In these times when not all feel free to gather together as a Christian Community to celebrate Mass, let us unite ourselves spiritually to the Mass as it is being celebrated in our churches.

One way you can do this by joining broadcast Masses on radio, television, or via the internet.

This resource is offered to provide a ritual by which families, "the domestic church," can keep the Lord's day holy by joining together to celebrate part of the Church's liturgy at home. Ideally, the head of the family will lead the service; other members of the family should take on roles as readers.

It would be appropriate to celebrate this service at the usual time the family would attend Mass. If possible, prepare a suitable prayer space with a crucifix, holy picture and/or a candle or two. If the family is blessed with musical talent, hymns would be appropriate.

• Leader:
• In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
• All:
• Amen.

GREETING

• Leader:
• We gather together to keep holy the Lord's Day. Sunday has been called the Lord's Day because it was on this day, on the first Easter, that Jesus conquered sin and death and rose to new life. Although public Mass has been restored, the threat of the transmission of COVID-19 continues, the Archbishop is continuing the dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation, and those who are not yet comfortable with the potential risk of returning to Sunday Mass still strive through these prayers to be united in the spirit of Christ with the Church around the world and celebrate our redemption in Christ's suffering, death and resurrection.

• Leader:
• Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be God for ever.
• All:
• Blessed be God for ever.

PENITENTIAL ACT

• Leader:

• May we unite our hearts in faith this day,
  and turn to our merciful Lord who is gracious and just.

After a pause for silent reflection, the leader continues.

• Leader:
• Lord Jesus, by your name we are saved.
  Lord, have mercy.

• All:
• Lord, have mercy.
• Leader
• Christ Jesus, by your might we are defended.
  Christ, have mercy.

• All:
• Christ, have mercy.
• Leader
• Lord Jesus, by your grace we are sustained.
  Lord, have mercy.

• All:
• Lord, have mercy.

GLORY TO GOD

• All:

• Glory to God in the highest,
  and on earth peace to people of good will.
  

  We praise you, we bless you
  we adore you, we glorify you,
  we give you thanks for your great glory,
  Lord God, heavenly King,
  O God, almighty Father.
  

  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,
     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),
  Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
  in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
  

COLLECT

• Leader:
• Let us pray.
  

  Look upon us, O God,
  Creator and ruler of all things,
  and, that we may feel the working of your mercy,
  grant that we may serve you with all our heart.
  Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
  who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
  God, for ever and ever. Amen.
  

• All:
• Amen.
  

FIRST READING

• Reader:
• A Reading from the Book of Isaiah
  

  The Lord God opens my ear that I may hear;
  and I have not rebelled,
  have not turned back.
  I gave my back to those who beat me,
  my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;
  my face I did not shield
  from buffets and spitting.
  

  The Lord God is my help,
  therefore I A.M. not disgraced;
  I have set my face like flint,
  knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
  He is near who upholds my right;
  if anyone wishes to oppose me,
  let us appear together.
  Who disputes my right?
  Let that man confront me.
  See, the Lord God is my help;
  who will prove me wrong?
  

  The Word of the Lord.
  

• All:
• Thanks be to God.
  

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

• Reader:
• I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
  

• All:
• I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
  
  
• Reader:
• I love the Lord because he has heard
  my voice in supplication,
  because he has inclined his ear to me
  the day I called.
  
  
• All:
• I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
  
  
• Reader:
• The cords of death encompassed me;
  the snares of the netherworld seized upon me;
  I fell into distress and sorrow,
  and I called upon the name of the LORD,
  
• All:
• I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
  
  
• Reader:
• Gracious is the Lord and just;
  yes, our God is merciful.
  The Lord keeps the little ones;
  I was brought low, and he saved me.
  
• All:
• I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
  
  For he has freed my soul from death,
  my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
  I shall walk before the Lord
  in the land of the living.
  
• All:
• I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.
  
  

SECOND READING

• Reader:
• What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

  Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

• Leader:
• The Word of the Lord.
  
• All:
• Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

• Cantor:
• Alleluia! Alleluia!
• All:
• Alleluia! Alleluia!
• Cantor:

• May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. Gal 6:14
  

• All:
• Alleluia! Alleluia!

GOSPEL

• Leader:
• Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" They said in reply, "John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets." And he asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter said to him in reply, "You are the Christ." Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.

  He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."

  He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it"

  The Gospel of the Lord.

• All:
• Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

REFLECTION

• Reader:
• Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:17)

  Think of your faith as a flame in your heart. It is first and foremost a gift from God, but it won't burn brightly unless you feed it. Without a fuel source, it will die out. We all know how to nourish our faith: with prayer, the sacraments, and God's word. But there's another "fuel" we can't do without, and that is good works.

  Today's second reading is a stark reminder that our faith isn't just between the Lord and us. We are part of a body, the body of Christ, united through Jesus' death and resurrection. So when we are loving our neighbor, we are also loving the Lord, and that makes our flame of faith grow larger and burn more intensely.

