Twenty-third in Ordinary Time
September
7,
2025 Cycle C
Green
priestly
vestments symbolize hope and the vitality of the life of
faith.
Home Page
Liturgical Year Cycle C 2024-2025
Introductory
Acts of Worship
The
Entrance Prayers:
On
Sunday, usually a hymn praising God is sung in place of
reciting a Psalm from the Bible which invites us to enter
more deeply into the mystery of God's love for us. The
recited weekday Psalm expresses a youthful heart and spirit,
delighted that we may come before the living God.
Entrance
Song / Entrance Psalm (Antiphon)
Psalm
119:137, 124
You are
just, O Lord, and your judgment is right; treat your servant in
accord with your merciful love.
The
Priest Approaches and Kisses the Altar: The
altar is a symbol of Christ. In it are cut five
crosses to recall the five wounds of Christ. The altar
also represents the Church and has embedded in it the relics
of her saints. The priest comes to the altar to
celebrate the Sacrifice in the Church's name. Because
of the glory surrounding the altar upon which the divine
Sacrifice will be made, the kiss of the priest unites the
Church to Christ, its Redeemer.
Priest:
In the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.
Priest: Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
All: And with your spirit.
The
Penitential Prayers:
We
recognize our guilt for past sins, express our sorrow for
them, and ask that Mary, the angels, the saints, and our
brothers and sisters in Christ pray for the Lord God's
mercy. (The priest may select from several forms).
Priest:
Brothers
and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare
ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
Priest: Have mercy on us, O Lord.
All: For we have sinned against you.
Priest: Show us, O Lord, your mercy.
All: And grant us your salvation.
The
Absolution:
Priest:
May
almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us
to everlasting life.
All:
Amen.
The
Gloria: The
Glory of God prayers have existed from the second
century. They repeat the angels praise of God which
heralded the birth of Christ on earth. Our praise is
lifted again through the years as we rejoice at His coming
as Lord, God, the Most High Jesus Christ, who at Christmas
took on our human nature while at the same time being the
son of Man. This ancient hymn expresses our recognition of
God's glory and love. It calls upon Christ as our holy
and divine mediator, and the Holy Spirit who forever binds
us together in God's love.
Priest
and All: Glory
to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship
you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of
God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us; you
are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our
prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the
Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy
Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
The
Collect:
The
priest lifts the united prayers and petitions of the
congregation to God the Father through the merits of Jesus
Christ in the Holy Spirit.
Priest:
Let us
pray.
Priest: O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive
adoption, look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters,
that those who believe in Christ may receive true freedom and an
everlasting inheritance. Through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Liturgy
of the Word
Christ
is made known to us through the Old Testament which prepares
us to recognize Him. In those days, God inspired men
who spoke His message. Now, the New Testament Gospel reading
announces His presence to us directly through His Son.
Both readings bring God's message to us. Our
responsibility is to respond.
The
First Reading: From
the Old Testament.
Wisdom
9:13-18b
Who can
know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the Lord
intends? For the deliberations of morals are timid, and
unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the
soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many
concerns. And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and
what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when
things are in heaven, who can search them out? Or who ever
knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your
holy spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those
on earth made straight.
Priest/Reader:
The
Word of the Lord.
All:
Thanks
be to God.
The
Responsorial Psalm: This
Psalm praising God, is a prayer to God, or recommends the
practice of virtue. It is sung as an interlude between
the scriptural readings. It provides yet another
instructional setting and invites the assembly to imitate
the cantor who sings a repeated response to the verses of an
ancient Psalm many of which are attributed to King
David. The verses are sung first by a cantor (song
leader) accompanied by instruments, the refrain is sung by
the people.
Responsorial
Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-17
Cantor: In every
age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
All: In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.
Cantor: You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return,
O children of men.” For a thousand years in your sight are
as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night.
All: In every age, O Lord, you have been our
refuge.
Cantor: You make an end of them in their sleep; the
next morning they are like the changing grass, which at dawn
springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades.
All: In every age, O Lord, you have been our
refuge.
Cantor: Teach us to number our days aright, that we
may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O Lord! How
long? Have pity on your servants!
