Liturgical Information
The Sixth Sunday of Easter (A)

Themes & Motives: initiation, Holy Spirit, truth, community, love

Introit:
Speak out with a voice of joy; let it be heard to the ends of the earth: The Lord has set his people free, alleluia. (See Isaiah 48:20)

Opening Prayer:
Ever-living God,
help us to celebrate our joy
in the resurrection of the Lord
and to express in our lives
the love we celebrate.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

• Acts of the Apostles 8:5-8,14-17 [They prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. /v.15]
• Psalm 66:1-3 / 4-5 / 6-7 / 16,20 [R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. /v.1]
• I Peter 3:15-18 [Christ was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit. /v.18]
• Gospel Verse: Jn 14:23 [Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.]
• John 14:15-21 [If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. /v.15]

Offertory Antiphon: **
Bless our God, you peoples, loudly sound his praise; He has given life to our souls, and has not let our feet slip. Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness, alleluia! [Psalm 66:8,9,20]
     Verses of  Psalm 47  can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.

Prayer over the Gifts:
Lord,
accept our prayers and offerings.
Make us worthy of your sacraments of love
by granting us your forgiveness.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

Preface of Easter V: [Christ is Priest and Victim]
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.

As he offered his body on the cross,
his perfect sacrifice fulfilled all others.
As he gave himself into your hands for our salvation,
he showed himself to be the priest, the altar, and the lamb of sacrifice.

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:
If you love me, keep my commandments, says the Lord. The Father will send you the Holy Spirit, to be with you for ever, alleluia. (John 14:15-16)

Prayer after Communion:
Almighty and ever-living Lord,
you restored us to life
by raising Christ from death.
Strengthen us by this Easter sacrament;
May we feel its saving power in our daily life.
We ask 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.
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.