Greetings
The Spirit of the Lord
makes flexible what is rigid,
kindles what is frigid,
and straightens what is wayward.
May the Lord give you this Spirit
and be always with you.
R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
A. A Spirit of Understanding
It is admirable that people can understand one another even when they speak different languages. Their good will, their gestures, their smiles make them see what others try to say or do. At the first Pentecost people understood one another: they heard the message of Christ in their own language, despite all their variety. The Spirit made them capable of doing so. We too speak our own languages: not only different mother tongues but the languages of our different cultures and personalities, even of the different ways we live our faith. May the Spirit of Pentecost make us understand and appreciate one another and unite us in one bond of faith and love.
B. The Spirit of Openness
How timid we often are, preoccupied with our own little concerns, living in our own little worlds! Today, on Pentecost, we celebrate the Holy Spirit. He tells us to open doors and windows, to break out of our ghettos and to make it courageously known to all with our words and our lives that God has made us free and rich. We cannot keep him for ourselves but must share him with the whole world. Let this Spirit come down on us, Jesus' disciples today.
C. The Spirit of Enthusiasm
Today is the great feast of Pentecost, when the Spirit of God came down on the apostles. In the drabness and routine of life, even of the Christian life, we need a fresh breath to renew our blood, a strong wind to blow away our fears and to steer our sails in the journey of life, fire to spark us with fresh enthusiasm, light to show us the road to follow. God's Spirit was there in fire and storm when the apostles were afraid and timid. God's Spirit is here with us now with his fire and his mighty wind, or perhaps very quietly, to blow new energy into us and to light a new fire in us. Let him come and let him move us. It is our Pentecost.
Penitential Act
We stand before the Lord to acknowledge
that too often we are estranged from one another,
seeing more what divides us than what unites us.
Let us ask pardon from the Lord and from one another.
(PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, breathe on us
the Spirit who makes us one:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, breathe on us
the Spirit who forgives and heals:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, breathe on us
the Spirit who renews us in your love:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Wash away the stains of sin in us, Lord,
and make us strong and loving.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray to the Father
to send us the Holy Spirit
whom he gave to the young Church
(PAUSE)
God our Father,
let the Holy Spirit surprise us
with his fire and vigor
and let him make us young and new again
as he did for the young Church.
Let him renew our days,
our loves and our lives.
Let him bring us tenderness and joy
as well as openness to one another
and the courage to stand up
for all that is right and just.
Let him unite us and lead us to you.
All this we ask you through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
First Reading Introduction: The Spirit Comes As A Mighty Storm Loud noise, a mighty storm, fire, languages—these symbols used to describe the first Christian Pentecost tell us forcefully that here something totally new is happening. God's Spirit of power is breaking through to bring divided humankind to-gether in a community where there is room for all.
Second Reading Introduction: The Spirit Of God Lives In You
Thanks to the Spirit, the resurrection of Christ is already active in us; it enables us to give up the works of evil and makes us free to live as God's children.
Gospel Introduction: The Spirit Will Be With You Forever
Jesus goes to the Father, but he will continue to guide us and the whole Church through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will remind us continually of Jesus.
General Intercessions
Let us pray to the Lord persistently, for the Father of mercy always hears the prayer of a sincere and faithful heart. Let us say: R/ Pour out your Spirit on us, Lord.
- Pour out your Spirit as living water on the world: Let your Spirit come to enlighten and strengthen all those with a political responsibility: that justice and peace may be their daily concern, we pray: R/ Pour out your Spirit on us, Lord.
- Pour out your Spirit as a burning fire on the world: Let your Spirit enlighten and convert all those with an economic responsibility: that solidarity and sharing guide their decisions, we pray: R/ Pour out your Spirit on us, Lord.
- Pour out your Spirit as a festive song on the world: Let your Spirit enlighten and renew all those with artistic responsibility: that their work may radiate beauty and truth, we pray: R/ Pour out your Spirit on us, Lord.
- Pour out your Spirit as a bond of grace on the world: Let your Spirit enlighten and gather together all those scattered by the events of life; put hope in their hearts to start a new life, we pray: R/ Pour out your Spirit on us, Lord.
- Pour out your Spirit as a cry of expectancy in the world: Let your Spirit enlighten and guide all who have heard your call to bear witness to your Good News on the roads of the world, we pray: R/ Pour out your Spirit on us, Lord.
Answer our prayers, God of power and might. Let the Spirit, alive in us, spread your love among all people, today and for ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father,
give us your Son in this eucharist
and pour out his Spirit over us.
Through him, complete in us what is imperfect,
change in us what is too inadequate.
Keep us always open to your Spirit
and to one another,
to unite us and to make us ever new,
that he may bring to fulfillment
the work begun in us by Jesus Christ,
your Son and our Lord for ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Let the Spirit of joy and love and gratitude prompt us to give wholehearted thanks to God, our creator and Father, for all his goodness and patience.
Invitation to the Lord's Prayer
We cannot say "Jesus is Lord"
except through the Spirit.
We cannot say "Father" to God,
except through the Spirit crying out in us.
With him, we can now say with complete trust
the prayer given us by Jesus: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and grant in our day the peace of Christ,
which is the work of your Spirit.
In your mercy keep us free from all sin
which obstructs the unity
and the universality of your Church.
Protect us from all anxiety and reassure us
that even in the uncertainties of our time
the Spirit leads us forward in joyful hope
toward the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Invitation to Communion
The Spirit and the Church say: Come.
Let everyone who listens answer: Come.
Let all that are thirsty come.
All who want it
may have the water of life
and have it as a free gift.
This is the risen Christ
whose Spirit moves us forward
to bear witness to God's love.R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
thanks to your Holy Spirit
the apostles could bring to a good end
the mission given them by Jesus your Son.
Pour out your Spirit over us too,
to inspire this community and your whole Church
with a sense of mission and commitment.
Let him renew us day after day
and bind us together as your people,
that we may be to the whole world
the living signs that your Son is alive
and that he is our Lord now and for ever. R/ Amen.
Blessing
Often we are timid, afraid to risk our person,
to live consistently what we believe in,
for we don't know where involvement will lead us.
It is imprudent by human standards
to place ourselves into the hands of people
and even of the Spirit.
May God give us this courage and foolish wisdom,
and may he bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go in peace
and may the Spirit of Christ
be your guide in all you do. R/ Thanks be to God.
