Mass for the Dead I

(Mass Guide)
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON

Commentator:
I know that my Redeemer lives, and that he will at last stand
forth upon the dust; and from my flesh I shall see God.
(Job 19:25-26)

GREETING: (The sign of the Cross is made here).

PRIEST:
The Lord be with you. OR
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and
the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

Commentator/All: And with your Spirit.

PENITENTIAL RITE:
This rite is omitted if the Sprinkling with Holy Water and Placing of
Christian Symbols take place.

PRIEST:
Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the Sacred Mysteries, let
us call to mind our sins:
A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of
general confession.

(Read only after the priest has started with it)

I confess to Almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters

that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do;

(striking one’s breast)

Through my fault, through my fault, through my

most grievous fault;
and I ask the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, all the Angels and
Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the
Lord our God.

PRIEST: May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us

our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
Commentator/All: Amen.

or
The priest invites the faithful to make the Penitential Act:.

PRIEST: Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us

acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves
to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
A brief pause for silence follows.

PRIEST: You were sent to heal the contrite of heart:

Lord, have mercy
Commentator/All: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST: You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy.

Commentator/All: Christ, have mercy.

PRIEST: You are seated at the right hand of the Father to

intercede for us: Lord, have mercy
Commentator/All: Lord, have mercy.

PRIEST: May Almighty God have Mercy on us, forgive us

our sins and bring us everlasting life.
Commentator/All: Amen.
The Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocation follows, unless they have
just occurred in a formula of the Penitential Act.

PRIEST: Lord have mercy

Commentator/All: Lord have mercy.

PRIEST: Christ have mercy

Commentator/All: Christ have mercy.
PRIEST: Lord have mercy
Commentator/All: Lord have mercy.

PRIEST: May Almighty God have Mercy on us, forgive us

our sins and bring us everlasting life.

Commentator/All: Amen.

COLLECT
Priest:
Let us pray.

O God, almighty Father,

Our faith professes that your Son died and rose again;
Mercifully grant , that through this mystery your servant
N. who has fallen asleep in Christ, may rejoice to rise
again through him. Who lives and reigns with you, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.

Commentator/All: Amen.
FIRST READING Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9

Reader:
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples.
On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
"Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!"

The word of the Lord.

Commentator/All: Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 25:6 and 7b, 18-
18, 20-21

Response: To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Remember that your compassion, O Lord,

and your kindness are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
because of your goodness, O Lord. (R.)

Response: To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Relieve the troubles of my heart;

and bring me out of my distress.
Put an end to my suffering;
and take away all my sins. (R.)

Response: To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Preserve my life and rescue me;

let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
because I wait for you, O Lord. (R.)
VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL Phil 3:20

Alleluia, alleluia.
Our true home is in heaven, and Jesus Christ, whose return
we long for, will come from heaven to save us.
Alleluia, alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL John 14:1-6

Priest: The Lord be with you.

Commentator/All: And with your spirit.

Priest: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John

Commentator/All: Glory to you, O Lord.

Priest: A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Do not let your hearts be troubled.
You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father's house there are many dwelling places.
If there were not,
would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place
for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.
Where I am going you know the way."
Thomas said to him,
"Master, we do not know where you are going;
how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Commentator/All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

Or
John 12:23-26

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

Jesus said to his disciples:

"The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life will lose it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Commentator/All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!

HOMILY
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL

Priest:
Let us pray to our all-powerful Father who raised Jesus from
the dead and gives new life to our mortal bodies. With
confidence, we pray:

Response. God of life, hear our prayer.

Reader
That the Church may lead all her children to the heavenly
Kingdom through her preaching and witnessing. Let us pray
to the Lord. (R.)

Commentator/All: God of life, hear our prayer.

Reader
That light and peace may be given to N., and be received into
the fullness of God’s Kingdom. Let us pray to the Lord. (R.)

Commentator/All: R God of life, hear our prayer.

Reader
That we may persevere in faith, hope, and love and work as
the Lord’s faithful servants so that we may inherit the
resurrection of the just. Let us pray to the Lord. (R.)

Commentator/All: God of life, hear our prayer.

Reader
That those who mourn over the loss of their loved ones may
be consoled and comforted by the Risen Lord. Let us pray to
the Lord. (R.)

