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

35March
August2023
2016 First Friday FIRST FRIDAYYear C

What Counts More in God’s Sight

T
oday’s Gospel reminds us that, in the eyes of the Lord, our
way of relating to people is of fundamental importance.
Respect for the dignity and rights of our neighbor is
an essential demand of the commandment to love our brothers
and sisters the way Jesus does. Today he reminds us that if we
know that we have failed in this respect, our topmost concern
should be to be reconciled with them as soon as possible.
Such reconciliation should take priority even over the per-
formance of our Lenten religious practices, such as fasting,
making the Way of the Cross and our First Friday devotions.
This will be the surest sign that our love for the Sacred Heart
is sincere, practical, and lasting. As we are about to begin this
Eucharist, let us pledge to do just this, and our Lenten season
will surely bear abundant fruit.

duced our Lenten obser- O Lord, we pray, may be so

vance to external forms conformed to the paschal ob-
of penance not accom- servances, that the bodily dis-
panied by the determina- cipline now solemnly begun
Entrance Antiphon tion to love our neighbor may bear fruit in the souls of
(To be recited only when no and to be fair to them, all.
Entrance Hymn is sung.) Lord, have mercy! Through our Lord Jesus
Set me free from my dis- All – Lord, have mercy! Christ, your Son, who lives
tress, O Lord. See my lowli- P –For the times we have and reigns with you in the
ness and suffering, and take hurt or exploited some- unity of the Holy Spirit, God,
away all my sins. one and have failed to for ever and ever.
make amends for the All –Amen!
Greeting wrong done, Christ, have
P –The grace of our Lord Je- mercy!
sus Christ, the love of God, All – Christ, have mercy!
and the fellowship of the P –For the times we have
Holy Spirit be with you all! failed to extend the help
All – And with your spirit! requested by people in 1st Reading Ez 18:21-28
need, Lord, have mercy! Today the prophet Eze-
Penitential Act All – Lord, have mercy! kiel reminds us that God is
P –My brothers and sisters, absolutely fair and just. He
as we prepare to celebrate the P –May almighty God have rewards the good done and
mysteries of Christ’s love on mercy on us, forgive us our punishes evil. But He also
this First Friday of Lent, let sins and bring us to everlast- shows mercy toward the
us call to mind our sins, espe- ing life. sinners who repent.
cially our failure to love our All –Amen!
neighbor. (Pause) Collect (Opening Prayer) R –A proclamation from the
Book of the Prophet Ez-
P –For the times we have re- P –Grant that your faithful, ekiel
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 Thus says the Lord God:
“If the wicked man turns away
from all the sins he committed,
if he keeps all my statutes and
does what is right and just, he
shall surely live, he shall not
die. None of the crimes he com-
mitted shall be remembered
against him; he shall live be-
cause of the virtue he has prac-
ticed. Do I indeed derive any
pleasure from the death of the
wicked?” says the Lord God.
“Do I not rather rejoice when
he turns from his evil way that
he may live?
On the other hand, if the
virtuous man turns from the
path of virtue to do evil, the
same kind of abominable
things that the wicked man
does, can he do this and still
live? None of his virtuous
deeds shall be remembered,
because he has broken faith
and committed sin; because of
this, he shall die.
You say, ‘The Lord’s way
is not fair!’ Hear now, house
of Israel: Is it my way that is
unfair, or rather, are not your
ways unfair? When someone
virtuous turns away from vir-
tue to commit iniquity, and
dies, it is because of the iniqui-
ty he committed that he must
die. But if the wicked, turning
from the wickedness he has
committed, does what is right
and just, he shall preserve his
life; since he has turned away
from all the sins that he com-
mitted, he shall surely live, he
shall not die.”
The Word of the Lord!
All –Thanks be to God!
Responsorial Psalm Ps 130
R – If you, O Lord, mark
iniquities, who can stand?
* Out of the depths I cry to
you, O Lord; Lord, hear my
voice! Let your ears be atten-
tive to my voice in supplica-
tion. R.
* If you, O Lord, mark iniq-
uities, Lord, who can stand?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered. R.
* I trust in the Lord; my soul
trusts in his word. My soul
waits for the Lord more than
sentinels wait for the dawn.
Let Israel wait for the Lord.
R.
3 March 2023
* For with the Lord is kind-
ness and with him is plente-
ous redemption; and he will
redeem Israel from all their
iniquities. R.
Verse before the Gospel
All –Glory and praise to you,
Lord Jesus Christ!
Cast away from you all
the crimes you have co-
mitted, says the Lord,
and make for yourselves
a new heart and a new
spirit.
Glory and praise to you,
Lord Jesus Christ!
Gospel Mt 5:20-26
After having declared that
he has not come to abolish the
Law of Moses but to bring it
to perfection, Jesus gives some
examples of what he means
by that. In today’s passage,
he tackles the Fifth Com-
mandment and shows that he
demands much more than just
refraining from taking people’s
lives.
P – A proclamation from the
holy Gospel according to
Matthew
All – Glory to you, O Lord!
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, unless your righ-
