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SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

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DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF PRIESTS
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27 June 2014
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Archdiocese of Manila

 INTRODUCTORY RITE
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Opening Hymn

O Salutaris Hostia,
Quae caeli pandis pstium:
Bella premunt hostilia,
Da robur fer auxilium.
Uni trinoque Domino
Sit sempiterna gloria:
Qui vitam sine termino
Nobis donet in patria.
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EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
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The Presider places the host in the monstrance on the altar.
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INCENSATION
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After placing incense in the censer, the Presider kneels and incenses the Blessed
Sacrament.
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INVITATION TO PRAISE
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Presider:
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Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, source of every perfect gift, who
has bestowed on us in Christ, every spiritual blessing in the heavens. God chose us in him
before the world began to be holy and blameless in his sight. (cf. Eph. 1, 3-4)
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R. Glory and praise to you, forever.
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Praised be Jesus Christ, wellspring of every blessing. Though he was in the form of God,
he did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, he emptied
himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. (cf. Phil. 2, 6-7)

R. Glory and praise to you, forever.

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Praised be the Holy Spirit, Lord and giver of life, who helps us in our weakness, for we
do not know how to pray as we ought. He makes intercessions of us with groaning that
cannot be expressed in speech. (cf. Rom. 8, 26-27)
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R. Glory and praise to you, forever.
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We thank you, our Father, for the life and knowledge which you have revealed to us
through Jesus, your servant, our Lord and High Priest. Glory to you through the ages! As
the bread we have broken was scattered far and wide upon the hills, but when harvested
becomes one, so may the Church be gathered into your Kingdom from the farthest
reaches of the earth…Lord almighty, you created the universe for the glory of your name;
you gave men food and drink to strengthen them, that they might give you thanks; but to
us you have given spiritual food and drink, and eternal life through your Son…Glory to
you through the ages! (cf. Didache 9, 3-4; 10, 34)
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Commentator:
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We pray for the sanctification of priests.
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Heart of Jesus strengthen them with your wisdom and give them courage to reach beyond
this crisis. Allow them to thrive, share in the ministry of the kingdom and live up to the
gift of the priesthood. Grant that the dignity of their holy vocation be restored.
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Presider:
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Brothers and sisters, pray for the sanctification of us your priests. Ask the Lord to bless us
with the fullness of his love, to help us be faithful ministers of Christ the High Priest, so
that we will be able to lead you to him, the fountain of your salvation.
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Commentator:
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Loving and merciful Heart of Jesus, remember all our priest: give them a deep faith, a
bright and firm hope, and a burning love. We ask that you keep them close to you Sacred
Heart: comfort them, strengthen them, sanctify them and make them faithful. Show them
that it is through suffering that one is purified. Eternal High Priest, keep all priests close
to your Sacred Heart and bless them abundantly in time and eternity.
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Pause for silent prayer.
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Then Word of God is read.
 THE WORD OF GOD
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READING
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A Reading from the Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians (4, 1-2, 5-7)
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Brothers and sisters:
Since we have this ministry through the mercy shown us, we
are not discouraged.
Rather, we have renounced shameful, hidden things;
not acting deceitfully or falsifying the word of God,
but by the open declaration of the truth
we commend ourselves to everyone’s
conscience in the sight of God.
For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord,
and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus.
For God who said, Let light shine out of darkness,
has shone in our hearts to bring to light
the knowledge of the glory of God on the
face of Jesus Christ.
But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing power may be of God
and not from us.
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The word of the Lord.
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The reading is followed by a prayerful reflection.
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PSALM (110, 1,2,3,4)
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R. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
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The Lord said to my Lord; “Sit at my right hand
till I make your enemies your footstool.”
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R. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
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The scepter of your power the Lord will stretch forth from Zion:
“Rule in the midst of your enemies.”
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R. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
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“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;
before the daystar, like the dew,
I have begotten you.”
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R. You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
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The Alleluia may be sung.
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GOSPEL
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A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (10:1-18)
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“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but
climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the
shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as
he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own,
he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But
they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not
recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not
realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I
am the gate for the sheep. All who came [before me] are thieves and robbers, but the
sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and
will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and
destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. I am the good
shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a
shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and
runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he works for pay and
has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know
me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for
the sheep. I have other sheep* that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and
they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father
loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from
me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up
again.* This command I have received from my Father.”
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The Gospel of the Lord.
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HOMILY
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It is appropriate that the priest gives a homily or reflection. He may also use the
following reflection of Pope Francis.
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From a reflection of Pope Francis on Pastors
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Dear Brothers and Sisters:
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The Evangelist John presents us…with the image of Jesus the Good Shepherd. In
contemplating this page of the Gospel, we can understand the kind of relationship that
Jesus had with his disciples: a relationship based on tenderness, love, mutual knowledge
and the promise of an immeasurable gift: “I came”, Jesus said, “that they may have life,
and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). This relationship is the model for relations between
Christians and for human relationships.
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Today, too, as in the time of Jesus, many put themselves forward as “shepherds” of our
lives; but only the Risen One is the true Shepherd, who gives us life in abundance. I
invite everyone to place their trust in the Lord who guides us. But he not only guides us:
he accompanies us, he walks with us. Let us listen to his Word with minds and hearts
