Liturgical Leaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

25June 2023
August 2016 First Friday FIRST FRIDAY
Year C

Treasuring the Holiness

of God’s Temple
W
e Christians treasure the sacredness of our churches and cha-
pels because we know they are God’s special dwelling place.
But we have the duty to treasure even more the sacredness
of all human beings, because every person, even the weakest and the
most unattractive, is more sacred than the richest and most beautiful
churches or shrines.
This is especially true of all the baptized. Consecrated to the Lord
at our baptism, we have become even dearer to Him through the sacra-
ment of Confirmation, and become a most precious tabernacle when we receive Jesus in Holy Commu-
nion. We should always be aware of these basic truths, but especially today, when the Gospel passage
reminds us of the immense respect Jesus had for the Temple. He also demanded that all Jews should
avoid transforming into a “den of thieves” what was intended to be a “house of prayer.”
Let our participation in the Eucharistic celebration on this First Friday of June, the month of the
Sacred Heart, be a re-dedication of ourselves to the God of all holiness and life.

against the places of worship and Collect (Opening Prayer)

Entrance Antiphon
(To be recited only when no
Entrance Hymn is sung.)
The designs of his Heart are
from age to age, to rescue their
souls from death, and to keep
them alive in famine.
Greeting
P –Blessed be God who invites
us to experience the consolation
of His presence in this Eucharis-
tic celebration. May His grace
and peace be with you all!
All – And with your spirit!
Penitential Act
P –As we prepare to celebrate the
Sacred Mysteries, let us call to
mind our sins, especially the sins
the sins of disrespect of the dig- P –Grant, we pray, almighty
nity of all human beings. (Pause) God, that we, who glory in the
P –For our lack of respect for Heart of your beloved Son and
recall the wonders of his love
churches, chapels or other
places of worship, Lord, for us, may be made worthy to
receive an overflowing measure
have mercy!
All – Lord, have mercy! of grace from that fount of heav-
enly gifts.
P –For our lack of respect for Through our Lord Jesus
the personality, dignity, and Christ, your Son, who lives and
sensitivity of our neighbor, reigns with you in the unity of
Christ, have mercy! the Holy Spirit, God, for ever
All – Christ, have mercy! and ever.
All – Amen!
P –For our lack of respect for
the sacredness of our own
body and the wonderful
faculties of our person,
Lord, have mercy!
All – Lord, have mercy!
1st Reading Sir 44:1.9-13
P –May almighty God have A virtuous life has an endur-
mercy on us, forgive us our sins ing value. Its worth and fruits
and bring us to everlasting life. live on even after a good person’s
All –Amen! death and benefit future genera-