All: In every age, O Lord, you have been our
refuge.
Cantor: Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. And
may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours; prosper the
work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands!
All: In every age, O Lord, you have been our
refuge.
The
Second Reading: Taken
from the New Testament.
Second
Reading Philemon 9-10, 12-17
Brothers
and sisters: I, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for
Christ Jesus, urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose
father I have become in my imprisonment; I am sending him, that
is, my own heart, back to you. I should have liked to
retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the gospel, but I did not want to do
anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not
be forced but voluntary. Perhaps this is why he was away
from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no
longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved
especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the
Lord. So, if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as
you would me.
The
Alleluia: An
ancient expression of joy anticipating the Lord's message we
will hear in the Gospel.
Psalm
119:135
Cantor:
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
All: R/.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Cantor: Let
your face shine upon your servant; and teach me your laws.
All: R/.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The
Gospel: The
Liturgy of the Word is completed by the reading of the
Gospel. Before its reading, the members of the
assembly trace the sign of the cross upon the forehead to
indicate their mental acceptance of the Truth, on the lips
to indicate their readiness to announce it, and over the
heart to indicate their sincere desire to accept it into
their lives. The "Good News" of the Gospel tells that
God's kingdom has come for all to hear, accept, and announce
to the world for its salvation. It is God who is
speaking to us. Christ comes to teach us by the
example of His life and by His own words.
The
Gospel Luke 14:25-33
Written to
explain that
Christ
came to save everyone.
Priest: The
Gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise
to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The
Priest's Sermon: The
priest develops, explains, and comments upon the Master's
words, so our minds may be enlightened, and our hearts
enriched.
(A
priestly reflection upon this Gospel)
Profession
of Faith:
We state
in the Nicene Creed the principles of our faith in precise
and definite terms.
All: I
believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven
and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. 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, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary
and became 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 for
the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to
come. Amen.
General
Intercessions: We pray
for the needs of the pope, civic leaders, our own needs,
those of others, the sick, the dying, those who have died,
the church, and the world. The response of all to each
intercession: Lord, hear our prayer.
All: Lord,
hear our prayer.
The
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Gifts of
bread and wine symbolizing ourselves are presented to the
priest who will offer them to God the Father. Through
the Holy Spirit, they will become the Body and Blood of
Jesus Christ whom we receive in Holy Communion. Jesus
unites Himself with us for our spiritual nourishment and
strength. Today, when individuals do not present their
own personal offerings of bread and wine, the monetary
contribution symbolizes the material of their united
sacrifice. The priest makes and offering of the bread
and wine to God.
Preparation
of the Bread and Wine:
Priest: Blessed
are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we
have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and
work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of
life.
All:
Blessed
be God for ever.
Priest: By the
mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the
divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our
humanity.
Priest:
Blessed
are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we
have received the wine we offer you; fruit of the vine and work
of human hands it will become our spiritual drink.
All: Blessed
be God for ever.
Priest: With
humble spirit and contrite heart may we be accepted by you, O
Lord, and may our sacrifice in your sight this day be pleasing
to you, Lord God.
The
Priest's Hands are Washed: This act
was traditionally necessary because the priest handled the
various gifts presented by the people. Now, the
cleansing act using water reminds the priest and ourselves
of the need to cleanse not only the hands but the
soul. Soon, the priest's hands will hold the actual
body of Christ, and we will become His dwelling
place.
Priest: Wash me
O Lord, from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be
acceptable to God, the almighty Father.
All: May the
Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory
of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church.
Prayer
over the Gifts:
Speaking
in our name, the priest asks the Father to accept the gifts
we offer through him.
Priest: O God, who
give us the gift of true prayer and of peace, graciously grant
that, through this offering, we may do fitting homage to your
divine majesty and, by partaking of the sacred mystery, we
may be faithfully united in mind and heart. Through Christ
our Lord.
Eucharistic
Prayer: (Number
One: The priest may select from several forms).
Priest: The
Lord be with you.
All: And
with your spirit.
Priest: Lift up
your hearts.
All: We lift
them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us
give thanks to the Lord, our God.
All: It is
right and just.
