MONDAY WITHIN THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER

Sign of the Cross

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

Examen

Before listening to the Word of God take a moment to reflect.  For what am I grateful to God for today? Where did I stray from God: through words, actions or things I did not do. How might I do better tomorrow? What grace do I ask from God in order to live more closely in his love? You may wish to conclude by saying:  Lord Jesus, you have revealed yourself as the way to the Father: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. You have poured out on your people the Spirit of truth: Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. You are the Good Shepherd, leading us to eternal life: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Collect

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that, putting off our old self with all its ways, we may live as Christ did, for through the healing paschal remedies you have conformed us to his nature. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 6: 8-15

They could not get the better of Stephen because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said.

Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people. But then certain people came forward to debate with Stephen, some from Cyrene and Alexandria who were members of the synagogue called the Synagogue of Freedmen, and others from Cilicia and Asia. They found they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said. So they procured some men to say, ‘We heard him using blasphemous language against Moses and against God.’ Having in this way turned the people against him as well as the elders and scribes, they took Stephen by surprise, and arrested him and brought him before the Sanhedrin. There they put up false witnesses to say, ‘This man is always making speeches against this Holy Place and the Law. We have heard him say that Jesus the Nazarene is going to destroy this Place and alter the traditions that Moses handed down to us, ‘The members of the Sanhedrin all looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared to them like the face of an angel. The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 118: 23-24, 26-27, 29-30. R. v.1

They are happy whose life is blameless. Though princes sit plotting against me I ponder on your statutes. Your will is my delight; your statutes are my counsellors. R. I declared my ways and you answered: teach me your statutes. Make me grasp the way of your precepts and I will muse on your wonders. R. Keep me from the way of error and teach me your law. I have chosen the way of truth with your decrees before me. R.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, Alleluia! You believe, Thomas, because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe. Alleluia!

Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 6: 22-29

Do not work for food that cannot last, but work for food that endures to eternal life.

After Jesus had fed the five thousand, his disciples saw him walking on the water. Next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side saw that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, by that the disciples had set off by themselves. Other boats, however, had put in from Tiberias, near the place where the bread had been eaten. When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into those boats and crossed to Capernaum to look for Jesus. When they found him on the other side, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered: ‘I tell you most solemnly, you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat. Do not work for food that cannot last, but work for food that endures to eternal life, the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you, for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.’ Then they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to do the works that God wants?’ Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent.’ The Gospel of the Lord.

Profession of Faith

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,

Prayers

Intercessions

Pray for family and loved ones so that they may be held in God’s compassionate care. Pray for other countries who are struggling with the effects of the COVID 19 virus.  For those in authority: may they offer advice with care and integrity, may they seek to protect the poor and vulnerable. Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer. For all who work in healthcare: give strength to all who look after the sick so that they may bring comfort and relief to the suffering. Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer. For the Church: may she offer prayers and consolation for all those affected. Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer. For our local community and all for those in need: may those who are isolated know the support and service of their neighbours. Lord, in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by thy name; they kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Prayer for Spiritual communion

I prostrate myself at your feet, O my Jesus, and I offer you the repentance of my contrite heart, which abases itself in its nothingness in Your Holy Presence. I adore you in the Sacrament of Your Love; I desire to receive You in the poor abode that my heart offers You. While waiting for the happiness of a Sacramental Communion, I want to possess You in spirit. Come to me, O my Jesus, that I may come to You. May Your love inflame my whole being, in life and in death. I believe in You. I hope in You. I love You. Amen.

Daily Prayer

God and Father, to those who go astray you reveal the light of your truth and enable them to return to the right path: grant that all who have received the grace of baptism may strive to be worthy of their Christian calling, and reject everything opposed to it. We make our prayer through our Lord. Through Christ our Lord.

Memorare

Remember O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, we fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do we come, before thee do we stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not our petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer us. Amen.

Prayer for the Year of the Word

Living God, you walk alongside us and speak to us throughout the Scriptures. Your Son, Jesus Christ, listens to our hopes and fears and shows us how to live for one another. Send us the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds, so that we may be your witnesses throughout the world. Amen. Your word is our path and your truth is our light. This day and every day. Our Lady of the Annunciation. Pray for us. St Matthew. Pray for us. St. Jerome. Pray for us.

A Prayer for protection in times of pandemic

O Mary, you always brighten our path as a sign of salvation and of hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the Cross, took part in Jesus’ pain while remaining steadfast in faith. O loving Mother, you know what we need, and we are confident you will provide for us as at Cana in Galilee. Intercede for us with your Son Jesus, the Divine Physician, for those who have fallen ill, for those who are vulnerable, and for those who have died. Intercede also for those charged with protecting the health and safety of others and for those who are tending to the sick and seeking a cure. Help us, O Mother of Divine Love, to conform to the will of the Father and to do as we are told by Jesus, who took upon himself our sufferings and carried our sorrows, so as to lead us, through the Cross, to the glory of the Resurrection. Amen. Under thy protection, we seek refuge, O Holy Mother of God. In our needs, despise not our petitions, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.

Conclusion

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