Celebrant: God has called us to be his faithful followers.  With confidence we pray for our needs and those of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Deacon/Lector:

That the Church may be an example to the world of what it means to grow in the love of God and to share his love with others, we pray to the Lord... 

That world leaders may serve the needs of all people with wisdom and compassion, we pray to the Lord... 

That each of us may be the Lord's prophets by speaking up for vulnerable people -- both born and unborn -- who cannot speak for themselves, we pray to the Lord... 

That the sick and suffering and all who work with them may effectively communicate the gentle love that Jesus has for them, we pray to the Lord...

That our national sporting events may promote character, unity, and virtue in our personal and social lives, we pray to the Lord...

That the Catholic schools of our nation may be strengthened in their spiritual and educational mission, we pray to the Lord...

That all who have died may be united to the risen Christ in the heavenly kingdom, we pray to the Lord...

Celebrant:

Father, hear our prayers and draw us closer to you.
May we grow in faith and serve you more generously each day.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

From the Catechism…

“Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person -- among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jer 1:5; cf Job 10:8-12; Ps 22:10-11). “My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth” (Ps. 139:15). Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable.” -- Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2270-2271

Dt 18:15-20
1 Cor 7:32-35
Mk 1:21-28

Watch a video with homily hints

The Gospel and First Reading for this Sunday raise the issue of the authority of those who speak the Word of God. Jesus taught with authority because he is the Word of God. The prophets taught with authority because God put his own words into their mouths. The Church today teaches with authority because, as the Body of Christ, she continues his teaching mission or, to be more precise, Christ himself continues teaching through his Church. Each member of the Church, by virtue of baptism and confirmation, has a prophetic role, and echoes the Word of God himself, both by words and example. 

These themes are important in the battle between the Culture of Life and the Culture of Death, because our opponents ask why we are “imposing our morality on everyone else.” In reality, however, we are not imposing anything. We are speaking a truth which is not our own, and which simply reflects the reality of how we are made and what the moral law is. If anything is “imposed,” it has already been imposed by God. We are witnesses to him. We have no authority of our own; we simply proclaim his Word. By that fact, moreover, we are equally bound by what we proclaim as are those to whom we proclaim it.  

This is why the proclamation of the pro-life message does not imply some kind of moral superiority on the part of those who proclaim it. Rather, it implies solidarity, and a common acknowledgement of the God of life, who is Lord of those who preach and those who hear.