The Liturgy of the Word

Entrance Hymn

ENTRANCE ANTIPHON Cf. Ps 42: 1-2
Give me justice, O God,
and plead my cause against a
nation that is faithless.
From the deceitful and cunning
rescue me, for you, O God, are my
strength.

COLLECT
By your help, we beseech you,
Lord our God,
may we walk eagerly in that same
charity
with which, out of love for the world,
your Son handed himself over to
death.
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.
Amen.

Priest: In the name of the Father and
of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.
People: Amen.
Grace to you and peace from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
And with your spirit.

The absolution by the priest follows:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen.

PENITENTIAL ACT
Brethren (Brothers and sisters),
let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to
celebrate the sacred mysteries.

SIT

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,
Striking your breast as you say:
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore 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.

Fifth Sunday of Lent

22nd March 2026

Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

FIRST READING 37:12-14

A reading from the prophet Ezekiel
The Lord says this: I am now going to
open your graves; I mean to raise you
from your graves, my people, and lead
you back to the soil of Israel. And you
will know that I am the Lord, when I
open your graves and raise you from
your graves, my people. And I shall
put my spirit in you, and you will live,
and I shall resettle you on your own
soil; and you will know that I, the Lord,
have said and done this – it is the
Lord God who speaks.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 129.R.v.7

R. With the Lord there is mercy
and fullness of redemption.

1. Out of the depths I cry to you,
O Lord,
Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleading. R.

2. If you, O Lord, should mark our
guilt,
Lord, who would survive?
But with you is found forgiveness:
for this we revere you. R.

3. My soul is waiting for the Lord,
I count on his word.
My soul is longing for the Lord
more than watchman for daybreak.
Let the watchman count on
daybreak
and Israel on the Lord. R.

4. Because with the Lord there is
mercy
and fullness of redemption,
Israel indeed he will redeem
from all its iniquity. R.

SECOND READING 8:8-11
A reading from the letter of St Paul
to the Romans
People who are interested only in
unspiritual things can never be
pleasing to God. Your interests,
however, are not in the unspiritual,
but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of
God has made his home in you. In
fact, unless you possessed the
Spirit of God you would not belong
to him. Though your body may be
dead it is because of sin, but if
Christ is in you then your spirit is life
itself because you have been
justified; and if the Spirit of him who
raised Jesus from the dead is living
in you, then he who raised Jesus
from the dead will give life to your
own mortal bodies through his Spirit
living in you.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Praise my soul the King of heaven,
to his feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored,
forgiven,
Who am I his praise to sing?

Praise him. Praise him.
Praise him. Praise him.
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise him for his grace and favour
To our fathers in distress:
Praise him still the same for ever,
Slow to chide and swift to bless.

Praise him. Praise him.
Praise him. Praise him.
Glorious in his faithfulness.

Angels, help us to adore him:
You behold him face to face:
Sun and moon bow down before him.
Ev’ry thing in time and space.

Praise him. Praise him.
Praise him. Praise him.
Praise with us the God of grace.

PROFESSION OF FAITH

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
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,

Raising the host, the priest says:
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.
Blessed be God for ever.
The priest pours wine and a little water
into the chalice, saying quietly:
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.
Raising the chalice, the priest says:
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.
Blessed be God for ever.

SIT

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

(All bow during the next three lines)
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 forward to the
resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

Liturgy of the Eucharist

GOSPEL 11:3-7. 17. 20-27. 33-45
SHORTER FORM
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
A reading from the holy
Gospel according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.

The sisters Martha and Mary sent this
message to Jesus, “Lord, the man you
love is ill.” On receiving the message,
Jesus said, “This sickness will end not
in death but in God’s glory, and
through it the Son of God will be
glorified.”
Jesus loved Martha and her sister
and Lazarus, yet when he heard that
Lazarus was ill he stayed where he
was for two more days before saying
to the disciples, “Let us go to Judaea.’’
On arriving, Jesus found that
Lazarus had been in the tomb for four
days already. Bethany is only about
two miles from Jerusalem, and many
Jews had come to Martha and Mary to
sympathise with them over their
brother. When Martha heard that
Jesus had come she went to meet
him. Mary remained sitting in the
house. Martha said to Jesus, “If you
had been here, my brother would not
have died, but I know that, even now,
whatever you ask of God, he will grant
you.’’ “Your brother’’ said Jesus to her
“will rise again’’. Martha said, “I know
he will rise again at the resurrection
on the last day.’’ Jesus said:

“I am the resurrection.
If anyone believes in me, even
though he dies he will live,
and whoever lives and believes in
me will never die.
Do you believe this?’’

