St Mary of the Cross (Mary MacKillop)

This guide is designed to assist those parishioners who may have a relative or friend who is unwell, and wish to assist them as a Minister of Communion of the Sick for the period of time that they are not able to join the rest of the community at Mass.

When the eucharist is brought to the sick, it should be carried in a pyx or small closed container. Those who are with the sick should be asked to prepare a table covered with a linen cloth upon which the blessed sacrament will be placed. Lighted candles are prepared. Care should be taken to make the occasion special and joyful.

Pastoral Care of the Sick, 74

This guide follows the Church’s formal ritual for the Communion of the Sick, which also allows for a shorter form of the rite to be used where that is more appropriate. If you decide that the shorter form is more appropriate, then use the sections marked by the gold markers on the side of the page.

Introductory Rites

Sign of the Cross

Minister:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

℟ Amen.

Greeting

Minister:

Let us bless the Lord who gives us peace. Let us bless the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

℟ Blessed be God for ever.

Penitential Act

Minister:

Friends, to prepare ourselves for this celebration, let us ask the Lord for forgiveness.

Pause briefly for silent prayer.

Lord Jesus, you healed the sick. Lord, have mercy.

℟ Lord, have mercy.

You forgave sinners. Christ, have mercy.

℟ Christ, have mercy.

You give yourself to us to heal us and bring us strength. Lord, have mercy.

℟ Christ, have mercy.

May almighty God have mercy on us,

forgive us our sins,

and bring us to everlasting life.

℟ Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

Gospel

The Gospel can be read by the minister, the sick person, or another person who is present. Some silent reflection should follow.

Reader:

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew Mt 6:25-34

Jesus said to his disciples:

That is why I am telling you not to worry about your life and what you are to eat,

nor about your body and how you are to clothe it.

Surely life means more than food, and the body more than clothing!

Look at the birds in the sky.

They do not sow or reap or gather into barns;

yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

Are you not worth much more than they are?

Can any of you, for all his worrying,

add one single cubit to his span of life?

And why worry about clothing?

Think of the flowers growing in the fields;

they never have to work or spin;

yet I assure you that not even Solomon in all his regalia was robed like one of these.

Now if that is how God clothes the grass in the field

which is there today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow,

will he not much more look after you, you men of little faith?

So do not worry; do not say, "What are we to eat?

What are we to drink? How are we to be clothed?"

It is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things.

Your heavenly Father knows you need them all.

Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness,

and all these other things will be given you as well.

So do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.'

The Gospel of the Lord.

℟ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Silent Reflection on the Reading

Prayer of the Faithful

Everyone who is present can be invited to offer prayer intentions for the sick person and the needs of the world.

We pray for…

Lord, hear us.

℟ Lord, hear our prayer.

Liturgy of Holy Communion

Lord’s Prayer

Minister:

Let us pray the words that Jesus taught us.

All:

Our Father…

Communion

The minister holds the host before those present and invites them to communion by saying:

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.

All:

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof,

but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

The minister gives communion to the sick person and any others receiving in the same way as at Mass:

The Body of Christ.

℟ Amen.

Some silent prayer should follow communion

Prayer After Communion

There are three options for the minister to choose from.

Option A

Let us pray.

God our Father,

you have called us to share the one bread and one cup

and so become one in Christ.

Help us to live in him

that we may bear fruit,

rejoicing that he has redeemed the world.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

℟ Amen.

Option B

Let us pray.

All powerful God,

we thank you for the nourishment you give us

through your holy gift.

Pour out your Spirit upon us

and in the strength of this food from heaven

keep us single minded in your service.

We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

℟ Amen.

Option C

Let us pray.

All powerful and ever living God,

may the body and blood of Christ your Son

be for our brother/sister (name).

a lasting remedy for body and soul.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

℟ Amen.

Concluding Rite

The minister and everyone present make the sign of the cross on themselves as the minister says:

May the almighty and merciful God bless and protect us,

the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

℟ Amen.

Please remind those who are sick that their parish community is praying for them. We look forward to the time when they can join us again at the celebration of Mass.

If the sick person would like to celebrate one of the sacraments (such as Reconciliation or Anointing of the Sick), or would simply like a visit from a priest, please contact the parish office and arrange for one of the priests to visit them.