Preface Prayer:
Priest:
It is
truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and
everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and
eternal God, through Christ our Lord. For through his
Paschal Mystery, he accomplished the marvelous deed, by which he
has freed us from the yoke of sin and death, summoning us to the
glory of being now called a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, a people for your own possession, to proclaim
everywhere your mighty works, for you have called us out of
darkness into your own wonderful life.
And so, with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and
Dominions, and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven, we sing
the hymn of your glory, as without end we acclaim:
Acclamation:
Priest
and All: Holy,
Holy, Holy Lord, God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full
of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he
who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Priest:
To you,
therefore, most merciful Father, we make humble prayer and
petition through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord: that you
accept and bless these gifts, these offerings, these holy and
unblemished sacrifices, which we offer you firstly for your holy
catholic Church. Be pleased to grant her peace, to guard,
unite and govern her throughout the whole world, together with
your servant _____ our Pope, and _____ our Bishop, and all those
who, holding to the truth, hand on the catholic and apostolic
faith.
Remember,
Lord, your servants _____ and _____, and all gathered here,
whose faith and devotion are known to you. For them, we
offer you this sacrifice of praise or they offer it for
themselves and all who are dear to them: for the redemption of
their souls, in hope of health and well-being, and paying their
homage to you, the eternal God, living and true.
In
communion with those whose memory we venerate, especially the
glorious ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of our God, and Lord, Jesus
Christ, and blessed Joseph, her Spouse, your blessed Apostles
and Martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, James, John, Thomas, James,
Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude; Linus, Cletus,
Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John
and Paul, Cosmas and Damian and all your Saints; we ask that
through their merits and prayers, in all things we may be
defended by your protecting help. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Be pleased,
O God, we pray, to bless, acknowledge, and approve this offering
in every respect; make it spiritual and acceptable, so that it
may become for us the Body and Blood of your most beloved Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ.
The
priest repeats the words which Christ used at his Last
Supper when He changed the bread into His Body and the wine
into His Blood. His Body and Blood are truly present
but under the appearance of bread and wine. The death
of Christ is prolonged in each of those who receive Him
worthily. We apply His death to ourselves so that we
may share His glory. This moment is the most solemn on
earth because it is Divine act which enables us to apply to
ourselves the Cross which Christ willingly took upon
Himself.
We are
called to die to sin and lift our very selves to God so that
we become changed; to do as God would have us do, to become
what God would have us become. Our own little cross
can lift us into union with Christ's Cross so we may earn
the joys of everlasting happiness with God the Father.
The
Lord's Supper: On the
day before he was to suffer, he took bread in his holy and
venerable hands, and with eyes raised to heaven to you, O God,
his almighty Father, giving you thanks, he said the blessing,
broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take
this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which
will be given up for you.
In a
similar way, when supper was ended, he took this precious
chalice in his holy and venerable hands, and once more, giving
you thanks, he said the 
blessing
and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying:
Take
this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice
of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant,
which will be poured out for you and for many for the
forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.
Memorial
Acclamation: (The
priest may select from several forms).
Priest: The
mystery of faith.
Priest / All: Save
us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you
have set us free.
Memorial
Prayer: (The
priest may select from several forms).
Priest:
Recalls
Christ's Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, the Church, the
dead, and ourselves.
Therefore,
O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the blessed Passion, the
Resurrection from the dead, and the glorious Ascension into
heaven of Christ, your Son, our Lord, we, your servants and your
holy people, offer to your glorious majesty from the gifts that
you have given us, this pure victim, this holy victim, this
spotless victim, the holy Bread of eternal life and the Chalice
of everlasting salvation.
Be pleased
to look upon these offerings with a serene and kindly
countenance, and to accept them, as once you were pleased to
accept the gifts of your servant Able the just, the sacrifice of
Abraham, our father in faith, and the offering of your high
priest Melchizedek, a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim.
In humble
prayer we ask you, almighty God: command that these gifts be
borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in
the sight of your divine majesty, so that all of us, who through
this participation at the altar receive the most holy Body and
Blood of your Son, may be filled with every grace and heavenly
blessing. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Remember
also, Lord, your servants _____ and _____, who have gone before
us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace.
