26th Sunday : Bidding Prayers / Intercessions / Prayer of the Faithful

Priest :

My brothers and sisters, let us join together to pray for the needs of our Church, our country and ourselves, forgetting not the many wants of all mankind.

Reader:

For his Holiness Pope Benedict XV1 and for the bishops of the church that together with the leaders of all the world’s religions they will guide us with tolerance and respect for others, and so search together for ways of peace between nations. Lord, in your mercy

At this harvest time we pray for all who work on the land, may their labour be blessed by God and may they be given suitable weather for the growth and harvesting of their crops which will provide food for themselves and for others. Lord in your mercy

We pray for the work of CAFOD: that it may continue to enable those in our global community who don't have enough food to share in the banquet that God has prepared for us all. Lord in your mercy

For those who have died,  and for those whose anniversaries occur at this time, may they know the peace, which comes from sharing in Christ's victory over death. Lord in your mercy.

Let us join our prayers with the prayers of Our Lady: Hail Mary.

We make our private petitions in silence.

The priest concludes the prayers:

Heavenly Father, hear the prayers of your people and grant our petitions out of the same love with which you created us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

25th Sunday : Bidding Prayers / Intercessions / Prayer of the Faithful

Priest:

The Lord is our salvation; he will surely hear our cry for help for all in need.

Reader:

We pray for all who have been called by Christ to serve the world as his followers, may their enthusiasm set us all on fire with his love. Lord in your mercy

We pray for peacemakers throughout the world and for peoples caught up in conflicts and civil wars especially in Syria. Lord in your mercy

Let us pray for all who care for children – parents, grandparents and teachers, and for those involved in fostering and adoption, that all children may be loved and cherished. Lord in your mercy.

For the sick, the worried, the tempted, and all suffering any form of deprivation. May all be helped, through the intercession of St Vincent De Paul, to come to their aid, as their brothers and sisters. Lord in your mercy.

We pray for those whose have died, especially those who have died violently, suddenly and unprepared in this past week: may the Lord comfort their families Lord in your mercy.

We ask Our Blessed Lady to help us with our prayers as we say - Hail Mary.

In silence we think of our own intentions.

Priest:

Loving Father, we have offered you our prayers; grant that what we need we may obtain through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Bidding Prayers / Intercessions / Prayer of the Faithful

Priest:

The Lord hears the cry of our appeal and comes to our help, so with confidence we make our requests on behalf of the needy.

Reader:

For our Holy Father Pope Benedict and all who hold positions of authority within the Church: that as true successors of Peter they may blend gentleness with strength in a spirit of genuine compassion towards others.
Lord hear us.

For those persecuted for their religion, especially those held in prisons: we ask you to give strength and guidance to those organisations working to challenge governments who abuse human rights.
Lord hear us.

We pray for the poor and disadvantaged, especially children, and for agencies such as social services, food banks and refuges that are trying to help.
Lord, hear us

We pray for those who have died, that they will enjoy forever the glories of heaven, and for those who mourn that they may be comforted.
Lord, hear us

Let us commend ourselves and all God’s people both living and dead to the intercession of our Blessed Lady as we say together, Hail Mary.

Now let us pray for a moment in silence.

Priest:

Heavenly Father, we ask you to hear our prayers for all in need and to answer them according to your great mercy, through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen

23rd Sunday : Homily / Sermon

Jesus said: Ephphatha’, that is, ‘Be opened.’ And the man’s ears were opened, and the ligament of his tongue was loosened and he spoke clearly. (Mark 7:34)

In the rite of baptism, there is a ceremony, rarely used in England and Wales, when the priest touches the ear and mouth of the baby and says ‘Ephphatha’, be opened. It is a prayer that the newly baptised may hear the Gospel and speak it.

The story in which we find these words comes after disputes between Jesus and the Jewish leaders, when it becomes clear that they are deaf to the truth of the Gospel.

This story is a miracle, and it is more than a miracle. In effect, this miracle is a prophetic act, an acted parable. It is symbolic, and more than symbolic.

Hearing and speech are mechanisms of the human body, which may often flourish, but can sometimes be impaired. Hearing can decline, and fail. Speech may be difficult or even absent. And we know that there is technology, there are medical procedures and training, which can bring great improvement and even cure. Hearing aids, surgery, speech therapy each in different ways can overcome many of the weaknesses of the human body.

And this, in part is what Jesus does by this miracle. He fixes the broken or faulty machinery of the human body. But he does much more.

The body is much more than a machine. Speech and hearing are much more than mechanical functions. We can make a lot of noise, yet signify nothing. We can hear what is said to us, yet take no heed. Hearing and speaking are gifts, like all gifts, which can be used or abused.

In fact, it is not the power of hearing or speech which we need to survive, but the ability, the possibility, to communicate. Those whose faculties cannot be repaired still find ways, through signing and other methods, to communicate. We can survive without speech and hearing - but to thrive we must communicate.

And it is THIS which is what Jesus is about. He is not some kind of divine mechanic, wandering through first century Palestine undertaking repairs. Every miracle has a meaning. Every action is a form of teaching. Every healing carries a message. They all point to some truth. To THE Truth.

And when, today, Jesus calls the ears to be opened he is not only speaking of their functional operation, but their meaning and purpose. It s about listening to his word. It is about speaking what is right. This is not about mechanical medicine, but the pursuit of truth, and mercy, and love.

Let us pray that our ears may be opened to the truth, and that we may speak it with confudence and courage.

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Image Source : www.language-bank.co.uk

 

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) : Bidding Prayers / Intercessions / Prayer of the Faithful

Priest:

We turn to the Lord who has done all things well and ask him to help us in  our need.

Reader:

May the loving Lord help us to reach out to our fellow human beings in love, respecting the rights of every person, and not taking advantage of those who lack social status or power
Lord, hear us.

For those Christians who are suffering persecution or ill-treatment because of their faith. May the Lord be their strength and their comfort, so that they may never doubt his love for them. 
Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for those who are deaf, dumb or blind or who suffer any form of physical or mental disability; also for those who are sick in our own parish and also for those who minister to them.
Lord, hear us.

May the eternal Father give a place of life and rest to those who have died, especially this week for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time, for the victims of 9/11 and other acts of terrorism: may we share with them in the glory of Jesus Christ, who died to save us all.
Lord hear us

Let us now join our prayers with those of Mary as we say: Hail Mary…

Let us now pray in a moment of silence

Priest:

Loving Father, hear our prayers 
and grant that what we ask in faith 
we may obtain through your love 
in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

 

Twenty Third Sunday of Year B

Priest:

We turn to the Lord who has done all things well and ask him to help us in  our need.

Reader:

May the loving Lord help us to reach out to our fellow human beings in love, respecting the rights of every person, and not taking advantage of those who lack social status or power

Lord, hear us.

For those Christians who are suffering persecution or ill-treatment because of their faith. May the Lord be their strength and their comfort, so that they may never doubt his love for them. 

Lord, hear us.

Let us pray for those who are deaf, dumb or blind or who suffer any form of physical or mental disability; also for those who are sick in our own parish and also for those who minister to them.

Lord, hear us.

May the eternal Father give a place of life and rest to those who have died, especially this week for (Teresa Boulton, for) all those whose anniversaries occur at this time, for the victims of 9/11 and other acts of terrorism: may we share with them in the glory of Jesus Christ, who died to save us all.

Lord hear us

Let us now join our prayers with those of Mary as we say…

Let us now pray in a moment of silence

 

Priest:

Loving Father, hear our prayers 

and grant that what we ask in faith 

we may obtain through your love 

in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.