Liturgy and prayer suggestions
However, if parishioners are to make informed decisions, they will need to think about how the values of their faith can inform their decisions as voters well before November 4. It is important to integrate Faithful Citizenship's message about acting on our faith in the public arena into prayers and liturgies throughout the year.
Below are suggestions you may wish to consider in preparing eucharistic liturgies and other prayers around the theme of civic responsibility. This theme, when appropriate, may be emphasized at the following points in the Mass:
- Introductory comments at the beginning of Mass
- Choice of preface
- General intercessions
- Selection of music
- Homily
- Announcements after communion
Prayers from the Sacramentary
The following prayers focus on civic duty and the well-being of our city, state, and nation as well as our leaders. They may be used for weekday Masses, when permitted by the liturgical calendar. Some of these prayers may be adapted for use outside of Mass. When allowed by the rubrics, these prayers may be used with one of the Eucharistic Prayers for Masses for Various Needs and Occasions.- Mass for Independence Day and Other Civic Observances (p. 1156)
- Mass for the Congress (p. 900)
- Mass for the President (p. 900)
- Mass for the Nation, (State,) or City (p. 899)
- Mass for the Progress of Peoples (p. 901)
- Mass for Those Who Serve in Public Office (p. 813)
- Mass for Peace and Justice (p. 902)
Prefaces
- Independence Day and Other Civic Observances I (p. 536)
- Independence Day and Other Civic Observances II (p. 538)
- Sundays in Ordinary Time I—The Paschal Mystery and the People of God (p. 430)
- Sundays in Ordinary Time II—The Mystery of Salvation (p. 432)
Solemn Blessings
- Sundays in Ordinary Time III—The Salvation of Man by Mary (p. 434)
- Sundays in Ordinary Time V—Creation (p. 438)
Prayers over the People
- Number 7 (p. 580)
- Number 9 (p. 580)
Sample General Intercessions
The following intercessions may be used periodically throughout the year.- For the people of the United States, that we may be united in building a society in which everyone can have the opportunity to live with dignity and hope, we pray to the Lord. . . .
- For the Church, that we may be a witness to Christ's love by practicing charity and promoting justice and peace throughout the world, we pray to the Lord. . . .
- For Catholics throughout our nation, that the values of our faith may guide us as we exercise our responsibility as voters, we pray to the Lord. . . .
- For the members of this community, that we may find ways to help build a world of greater respect for human life and human dignity, we pray to the Lord. . . .
- For those who serve in elected office, that they may lead with courage and wisdom, reflecting the Church's teaching that the moral test of our society is how the weak, the poor, and the vulnerable are faring, we pray to the Lord. . . .
- For all citizens of the United States, that our participation in the upcoming election may lead to a world of greater respect for life and commitment to justice and peace, we pray to the Lord. . . .
- For those who are suffering from poverty and injustice, that our decisions this election year may lead to policies and programs that help them live in dignity, we pray to the Lord. . . .
- For parishioners who have been elected to public office, that they might use their offices to protect the unborn and promote the dignity of the poor and vulnerable, we pray to the Lord. . . .
- For the earth, that our nation's leaders will be inspired by God's Spirit to protect all of His creation, we pray to the Lord. . . .
- For workers around the world, especially children who work long hours for little pay, that we might all seek ways to promote fairness, justice, and dignity in their lives, we pray to the Lord. . . .
- For leaders around world, that they might find ways to bring an end to war and violence, and promote peace and development for all nations, we pray to the Lord. . . .
Music Suggestions
These songs are available in Worship Third Edition, RitualSong, Gather, Peoples' Mass Book, We Celebrate, JourneySongs, the OCP Music Issue, Glory and Praise, and Lead Me Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal.*
"Go Make a Difference" (Steve Angrisano)
"City of God" (Dan Schutte)
"Free at Last" (African American Spiritual)
"Oh, Freedom" (African American Spiritual)
"God of Our Fathers" (Daniel C. Roberts)
"The Harvest of Justice" (David Haas)
"He Has Anointed Me" (Mike Balhoff)
"Here I Am, Lord" (Dan Schutte)
"Jesus Still Lives" (Suzanne Toolan)
"Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" (James W. Johnson)
"Send Me, Jesus" (Thuma Mina) (South African)
"We Are Called" (David Haas)
"Who Will Speak" (Marty Haugen)
The following hymnals are available from GIA Publications Inc., 7404 S. Mason Avenue, Chicago, IL 60638, www.giamusic.com, 800-442-1358.
Worship
Ritual Song
Gather
Lead Me, Guide Me
The following hymnals are available from OCP Publications, P.O. Box 18030, Portland, OR 97218-0030, www.ocp.org, 800-548-8749.
