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

2 February 2020 Presentation of the Lord Year A

WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE
PRO-LIFE SUNDAY

A Life Vowed to God

B
y a series of happy coincidences, today the Fourth Sunday
in Ordinary Time is replaced by the Feast of the Presentation
of the Baby Jesus in the Temple, which is also the “World
Day for Consecrated Life.” We keep also the secular observance called
“Pro Life Sunday.”
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple invites us to focus on
Jesus, the source of our life and the Light of all Nations. This feast
reminds us of our own consecration to the Lord on the day of our
baptism. Like Jesus, we too, are expected to live in an attitude of con-
stant self-offering in the service of the Kingdom. Like Jesus, we too
are expected to appreciate life, do our best to promote it in all its potentials, and to protect it
from whatever endangers or destroys it.
In this Eucharist, as we observe Pro-Life Sunday, let us renew our commitment to love life and to
make amends for all the profanations and attacks it constantly suffers.

LITURGICAL NOTE Law, but in reality he was com- path of virtue, we may reach that
Today the Eucharistic celebra- ing to meet his believing people. light which never fails.
tion is preceded by the blessing of Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Through Christ our Lord.
candles. This takes the place of the Simeon and Anna came to the All – Amen!
Penitential Rite. Temple. Enlightened by the same
Spirit, they recognized the Lord Procession
and confessed him with exulta- P – Let us go in peace to meet
THE BLESSING OF CANDLES
tion. the Lord.
AND THE PROCESSION So let us also, gathered to- All –In the name of Christ.
gether by the Holy Spirit, proceed Amen!
Entrance Antiphon to the house of God to encounter
Behold, our Lord will come Christ. There we shall find him Antiphon
with power, to enlighten the and recognize him in the break-
eyes of his servants, alleluia! ing of the bread, until he comes All – A light for revelation to
again, revealed in glory. the Gentiles and the glory
Greeting of your people Israel.
P – The Lord be with you! Blessing of Candles L – Lord, now let your servant
All – And with your spirit! go in peace, in accordance
P – Let us pray! with your word. (All)
O God, source and origin of L – For my eyes have seen your
Introduction all light, who on this day showed salvation. (All)
P – Dear brothers and sisters, to the just man Simeon the Light L – Which you have prepared in
forty days have passed since we for revelation to the Gentiles, we the sight of all peoples. (All)
celebrated the joyful feast of the humbly ask that, in answer to
Nativity of the Lord. your people’s prayers, you may
Today is the blessed day be pleased to sanctify with your
when Jesus was presented in blessing (+) these candles, which
the Temple by Mary and Joseph. we are eager to carry in praise of
Outwardly he was fulfilling the your name, so that, treading the
 nant” who would come to the * Who is this king of glory?
Temple to purify the Levites so The Lord of hosts; he is the
that their worship might be ac- king of glory. R.
ceptable to the Lord. The Church
Entrance Antiphon sees this prophecy fulfilled in 2nd Reading Heb 2:14-18
(To be recited only when no Entrance Jesus, the Messenger and Author In order to effectively in-
Hymn is sung.) of the New Covenant. tercede for all human beings
Your merciful love, O God, R – A proclamation from the and become their compassionate
we have received in the midst Book of the Prophet Mala- High Priest, God’s Son needed to
of your temple. Your praise, O chi become a human being, totally
God, like your name, reaches Thus says the Lord God:
similar to us in every aspect,
the ends of the earth; your Lo, I am sending my Messen-
except sin. This is what Jesus
right hand is filled with saving ger to prepare the way before
was and did, as the author of the
justice. me. And suddenly there will
Letter to the Hebrews states in
today’s passage.
come to the temple the Lord
Gloria whom you seek, and the Mes- R –A proclamation from the
All –Glory to God in the high- senger of the Covenant whom Letter to the Hebrews
est, and on earth peace to people you desire. Yes, he is coming, Since the children share in
of good will. We praise you, says the Lord of hosts. blood and flesh, Jesus likewise
we bless you, we adore you, we But who will endure the shared in them, that through
glorify you, we give you thanks day of his coming? And who death he might destroy the one
for your great glory, Lord God, can stand when he appears? who has the power of death,
heavenly King, O God, almighty For he is like the refiner’s fire, that is: the devil, and free those
Father. or like the fuller’s lye. He will who through fear of death had
sit refining and purifying sil- been subject to slavery all their
Lord Jesus Christ, Only Be- ver, and he will purify the sons
gotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of life.
of Levi, refining them like gold Surely he did not help an-
God, Son of the Father, you take or like silver that they may of-
away the sins of the world, have gels but rather the descendants
fer due sacrifice to the Lord. of Abraham. Therefore, he had
mercy on us; you take away the Then the sacrifice of Judah to become like his brothers and
sins of the world, receive our and Jerusalem will please the sisters in every way, that he
prayer; you are seated at the right Lord, as in the days of old, as might be a merciful and faith-
hand of the Father, have mercy in years gone by. ful high priest before God to
on us. For you alone are the Holy The Word of the Lord! expiate the sins of the people.
One, you alone are the Lord, you All – Thanks be to God! Because he himself was
alone are the Most High, Jesus tested through what he suf-
Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the Responsorial Psalm Ps 24 fered, he is able to help those
glory of God the Father. Amen! who are being tested.
R –Who is this king of glory?
Collect (Opening Prayer) It is the Lord! The Word of the Lord!
All – Thanks be to God!
P –Almighty ever-living God,
we humbly implore your majesty Gospel Acclamation Lk 2:32
that, just as your Only Begotten
Son was presented on this day All – Alleluia! Alleluia!
in the Temple in the substance A light of revelation to
of our flesh, so, by your grace, the Gentiles, and glory for
we may be presented to you with your people Israel.
minds made pure. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Through our Lord Jesus
Christ, your Son, who lives and Gospel Lk 2:22-32
reigns with you in the unity of The basic purpose of God’s
the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever * Lift up, O gates, your lin- Son coming into the world was
and ever. tels; reach up, you ancient por- to offer himself in atonement
All – Amen! tals, that the king of glory may for the sins of all mankind. His
come in! R. sacrificial offering, which cul-
* Who is this king of glory? minated on Calvary, was fore-
The Lord, strong and mighty, shadowed in his presentation
the Lord, mighty in battle. R. in the Temple, forty days after
* Lift up, O gates, your lin- his birth, as we read in today’s
1st Reading Mal 3:1-4 tels; reach up, you ancient por- Gospel account.
The prophet Malachi spoke tals, that the king of glory may P –The Lord be with you!
of a “Messenger of the Cove- come in! R. All –And with your spirit!

