Liturgical Leaflet for an Active Participation in the Celebration of the Eucharist

2 May 2025 First Friday

LEARNING TO SHARE GOD’S BLESSINGS

S
till in the glow of the Resurrection, on this First Friday of
May, we reflect with wonder on the miracle of the multi-
plication of bread and fish performed by Jesus to feed the
crowd of five thousand men who had come to listen to him. Our
admiration goes also to the unnamed boy who, through the gen-
erous offering of all the food he had with him, enabled Jesus to
perform that miracle.
From that boy we learn to share with our neighbor whatever
blessings the Lord had granted us – economic, intellectual, af-
fective, and spiritual blessings. The Lord will surely be pleased
with our generosity and will avail Himself of it to do good to the
people whose lives we touch. Our readiness to share with them the
abundance of God’s graces will also be a sign of the sincerity of
our devotion to the Heart of Jesus, and a way to “pay forward”
God’s goodness to us.

edge our sins, and so prepare you by dutiful proclamation of

ourselves to celebrate the sacred your praise. Through our Lord
mysteries. (Pause) Jesus Christ, your Son, who
lives and reigns with you in the
Entrance Antiphon P –You were sent to heal the
unity of the Holy Spirit, God for
(To be recited only when no Entrance contrite of heart: Lord, have
ever and ever.
Hymn is sung.) mercy! All – Amen!
You have redeemed us, All–Lord, have mercy!
Lord, by your Blood, from ev- P –You came to call sinners:
ery tribe and tongue and peo- Christ, have mercy!
ple and nation, and hav emade All –Christ, have mercy!
us into a kingdom, priests for 1st Reading Acts 5:34-42
our God, alleluia! P –You are seated at the right
hand of the Father to in- The Resurrection of Jesus and
(Rev 5:9-10) the descent of the Holy Spirit
tercede for us: Lord, have
Greeting mercy! had transformed the apostles,
All –Lord, have mercy! but this set them on a collision
P – In the name of the Father, course with the Jewish authori-
and of the Son, and of the Holy P –May almighty God have ties that tried in vain to silence
Spirit! mercy on us, forgive us our sins
All –Amen!
them. In today’s first reading
and bring us to everlasting life. we admire the determination
P –The grace of our Lord Jesus All–Amen!
Christ, the love of God the Fa- and courage of the apostles in
ther, and the fellowship of the continuing to proclaim that Je-
Collect (Opening Prayer) sus was the Messiah, in spite of
Holy Spirit be with you all!
All – And also with you! P –O God, hope and light of the all injunctions to the contrary
sincere, we humbly entreat you and the pain of the flogging.
Penitential Rite to dispose our hearts to offer you R –A reading from the Acts of
P –Brethren, let us acknowl- worthy prayer and ever to extol the Apostles