opened, to nourish our faith, enlighten our conscience and follow the teaching of the
Gospel.
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Let us pray for the Shepherds of the Church, for all Bishops, including the Bishop of
Rome, for all priests, for everyone! We pray especially for the new priests…May the
Lord help us pastors always to be faithful to the Master and wise and enlightened guides
of the People of God, entrusted to us. I also ask you to please help us: help us to be good
shepherds. Once I read something very beautiful on how the People of God help the
bishops and priests to be good shepherds. It is a writing of St Caesarius of Arles, a Father
of the first centuries of the Church. He explained how the People of God must help the
pastor, and he gave this example: when a calf is hungry it goes to the cow, its mother, to
get milk. The cow, however, does not give it right away: it seems that she withholds it.
And what does the calf do? It knocks with its nose at the cow’s udder, so that the milk
will come. It is a beautiful image! “So also you must be with your pastors”, this saint
said: always knock at their door, at their hearts, that they may give you the milk of
doctrine, the milk of grace and the milk of guidance.
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And I ask you, please, bother the pastors, disturb the pastors, all of us pastors, so that we
might give you the milk of grace, doctrine and guidance. Bother them! Think of that
beautiful image of the little calf, how it bothers its mother so that she might give it
something to eat.
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In imitation of Jesus, every pastor “will sometimes go before his people, pointing the way
and keeping their hope vibrant. At other times, he will simply be in their midst with his
unassuming and merciful presence. At yet other times, he will have to walk after them,
helping those who lag behind” (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, n. 31). May
all pastors be so! But you must bother your pastors so that they may provide the guidance
of doctrine and grace.
Let us pray that also, in these times, many young people may hear the voice of the Lord,
which is always in danger of being suffocated by the clamor of other voices. Let us pray
for young people: perhaps there is someone here…who hears the voice of the Lord
calling him to the priesthood; let us pray for him, if he is here, and for all young people
who are being called.
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(Source: Regina Caeli Reflection, 11 May 2014, Vatican City)
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After the homily, a prayerful reflection follows.
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 THANKSGIVING TO GOD
FOR THE GIFT OF THE PRIESTHOOD
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Presider:
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My dear People of God,
I invite all of you to join me in thanking the Lord
for the gift of the priesthood
which our Lord Jesus Christ
shared with his apostles
and with all those he called
to the priestly service of his Church.
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All pray in silence.
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Presider:
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“It was not you who chose me, it was I who chose you to go and bear fruit.” (Jn. 15, 16)
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Pause
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May you, Lord, Holy Father, be blessed
because you anointed your only Son,
Jesus Christ, our Messiah and Lord,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit,
you have given your priests
a share in your Son’s consecration
to the priestly service in you Church:
to be your faithful witnesses in the world
to the salvation Christ won for all mankind.
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R. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Ps.
135)
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Reader:
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“Mercy is his deigning to call priests to act as his representatives, though he knows that
they are sinners.”
(John Paul II)
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We glorify you, Father, and we bless you,
because in Jesus Christ, your son
you have given us the perfect image
of the High Priest and Good Shepherd,
the teacher and servant of all.
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R. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Ps.
135)
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Reader:
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“The Priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus… The priest is not a priest for himself.
He does not administer the sacraments to himself. He does not exist for himself, he exists
for other.” (John May Vianney)
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Pause
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Thank you, Father, for the gift of Christ,
Son of your Handmaid,
a servant obedient unto death.
Today, we reconfirm our dedication to Jesus,
to unite ourselves more closely to him
and to try to become more like him
by sacrificing our own pleasure and ambition
to bring his peace and love to your people.
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R. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Ps.
135)
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Reader:
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“If the Jewish High priest carried the names of the twelve tribes of Israel written on his
shoulders and on his breast, how much more Christ, our High Priest, carries our names
on His heart.” (John of Avila)
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Pause
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We glorify you, Father, and we bless you
because in Jesus Christ, our brother,
you have given us the highest example
of fidelity to your will,
even unto death.
He led your flock as a true Shepherd
without thinking of his own profit,
but only the well-being of the people
he was sent to serve.
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R. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Ps.
135)
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Reader:
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“Our altar of gold is the Heart of Christ. We must enter into the Holy of holies, which is
the same Heart of Jesus, and gather up the riches of His love.” (Anthony of Padua)
Pause
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Thank you, Father, for the gift of Christ,
Son of man, mild, humble, poor
who had no place to lay his head.
Today we happily reconfirm our pledge
to live soberly and simply
to use the goods of this world
for the cause of the Gospel
and for our brothers and sisters in need.
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R. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Ps.
135)
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Reader:
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“These are the ones who are in charge of spiritual travail and responsible for the birth
which comes through baptism. Through them we put on Christ, and are buried in union
with the Son of God, and become members obedient to our blessed Head.” (John
Chrysostom)
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Pause
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We glorify you, Father, and we bless you,
because in Jesus Christ,
Son of the Virgin Mary,
you have given us the supreme model of obedience.
In obedience to your will,
he became man like us in all things but sin.
His life on earth was a total surrender to you, his Father.
He died on the cross
in fulfillment of your divine plan to save us
and welcome us back to your Kingdom.
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R. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Ps.
135)
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Reader 6:
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“What sublime things is the priest! What immense predilection of God to choose these
souls for his intimate service and to continue his work upon earth! Do not let one day go
by without expressing your thanks for such favor.” (Venerable Conchita Cabrera de
Armida)
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Pause
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Thank you, Father, for the gift of Christ,
Virgin bridegroom of the virgin Church.
Today, with joy, we reconfirm our vow
to keep our bodies holy and our hearts pure,
to live with undivided love
for your glory and the salvation of mankind.
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R. O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. (Ps.
135)
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Presider:
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Look with love, Lord,
on us your sons whom you have chosen
to be your beloved priests.
Keep us close to you always.
Let us be, through your grace,
a reflection of your light,
an instrument of your Spirit of peace,
and be an extension among your family
of the loving presence of Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns forever and ever.
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R. Amen.
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 BENEDICTION
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The Presider goes to the altar, genuflects, and then kneels. A suitable Eucharistic
song is then sung. Meanwhile, the Presider incenses the Blessed Sacrament. He then rises
and sings or says the following prayers.

