HOW TO SUNDAY SERVICE AT HOME

Instructions:

 This celebration requires the presence of at least two people.

 If you’re alone, you can simply read this celebration, united in your heart and spirit
with Holy mother Church.
 Choose the most convenient time, preferably early morning hours.
 Set up the needed number of chairs in front of a prayer corner. Take the time to
renew a little the prayer corner’s decorations: images, candles, real or artificial
flowers, garlands, etc.
 A simple cross or crucifix must always be visible in the background.
 Designate a person to lead the prayer service. The leader will also direct the
preparation of the celebration, during which he or she will mark the length of the
periods of silence.
 Designate readers for the readings.
 During the preparation of the celebration: you can prepare petitions for the Prayers
of the Faithful or Universal Prayer (in case that is not possible, a standard list of
petitions is provided here for use during the course of the celebration). You may
also prepare suitable hymns.

CELEBRATION OF THE WORD

INTRODUCTORY RITES

1. When the people are gathered, the entrance hymn is sung as the people all stand.

The leader and the faithful, standing, sign themselves with the Sign of the Cross,
while the leader, facing the people, says:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

The people reply: Amen.

2. Then the leader, extending his hands, greets the people, saying:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with you all.

The people reply: And with your spirit.

3. The leader may very briefly introduce the faithful to the service of the day (for
example; today we celebrate, the 1st Sunday of lent, year A… or the feast of the
Transfiguration of our Lord…)
 Penitential Act

4. Then follows the Penitential Act, to which the Leader invites the faithful, saying:

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

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, (And, striking their breast, they say:) through my fault, through my fault, through
my most grievous fault; (Then they continue:) therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord
our God.

The Leader continues:

+ May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting
life.

The people reply: Amen.

5. The following is said or sung:

V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.

V. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy.
V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.

Or:

V. Kyrie, eleison. R. Kyrie, eleison.

V. Christe, eleison. R. Christe, eleison.
V. Kyrie, eleison. R. Kyrie, eleison.

6. The Gloria is then said or sung:

N.B: The Gloria is sung on Sundays, solemnities and feasts. Also sung or said at daily masses in
during the octaves of Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost.
The Gloria is omitted during the seasons of Advent, Lent, and Pre-Lent.
The Gloria is typically sung using the setting customary to the day or season.
During the Gloria, bow at: ...worship (adore) thee, ... Jesus Christ, and ...receive our prayer.
Make the sign the cross at ...Most High in the glory of God...)

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to people of good will.
We praise you, we bless you,
we (bow) adore you, we glorify you,
 we give you thanks for your great glory.
Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.
(bow) Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world,
(bow) receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father,
have mercy on us.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, +
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

Glória in excélsis Deo

et in terra pax homínibus bonae voluntátis.
Laudámus te, benedícimus te,
(bow) adoramus te, glorificámus te,
gratias agimus tibi propter magnam glóriam tuam,
Dómine Deus, Rex cæléstis, Deus Pater omnípotens.
Dómine Fili Unigénite, (bow) Jesu Christe,
Dómine Deus, Agnus Dei, Fílius Patris,
qui tollis peccáta mundi, miserére nobis;
qui tollis peccáta mundi, (bow) suscipe deprecationem nostram.
Qui sedes ad déxteram Patris, miserére nobis.
Quóniam tu solus Sanctus, tu solus Dóminus,
tu solus Altíssimus, Jesu Christe,
cum Sancto + Spíritu : in glória Dei Patris.
Amen.

7. Opening Prayer (Collect)

Let us pray: (The leader invites the people to pray in silence for a while, and then
offers a prayer to God that is drawn from the readings or feast of the day, or the
purpose for which the service is being offered, at the end of which the people
acclaim: Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word

8. The First Reading is read from the ambo in front, while all sit and listen. To indicate
the end of the reading, the reader acclaims: “The word of the Lord.”

The people reply: Thanks be to God.

 9. The psalmist or cantor sings or says the Psalm, with the people making the response.

10. After this, if there is to be a Second Reading, a reader reads it from the ambo, as
above. To indicate the end of the reading, the reader acclaims: “The word of the
Lord.”

The people reply: Thanks be to God.

11. Gospel Acclamation: The people rise.

There follows the Alleluia (Lent: Glory and praise to you, O Christ): or another chant
laid down by the rubrics, as the liturgical time requires.

12. The Leader then proceeds to the ambo to read the Gospel. There he says;

The Lord be with you.

The people reply: And with your spirit.

The Leader: A reading from the holy Gospel according to St. N.

and, at the same time, he makes the Sign of the Cross on the book and on his
forehead, lips, and breast.

The people acclaim: Glory to you, O Lord.

The Gospel is read and at the end of the Gospel, the leader acclaims: The Gospel of
the Lord.

The people reply: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

13. Then follows the Homily, which is to be preached on all Sundays and Holydays of
Obligation; on other days, it is recommended.

14. At the end of the Homily, the Symbol or Profession of Faith or Creed, when
prescribed, is either sung or said:

PROFESSION OF FAITH

All then stand to profess the faith of the Church saying the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God,
the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
 he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.

15. UNIVERSAL PRAYER

Then follows the Universal Prayer, that is, the Prayer of the Faithful or Bidding
Prayers, as prepared ahead of time.

At the end of each petition, the leader says: We pray to the Lord… or Lord hear us…

The people respond; Lord graciously hear us

The people present may add, in turn, their own intentions.

THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

16. Then the leader he says: The Lord be with you.

The people reply: And with your spirit.

The leader continues: Lift up your hearts.

The people: We lift them up to the Lord.

The leader adds: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

The people: It is right and just.

The leader, with hands extended, continues the Preface.

At the end of the Preface he joins his hands and concludes the Preface with the
people, singing or saying aloud:

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.
17. The leader introduces the Lord’s Prayer:

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

All say or sing the Our Father:

Our Father…

18. With hands extended, the leader alone continues, saying:

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 Saviour, Jesus Christ.

He joins his hands.

The people conclude the prayer, acclaiming:

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

19. Then the leader, 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 for ever and ever.

The people reply: Amen.

20. The following is sung or said:

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.

21. SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

Prayer: 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.

May the body of our Lord Jesus Christ bring my soul unto life everlasting. Amen

A suitable communion hymn may be sung

 Silence - All remain in silence for 2 - 5 minutes for a heart-to-heart conversation
with Jesus Christ.

To indicate the end of Spiritual Communion, the leader can conclude with the Sign
the Cross.

You may sing a post communion hymn once more:

21. FINAL BLESSING

Let us pray: With hands joined in prayer, the prayer leader, in the name of all, says
the prayer of blessing:

Then the dismissal takes place. The leader, facing the people and extending his
hands, says: The Lord be with you.

The people reply: And with your spirit.

The leader continues, saying:

May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

The people reply: Amen.

The leader adds: Our service is ended, go forth …

The people reply: Thanks be to God

To conclude the celebration, the participants may sing the Salve Regina,
or some other well-known Marian hymn