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 A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin * I believe that I shall see the deal of grass in that place. So
named Gamaliel, a teacher of bounty of the Lord in the land the men reclined, about five
the law, respected by all the of the living. Wait for the Lord thousand in number. Then
people, stood up, ordered the with courage; be stouthearted, Jesus took the loaves, gave
Apostles to be put outside for and wait for the Lord. R. thanks, and distributed them
a short time, and said to the to those who where reclining,
Sanhedrin, “Fellow Israelites, Gospel Acclamation Mt 4:4b and also as much of the fish as
be careful what you are about All –Alleluia! Alleluia! they wanted.
to do to these men. Some One does not live on bread When they had had their
time ago, Theudas appeared, alone, but on every word fill, he said to his disciples,
claiming to be someone im- that comes forth from the “Gather the fragments left
portant. About four hundred mouth of God. over, so that nothing will be
men joined him, but he was Alleluia! Alleluia! wasted.” So they collected
killed, and all those who were them, and filled twelve wicker
loyal to him were disbanded Gospel Jn 6:1-15 baskets with fragments from
and [everything] came to the five barley loaves that had
nothing. After him came Ju- In every circumstance Jesus been more than they could eat.
das the Galilean at the time of showed not only how attentive When the people saw the sign
the census. He also drew peo- he was to the needs of others, he had done, they said, “This
ple after him, but he too per- but also how appreciative he is truly the Prophet, the one
ished and all who were loyal could be of whatever contribu- who is to come into the world!”
to him were scattered. So now tion people could make to the Since Jesus knew that they
I tell you, have nothing to do solution of practical problems. were going to come and carry
with these men, and let them These positive dispositions are him off to make him king, he
go. For if this endeavor or particularly evident in today’s withdrew again to the moun-
this activity is of human ori- episode of the miraculous feed- tain alone.
gin, it will destroy itself. But ing of a huge crowd with just a
few loaves of bread and even The Gospel of the Lord!
if it comes from God, you will All – Praise to you, Lord Jesus
not be able to destroy them. fewer fish offered to him by a
generous boy. Christ!
You may even find yourselves
fighting against God.” P – The Lord be with you! Homily
They were persuaded All – And with your spirit!
by him. After recalling the P –A reading from the holy Prayer of the Faithful
Apostles, they had them Gospel according to John
flogged, ordered them to stop P – Today we are inspired by
speaking in the name of Jesus, All –Glory to you, Lord! the Lord’s concern for the needs
and dismissed them. So the of the people and the generos-
Jesus went across the Sea ity of the boy who offered to the
Apostles left the presence of of Galilee. A large crowd fol-
the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that Lord the few loaves of bread and
lowed him, because they saw the two fish he had. In imitation
they had been found worthy the signs he was performing
to suffer dishonor for the of this boy, let us offer our hum-
on the sick. He went up on ble petitions for the needs of all
sake of the Name. And all day the mountain, and there he
long, both at the Temple and mankind and of the Church as
sat down with his disciples. we pray together:
in their homes, they did not The Jewish feast of Passover
stop teaching and proclaim- was near. When Jesus raised All –Lord, be merciful to Your
ing that Jesus was the Christ. his eyes and saw that a large people!
The Word of the Lord! crowd was coming to him, he C –For the whole Church, our
All – Thanks be to God! said to Philip, “Where can we Holy Father, our Bishops, and
buy enough food for them to all other spiritual leaders: May
Responsorial Psalm Ps 27 eat?” He said this to test him, they be as caring as Jesus and as
R – One thing I seek: to dwell because he himself knew what generous as the boy in the Gos-
in the house of the Lord! he was going to do. Philip an- pel passage. Let us pray! R.
swered him, “Two hundred
* The Lord is my light and days’ wages worth of food C – For all human beings and
my salvation; whom should would not be enough for each especially those who are suffer-
I fear? The Lord is my life’s of them to have a little.” ing in whatever form: May they
refuge; of whom should I be One of his disciples, An- put their trust in the Lord as the
afraid? R. drew, the brother of Simon Pe- source of all blessing and conso-
* One thing I ask of the Lord; ter, said to him, “There is a boy lation. Let us pray! R.
this I seek: To dwell in the here who has five barley loaves C –For our civil authorities and
house of the Lord all the days and two fish; but what good public servants: May they al-
of my life, that I may gaze on are these for so many?” Je- ways be attentive to the needs of
the loveliness of the Lord and sus said, “Have the people re- the people and offer their service