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tions. Such is the conclusion of
the sage Ben Sira in the brief
reflection we are about to hear.
R –A proclamation from the
Book of Sirach
Now will I praise those
godly men, our ancestors, each
in his own time. But of others
there is no memory, for when
they ceased, they ceased. And
they are as though they had
not lived, they and their chil-
dren after them. Yet these also
were godly men whose virtues
have not been forgotten; their
wealth remains in their fami-
lies, their heritage with their
descendants; through God’s
covenant with them their fam-
ily endures, their posterity,
for their sake. And for all time
their progeny will endure,
their glory will never be blot-
ted out.
The Word of the Lord!
All – Thanks be to God!
Responsorial Psalm Ps 149
R –The Lord takes delight in
his people!
* Sing to the Lord a new
song of praise in the assem-
bly of the faithful. Let Israel
be glad in their maker, let the
children of Zion rejoice in their
king. R.
* Let them praise his name
in the festive dance, let them
sing praise to him with timbrel
and harp. For the Lord loves
his people, and he adorns the
lowly with victory. R.
* Let the faithful exult in
glory; let them sing for joy
upon their couches; let the
high praises of God be in their
throats. This is the glory of all
his faithful. Alleluia! R.
Gospel Acclamation
All –Alleluia! Alleluia!
I chose you from the
world, to go and bear
fruit that will last, says
the Lord.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Gospel Mk 11:11-26
The episode of Jesus’ driv-
ing the traders from the Temple
2 June 2023
precincts reminds us of the pur-
pose and sacredness of all places
of worship. It also reminds us
of the sacredness of every hu-
man being, the most precious of
God’s temples.
P – The Lord be with you!
All – And with your spirit!
P – A proclamation from the
holy Gospel according to
Mark
All –Glory to you, O Lord!
Jesus entered Jerusalem
and went into the temple area.
He looked around at every-
thing and, since it was already
late, went out to Bethany with
the Twelve.
The next day as they were
leaving Bethany, he was hun-
gry. Seeing from a distance a
fig tree in leaf, he went over to
see if he could find anything
on it. When he reached it, he
found nothing but leaves; it
was not the time for figs. And
he said to it in reply, “May
no one ever eat of your fruit
again!” And his disciples
heard it.
They came to Jerusalem,
and on entering the temple
area, he began to drive out
those selling and buying there.
He overturned the tables of
the money changers and the
seats of those who were sell-
ing doves. He did not permit
anyone to carry anything
through the temple area. Then
he taught them saying, “Is it
not written: My house shall be
called a house of prayer for all
peoples? But you have made it
a den of thieves.”
The chief priests and the
scribes came to hear of it and
were seeking a way to put
him to death, yet they feared
him because the whole crowd
was astonished at his teach-
ing. When evening came, they
went out of the city.
Early in the morning, as
they were walking along, they
saw the fig tree withered to its
roots. Peter remembered and
said to him, “Rabbi, look! The
fig tree that you cursed has
withered.” Jesus said to them
in reply, “Have faith in God.
Amen, I say to you, whoever
says to this mountain, ‘Be lift-
ed up and thrown into the sea,’
and does not doubt in his heart
but believes that what he says
will happen, it shall be done
for him. Therefore I tell you,
all that you ask for in prayer,
believe that you will receive
it and it shall be yours. When
you stand to pray, forgive any-
one against whom you have a
grievance, so that your heav-
enly Father may in turn for-
give you your transgressions.”
The Gospel of the Lord!
All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus
Christ!
Homily
Prayer of the Faithful
P –Cleansed by God’s word and
the sincere sorrow for our past
shortcomings, with confidence
we approach the throne of God’s
mercy and submit our petitions
to Him, saying:
All –Lord of all holiness, hear
our prayer!
C –For the Universal Church,
God’s spiritual temple on earth:
May it be kept free at all times
from the profanation of wrong
priorities and worldly allure-
ments. Let us pray! R.
C –For the Holy Father, our
Bishop, and all other spiritual
leaders: May they be success-
ful in their efforts to defend the
purity of the faith against all at-
tacks mounted by materialism
and hedonism. Let us pray! R.
C –For the elected members of
the Senate and Congress: May
they remain faithful to their
promises to the people and work
tirelessly to uproot all forms of
corruption and inefficiency. Let
us pray! R.
C –For all the homeless, the
unemployed, the marginalized,
and the sick may experience the
love of God for them through the
generosity and care of the whole
Christian community. Let us
pray! R.
C –For all of us, our families,
and all the devotees of the Sacred
Heart: May we grow in holiness,
selflessness, and dedication to
the good of the Church according
to the demands of our commit-
ment to the Sacred Heart. Let us
pray! R.
C –Let us pray in silence for our
personal intentions.
(Pause) Let us pray! R.
P –Lord God, you gave us in
the Sacred Heart of Jesus a won-
derful example of zeal for Your
house of prayer and of respect
for the sacredness of every hu-
man being. Grant that we may
be able to live out these virtues
and thereby come to enjoy the re-
ward You promised to those who
love and serve You with all their
heart. We ask this in the name of
Jesus, the Lord.
All –Amen!
Preparation of the Gifts
P –Pray, brethren . . .
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 Offerings
P –Look, O Lord, we pray, on
the surpassing charity in the
Heart of your beloved Son, that
what we offer may be a gift ac-
ceptable to you and an expiation
of our offenses.
Through Christ our Lord.
All – Amen!
Preface of the Sacred Heart
P –The Lord be with you!
All –And with your spirit!
P –Lift up your hearts!
All –We lift them up to the
Lord!
P –Let us give thanks to the
Lord our God!
All –It is right and just!
P – It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation, al-
ways and everywhere to give
you thanks, Lord, holy Father, al-
mighty and eternal God, through
Christ our Lord.
For raised up high on the
Cross, he gave himself up for us
with a wonderful love and poured
out blood and water from his
pierced side, the wellspring of the
Church’s Sacraments, so that, won
over to the open heart of the Sav-
ior, all might draw water joyfully
from the springs of salvation. power, and the glory are
And so, with all the Angels yours, now and for ever!
and Saints, we praise you, as
without end we acclaim: Sign of Peace
All –Holy, holy, holy Lord, God
of hosts. Heaven and earth are
Breaking of the Bread
full of your glory. Hosanna in