2 February 2020
P –A proclamation from the salvation he came down from mitment to promote human life
holy Gospel according to heaven, (bow)* and by the Holy in all its aspects and to protect it
Luke Spirit was incarnate of the Vir- from all dangers, let us pray! R.
All – Glory to you, O Lord! gin Mary, and became man.* C –That all of us may selflessly
When the days were com- For our sake he was crucified offer our lives in service to the
pleted for their purification under Pontius Pilate, he suf- Lord by caring for others and
according to the law of Moses, fered death and was buried, and sharing God’s word to them, let
Mary and Joseph took Jesus rose again on the third day in us pray! R.
up to Jerusalem to present him accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is C –Let us pray in silence for our
to the Lord, just as it is written personal intentions. (Pause)
in the law of the Lord, Every seated at the right hand of the
Father. He will come again in Let us pray! R.
male that opens the womb shall
be consecrated to the Lord, and glory to judge the living and the P –Lord God, strengthen us in
to offer the sacrifice of a pair dead and his kingdom will have our effort to live our baptismal
of turtledoves or two young pi- no end. commitments. Enable us to wit-
geons, in accordance with the I believe in the Holy Spirit, ness to Your saving love. You
dictate in the law of the Lord. the Lord, the giver of life, who who live and reign for ever and
Now there was a man in proceeds from the Father and ever!
Jerusalem whose name was the Son, who with the Father All – Amen!
Simeon. He was righteous and and the Son is adored and glori-
devout, awaiting the consola- fied, who has spoken through
tion of Israel, and the Holy the prophets.
Spirit was upon him. It had I believe in one, holy, cath-
been revealed to him by the olic and apostolic Church. I
Preparation of the Gifts
Holy Spirit that he would not confess one Baptism for the
see death before he had seen forgiveness of sins and I look P –Pray, brethren . . .
the Christ of the Lord. forward to the resurrection of All – May the Lord accept the
He came, led by the Spirit, the dead and the life of the world sacrifice at your hands, for the
into the temple; and when the to come. Amen! praise and glory of his name,
parents brought in the child for our good and the good of all
Jesus to perform the custom of Prayer of the Faithful his holy Church.
the law in regard to him, Sime- P –The presentation of the Baby
on took him into his arms and Prayer over the Offerings
Jesus in the Temple reminds us P –May the offering made with
blessed God, saying: “Now, of our own consecration to the
Master, you may let your ser- exultation by your Church be
Lord at our baptism, and our vo- pleasing to you, O Lord, we pray,
vant go in peace, according to cation to be a light through an
your word, for my eyes have for you willed that your Only Be-
authentic Christian life. Aware gotten Son be offered to you for
seen your salvation, which you of our need to be empowered by
prepared in the sight of all the the life of the world as the Lamb
God’s grace to fulfill this duty, without blemish.
peoples, a light for revelation let us pray:
to the Gentiles, and glory for Who lives and reigns for ever
your people Israel.” All –Lord, graciously hear us! and ever.
All – Amen!
The Gospel of the Lord! C –That the entire community
All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus of believers may be for the rest Preface
Christ! of humankind a source of in-
spiration and encouragement to P – It is truly right and just,
pursue what is good and right, let our duty and our salvation, al-
Homily ways and everywhere to give
us pray! R.
Profession of Faith you thanks, Lord, holy Father,
(Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed) C –That the Holy Father and almighty and eternal God.
all other spiritual leaders may For your co-eternal Son was
All –I believe in one God, the Fa- continue to guide us with their presented on this day in the Tem-
ther almighty, maker of heaven example of faithfulness to the ple and revealed by the Spirit as
