New ICEL Translations in England and Wales for the Chrism Mass
- Written by Alex Walker
Chrism Mass
The Bishops’ Conference has received confirmatio from the Holy See of a new translation of the Order of Blessing the Oil of Catechumens and of the Sick and of Consecrating the Chrism. The text has been sent to bishops and will be used at diocesan Chrism Masses this Holy Week. The oils are blessed before the beginning of the Paschal Triduum on Maundy Thursday evening so that they may be used for the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. As the main prayers are a rich resource for liturgical catechesis these texts are available for download, as is the translation of the hymn O Redemptor and some notes on the celebration.
What do we value?
- Written by Chris McDonnell
Chris McDonnell - CT Friday February 23rd 2018.
Not everything of value is reducible to economic analysis or science. Those few words raise a huge question; what in fact are values, yours, mine and the society that we live in?
Heartfelt gratitude !
- Written by martin bennett
Fr. Gerry Hughes.
When the Leadership Team met on 17th Feb, it was the first gathering without founder member, inspiration and friend Fr. Gerry Hughes, SJ, who has stepped down to take care of his health. I think it is fair to say that he left two large gaps in the team on Saturday. Firstly, his inspiration. Anyone who has attended a course, studied his writings or been in a meeting with Gerry will know what I mean when I say the rather too-easily used ‘intellectual giant’ isn’t nearly adequate to describe what it is to have the privilege of Gerry’s mind shedding light on your own thoughts and understanding. There are, no doubt, people who have the same intellectual capacity as Gerry, (although I am very hard put to name many), but where intellectual giants have the tendency to look down on people from their lofty height, so that their knowledge can make you feel inadequate, Gerry has a wonderful gift of sharing his insights allowing you (individual or group) to tag along to reach new insights.
Second Sunday of Lent
- Written by Alex Walker
O God, who have commanded us
to listen to your beloved Son,
be pleased, we pray,
to nourish us inwardly by your word,
that, with spiritual sight made pure,
we may rejoice to behold your glory.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Prayer over the Offerings
May this sacrifice, O Lord, we pray,
cleanse us of our faults
and sanctify your faithful in body and mind
for the celebration of the paschal festivities.
Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
As we receive these glorious mysteries,
we make thanksgiving to you, O Lord,
for allowing us while still on earth
to be partakers even now of the things of heaven.
Through Christ our Lord.
O God,
who commanded us to listen to your beloved Son,
nourish us inwardly with your word of life
and purify the eyes of our spirit,
that we may rejoice in the sight of your glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord,
may this eucharistic sacrifice wash away our sins;
may it sanctify your people in body and soul
and prepare us to celebrate the paschal feast.
Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
We give you grateful thanks, O Lord,
for this most glorious sacrament,
in which you allow us, while pilgrims still on earth,
a foretaste of the blessings of heaven.
We make our prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Second Sunday of Lent Reflection: Year B
- Written by Joseph O'Hanlon
ACTA COMMENTARY ON OUR SUNDAY LECTIONARY
Second Sunday of Lent Year B
Our Lectionary is a precious gift of the Second Vatican Council and the subsequent liturgical reforms. It has begun to give Catholics some knowledge of the Bible though it is still true that, as a general observation, Catholics do not read God’s holy words, to use the phrase of Francis of Assisi.
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