Our Catholic Mass has a melodic rhythm to it. An Order. A Beauty. This week’s Prayers have been particularly moving to me and have stirred my heart to wondrous examinations. I have been grateful to recite them, to lift them up, to enfold them into my Spirit. May you too find a little nugget of peace for yourself as you read them & may all that we’ve gathered in our hearts remain with us, even as we move into a new series of prayers during the Twenty-Third Week…

Every Mass there is The Order of Mass. When the people are gathered, the Priest approaches the altar with the ministers while the Entrance Antiphon is sung or recited.

The Twenty-Second week in Ordinary Time Entrance Antiphon: Have Mercy on me, O Lord, for I cry to you all the day long. O Lord, you are good and forgiving, full of mercy to all who call to you.

And all pray in silence with the Priest for a while. Then the Priest, with hands extended, says the Collect prayer.

The Twenty-Second week in Ordinary Time Collect: God of might, giver of every good gift, put into our hearts the love of your name, so that, by deepening our sense of reverence, you may nurture in us what is good and, by your watchful care, keep safe what you have nurtured. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Priest, with hands extended, says the Prayer over the Offerings.

The Twenty-Second week in Ordinary Time Prayer over the Offerings: May this sacred offering, O Lord, confer on us always the blessing of salvation, that what it celebrates in mystery it may accomplish in power. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

During the priest’s reception of communion, the communion song is begun… If there is no singing the Communion Antiphon in the Missal may be recited either by the faithful, or by a group of them, or by a reader. Otherwise the priest himself says it after he has received Communion and before he gives Communion to them.

The Twenty-Second week in Ordinary Time Communion Antiphon: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.

Following Communion distribution, all pray in silence with the Priest for a while. Then the Priest, with hands extended, says the Prayer after Communion.

The Twenty-Second week in Ordinary Time Prayer After Communion: Renewed by this bread from the heavenly table, we beseech you, Lord, that, being the food of charity, it may confirm our hearts and stir us to serve you in our neighbor. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

hugs n’ blessings for all the beautiful Order we have in our lives to lean upon!