and earth, of all things visible Gospel of Life, let us pray! R. the glory of Israel and Light of
and invisible. the nations.
I believe in one Lord Jesus C –That our civil authorities at
all levels may guide our nation And so, we, too, go forth,
Christ, the Only Begotten Son rejoicing to encounter your Sal-
of God, born of the Father be- to days of peace and prosperity
with the wisdom of their deci- vation, and with the Angels and
fore all ages. God from God, Saints praise you, as without end
Light from Light, true God from sion, and the integrity of their
we acclaim:
true God, begotten, not made, life, let us pray! R.
All –Holy, holy, holy Lord, God
consubstantial with the Father; C –That as we start the month of hosts. Heaven and earth are
through him all things were of Respect and Care for Life, we full of your glory. Hosanna in
made. For us men and for our may remain faithful to our com- the highest!
Presentation of the Lord
 Blessed is he who comes in remain true to your baptis-
the name of the Lord. Hosanna mal commitments.
in the highest! All – Amen!
Memorial Acclamation P –The Lord be with you. P –May he enable you to over-
All – And with your spirit! come all difficulties and
P –The mystery of faith! draw you ever closer to
All –When we eat this Bread P –Bow your heads and pray him.
and drink this Cup, we for God’s blessing. (Pause) All – Amen!
proclaim your Death, – May the Lord Jesus make
O Lord, until you come you more appreciative of P – May almighty God bless
again! the unique value of human you: the Father, and the
life and be grateful for it. Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All – Amen! All – Amen!
P –May he always support you P –Go in peace, glorifying the
in your effort to be faithful Lord by your life!
All – Our Father . . . to your consecration and to All – Thanks be to God!
P –Deliver us, Lord . . .
All –For the kingdom, the
power, and the glory are COMMEMORATION, OFFERTORY AND PROPHECY
yours, now and for ever. • Jess P. Balon
The “presentation” of a male firstborn in the Temple was both
Breaking of the Bread an expression of gratitude for the sparing of the Jewish firstborns
All – Lamb of God . . . . in Egypt, and a profession of faith in God as the source of all life.
Strictly speaking, the presentation was a consecration of the child
Communion to the Lord. But the possibility of “redeeming” him through an of-
P –This is the Lord Jesus, fering, had made the rite just a little more than a pious formality.
the light of all nations. He is Not so in the case of Jesus. His presentation in the Temple
the Lamb of God who takes was a solemn consecration and a real offertory. It expressed in
upon himself the sins of the a ritual manner the deepest reality of the purpose of Jesus’ very
world. Blessed are those who existence – to be totally devoted to the service of the Father.
are called to his Supper. His “presentation” in the Temple was an anticipation/proph-
All –Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under ecy of his self-offering on Calvary for the salvation of all men. God,
my roof, but only say the word who had spared the Israelite firstborns in Egypt, would not spare
and my soul shall be healed. His own Firstborn Son, but would hand him over for us all. (See
Rom 8:32 and Jn 3:16.)
Communion Antiphon For her part, Mary, his mother, participated in that sacrificial
(To be recited only when no offering not only in the Temple, but also on Calvary, as Simeon
Communion Hymn is sung.) prophesied: “Suffering, like a sword, will pierce your heart.” (Lk
My eyes have seen your sal- 2:35. See also Jn 19:25.)
vation, which you prepared in The sword of suffering would pierce Mary’s heart also when
the sight of all the peoples. she had to carry her Child to safety in Egypt from Herod’s attempt
to kill him (see Mt 2:13-14), and when she roamed for three days
Prayer after Communion throughout Jerusalem in search of her lost Son. (See Lk 2:46-48.)
P –By these holy gifts which
we have received, O Lord, bring
your grace to perfection within Get your copy of
us, and, as you fulfilled Simeon’s
expectation that he would not see The Wonder of Life
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