Journey Song
OCP Music
Glory and Praise
The following hymnals are available from World Library Publications, 3825 N. Willow Road, Schiller Park, IL 60176, www.jspaluch.com, 800-566-6150.
Peoples' Mass Book
We Celebrate
Announcements
The following announcements can be made at the end of Mass or placed in the bulletin. (See also the Faithful Citizenship bulletin quotes at www.usccb.org.) They may be used periodically throughout the year to help parishioners prepare for the election season.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
The bishops of the United States have issued a statement on the importance of bringing the values of our faith to the decisions made in our public life. In their statement, Faithful Citizenship, the bishops call for "a different kind of political engagement: one shaped by the moral convictions of well-formed consciences and focused on the dignity of every human being, the pursuit of the common good, and the protection of the weak and the vulnerable" (no. 14). As you prepare for the upcoming election, please consider how the values of your faith can help you make your decisions. -- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, No. 14. For information on Faithful Citizenship, visit www.usccb.org
Sunday, October 28, 2012
The upcoming election offers Catholics a valuable chance to consider how the messages of the Scriptures and the insights of Catholic teaching can be applied to the priority issues of our society. The U.S. Catholic bishops have urged us to recognize the moral and ethical dimensions of the issues and to "to see beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically, and to choose their political leaders according to principle, not party affiliation or mere self interest" (Living the Gospel of Life, no. 33). We strongly urge all parishioners to become informed on key issues and to vote. If you would like information about Catholic teaching on our civic responsibilities, please visit www.usccb.org.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
"In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation," according to the U.S. Catholic bishops (forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, No. 13). We urge all eligible parishioners to participate in the election next Tuesday. The insights of the Scriptures and Catholic social teaching are important guides for our decisions about issues and candidates. We urge you to become informed about the issues and how Catholic teaching has been applied to them, and to examine the positions of candidates in light of Catholic teaching. If you would like information about Catholic teaching on our civic responsibilities, please visit www.usccb.org.
Scripture Readings
Dt 24:17-22
Zec 7:9-10
Lk 10:25-37
Jer 22:16
Mt 25:31-46
Jas 2:14-17
Lk 4:18
General Prayer
Gracious and loving God, let your Spirit be with us (me) today. Hear our (my) prayers, and increase in us (me) the will to follow your Son Jesus. Help us (me) to draw on the resources of our (my) faith as we (I) use the opportunities of our democracy to shape a society more respectful of the life, dignity, and rights of the human person, especially the poor and vulnerable. We (I) ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.
Quotes from Catholic Social Teaching
The direct duty to work for a just ordering of society, on the other hand, is proper to the lay faithful. As citizens of the State, they are called to take part in public life in a personal capacity. So they cannot relinquish their participation "in the many different economic, social, legislative, administrative and cultural areas, which are intended to promote organically and institutionally the common good." The mission of the lay faithful is therefore to configure social life correctly, respecting its legitimate autonomy and cooperating with other citizens according to their respective competences and fulfilling their own responsibility. Even if the specific expressions of ecclesial charity can never be confused with the activity of the State, it still remains true that charity must animate the entire lives of the lay faithful and therefore also their political activity, lived as "social charity". -- Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, No. 29
For the Christian people of America conversion to the Gospel means to revise "all the different areas and aspects of life, especially those related to the social order and the pursuit of the common good." It will be especially necessary "to nurture the growing awareness in society of the dignity of every person and, therefore, to promote in the community a sense of the duty to participate in political life in harmony with the Gospel.", Pope John Paul II,The Church in America (Ecclesia in America), No. 27
It must be noted also that a well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals. The Christian faith is an integral unity, and thus it is incoherent to isolate some particular element to the detriment of the whole of Catholic doctrine. A political commitment to a single isolated aspect of the Church's social doctrine does not exhaust one's responsibility towards the common good. -- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life, No. 4.
In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation. This obligation is rooted in our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, "it is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person. . . . As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life" (nos. 1913-1915). -- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship, No. 13
This statement highlights the role of the Church in the formation of conscience, and the corresponding moral responsibility of each Catholic to hear, receive, and act upon the Church's teaching in the lifelong task of forming his or her own conscience. With this foundation, Catholics are better able to evaluate policy positions, party platforms, and candidates' promises and actions in light of the Gospel and the moral and social teaching of the Church in order to help build a better world. -- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship, No. 5
Other Prayers and Resources
The following resources are available from the U.S. Bishops' Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) and can be ordered through the USCCB:
- Novena for Justice and Peace
- A Scriptural Rosary for Justice and Peace
- A Justice Prayer Book
|
By accepting this message, you will be leaving the website of the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. This link is provided
solely for the user's convenience. By providing this link, the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops assumes no responsibility for,
nor does it necessarily endorse, the website, its content, or
sponsoring organizations.
|
||
| cancel | continue | |