Grant them, O Lord, we pray, and all who sleep in Christ, a
place of refreshment, light and peace. Through Christ our
Lord. Amen.
To us,
also, your servants, who though sinners, hope in your abundant
mercies, graciously grant some share and fellowship with your
holy Apostles and Martyrs: with John the Baptist, Stephen,
Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter,
Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia and
all your Saints; admit us, we beseech you, into their company,
not weighing our merits, but granting us your pardon, through
Christ our Lord. Through whom you continue to make all
these good things, O Lord; you sanctify them, fill them with
life, bless them, and bestow them upon us.
Doxology:
Prayer of Praise:
Through
him, with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity
of the Holy Holy Spirit, all glory and honor
is yours, for ever and ever.
All:
Amen.
Communion
Rite
In the
Liturgy of the Eucharist, we symbolically offer ourselves to
the Lord through the gifts of bread and wine. At the
Consecration, we offer our very lives to be united the God
the Father through the Cross of Christ. In Communion,
we find that we have not died at all, but have come to
life. We have surrendered ourselves to God through His
Divine Son, Jesus Christ. In return, we become
ennobled and enriched. We give up time and we get
eternity, we give up our sin and we receive grace, we
surrender our self-will and receive the strength of the
Divine Will, we give up ourselves and we receive
everything. For the Son of God says to us that unless
we receive Him, we shall not have Divine life in us.
But it is not really we who receive Christ as it is Christ
who receives us, bringing us into Himself.
God
makes His Cross the very means of our salvation and our
life. While we have crucified Him, His eternal love
cannot be extinguished. Christ willed to give us the
very life we crucified in our Redemption, the Consecration
of Holy Thursday into Communion, His death into our
everlasting life.
The
Lord's Prayer:
Priest:
At the
Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
Priest
and All: Our
Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be they 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.
Priest:
Deliver us,
Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our
days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free
from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed
hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
All:
For the
kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
Prayer
for Peace:
Priest:
Lord Jesus
Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I
give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your
will. Who live and reign for ever and ever.
All: Amen.
Priest:
The peace
of the Lord be with you always.
All: And with your spirit.
Priest: Let us offer each other the sign of
peace.
Breaking
of the Bread:
Priest:
May
this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
bring eternal life to us who receive it.
Priest
and All: Lamb of
God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have
mercy on us.
Lamb of
God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
Priestly
Preparation: Lord
Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who, by the will of the
Father and the work of the Holy Spirit, through your Death gave
life to the world, free me by this, your most holy Body and
Blood, from all my sins and from every evil; keep me always
faithful to your commandments, and never let me be parted from
you.
Priest: Behold
the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the
world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
Priest
and All: Lord, I
am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say
the world and my soul shall be healed.
Priest: May the
Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.
May
the
Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.
Communion
Antiphon: Psalm 31:20
How great
is the goodness, Lord, that you keep for those who fear you.
Communion
of the Faithful:
Priest: The
Body of Christ.
The
Faithful: Amen.
Priest/Deacon/Extraordinary
Eucharistic Minister: The
Blood of Christ.
The
Faithful: Amen.
Cleansing
of the Vessels:
Priest:
What
has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of
heart, that what has been given to us in time may be our healing
for eternity.
Prayer
after Communion:
Priest: Grant
that your faithful, O Lord, whom you nourish and endow with life
through the food of your Word and heavenly Sacrament, may so
benefit from your beloved Son's great gifts that we may merit an
eternal share in his life. Who lives and reigns forever
and ever.
Concluding
Rite
Priest: The
Lord be with you.
All: And with
your spirit.
Priest: Bow down
for the blessing.
Dismissal
Prayer: (The
priest may select from several forms)
Priest:
May
almighty God bless you in his kindness and pour out saving
wisdom upon you.
All: Amen.
Priest: May he nourish you always with the
teachings of the faith and make you persevere in holy deeds.
All: Amen.
Priest: May he turn your steps towards
himself and show you the path of charity and peace.
All: Amen.
Final
Blessing:
Priest:
And may the
blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the son, and the Holy
Spirit, come down on you and remain with you forever.
All: Amen.
O my Jesus, forgive us our
sins.