contemplate his temple. R. cline.” Now there was a great in a spirit of generous availabil-
2 May 2025
ity. Let us pray! R. P –Lift up your hearts! and Blood. He is the Lamb of
C –For all the students who are All –We lift them up to the God who takes away the sins of
on vacation: May they spend Lord! the world. Happy are they who
this summer break fruitfully by P –Let us give thanks to the are invited to the banquet of his
harmonizing relaxation with the Lord our God! love!
fulfillment of their moral and re- All – It is right and just! All – Lord, I am not worthy
ligious duties. Let us pray! R. P –It is truly right and just, our that you should enter under
duty and our salvation, at all my roof, but only say the
C –For our community and the times to acclaim you, O Lord, word and my soul shall be
people dear to us: May we al- but in this time above all to laud healed.
ways imitate the generosity of you yet more gloriously, when
the boy who offered all he had to Christ our Passover has been Communion Antiphon
contribute to satisfy the needs of sacrificed. (To be recited only when no Com-
his neighbor. Let us pray! R. munion Hymn is sung.)
He never ceases to offer himself
C –For ourselves and all the for us but defends us and ever Christ our Lord was hand-
devotees of the Sacred Heart: pleads our cause before you: he ed over for our transgressions
May we find in him the inspira- is the sacrificial Victim who dies and was raised again for our
tion and the strength we need to no more, the Lamb, once slain, justification, Alleluia!
live the Gospel values of solidar- who lives for ever. (Rom 4:25)
ity and service to the poor. Let us Therefore, overcome with pas- Prayer after Communion
pray! R. chal joy, every land, every peo-
ple exults in your praise and P –Keep safe, O Lord, we pray,
C – For all of us: that through even the heavenly Powers, with those whom you have saved by
work, each person might find the angelic hosts, sing together your kindness, that, redeemed
fulfilment, that families might the unending hymn of your glory by the Passion of your Son, they
be sustained in dignity, and that as they acclaim: may rejoice in his Resurrection.
society might be humanized. Let All – Holy, holy, holy Lord, Who lives and reigns for ever
us pray! R. God of hosts. Heaven and and ever.
P – Lord God, we entrust all earth are full of your glory. All – Amen!
our intentions and needs to Your Hosanna in the highest!
mercy and love. Do not look Blessed is he who comes in
at our unworthiness but at the the name of the Lord. Hosan-
love with which Your Son Jesus na in the highest!
loved us. Make our hearts like P – The Lord be with you.
unto his, for he lives and reigns Memorial Acclamation All – And with your spirit!
for ever and ever. P –The mystery of faith! P –Bow down for the blessing.
All– Amen! All – Lord, by your cross and (Pause)
resurrection you have set May the Lord make you
us free. You are the Sav- sensitive to the needs of
ior of the world. your neighbor and give
you the moral and physical
strength to assist them.
Preparation of the Gifts All – Amen!
P –Pray, brethren . . . P –May He make you wise in
All – May the Lord accept the your decisions, constant in
All – Our Father . . . your determination to do
sacrifice at your hands, for the P –Deliver us, Lord . . .
praise and glory of his name, good and to be patient in
All – For the kingdom, the enduring the trials of life.
for our good and the good of all power, and the glory are
his holy Church. yours, now and for ever. All – Amen!
P –May you be heralds of the
Prayer over the Offerings Sign of Peace Gospel through your hon-
esty, sincerity, purity, loy-
P –Accept in compassion, Breaking of the Bread alty, fairness, optimism,
Lord, we pray, the offerings of All –Lamb of God, you take and spirit of prayer in all
your family, that under your pro- away the sins of the world: circumstances.
tective care they may never lose have mercy on us. (2×) All – Amen!
what they have received, but at- Lamb of God, you take
tain the gifts that are eternal. away the sins of the world: P –May almighty God bless
Through Christ our Lord. grant us peace. you: the Father, and the
All – Amen! Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All – Amen!
Communion P –Go in peace to love and
Preface of Easter III P –This is the Lord Jesus who serve your neighbor as Je-
P –The Lord be with you! continues to feed his disciples sus did.
All – And with your spirit! with the divine Meal of his Body All – Thanks be to God!
First Friday
 MIRACLES ALL OF US CAN PERFORM
A s we read about miracles performed
by Jesus, we usually experience
two different and almost contrasting
through his generosity, enabled Jesus to
solve one problem on a specific day. It
will not be a matter of offering precisely
saints who devoted their lives to help the
poor. It is still happening in our days.
We should not limit ourselves to
reactions: the first is admiration for the the same material help presented by the just admire and praise them. We have
wonder that every miracle is, and the boy to Jesus on that day. What matters to stand up, be counted and follow their