the highest! All – Lamb of God, you take
Blessed is he who comes in away the sins of the world: have
the name of the Lord. Hosanna mercy on us. (2×)
in the highest!
Lamb of God, you take
away the sins of the world:
Memorial Acclamation grant us peace.
P –The mystery of faith!
All –We proclaim your Death, O Communion
Lord, and profess your Resur-
rection until you come again! P –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.
All –Lord, I am not worthy
All – Our Father . . . that you should enter under
P –Deliver us, Lord . . . my roof, but only say the word
All –For the kingdom, the and my soul shall be healed.
NOVENA PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
Divine Jesus, you have said, Ć „Ask, and you shall receive;
Ć seek, and you shall find; Ć knock, and it shall be opened unto
you.‰ Ć Behold me kneeling at your feet, Ć filled with a lively
faith and confidence Ć in the promises dictated by your Sacred
Heart Ć and pronounced by your adorable lips. Ć I come to ask
this favor: (Silently mention your petitions.)
To whom can I turn if not to you Ć whose heart is the source
of all graces and merits? Ć Where should I seek if not in the
treasure Ć which contains all the riches of your kindness and
mercy? Ć Where should I knock Ć if not at the door through
which God gives himself to us Ć and through which we go to
God? Ć I have recourse to you, Heart of Jesus. Ć In you I find
consolation when afflicted, Ć protection when persecuted, Ć
strength when burdened with trials, Ć and light in doubt and
darkness.
Dear Jesus, I firmly believe Ć that you can grant me the
grace I implore, Ć even though it should require a miracle. Ć
You have only to will it, Ć and my prayer will be granted. Ć I
admit that I am most unworthy of your favors, Ć but this is not
a reason for me to be discouraged. Ć You are the God of mercy
Ć and you will not refuse a contrite heart. Ć Cast upon me a
look of mercy, I beg of you, Ć and your kind heart will find in my
miseries and weaknesses Ć a reason for granting my prayer.
O Sacred Heart, Ć whatever may be your decision with regard
to my request, Ć I will never stop adoring, loving, praising, and
serving you. Ć My Jesus, be pleased to accept this my act of
perfect resignation Ć to the decrees of your adorable heart Ć
which I sincerely desire may be fulfilled Ć in and by me and by
all your creatures for ever.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Ć I know that there is but one thing
impossible to you: Ć to be without pity for those who are suf-
fering or in distress. Ć Look upon me, I beg of you, dear Jesus,
Ć and grant me the grace for which I humbly implore you Ć
through the Immaculate Heart of your most sorrowful Mother. Ć
You have entrusted me to her as her child, Ć and her prayers are
all-powerful with you. Ć Amen!
First Friday
 Communion Antiphon
(To be recited only when no
Communion Hymn is sung.)
Christ our Lord was hand-
ed over for our transgressions
and was raised again for our
justification, alleluia.
Prayer after Communion
P – May this sacrament of
charity, O Lord, make us fer-
vent with the fire of holy love, so
that, drawn always to your Son,
we may learn to see him in our
neighbor. Through Christ our
Lord.
All – Amen!
P –The Lord be with you.
All – And with your spirit!
P –Bow your heads and pray
for God’s blessing. (Pause)
– May the Sacred Heart of Je-
sus heal your memories and
hurts of the past, and make
you enjoy the freshness of
his love!
All – Amen!
P –May he give you an ever-
greater appreciation of your
dignity as human beings
and of your calling to be
temples of the Holy Spirit!
All – Amen!
P – May he transform your
lives into a living Gospel
that edifies and inspires
them to treat everybody
with respect and love!
All – Amen!
P –May almighty God bless
you: the Father, and the
Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All – Amen!
P –Go in the peace of Christ
and set the world afire with
love for God and people!
All – Thanks be to God!
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God, the Source and the Crowning
of All Human Rights
by Jess P. Balon
T
here is a lot of talk, nowadays, about “human rights.” Many are
the movements and institutions that claim to protect and enhance
human rights. This is just as it should be, especially when we con-
sider the innumerable and blatant violations of human rights all over
the world.
But there is one important point that is seldom mentioned in
the so-called “secular circles”: the fact that God is the ultimate
source and guarantor of all human rights. Their efforts to speak of
human rights and demand their respect, while leaving out God, is like
trying to build a house without adequate foundations. That house will
not last. Neither will the claim of human rights have an objective value
unless it is rooted on the reality of God’s creation.
God cannot and should not be left out in speaking of or legislating
about human rights, for these are rooted on the fact that every human
being is created in the image and likeness of God. Such is the com-
mon ground and tenet of all major religions. Some may not like this
terminology but this is the simple reality, and no opposition to it can
change this truth.
But the Christian view of man goes beyond this “common ground.”
We Christians believe not just that all human beings have a unique
dignity and inalienable rights that flow from their being created in the
image and likeness of God. We also believe that every human being
is an adopted “child of God” – a child so dearly beloved by Him that
“He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him
might not perish but might have eternal life” (Jn 3:16). All human
beings, without exception, are, indeed, dearly beloved children of
God, and for each of them God has in store an eternity of life in which
all the aspirations of the human heart will be satisfied even beyond all
expectations.
If such is the reality, then any violation of the supreme dignity of
every human being is a crime for which the perpetrator will be an-
swerable not only to human courts but to God as well. God is not only
the origin of all human rights, but also their guarantor and enforcer.
But the Christian vision of this unique relationship between the
Creator and every human creature goes beyond still. It tells that this
God who has endowed each man and woman with such extraordinary
dignity and destiny wants to have a close, personal relationship with
each of them – a relationship that can be described in terms of the
tender and constant love that binds together two human beings. It is a
relationship characterized by mutual acceptance and self-giving. This
“love relationship” between God and every human being, which starts
already in this life but reaches its climax in the life to come is what
gives us the highest dignity and what ultimately grounds all human
rights.