BLESSING OF PALMS AND PROCESSION
Introduction by the Celebrant
- Jerusalem:
Place of Suffering and of Triumph
We know from the school of life that not every day is a day
of joy and bliss: there are also gloomy days of suffering, of disappointments
and failure. But today, on Palm Sunday “of the Lord’s Passion,” we are told in
no uncertain terms that this was the freely accepted lot of no less than Jesus
himself. First, we see him acclaimed in a small triumph, but then we hear how
he is led to his death. One week from now, on Easter Sunday, we will hear it
clearly and emphatically stated that his death led to the triumph of his own
resurrection; we will also hear of the forgiveness and life he brings us. We
unite ourselves with Our Lord in his triumph and in his suffering and death and
we pray that he will make our life and death as acceptable and meaningful as
his.
- And
the Passion Goes On…
Today and during the whole of Holy Week our attention
focuses on the sufferings which our Lord endured for our sake and how they led
to his resurrection and our own rising from sin and evil and ultimately from
death. But we keep also in mind that Jesus goes on suffering today in his body,
that means, in his people who are victims of injustice, of deprivation,
betrayal, persecution. Let us pray for them that they may also rise with the
Lord and that we may help them to rise.
Prayer of the Blessing of the Palms
Let us pray (pause) God of all life, we come before you with
green branches, symbols of life and youth, and of Jesus, who called himself the
green wood. Bless us, and bless these branches. Let these green twigs and
leaves acclaim Christ as our Lord who brings us life’s fullness, even though we
have to go with him the hard road of suffering and death toward the final
victory. We ask this through Christ our Lord who lives and reigns forever and
ever. R/ Amen.
The priest sprinkles the branches with holy water
in silence.
Gospel of the Palm Blessing (Lk 19:28-40): Blessed Is He
Who Comes in the Name of the Lord
****
- THE
EUCHARIST
Song: The procession song serves also as the Entrance
Song. After the procession or solemn entrance, the priest prays immediately the
Opening Prayer. Only if there is no procession or solemn entrance, the usual
Penitential Act and Kyrie from the missal are said.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray that we may follow Jesus on his road of service
(pause)
God our Father, in Jesus your Son, you have shown us that
the road that leads to victory is the way of loving service and the willingness
to pay the price of sacrifice for faithful, unswerving love. Give us the
mentality and attitude of Jesus, that we may learn to serve with him and to
love without counting the cost. May we thus become victorious with him who is
our Lord forever and ever. R/ Amen.
First Reading (Is 50:4-7): God Will Come to My Help
The Suffering Servant of God remains faithful to his
mission even when persecuted for he relies on God
Second Reading (Phil 2:6-11): Jesus Humbled Himself and
So Became Our Lord
God’s Son humbled himself to become one of us and to
serve us. This is why God raised him up and made him the Lord of all.
Verse Before the Gospel: Philippians 2:8-9
Christ became obedient to the point of death, even death on
a cross. because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name.
General
Intercessions
With Jesus
we pray and suffer that all people may find forgiveness and life. We pray:
R/ Lord, save your people.
–
Lord Jesus, our Savior, suffering your agony with you, we pray for all who are
dying in pain. We say: R/ Lord, save your people.
–
Lord Jesus, arrested like a criminal, we pray for all who are in prison. We
say: R/ Lord, save your people.
–
Lord Jesus, denied by your best friends, we pray for all who are deserted by
those dear to them. We say: R/ Lord, save your people.
–
Lord Jesus, brought before unjust judges, we pray for all who suffer from
injustice, especially in unjust courts. We say: R/ Lord, save your
people.
–
Lord Jesus, scourged and crowned with thorns, we pray for all who are tortured.
We say: R/ Lord, save you people.
–
Lord Jesus, carrying your cross, we pray for all who don’t know how to bear
their afflictions. R/ We say: Lord, save your people.
–
Lord Jesus, dying on the cross abandoned, we pray for all who are alone in
life. R/ We say: Lord, save your people.
–
Lord Jesus, raised from the dead, we pray you to bring us life and peace and to
raise us up with you. R/ We say: Lord, save your people.
Crucified
Lord, hear our prayer. Give us here today the bread of resurrection and life.
Turn our ways of the cross into roads to life and joy. Be with us forever and
ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer
over the Gifts
Loving
Father, on the night before he died Jesus gave himself to his friends in the
form of bread and wine, as he does again now here among us. Give us grateful
hearts for all his goodness and make us strong enough to give ourselves with
him to those with whom we go through life. Let this offering bring us
reconciliation with one another and with you. We ask this in the name of Jesus
the Lord. R/ Amen.
Introduction
to the Eucharistic Prayer
Jesus’
cross and death brought us forgiveness and life. He died, that we might live.
With Jesus, we thank the Father for his love.
Deliver
Us
Deliver us,
Lord, from sin and from every other evil, and grant us your forgiveness and
peace. In your mercy, give hope and love to those who are abandoned and are
agonizing because of their crosses. Lead us all forward in hope toward the full
coming among us of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the
kingdom...
Invitation
to Communion
This is
Jesus, the Lamb of God, who said: ”Anyone who wants to be great among you must
be the servant of all, just as I came not to be served but to serve, and to
give my life as a ransom for all.” Happy are we if we follow the Lord. R/ Lord,
I am not worthy...
Prayer
after Communion
Loving
Father, in this Eucharist your Son Jesus has given himself to us as he
gave himself totally on the cross. May we learn from him to keep our hope in
you alive and to continue going our way in life also when we do not know what
will come to us in the future or when we have to bear heavy crosses. For we
trust you, and we know that we will rise above our miseries to a life of joy
without end, by the power of Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
In Jesus we
have seen today how love of God and love of people go hand in hand, are
inseparable. Jesus’ love for the Father made him go all the way in his love for
us. He died in carrying out that mission and in his death we are reborn. Let
this thought guide us this Holy Week and inspire our Christian living too: Jesus
is the Master and Lord, and we follow him. May God give you strength and bless
you: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go
with one another the way of Jesus our Lord.
R/ Thanks be to God.