teousness surpasses that of the
scribes and Pharisees, you will
not enter into the kingdom of
heaven. You have heard that
it was said to your ancestors,
‘You shall not kill; and who-
ever kills will be liable to judg-
ment.’ But I say to you, who-
ever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment, and
whoever says to his brother,
‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to
the Sanhedrin, and whoever
says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable
to fiery Gehenna. Therefore,
if you bring your gift to the al-
tar, and there recall that your
brother has anything against
you, leave your gift there at
the altar, go first and be rec-
onciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your
gift. Settle with your opponent
quickly while on the way to
court. Otherwise your oppo-
nent will hand you over to the
judge, and the judge will hand
you over to the guard, and you
will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you, you will
not be released until you have
paid the last penny.”
The Gospel of the Lord!
All –Praise to you, Lord Jesus
Christ!
Homily
Prayer of the Faithful
P –At the beginning of this
Lenten season, the Lord re-
minds us to avoid hurting our
neighbor and to be reconciled
with those we may have of-
fended. Aware of our weak-
ness in this respect, let us ask
the help of His grace as we
say:
All – Lord, mercifully hear us!
C –For all followers of
Christ throughout the world:
May they be shining exam-
ples of love for all human be-
ings and of perseverance in
doing good. Let us pray! R.
C –For the Holy Father and
other religious leaders: May
they succeed in their efforts to
lead mankind to days of peace
and generous solidarity. Let
us pray! R.
C –For all parents, cat-
echists, and teachers: May
they never grow tired of re-
minding the young that only
a sincere respect for all can be
the foundation of a just soci-
ety. Let us pray! R.
C –For the victims of ha-
tred and injustice: May they
find in the Heart of Jesus the
strength they need to bear
their present afflictions with
faith and hope. Let us pray!
R.
C –For all of us and the peo-
ple dear to us: May we love
our neighbor the way Jesus
did and thereby become in-
struments of his love for all.
Let us pray! R.
C –Let us pray in silence for
our personal intentions.
(Pause)
Let us pray! R.
P –Lord God, every Lent
You call us to conversion and
to be reconciled with You
and to one another. Mold our
minds and hearts according
to the pattern of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus in all we do.
We ask this through the same
Christ, our 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 Church.
Prayer over the Offerings
P – Accept the sacrificial of-
ferings, O Lord, by which, in
your power and kindness, you
willed us to be reconciled to
yourself and our salvation to
be restored.
Through Christ our Lord.
All – Amen!
Preface of Lent I
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!
P –It is truly right and just,
our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to
give you thanks, Lord, holy
Father, almighty and eter-
nal God, through Christ our
Lord.
For by your gracious gift
each year your faithful await
the sacred paschal feasts
with the joy of minds made
pure, so that, more eagerly
intent on prayer and on the
works of charity, and par-
ticipating in the mysteries by
which they have been reborn,
they may be led to the full-
ness of grace that you bestow
on your sons and daughters.
And so, with the company
of Angels and Saints, we sing
the hymn of your praise, as
without end we acclaim:
All – Holy, holy, holy . . .
Memorial Acclamation
P –The mystery of faith!
All – Lord, by your cross and who wants that we love our
resurrection you have set neighbor as he loves us. He is
us free. You are the Sav- the Lamb of God who takes
ior of the world. upon himself the sin of the
world. Blessed are those who
are invited to the Eucharistic
banquet.
All – Lord, I am not worthy
All – Our Father . . . that you should enter under my
P –Deliver us, Lord . . . roof, but only say the word and
All – For the kingdom, the my soul shall be healed.
power, and the glory are
yours, now and for ever! Communion Antiphon
(To be recited only when no
Communion Hymn is sung.)
Sign of Peace
Breaking of the Bread “As I live, says the Lord, I
All – Lamb of God, you take do not desire the death of the
away the sins of the world: have sinner, but rather that he turn
mercy on us. (2×) back and live.”
Lamb of God, you take Prayer after Communion
away the sins of the world: P –May the holy refreshment
grant us peace. of your Sacrament restore us
anew, O Lord, and, cleansing
Communion us of old ways, take us up into
P –This is the Lord Jesus the mystery of salvation.
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 trea-
sure 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 suffer-
ing 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
 Through Christ our Lord. P – May almighty God bless
All – Amen! you: the Father, and the Tune in to Radio
Son, and the Holy Spirit. Veritas
All – Amen! (846 kHz)
P –Go in peace to love and
serve Christ in your every Saturday from
neighbor. 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
P –The Lord be with you. All – Thanks be to God! and listen to
All – And with your spirit! BISPERAS SA VERITAS

