THE HOLY YEAR OF MERCY THE SECOND FORM OF THE RITE OF PENANCE Lent 2016 “Bringing God’s Mercy to the World”

Gathering Hymn: God of mercy and compassion, show your tenderness anew, Father let me call you Father, ‘tis your child returns to you. Refrain Jesus, Lord, we ask for mercy, let us not implore in vain, all our sins we now detest them, may we never sin again.

2. By my sins I have offended God almighty in heav’n above, where the saints rejoice forever in the Father’s boundless love. Refrain Jesus, Lord, we ask for mercy, let us not implore in vain, all our sins we now detest them, may we never sin again.

3. See our saviour, bleeding, dying, on the cross of Calvary, through his wounds we can find healing, Through his love we can be free. Refrain: Jesus, Lord, we ask for mercy, let us not implore in vain, all our sins we now detest them, may we never sin again.

Sign of the Cross and Greeting In the name of the Father…. Grace, Mercy, and Peace be with you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour.  R:  And with your spirit  Overview and Opening Prayer

Celebration of the Word of God First Reading From the First Letter to Timothy 1:12-17 Mercy was shown me…

Yes, I shall arise and return to my father Psalm Response: Yes, I shall arise and return to my father 1.    To you, O Lord I lift up my soul In you O my God, I place all my trust. R/ 2.    Look down on me, have mercy O Lord; Forgive me my sins, behold all my grief. R/

Yes, I shall arise and return to my father Psalm Response: Yes, I shall arise and return to my father 3.    My heart and soul shall yean for your face; Be gracious to me and answer my plea. R/ 4.    Mercy I cry, O Lord, wash me clean And whiter than snow my spirit shall be. R/

Verse to welcome the Gospel Praise and Honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ! I will rise and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. Praise and Honour to you, Lord Jesus Christ! Gospel: The Prodigal Son Luke 15

Examen of Remembrance Celebrant: Let us kneel if able… Remembrance begins with deep, personal identification. It begins with remembering the affliction of our brothers and sisters, and marking their pain as our own. We come to our senses…

Leader: We remember the acts of shocking abuse, hatred, the terrorism of this past year and the thousands of people caught in the horror of these times…(PAUSE for a few seconds). We pray… All: God, you bring us to our senses, hold us in your Mercy (Pause)

Leader: We recall our feelings and emotions of personal sinfulness and our reaction to the social and global evils of our times…(PAUSE). We pray… All: God, you bring us to our senses, hold us in your Mercy (Pause)

Leader: We recall the thousands of workers and the unemployed, the women and men, the old and young, those who did not escape terrorism, genocide, racism, hatred and hurt this year…(PAUSE) We pray… All: God, you bring us to our senses, hold us in your Mercy (Pause)

Leader: We recall people who have helped asylum seekers and refugees in the confusion of these times... (Pause) We pray… All: God, you bring us to our senses, hold us in your Mercy (Pause)

Leader: We recall people we have hurt, wrong choices we have made, the evil we have done over time; in all this we remember your mercy to each of us, to all of us... (Pause) We pray… All: God, you bring us to our senses, hold us in your Mercy (Pause)

General Confession of Sins I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do through my own fault (All strike their breast) through my fault, through my most grievous fault; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

We come to our senses as we reflect… Litany We come to our senses as we reflect… Sin is everything that distances us from the Father All repeat after cantor or choir: Kyrie Eleison (Taize) /or: Lord have mercy (Turner) Sin is that which separates us from the Father’s House. R/ Sin is what separates us from our brothers and sisters. R/ Sin is that which comes to upset our hearts. R/

Sin is whatever does not let us live a full life. R: Kyrie, Kyrie, eleison Sin is everything that keeps us from recognising the Father’s house as ours. R/ Sin is what causes us to forget that we are sisters and brothers. R/ Sin is everything that degrades our relationship with the Loving Father. R/

Sin is everything that degrades our relationship with our sisters and brothers. R: Kyrie, Kyrie, eleison The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven…..

Individual Confession and Absolution Penitents are now invited to go to the priests designated for individual confession, and confess their sins.  Each person receives a fitting act of satisfaction and is absolved.  WE pray for one another during this time

Prayer of Absolution: God, the Father of Mercies, through the death and resurrection of his Son, has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit amongst us for the forgiveness of sins. Through the ministry the Church may God give you pardon and peace. And I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Proclamation of Praise for God's Mercy Refrain: Create a new heart, holy Lord, Beckon our lives through your word, Open our eyes to your call, United as one for your world. Heighten our minds to your thoughts, Heal us of pride and of hurt, May we go forth in your name, We pray our hearts change.

Verse 1 The heart of the cross lowly and poor, calls us on. Lord, it is you promising hope, promising truth. Refrain

Refrain: Create a new heart, holy Lord, Beckon our lives through your word, Open our eyes to your call, United as one for your world. Heighten our minds to your thoughts, Heal us of pride and of hurt, May we go forth in your name, We pray our hearts change.

Verse 2 Restless the hearts who yearn for your peace in this land Verse 2 Restless the hearts who yearn for your peace in this land. Deepen the dream, justice brings life, justice redeems. Refrain

Refrain: Create a new heart, holy Lord, Beckon our lives through your word, Open our eyes to your call, United as one for your world. Heighten our minds to your thoughts, Heal us of pride and of hurt, May we go forth in your name, We pray our hearts change.

The Priest invites all to prayer: Priest: Merciful God, how wonderfully you created humanity and still more wonderfully remade us.  You do not abandon the sinner but search with a father's love.  You sent your Son into the world to destroy sin and death by his passion, and to restore life and joy by his resurrection. 

You sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts to make us your children and heirs of your kingdom.  You constantly renew our spirit in the sacraments of your redeeming love, freeing us from slavery to sin and transforming us ever more closely into the likeness of your beloved Son. 

We thank you for the wonders of your mercy, and with heart and hand and voice we join with the whole Church in a new song of praise: Glory to you through Christ in the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen.

Solemn Blessing May the Father of Mercy guide your hearts in the way of his love and fill you with Christ-like patience.  R.  Amen. May the Father of Mercy give you strength to walk in newness of life and to please him in all things.  R.  Amen. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.  R.  Amen....

Sending Forth The Lord has freed you from your sins.  Go in peace. All: Thanks be to God...

Refrain: Glory and praise to our God,  Who alone gives light to our days.  Many are the blessings He bears,  To those who trust in His ways.  1. We the daughters and sons of Him,  Who built the valleys and plains.  Praise the wonders our God has done,  In every heart that sings. 

Refrain: Glory and praise to our God,  Who alone gives light to our days.  Many are the blessings He bears,  To those who trust in His ways. 2. In His wisdom He strengthens us,  Like gold that's tested in fire.  Though the power of sin prevails,  Our God is there to save. Refrain