second reaction is one of inadequacy is the readiness and willingness of giving example. Today we are invited to join
and almost hopelessness, caused by our all that one can offer in response to the army of simple individuals or orga-
inability to replicate such extraordinary concrete needs. nizations that have dared to take up the
deeds. We are not capable of making the Many times, this may not seem or challenge coming from the nameless boy
blind to see, the deaf to hear, the dumb be much, but Jesus will make up for the featured in today’s Gospel. His partner-
to speak, the cripples to walk, the dead apparent inadequacy of the gift or help ship with Jesus was absolutely dispro-
to rise from death; we are not able to offered. The power of his love and grace portioned but wonderfully effective. It
change water into wine or to quell storms will produce the miracle of satisfying can happen again. It will happen again
by a simple verbal utterance . . . . immense needs with absolutely and again if we do our best to imitate the
But today’s miracle is different. inadequate means. We have seen this generosity and faith of that boy.
Although we are unable to feed crowds happen innumerable times in the lives of
with just a few loaves of bread and a
couple of fish, we do sense that, in our
little way, we also can do something
that bears some resemblance with Novena Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
what happened on the slopes of the
hills overlooking the Sea of Galilee. And Divine Jesus, you have said, Ć „Ask, and you shall receive;
this difference is due mostly to the fact Ć seek, and you shall find; Ć knock, and it shall be opened
that the multiplication of bread and fish unto you.‰ Ć Behold me kneeling at your feet, Ć filled with
happened because someone – not a rich a lively faith and confidence Ć in the promises dictated by
baker or the owner of a supermarket, but your Sacred Heart Ć and pronounced by your adorable lips.
a nameless and most likely poor boy – Ć I come to ask this favor: (Silently mention your petitions.)
put at the disposal of Jesus all that he
To whom can I turn if not to you Ć whose heart is the
had with him that day: five loaves of
bread and two fish. source of all graces and merits? Ć Where should I seek if
There is something amazing and not in the treasure Ć which contains all the riches of your
provocative about what that boy did on kindness and mercy? Ć Where should I knock Ć if not at the
that day: something that pricks our lack door through which God gives himself to us Ć and through
of sensitivity and compassion; something which we go to God? Ć I have recourse to you, Heart of Je-
that challenges our possessiveness and sus. Ć In you I find consolation when afflicted, Ć protection
attachment to the things we own. when persecuted, Ć strength when burdened with trials, Ć
We live in a world of frightening and light in doubt and darkness.
contrasts: a world in which a handful Dear Jesus, I firmly believe Ć that you can grant me the
of billionaires has come to own a good
grace I implore, Ć even though it should require a miracle.
chunk of the earth’s economic resources,
while an immense crowd of have-nots Ć You have only to will it, Ć and my prayer will be granted. Ć
subsist on the edges of destitution and I admit that I am most unworthy of your favors, Ć but this
despair. They are those without a stable is not a reason for me to be discouraged. Ć You are the
job (or who have no job at all); people God of mercy Ć and you will not refuse a contrite heart. Ć
who do not own a decent house in which Cast upon me a look of mercy, I beg of you, Ć and your kind
they and their families can live without heart will find in my miseries and weaknesses Ć a reason
the fear of being evicted at any time; for granting my prayer.
people who cannot buy badly needed O Sacred Heart, Ć whatever may be your decision with
medicines, and who have no possibility regard to my request, Ć I will never stop adoring, loving,
of eating two healthy meals a day.
praising, and serving you. Ć My Jesus, be pleased to accept
In such a situation, the spontaneous
reaction of most of us (who are not rich) this my act of perfect resignation Ć to the decrees of your
would be to feel indignant and cry foul or adorable heart Ć which I sincerely desire may be fulfilled Ć
even to curse those who have amassed in and by me and by all your creatures for ever.
so many resources in their hands, often Sacred Heart of Jesus, Ć I know that there is but one
at the expense of, or through the work thing impossible to you: Ć to be without pity for those who
of the millions of dispossessed ones. are suffering or in distress. Ć Look upon me, I beg of you,
But that will hardly make any tangible dear Jesus, Ć and grant me the grace for which I humbly
difference in the lives of the latter. implore you Ć through the Immaculate Heart of your most
Something more practical and effective sorrowful Mother. Ć You have entrusted me to her as her
is to take inspiration from the boy who,
child, Ć and her prayers are all-powerful with you. Ć Amen!

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