Liturgical Information
The Fourth Sunday of Easter (A)

Themes & Motives: Good Shepherd, trust, safety, suffering, discernment

Introit:
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord; by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia. (Psalm 32:5-6)

Opening Prayer:
Almighty and ever-living God,
give us new strength
from the courage of Christ our shepherd,
and lead us to join the saints in heaven,
where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

• Acts of the Apostles 2:14a,36-41 [God has made Him (Jesus) both Lord and Christ. /v.36]
• Psalm 23:1-3a / 3b-4 / 5 / 6 [R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. /v.1]
• I Peter 2:20b-25 [You have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. /v.25]
• Gospel Verse: Jn 10:14 [I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.]
• John 10:1-10 [He calls his own sheep by name. /v.3]

Offertory Antiphon: **
O God, you are my God whom I seek; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name, alleluia. [Psalm 63:2a,5b]
     Verses of  Psalm 63  can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Prayer over the Gifts:
Lord,
restore us by these Easter mysteries.
May the continuing work of our redeemer
bring us eternal joy.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Preface of Easter III: [Christ lives and intercedes for us for ever]
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We praise you with greater joy than ever in this Easter season,
when Christ became our paschal sacrifice.

He is still our priest,
our advocate who always pleads our cause.
Christ is the victim who dies no more,
the Lamb, once slain, who lives for ever.

The joy of the resurrection renews the whole world,
while the choirs of heaven sing for ever to your glory:

  Holy, holy, holy Lord...

Communion Antiphon:
The Good Shepherd is risen! He who laid down his life for his sheep, who died for his flock, he is risen, alleluia.

Prayer after Communion:
Father, eternal shepherd,
Watch over the flock redeemed by the blood of Christ
and lead us to the promised land.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Solemn Blessing:
Through the resurrection of his Son
God has redeemed you and made you his children.
May he bless you with joy. Amen.

The Redeemer has given you lasting freedom.
May you inherit his everlasting life. Amen.

By faith you rose with him in baptism.
May your lives be holy,
so that you will be united with him for ever. Amen.

** An official, approved English translation of the Offertory Antiphon has never been published. The offertory antiphon used here is cited in Latin in the Graduale Romanum and the Graduale simplex.
The English is from the New American Bible, a Scripture translation approved for liturgical use in the United States.

The English translation of the Introit, Opening Prayer, Psalm Refrain, Gospel Verse, Prayer over the Gifts, Preface, Communion Antiphon, Prayer after Communion, and Solemn Blessing from The Roman Missal, Copyright 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from the First Reading, Second Reading and Gospel are taken from the New American Standard Bible ® © Copyright 1973 The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.