Liturgical Information
The Fourth Sunday of Lent [Lætare] (C)
Liturgical Color: Rose
Themes: reconciliation, fulfillment, God's providential care
Entrance Antiphon [Introit]:
Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her.
Be joyful, all who were in mourning;
exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast. Isaiah 66:10-11 [Roman Missal]
Lætare Ierusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum lætitia, qui in tristitia fuistis: ut exsultetis, et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestræ.
Ps. Lætatus sum in his quæ dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus. [Graduale Romanum, p.108]
Lætare Ierusalem: et conventum facite omnes qui diligitis eam: gaudete cum lætitia, qui in tristitia fuistis: ut exsultetis, et satiemini ab uberibus consolationis vestræ.
Ps. Lætatus sum in his quæ dicta sunt mihi: in domum Domini ibimus. [Gregorian Missal, p.259/280]
In tribulatione invocavi Dominum, et exaudivit me in latitudine. [Graduale simplex, p.102]
Verses of Psalm 118 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.
Collect:
O God, who through your Word
reconcile the human race to yourself in a wonderful way,
grant, we pray,
that with prompt devotion and eager faith
the Christian people may hasten
toward the solemn celebra- tion to come.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Ho-ly Spirit,
God, for ev-er and ev-er.
A-men.
Lectionary Readings:
- Joshua 5:9a,10-12 [They observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month. /v.10]
- Psalm 34:2-3 / 4-5 / 6-7 [R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. /v.9a]
- II Corinthians 5:17-21 [God reconciled Himself to us through Christ. /v.18]
- Gospel Verse: Lk 15:18 [I will get up and go to my Father and shall say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.]
- Luke 15:1-3,11-32 [This brother of yours was dead and has begun to live. /v.32]
When catechumens and candidates for reception are present, readings may be chosen from the Year A cycle. See Year A - 4th Sunday of Lent
Offertory Antiphon:
Enlighten my eyes lest I fall into the sleep of death; lest my eney say: "I have prevailed against him."Psalm 13:4-5 **
Verses of Psalm 92 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.
(C) Illumina oculos meos, nequando obdormiam in morte: nequando dicat inimicus meus: Prævalui adversus eum. [Graduale Romanum, p.290]
(C) Illumina oculos meos, nequando obdormiam in morte: nequando dicat inimicus meus: Prævalui adversus eum. [Gregorian Missal, p.475/489]
Bonum est confiteri Domino Deo nostro. [Graduale simplex, p.106]
Verses of Psalm 92 can also be sung between repetitions of the antiphon.
Prayer over the Offerings:
We place before you with joy these offerings,
which bring eternal remedy, O Lord,
pray- ing that we may both faithfully revere them
and present them to you, as is fitting,
for the salvation of all the world.
Through Christ our Lord. A-men.
Preface II of Lent: [Spiritual penance]
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.
For you have given your children a sacred time
for the renewing and purifying of their hearts,
that, freed from disordered affections,
they may so deal with the things of this passing world
as to hold rather to the things that eternally endure.
And so, with all the Angels and Saints,
we praise you, as without end we acclaim:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts…
The Preface for the Fourth Sunday of Lent [The Man Born Blind] may be used when the Year A Gospel is proclaimed.
Communion Antiphon:
Jerusalem is built as a city bonded as one together.
It is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord,
to praise the name of the Lord. Psalm 122:3-4 [Roman Missal]
The Communion Antiphon, "The Lord anointed my eyes..." may be used when the Year A Gospel is proclaimed.
(C) Oportet te fili gaudere, quia frater tuas mortuus fuerat, et revixit; perierat, et inventus est. Lk 15:32 [Graduale Romanum, p.95] Psalm 32:1,2,3,5ab,5cd,8,10,11 can also be sung between repetitions of this antiphon.
The Communion Antiphon, "Lutum fecit…" may be used when the Year A Gospel is proclaimed. [Graduale Romanum, p.111]
(C) Oportet te fili gaudere, quia frater tuas mortuus fuerat, et revixit; perierat, et inventus est. Lk 15:32 [Gregorian Missal, p.264/286]
The Communion Antiphon, "Lutum fecit…" may be used when the Year A Gospel is proclaimed. [Gregorian Missal, p.264/286]
Introibo ad altare Dei: ad Deum qui lætificat iuventutem meam. [Graduale simplex, p.79]
Verses of Psalm 43 can also be sung between repetitions of this antiphon.
Prayer after Communion:
O God, who enlighten everyone who comes into the world,
illuminate our hearts, we pray,
with the splendor of your grace,
that we may always ponder
what is worthy and pleasing to your majesty
and love you in all sin- cerity.
Through Christ our Lord. A-men.
Prayer over the People:
Look upon those who call to you, O Lord,
and sustain the weak;
give life by your unfailing light
to those who walk in the shadow of death,
and bring those rescued by your mercy from every evil
to reach the highest good.
Through Christ our Lord.
** An official, approved English translation of the Offertory Antiphon has never been published. The offertory antiphon used here is from the New American Bible, a Scripture translation approved for liturgical use in the United States.
The English translation of the Entrance Antiphon [Introit], Collect, Psalm Refrain, Gospel Verse, Prayer over the Offerings, Preface, Communion Antiphon, Prayer after Communion, and Prayer over the People from The Roman Missal, © Copyright 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corp. 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.
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