INCENSATION AND HYMN

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Tantum Ergo

Tantum Ergo
Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui:
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui:
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.
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Genitori, Genitoque
Laus at jubilation,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benediction:
Procendenti abutroque
Comparsit laudation. Amen.
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V. Panem de coelo praestitisti eis.
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R. Omne delectamentum in se habentem
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Presider:
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Oremus:
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Deus, qui nobis sub sacramento mirabili,
passionis tuae memoriam reliquisti:
tribue, quaesumus, ita nos corporis et sanguinis tui
sacra mysteria venerari,
ut redemptionis tuae fructum in
nobis iugiter sentiamus.
Qui vivis et regnas in saecula saeculorum.
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R. Amen.
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Or:
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Let us pray.
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Pause for silent prayer.
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Lord Jesus Christ,
you gave us the eucharist
as the memorial of your suffering and death.
May our worship of this sacrament of your body and blood
help us to experience the salvation you won for us
and the peace of the kingdom
where you live with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever.
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R. Amen.
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THE DIVINE PRAISES
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Blessed be God.
Blessed be his Holy Name.
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus.
Blessed be his most Sacred Heart.
Blessed be his most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
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Blessed be the great Mother of God, Mary most holy.
Blessed be her holy and Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, Virgin and Mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his saints.
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Or:
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PRAYER OF PRAISE
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Body of Christ conceived of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
R. To you be praised and glory forever.
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Body of Christ, sacrificed on the cross:
R. To you be praised and glory forever.
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Body of Christ, risen from the tomb:
R. To you be praised and glory forever.
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Blood of Christ, price of our ransom:
R. To you be praised and glory forever.
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Blood of Christ, the seal of new alliance:
R. To you be praised and glory forever.
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Blood of Christ, drink of eternal life:
R. To you be praised and glory forever.
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Heart of Christ, pierced through with the lance:
R. To you be praised and glory forever.
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Heart of Christ, rich in mercy:
R. To you be praised and glory forever.
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Heart of Christ, source of love:
R. To you be praised and glory forever.
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Living bread come down from heaven:
R. To you be praised and glory forever.
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Living word of the Father:
R. Give us your salvation.
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Giver of the Holy Spirit:
R. Give us your salvation.
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Bridegroom of Holy Church:
R. Give us your salvation.
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Redeemer of the world:
R. Give us your salvation.
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Friend of the young and the poor:
R. Give us your salvation.
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When you come on the last day:
R. Give us your salvation.
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May the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus be praised, adored, and thanked, in every moment, in
all the tabernacles of the world, until the end of time.
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All respond:
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Lord Jesus, you love your priests with all your priestly heart. Hear our heart-felt prayer
for the sanctification of priests. Strengthen them by the Holy Spirit and fill them with
love for your people; that as faithful and holy priests and true disciples they may preach
your Gospel, minister the sacraments, and pasture your flock to the glory of your name.
Amen.
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REPOSITION
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The priest or deacon removes the Blessed Sacrament from the monstrance and
places it in the tabernacle.
Meanwhile, the people may sing an acclamation or another song, or instrumental
music may be played. The ministers then depart.
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O Sacrament most holy,
O Sacrament divine,
All praise and all thanksgiving
Be every moment thine.
Be every moment thine.