“Yes, Lord,’’ she said, “I believe that
you are the Christ, the Son of God,
the one who was to come into this
world’’.
At the sight of her tears, and those of
the Jews who followed her, Jesus said
in great distress, with a sigh that came
straight from the heart, “Where have
you put him?’’ They said, “Lord, come
and see.’’ Jesus wept; and the Jews
said, “See how much he loved him!’’

But there were some who remarked,
“He opened the eyes of the blind
man, could he not have prevented
this man’s death?’’ Still sighing, Jesus
reached the tomb: it was a cave with
a stone to close the opening. Jesus
said, “Take the stone away.’’ Martha
said to him, “Lord, by now he will
smell; this is the fourth day.’’ Jesus
replied, “Have I not told you that if you
believe you wil l see the glory of
God?’’ So they took away the stone.
Then Jesus lifted up his eyes and
said:

“Father, I thank you for hearing my
prayer.
I knew indeed that you always hear
me, but I speak
for the sake of all these who stand
round me, so that they may believe
it was you who sent me.’’

When he had said this, he cried in a
loud voice, “Lazarus, here! Come
out!’’ The dead man came out, his
feet and hands bound with bands of
stuff and a cloth round his face. Jesus
said to them, “Unbind him, let him go
free.’’
Many of the Jews who had come to
visit Mary and had seen what he did
believed in him.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

ACCLAMATION Jn 11:25-26
Glory and praise to you, O Christ;
I am the resurrection and the life,

says the Lord;
whoever believes in me

will never die.
Glory and praise to you, O Christ.

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
Hear us, almighty God,
and, having instilled in your servants
the teachings of the Christian faith,
graciously purify them
by the working of this sacrifice.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The mystery of faith

We proclaim your Death, O Lord,
and profess your Resurrection
until you come again.

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.

Then the Priest, with hands extended, says:
Therefore, as we celebrate the
memorial of his Death and
Resurrection, we offer you, Lord,
the Bread of life and the Chalice of
salvation,
giving thanks that you have held us
worthy to be in your presence and
minister to you.
Humbly we pray that, partaking of the
Body and Blood of Christ,
we may be gathered into one by the
Holy Spirit.

Remember, Lord, your Church,
spread throughout the world,
and bring her to the fullness of charity,
together with Leo our Pope,
N. our Bishop, his assistant Bishop(s),
and all the clergy.
Remember also our brothers and
sisters who have fallen asleep in the
hope of the resurrection,
and all who have died in your mercy:
welcome them into the light of your
face.

Have mercy on us all, we pray,
that with the Blessed Virgin Mary,
Mother of God, with blessed Joseph,
her Spouse, with the blessed Apostles
and all the Saints who have pleased
you throughout the ages,
we may merit to be coheirs to eternal
life,
and may praise and glorify you
through your Son, Jesus Christ.

The Priest takes the chalice and the paten
with the host and, elevating both, he says:
Through him, and with him, and in
him,
O God, almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

You are indeed Holy, O Lord,
the fount of all holiness.
The Priest joins his hands and, holding them
extended over the offerings, says:
Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we
pray,
by sending down your Spirit upon
them like the dewfall,
so that they may become for us
the Body X and Blood of our Lord,
Jesus Christ.

At the time he was betrayed
and entered willingly into his Passion,
he took bread and, giving thanks,
broke it,
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 the chalice
and, once more giving thanks,
he gave it 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.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II
Preface: Lazarus

The Lord be with you.
And with your Spirit.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right and just

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 as true man he wept for Lazarus
his friend and as eternal God raised
him from the tomb,
just as, taking pity on the human race,
he leads us by sacred mysteries to
new life.

