The Communion Rite
THE LORD’S PRAYER
With his hands joined the celebrant says or sings this introduction:
C.: Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our Savior gave us:
With his hands extended the celebrant and congregation say or sing:
All: Our Father, Who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come;
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
With his hands still extended the celebrant says or sings:
C.: Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In Your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
The celebrant joins his hands, while the congregation says or sings:
R.: For the kingdom, the power and the glory
are Yours, now and forever.
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
Referring first to the chalice, the celebrant then takes and holds the Host over it, dividing and placing half of the Host on the paten and then breaking a particle from the other half all while saying:
C.: The Cup of Blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the Blood of Christ? The Bread which we break, is it not a participation in the Body of Christ?
R.: Because there is one Bread,
we who are many are one body,
for we all partake of the one Bread.
The celebrant drops the particle of the Host into the chalice and says:
C.: May the union of divinity and humanity in Jesus Christ bring us sanctification and eternal life.
R.: Amen.
With his hands extended the celebrant says:
C.: Lord Jesus Christ, You said to Your apostles: I leave you peace, My peace I give you. Do not look at our sins, but on the faith of Your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of Your kingdom where You live forever and ever.
R.: Amen.
Joining then extending his hands, the celebrant says or sings:
C.: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
R.: And also with you.
Striking their chests three times, the celebrant and congregation say or sing together:
All: 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.
THE COMMUNION PRAYER
With his hands joined the celebrant addresses the faithful.
C.: Let us pray together:
The celebrant bows with joined hands upon the altar and says with the faithful:
All: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,
by the will of the Father
and the work of the Holy Spirit
Your death brought life to the world.
By Your holy Body and Blood free me
from all my sins and from every evil.
Keep me faithful to Your teaching and
never let me be parted from You.
The celebrant takes the Host and says:
C.: I will take the Bread of Heaven and call upon the name of the Lord.
Striking their chests, the celebrant and congregation say:
All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive You,
but only say the word and I shall be healed.
The celebrant takes the Host and says:
C.: May the Body of Christ bring me to everlasting life.
He consumes reverently the Host. Taking the chalice, he says:
C.: May the Blood of Christ bring me to everlasting life.
The celebrant consumes reverently the Blood of Christ.
THE COMMUNION OF THE FAITHFUL
If more consecrated hosts are needed for Communion they are taken from the ciborium in the tabernacle. Holding one of the hosts above the intinctorium, the celebrant raises them together and says:
C.: This is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to the table of the Lord.
Communion takes place at the altar rail. The faithful may kneel or stand if they are unable to kneel. If ushers are present they will direct people to the altar rail, one row at a time, beginning from the front of the church.
Holding the intinctorium, the celebrant or deacon intincts the Body into the Blood and holds the Eucharist before the communicant while saying:
C.: The Body and Blood of Christ.
R.: Amen.
After the communicant responds the celebrant will place the Eucharist on the tongue (not into the hands) of the communicant. Before returning to the pew the communicant should offer a brief prayer of thanksgiving. The Body and Blood of the Lord should be consumed with reverence and respect.
THE COMMUNION HYMN
Communion hymns may be sung by the congregation or the choir during the Communion of the Faithful. The selection of a congregational hymn will be posted on the hymnal board.
Before the final prayer the celebrant may read from the missal at the altar the Communion Verse assigned by the Church. (The Communion Verse is a verse taken from the Holy Bible in accordance with the theme of the Mass.)
After Communion, the consecrated wine that remains in the intinction cup is poured into the chalice and consumed by the celebrant. Remaining hosts are placed in the ciborium, which is then returned to the tabernacle. The celebrant’s fingers and the vessels are abluted (or rinsed) with wine and water, all of which is collected in the chalice. The contents of the chalice are consumed by the celebrant (or under some circumstances taken to sacristy and poured into the sacrarium). The celebrant then prays quietly:
C.: Lord, may I possess with a pure heart that which I have taken as food and may the gift I have received bring me healing and strength now and forever.
THE PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
The celebrant joins, then extends his hands, saying or singing the Prayer After Communion from the missal at the altar. It is assigned by the Church in accordance to the liturgical season or the theme of the Mass. This prayer begins and ends as follows:
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