by their service.
‘May this heavenly mystery, O Lord, restore us in mind and body, that we may be coheirs in glory with Christ, to whose suffering we are united whenever we proclaim his Death.’
—prayer after Communion
Isaiah 55:6–9
My thoughts are not your thoughts.
Psalm 144(145):2–3, 8–9, 17–18
R. The Lord is near to all who call him.
Philippians 1:20–24, 27
Life to me is Christ; but death would bring me more.
cf. Acts 16:14
Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.
Matthew 20:1–16
Why be envious because I am generous?
Speaking of the acclamation before the Gospel (usually the Alleluia), the Church notes:
An acclamation of this kind constitutes a rite or act in itself, by which the assembly of the faithful welcomes and greets the Lord who is about to speak to it in the Gospel and professes its faith by means of the chant.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §62
This sung acclamation does not stand alone; rather it builds on the faith of the community, who use their body and voice to express what they believe. They are attentive to the voice of their Lord, who will speak to the community through the ears and hearts of all participants. Our musicians enable this to happen by selecting music that can be sung by all the community.
‘Graciously raise up, O Lord, those you renew with this Sacrament, that we may come to possess your redemption both in mystery and in the manner of our life.’ —prayer after Communion
Ecclesiasticus 27:33–28:9
Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you; and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven.
Psalm 102(103):1–4, 9–12
R. The Lord is kind and merciful: slow to anger, and rich in compassion.
Romans 14:7–9
Alive or dead, we belong to the Lord.
John 13:34
I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you.
Matthew 18:21–35
To be forgiven, you must forgive.
In the Eucharistic Prayer, thanks is given to God for the whole work of salvation, and the offerings become the Body and Blood of Christ.
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §72
This prayer is formed by the assembly not only giving thanks for past events of salvation but also giving voice to all creation to sing the praise of God. We make it possible for all creation to sing the praise of the creator. In this way, we become priests of all creation, giving voice to the praise and worship due to our God. We do not stand in isolation from creation but are in union with it; all creation is singing God’s praises. Therefore our Sunday celebration is attentive to the many issues of ecology in our contemporary world so that God may be praised.
‘May the worship of each of us bring salvation to all.’
—prayer after Communion
Ezekiel 33:7–9
If you do not speak to the wicked man, I will hold you responsible for his death.
Psalm 94(95):1–2, 6–9
R. O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts.
Romans 13:8–10
Your only debt should be the debt of mutual love.
2 Corinthians 5:19
God was in Christ, to reconcile the world to himself; and the Good News of reconciliation he has entrusted to us.
Matthew 18:15–20
If your brother listens to you, you have won back your brother.
Christ’s promise applies in an outstanding way to such a local gathering of the holy Church: ‘Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in their midst.’
—General Instruction of the Roman Missal, §27
In the waters of baptism and the gift of confirmation, we are the priestly people of God. Each time we gather for Sunday Mass, we come to exercise this one priesthood of God under the leadership of our ordained minister. This priestly work begins with the very fact that we gather in Christ’s name and so provide the sacramental basis for Christ’s presence in our world. Having gathered in Christ’s name, we then allow the Lord to form us through his Word and Sacrament to be the Body of Christ in this time and place.
‘Grant that your faithful, O Lord, whom you nourish and endow with life through the food of your Word and heavenly Sacrament, may so benefit from your beloved Son’s great gifts that we may merit an eternal share in his life.’
—prayer after Communion