Through him the host of Angels
adores your majesty
and rejoices in your presence for ever.
May our voices, we pray, join with
theirs
in one chorus of exultant praise, as we
acclaim:

Bowing the priest says quietly:
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, O Lord.

Then the priest washes his hands, saying
quietly:
Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity;
and cleanse me from my sin.

Facing the people the priest says:

Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters),
that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
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.

At the Saviour’s command
and formed by divine teaching,
we dare to say:
Our Father, who art in heaven . . .
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 Saviour, Jesus
Christ.

Communion Rite

Communion Hymn

Private Prayer after Communion

Concluding Rites

Recessional Hymn

a

s

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
We pray, almighty God,
that we may always be counted
among the members of Christ,
in whose Body and Blood we have
communion.
Who lives and reigns for ever and
ever. Amen.

PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
Bless, O Lord, your people,
who long for the gift of your mercy,
and grant that what, at your
prompting, they desire
they may receive by your
generous gift.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

O Lord, my God,
when I in awesome wonder
consider all the worlds
thy hand has made,
I see the stars,
I hear the rolling thunder,
thy pow’r throughout
the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul.
my Saviour God, to thee:
how great thou art,
how great thou art..
Then sings my soul.
my Saviour God, to thee:
how great thou art,
how great thou art.

When Christ shall come
with shout of acclamation
and take me home,
what joy shall fill my heart;
when I shall bow
in humble adoration,
and there proclaim:
my God, how great thou art.

Imprimi Potest: Concordat Cum Originali: @ Most Rev. Alan McGuckian SJ, Bishop of Down and Connor. Nihil Obstat: Excerpts from the
English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy corporation.
Origination and printing by Shanway Press, email: info@shanway.com T: 028 9022 2070

For the kingdom, the power and the
glory
are yours, now and for ever.

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.
Amen.

The peace of the Lord be with you
always.
And with your Spirit.
The priest may add these or similar words.
Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

The priest places a small piece of the host in
the chalice saying quietly:
May this mingling of the body and
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
bring eternal life to us who receive it.
Meanwhile the people sing or say:
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.

May the Body of Christ
keep me safe for eternal life.

The Priest reverently consumes the Body of
Christ.
Then he takes the chalice and says quietly:
May the Blood of Christ
keep me safe for eternal life.

The Priest raises a host slightly and shows it
to each of the communicants, saying:
The Body of Christ.
Amen.

The priest says quietly:
May the receiving of your Body and
Blood,
Lord Jesus Christ,
not bring me to judgement and
condemnation,
but through your loving mercy
be for me protection in mind and
body, and a healing remedy.

Raising the host the priest says:
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.

And together with the people he says once:
Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.

The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.

Bow head for the blessing – short silence
And may the blessing of almighty
God, the Father, and the Son, @ and
the Holy Spirit, come down on you
and remain with you for ever.
Amen.
Go forth, the Mass is ended.
Thanks be to God.

COMMUNION ANTIPHON Cf. Jn 11: 26
Everyone who lives and believes
in me will not die for ever, says the
Lord.

Lord Jesus, you are the resurrection
and the life. I believe in you. Even when
I die, I shall live with you, for whoever
lives and believes in you will never die.
I believe this, Lord Jesus. Yes.
Teach me to realise that this world is
passing, that my true future is the
happiness of heaven,
that life on earth is short,
and the life to come eternal.
Help me to prepare for death
with a proper fear of judgment,
but a greater trust in your goodness.
Lead me safely through death
to the endless joy of heaven.

I am the Bread of life;
You who come to me shall not hunger;
and who believe in me shall not thirst.
No-one can come to me unless the
Father draw him.
R: And I will raise you up,
and I will raise you up,
and I will raise you up on the last day.
The bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world,
and if you eat of this bread,
you shall live forever,
you shall live forever. R.

I am the Resurrection, I am the Life,
If you believe in me,
even though you die,
you shall live forever. R.

Yes, Lord, I believe
that you are the Christ,
the Son of God
who have come into the world. R.