  We know that God calls us to care for our brothers and sisters in need — it's one of the ways we respond to the love he has already poured into our hearts. But in the day-to-day busyness and challenges of life, it's easy to become focused only on our own issues. It sometimes takes a deliberate effort to think beyond ourselves and our immediate families. That's partly because we often don't "see" the poor among us. But that doesn't mean they don't exist or don't need our help.

  You are probably already performing many good deeds. Perhaps you are supporting a favorite charity, making meals for a shelter, or reaching out to a lonely neighbor. But whatever you are doing, ask Jesus from time to time if there is something more or different you should consider. As you pray, he may spark an idea for a new way to serve at your parish or move you with compassion to support people suffering in a country half a world away. Above all, he will be pleased that you care for the needs that are on his heart em and that you are doing all you can to keep the flame of faith alive in your own.

  Jesus, put the needs of your people on my heart, and show me how to care for them.

PROFESSION OF FAITH

• All:

• I believe in one God,
  the Father almighty,
  maker of heaven and earth,
  of all things visible and invisible.
  

  I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
  the Only Begotten Son of God,
  born of the Father before all ages,
  God from God, Light from Light,
  true God from true God,
  begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
  through him all things were made,
  For us men and for our salvation
     he came down from heaven:
  

  [All bow during these two lines:]
  and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
     and become man.
  

  For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
  he suffered death and was buried,
  and rose again on the third day
     in accordance with the Scriptures.
  He ascended into heaven
     and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
  and his kingdom will have no end.
  

  I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
  who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
  who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
  who has spoken through the Prophets.
  

  I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
  I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
  and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead,
     and the life of the world to come. Amen.
  

GENERAL INTERCESSIONS

• Leader:
• We come to the Lord as children, confident of God's love and forgiveness.

• Reader:
• The response will be: Lord, hear our prayer.
  
• Reader:
• For Pope Francis and all leaders in the Church: (pause)
  that God will give them wisdom
  in addressing the wounds in the Church
  and guide them in renewing and restoring the community of faith.

  We pray to the Lord.

• All:
• Lord, hear our prayer.
• Reader:
• For all who died from the attacks on September 11, 2001: (pause)
  that God will welcome them, give them eternal peace,
  and heal the grief in the hearts that miss them.

  We pray to the Lord.

• All:
• Lord, hear our prayer.
• Reader:
• For all police and first responders
  who risk their lives daily to ensure our safety, (pause)
  that they may be protected as they work to keep others safe.

  We pray to the Lord.

• All:
• Lord, hear our prayer.
• Reader:
• For peace: (pause)
  that God will turn hearts from violence and revenge,
  protect the innocent from harm
  and bring forth a new season of justice and peace.

  We pray to the Lord.

• All:
• Lord, hear our prayer.
• Reader:
• For all who have suffered loss through Hurricane Ida,
  the recent flooding, or wildfires: (pause)
  that God will heal their pain, protect them from further harm,
  give them hope, and touch the hearts of many to assist them.

  We pray to the Lord.

• All:
• Lord, hear our prayer.
  
• Reader:
• For all catechists: (pause)
  that they may effectively lead those entrusted to them
  to a deeper knowledge and love of God.

  We pray to the Lord.

• All:
• Lord, hear our prayer.
  
• Reader:
• For the sick, especially those for whom
  we have been asked to pray, particularly,
  those who are placed in quarantine and isolation, (pause)
  that God's healing touch may bring them comfort and peace.

  We pray to the Lord.

• All:
• Lord, hear our prayer.
  
• Reader:
• For all our sisters and brothers who have died, especially, . . . (pause)
  that they experience the joy of God's heavenly family for all eternity.

  We pray to the Lord.

• All:
• Lord, hear our prayer.
• Reader:
• For the prayers we now make in the silence of our hearts, (pause)

  We pray to the Lord.

• All:
• Lord, hear our prayer.
• Leader:
• God of peace, you are near to all who call on you.
  Hear the prayers of our humble and contrite hearts.
  We ask this through Christ our Lord.

• All:
• Amen.

LORD'S PRAYER

• Leader:
• Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our Savior gave us.
• All:

• Our Father, who art in heaven,
  hallowed be thy name.
  thy 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.
  

  Amen.
  

SPIRITUAL COMMUNION

• All:

• My Jesus, I believe that you are present
     in the most Blessed Sacrament.
  I love You above all things
     and I desire to receive You into my soul.
  

  Since I cannot now 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.
  Never permit me to be separated from You.
  

  Amen.
  

PRAYER OF BLESSING

• Leader:
• St Michael, the Archangel, Protect and Pray for us.
• All:
• Amen.
• Leader:
• The Lord bless us and keep us; the Lord make his face shine on us and be gracious to us; the Lord turn his face toward us and give us his peace both now and forever.
• All:
• Amen.
• Leader:
• In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
• All:
• Amen.

Lectionary for Sunday Mass
© 1998, 1997, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC

Prayers at Home When Gathering for Mass Is Not Possible
© 2020, the Diocese of Clonfert and the Diocese of Elphin, Ireland

The Roman Missal © 2011, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC

Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest: Leader's Edition
© 2007, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC

The Word Among Us, © 2020 The Word Among Us.