RITE OF HOLY COMMUNION

WITH THE SHORT FORM OF THE READING OF THE WORD 

Introductory Rites

The minister greets those present with these or similar words: 

Brothers and sisters, the Lord invites us to his table to share in the  body of Christ: bless him for his goodness. 

The people answer: 

Blessed be God for ever. 

Penitential Act 

The minister invites the people to recall their sins in these words: 

Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves for this sacred celebration. 

All say: 

I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. 

The minister concludes: 

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
Amen. 

Reading 

It is highly recommended that the minister attends the Mass of the day and reads the gospel of the Mass and shares the homily heard at Mass with the homebound person / patient. In this way the homebound person stays in fuller communion with the Church through the local community or parish. Otherwise the following gospel may be used to remind the receiver of the precious gift of the Body of Christ.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to  John 6:54-55

Jesus says: “Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 

Holy Communion 

Lord’s Prayer 

The minister takes the ciborium or pyx containing the body of the Lord, places it on the table, and if possible, genuflects. The minister then introduces the Lord’s Prayer in these or similar words: 

At the Savior’s command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say: 

All say: 

Our Father who art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Invitation to Communion 

Taking the host, the minister raises it slightly over the vessel or pyx and, facing the people, says: 

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. 

The patient and all who are to receive Communion say: 

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. 

Communion

Then the minister takes the vessel or pyx and goes to the communicants. He or she takes a host for each one, raises it slightly, and says: 

The Body of Christ. 

The communicant answers: 

Amen 

Concluding Prayer


The minister then says the concluding prayer: 

Let us pray. 

Nourished by your saving gifts, we beseech your mercy, Lord, that by this same Sacrament, with which you feed us in the present age, you may make us partakers of life eternal. Through Christ our Lord. 

Concluding Rite

The minister invokes God’s blessing and, crossing himself or herself, says: 

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. 

The people answer: 

Amen. 

Dismissal 

Let us remain in the peace of Christ. 

The people answer: 

Thanks be to God.