Commentator/All: God of life, hear our prayer.

Reader
That all the faithful departed who have gone before us in
faith may share Christ’s victory and enjoy the vision of his
glory. Let us pray to the Lord. (R.)

Commentator/All: God of life, hear our prayer.

Priest:
God of life, Jesus our Lord has overcome death for us. Help
us to rise from our sorrow and despondency, believing that
nothing can separate us from you, who live and reign forever
and ever.

Commentator/All: Amen.
 LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
PRESENTATION OF GIFTS:

OFFERTORY

Then the minister brings the paten with the bread, which the Priest
takes and holds slightly raised above the altar with both hands, saying:

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation

For through your goodness we have received
The bread we offer you:
Fruit of the earth and work of human hands,
It will become for us the bread of life.

Commentator/All: Blessed be God for ever.

Then he takes the chalice and holds it slightly raised above the altar
with both hands, saying:

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation

For through your goodness we have received
The wine we offer you:
Fruit of the vine and work of human hands,
It will become our spiritual drink

Commentator/All: Blessed be God for ever.

PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS

PRIEST:
Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters), that my sacrifice and
yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.

Commentator/All:
May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands, for
the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and
the good of all his holy Church.
 PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS

PRIEST:
As we humbly present to you
these sacrificial offerings, O Lord,
for the salvation of your servant Name,
we beseech your mercy,
that he/she, who did not doubt your Son
to be a loving Saviour,
may find in him a merciful Judge.
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

Commentator/All: Amen.

PREFACE I FOR THE DEAD

The Hope of Resurrection in Christ
PRIEST: The Lord be with You
Commentator/All: And with your Spirit

PRIEST: Lift up your hearts

Commentator/All: We lift them up to the Lord

PRIEST: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

Commentator/All: It is right and just.

PRIEST:
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
Through Christ our Lord.

In him the hope of blessed resurrection dawned,

That those saddened by the certainty of dying might be
consoled by the promise of immortality to come.
Indeed for your faithful, Lord,
Life is changed not ended,
And, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust,
an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.

And so, with the Angels and Archangels,

with Thrones and Dominions,
and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven,
we sing the hymn of glory,
as without end we acclaim:

Commentator/All:
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest! (Kneel).

The Priest, with hands extended, says:

You are indeed Holy, O Lord,

the fount of all holiness.
He joins his hands and, holding them extended over the offerings, says:

Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,

by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall,
He joins his hands
and makes the Sign of the Cross once over the bread and the chalice
together, saying:

so that they may become for us

the Body and † Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He joins his hands.

In the formulas that follow, the words of the Lord should be pronounced
clearly and distinctly, as the nature of these words requires.

At the time he was betrayed

and entered willingly into his Passion,
He takes the bread
and, holding it slightly raised above the altar, continues:

he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it,

and gave it to his disciples, saying:
He bows slightly.
TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT,
FOR THIS IS MY BODY,
WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.

He shows the consecrated host to the people, places it again on the

paten, and genuflects in adoration.
After this, he continues:

In a similar way, when supper was ended,

He takes the chalice
and, holding it slightly raised above the altar, continues:

he took the chalice and, once more giving thanks,

he gave it to his disciples, saying:
He bows slightly.

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT,

FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT,
WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR
MANY
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.
DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.
He shows the chalice to the people, places it on the corporal, and
genuflects in adoration.

ACCLAMATION (Signal for the congregation to stand)

PRIEST: The mystery of faith.

Commentator/All:
We proclaim your Death, O Lord,
and profess your Resurrection
until you come again.
Then the Priest, with hands extended, says:

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his Death and

Resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the Bread of life and the
Chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us
worthy to be in your presence and minister to you. Humbly
we pray that,
partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be
gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord, your Church, spread throughout the world,

and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with N. our
Pope and Jose, our Bishop, and all the clergy.

Remember your servant N.,

whom you have called (today)
from this world to yourself.
Grant that he/she who was united with your Son
in a death like his,
may also be one with him in his Resurrection.

Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen

asleep in the hope of the resurrection, and all who have died
in your mercy:
welcome them into the light of your face.
Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin
Mary, Mother of God, with the blessed Apostles, and all the
Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may
merit to be coheirs to eternal life, and may praise and glorify
you

He joins his hands.

through your Son, Jesus Christ.

