2. Votive Mass of the Mercy of God
The readings for the Votive Mass of the Most Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ or the Votive Mass of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus may also be used.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Cf. Jer 31: 3; 1 Jn 2: 2
God has loved us with an everlasting love;
he sent his Only Begotten Son as an expiation for our sins
and not for our sins alone, but for those of all the world.
Or: Ps 89 (88): 2
I will sing for ever of your mercies, O Lord;
through all ages my mouth will proclaim your fidelity.
COLLECT
O God, whose mercies are without number
and whose treasure of goodness is infinite,
graciously increase the faith of the people consecrated to you
that all may grasp and rightly understand
by whose love they have been created,
through whose Blood they have been redeemed,
and by whose Spirit they have been reborn.
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.
FIRST READING
1 Pt 1:3-9
In his great mercy, God has given us new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Peter
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading,
kept in heaven for you
who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith,
to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.
In this you rejoice, although now for a little while
you may have to suffer through various trials,
so that the genuineness of your faith,
more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire,
may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Although you have not seen him you love him;
even though you do not see him now yet believe in him,
you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24
℟. (1) Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
℟. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just:
℟. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
℟. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, his love is everlasting.
VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
℟. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Lord is good to all
and compassionate toward all is works.
℟. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Mt 20:25b-28
The Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom for many.
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew
Jesus summoned his disciples and said,
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Or: Jn 15:9-14
No one has greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
The Gospel of the Lord.
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Receive our oblations in your mercy, O Lord,
and transform them into the Sacrament of redemption,
the memorial of your Son’s Death and Resurrection,
so that, by the power of this sacrifice
and with constant trust in Christ,
we may come to eternal life.
Through Christ our Lord.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Ps 103 (102):17
The mercy of the Lord is everlasting
upon those who hold him in fear.
Or: Jn 19:34
One of the soldiers opened his side with a lance,
and at once there came forth blood and water.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Grant to us, O merciful God,
that, nourished by the Body and Blood of your Son,
we may draw confidently from the wellsprings of mercy
and show ourselves ever more compassionate
towards our brothers and sisters.
Through Christ our Lord.
