A BLESSING OF THE EASTER BASKET FOR USE AT HOME
Fr Lou and Fr Ton’s Easter basket blessing can be found HERE
INTRODUCTION
Leader:
Throughout Lent we have been preparing for the resurrection of the Lord by prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. Our Lenten fasting is a reminder of our hunger and thirst for holiness, which is satisfied only by Christ who feeds and nourishes us by His word and sacraments. When we gather at our first meal of Easter may this food be a sign for us of that heavenly banquet to which the Lord calls us.
READING OF THE WORD OF GOD
One of those present then reads a text of sacred Scripture (John 6:1-14).
Brothers and sisters, listen to the words of the Gospel of St. John.
After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee [of Tiberias]. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little [bit].” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.”
PRAYER OF BLESSING
With hands joined the Leader prays:
God of glory, the eyes of all turn to you as we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death.
Bless us and this food of our first Easter meal. May we who gather at the Lord’s table continue to celebrate the joy of His resurrection and be admitted finally to His heavenly banquet.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
- Amen.
CONCLUDING RITE
The leader concludes the rite by signing himself or herself with the sign of the cross and saying: May Christ nourish us and strengthen us in faith and love now and forever. R. Amen.
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Holy Thursday – Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Livestream 7:00pm
Jesus institutes the Eucharist as the everlasting sign of His sacrifice to the Church. We hear the command to follow his example of washing the feet of His disciples. “As I have done, so you must do.”
A primary symbol of our prayer this evening – a towel.
What needs to be cleansed in me? What needs to be cleansed in the world?
What needs to be wrapped/enfolded in the warmth and comfort of a towel?
Good Friday – Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
Livestream 3:00pm
Entering into the great sacrifice of Jesus we hear once again the Passion Narrative from the Gospel of John. United to His cross, we venerate the sign of new life because of Jesus’ willingness to lay down his life for His friends.
A primary symbol of our prayer – the cross
What are the crosses we need to bear with Jesus? With others?
Easter Vigil –
Livestream 8:00pm at archchicago.org
This most sacred night we keep watch for the breaking forth of new life as Jesus is resurrected from the dead! The light of Christ dispels the darkness of the world.
A primary symbol of the Easter Vigil – the Paschal Candle
Exultet challenge is to create your own ‘Paschal Candle’ in your home, the domestic Church. Light this candle not just this Holy Night, but each night of the Easter Season (the next 50 days) Each night pray reflecting on these questions – the more specific we answer, the better!
Where did I experience Jesus’ light today?
In what way did I share the light of Jesus today?
Easter Sunday Mass
Livestream 9:30am
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LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God our Father in heaven,
have mercy on us.*
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
God the Holy Spirit,
Holy Trinity, one God,
Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal Father,
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in
the womb of the Virgin Mother,
Heart of Jesus, one with the eternal Word,
Heart of Jesus, in?nite in majesty,
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God,
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High,
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven,
Heart of Jesus, a?ame with love for us,
Heart of Jesus, source of justice and love,
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love,
Heart of Jesus, well-spring of all virtue,
Heart of Jesus, worthy of all praise,
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts,
Heart of Jesus, treasure-house of wisdom
and knowledge,
Heart of Jesus, in whom there dwells the
fullness of God,
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is Well pleased,
Heart of Jesus, from whose fullness we
have all received,
Heart of Jesus, desire of the eternal hills,
Heart of Jesus, patient and full of mercy,
Heart of Jesus, generous to all who turn to you,
Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness,
Heart of Jesus, atonement for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, overwhelmed with insults,
Heart of Jesus, broken for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, obedient even to death,
Heart of Jesus, pierced by a lance,
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation,
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection,
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation,
Heart of Jesus, victim of our sins,
Heart of Jesus, salvation of all who trust in you,
Heart of Jesus, hope of all who die in you,
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints,
Lamb of God, you take away the
sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Jesus, gentle and humble of heart,
touch our hearts and make them like your own.
*Have mercy on us is repeated after each
invocation.
Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of your dearly beloved Son and upon the
praise and satisfaction He offers you in the name of sinners and for those who seek your mercy; be
appeased, and grant us pardon in the name of the same Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns
with you forever and ever. Amen.