Commentator/All: AMEN.
(If the priest sings “Through Him, with Him and in Him, sing “Amen” in
response.)
 COMMUNION RITE

THE LORD’S PRAYER (Recite or sing “Our Father.”)

PRIEST:
At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we
dare to say:

Commentator/All:
Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy
name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on
earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily
bread. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those
who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.

With hands extended, the Priest alone continues, saying:

PRIEST:
Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,
Graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of Your mercy,
we may be always free from sin
and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
He joins his hands.

Commentator/All:

For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
now and forever.

SIGN OF PEACE

Then the Priest, with hands extended says aloud:

Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles:

Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,
look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with your will.

He joins his hands.

Who live and reign forever and ever.

Commentator/People: Amen.

PRIEST: The peace of the Lord be always with you

Commentator/All: And with your Spirit

PRIEST: Let us offer each other the sign of peace

BREAKING OF THE BREAD

LAMB OF GOD:

Commentator/All:
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
grant us peace.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

PRIEST:
Behold the Lamb of God, behold him, who takes away the
sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of
the Lamb.

Commentator/All:
Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under
my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be
healed.
The Priest raises a host slightly and shows it to each of the
communicants, saying:

The Body of Christ.

The communicant replies:

Amen.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON John 6:50

(if no psalm/hymn is sung)

Commentator:
This is the bread that comes down from heaven, says the
Lord; so that one may eat it and not die.

Reader:
ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself
wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Priest:
Let us pray.

May the sacrifice of your Church, we pray, O Lord, benefit

the soul of your servant N., so that he/she, who received the
Sacrament of Christ’s mercy, may enter his company
together with your Saints. Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

CONCLUDING RITE

Priest: The Lord be with you.

Commentator/All: And with your Spirit!

Priest: May almighty God bless you, the Father, and

the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

Commentator/All: Amen!

SOLEMN BLESSING

Priest: Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

or
Priest: Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

or
Priest: Go in peace.

Commentator/All: Thanks be to God!

COMMENDATION AND FAREWELL

WORDS OF REMEMBRANCE (sit)

A member or a friend of the family may speak in remembrance
of the deceased before the final commendation begins; there is never to be a
eulogy [OCF (1989) 170, 27].

INVITATION TO PRAYER (stand)

Priest:
With faith in Jesus Christ, we reverently prepare the body of
our brother/sister to be buried in its human imperfection.
Let us pray with confidence to God who gives life to all
things, that he will raise up this mortal body to the perfection
and the company of saints.

May God give him/her a merciful judgment and forgive all

his/her sins. May Christ, the Good Shepherd, lead him/her
safely home to be at peace with God our Father. And may
he/she be happy forever with all the saints in the presence of
the eternal King.

All: Our Father…

Priest: Eternal rest, grant unto him/her, O Lord.

All: And let perpetual light shine upon him/her.

Priest: May she rest in peace+.

All: Amen.

The body is sprinkled with holy water and incensed.

RESPONSORY
Priest: I know that my Redeemer lives, and on the last day I
shall rise again; in my body I shall look on God, my Savior.

All: I know that my Redeemer lives, and on the last

day I shall rise again; in my body I shall look on God,
my Savior.

Priest: I myself see him; my own eyes will gaze on him.

All: In my body I shall look on God, my Savior.

Priest: This is the hope I cherish in my heart.

All: In my body I shall look on God, my Savior.

All: I know that my Redeemer lives, and on the last

day I shall rise again; in my body I shall look on God,
my Savior.

INVOCATIONS

To each invocation, all respond

R. Lord, save your people.

By your coming as man. (R.)
By your birth. (R.)
By your baptism and fasting. (R.)
By your suffering and cross. (R.)
By your death and burial. (R.)
By your rising to new life. (R.)
By your return in glory to the Father. (R.)
By your gift of the Holy Spirit. (R.)
By your coming again in glory. (R.)
Priest: We commend our brother/sister N. to you, Lord.
Now that he/she passed from this life, may he/she live in
your presence. Welcome him/her to paradise and help us to
comfort each other with the assurance of our faith.

All: Amen.

Priest: May the choir of angels welcome you. Where Lazarus

is poor no longer, may you have eternal rest.

All: Amen.