The Liturgy of the Eucharist- Part 2

Communion Rite

Jesus is present in the Eucharist. We join together to say the Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught His disciples. In many churches as a sign of unity, the congregation joins hands when saying or singing the Our Father. This is a good way to share ourselves with others and to pray for our loved ones. We praise God, ask for our daily bread and beg forgiveness for our sins. It is also a good time for families to bind together. We pray together:


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 as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil.

The priest says: Deliver us Lord from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In Your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

We respond by saying: For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Sign Of Peace

After the Lord’s Prayer, in a spirit of unity, we offer each other a sign of peace. Jesus taught His Disciples that before they come before God, they should reconcile with their neighbor. The Sign of Peace is a symbol of this reconciliation.

The priest says a short prayer for peace and unity and then says: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

We respond: And also with you.

Priest: Let us offer each other the Sign of Peace.

We give a sign of peace to those around us. It could be a friendly handshake, a hug or a kiss but remember to let it come from your heart.

The Breaking Of The Bread

We ask Jesus to prepare us to receive Him in Holy Communion. We ask for mercy and peace.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the word, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world, grant us peace.



Holy Communion

The priest invites us to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. Together we ask God to make us worthy to receive Him.

We say together: Lord I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

The priest receives Holy Communion. We should remind ourselves of who we are going to receive. It is a privilege and we should be prepared. If we were having an important guest at our homes, we would clean up and put on our best clothing. Even more so for Jesus, we should prepare ourselves. We should be quiet and meditating on what is about to happen. We should pray that by receiving Jesus in Holy Communion, we would be strengthened and be made whole. Don’t go to receive Jesus just because everyone else is going but go because we want to be one with Him.

A hymn may be sung while the congregation receives Holy Communion.


The priest or the minister says: Receive the Body of Christ.
We say: Amen
The priest or the minister says: Receive the Blood of Christ
We say: Amen.

By saying Amen, we mean that e really wan to be on with God.

After receiving Holy Communion we should return to our seats quietly and with reverence. We should kneel or sit and meditate on the fact that we have just received Jesus and it will be digested into our bodies. There may be a period of silence or a hymn may be sung after Communion.

Prayer After Communion

The priest says a prayer after Communion. We ask for the grace of Communion.

Concluding Rite

The Mass finishes with the Sign of the Cross just as it began, this Sign of the Cross is a blessing. The priest blesses us in the name of Jesus.

Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Priest: May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.

The priest dismisses us by sending us out into the world to bring Christ to others.

Priest: Go in the peace of Christ.

Or

The Mass is ended, go in peace.
Or

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

We say: Thanks be to God.