The “Widening” of the Concept of “Reparation”

to be Offered to the Sacred Heart
by Jess P. Balon
S ince the me of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the
concept of REPARATION has been an essen al
part of the devo on to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
“Repara on,” in this case, is a generous response to
the invita on of Jesus himself and consists essen al-
ly in receiving Holy Communion with special fervor,
with the specific inten on of doing so in atonement
for the indifference of so many Chris ans to his im-
mense love; for the innumerable offences inflicted
on the person of Jesus during his earthly life, and es-
pecially the profana ons of the Blessed Sacrament.
The Holy Hour is an aspect of this “Repara on” as it
consists in a full hour spent in the company of Jesus,
praying with intense faith and love, in atonement for
the many deser ons and betrayals Jesus has been
suffering through the centuries up to the present.
These different forms of repara on are directed
to the person of Jesus, are mo vated by love, and
are intended to make up for the lack of love, rever-
ence and gra tude which all human beings, and
especially the Chris an believers, should have ren-
dered (and should render) to the Divine Redeemer
for all that he has done and suffered for us all. He is
the Divine Word who, for our sake, endured for more
than thirty years all the limita ons of our existence,
offered his life on the cross in atonement for our
sins, founded the Church to be our spiritual family
on earth, established the sacrament of the Eucharist
to remain always with us as our spiritual nourish-
ment, and gave us the Holy Spirit to be our guide and
strength . . . .
The list could be much longer, but the reason for
so many benefits is always his immense LOVE for all
mankind and each human being. GRATITUDE for so
many proofs of love is the least one would expect.
RECIPROCATION of such love in all circumstances of
life, likewise, should follow, for love demands love
in return. Incredibly and unfortunately, this has not
been the case in far too many instances. Hence, Je-
sus’ request for “REPARATION,” which genera ons of
devout Catholics have offered over these past three
centuries.
But with the late Pope John Paul II, on several oc-
casions, a WIDER SCOPE OF “REPARATION” has been
introduced to include also the atonement for the
offences, suffering and neglect which Jesus has been,
and s ll is, enduring in his MYSTICAL BODY, which
includes the whole of mankind.
Alongside the “widening” of the “scope” of
repara on comes also the INCREASE in the number
of FORMS which such repara on has to take place:
Not just prayers and other devo onal ac vi es, but
also RELEVANT WORKS OF JUSTICE, CARE, AND LOVE
which make up for the many forms of social injus ce,
neglect, un-care, and callousness which Jesus Christ
has endured (and s ll is enduring) in all the members
of his mys cal body that are vic mized by individual
sinful ac ons, as well as by sinful social structures.
The Biblical founda on for such a “widening” of the
concept and scope of “repara on” is Jesus’ iden fi-
ca on with each human being, and especially with
those who suffer undeservedly in so many form. The
well-known descrip on of the Final Judgment found
in Mt 25:31-46 is the drama c manifesta on of
Christ’s total iden fica on with every human being
who suffers or is in need.
Once this principle is accepted, it is obvious that
prayer and Communion of repara on can no longer
be considered as “adequate” forms of atonement to
be offered to Jesus’ Sacred Heart. It is obvious that
all the physical, social, and moral evils inflicted by
human beings to other human beings demand much
more than a “devo onal” repara on. Jus ce has also
to be done or restored. In addi on to its tradi onal
“devo onal” aspect, an adequate repara on to be
offered to Jesus must also include “social” and “hu-
manitarian” aspects.
This is the NEW and more CHALLENGING aspect
of the devo on to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in our
me. On this we should reflect and act.

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