Celebration of the Eucharist in Fain-lès-Moutiers
gathered at the baptismal font of Saint Catherine Labouré

votive mass of saint catherine labouré

Introduction
This place has great significance for all of us. Catherine Labouré was born in this village and became a child of God through baptism in this church. Before this image of Mary, she understood that she was her child and was called to live on this earth as Mary her Mother did, in service to the Reign of God, faithful to following in her Son’s footsteps, working to bring Peace to the world. Catherine was a woman filled with the Love of Christ, and today we celebrate her in union with the whole Church.
We begin our Eucharistic celebration by raising our eyes towards Mary, confiding all our concerns to her.

Entrance Song             

PRAYER

God, you refreshed Saint Catherine the Virgin by intimate conversation with the Mother of your Son; and you taught her how to hand over with joyful humility her life hidden with Christ to the service of the poor. May we who honor the memory of this saint, recognize at all times your image in those in need, so that, as we serve them in simplicity of heart, we may be, in the world, true witnesses of your love.

First Reading

A reading from the letter of James.                   2:14-19

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you?
If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?
So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder. The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm
R/. (sung at the beginning and end in Spanish)
     Mi fuerza y mi poder es el Señor: Él es mi salvación.

V/. Cantad a Dios, tocad en su honor,
alfombrad el camino del que avanza por el desierto;
su nombre es el Señor:
alegraos en su presencia.

Alleluia
Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Alleluia

Gospel

+ A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew     25:31-40.
                 
Jesus said to his disciples: "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.
Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.'
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?'
And the king will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.'” The Gospel of the Lord.

HOMILY

Intercessions

Presider: Lord, today we open our hearts to worldwide dimensions. Gathered in this humble place, remembering Saint Catherine, we offer our response to the Word you have spoken to us:

-We pray for your Church, Lord: that it may continue to bring forth sons and daughters who, in simple and humble ways, become witnesses of your Light for all people. We pray to the Lord.
-That through the faith that you have given us, we will know the joy of carrying out the works that You call us to do, and discover your Image in our brothers and sisters living in poverty and need. We pray to the Lord.

-Help us to be sensitive to your presence and the presence of Mary, your Mother, in the many ways that you manifest yourselves. Through the example of Saint Catherine, may we discover the Way that leads to you, for the good of our brothers and sisters. We pray to the Lord.

-May we experience ever more each day the love that led Saint Catherine to recognize Mary as her Mother, that we might truly live as her children. We pray to the Lord.

-Grant, Lord, that our Association of the Miraculous Medal throughout the world may always be a witness of hearts on fire with love, as your Mother presented on her Medal. May we live in authentic relationships in communion with one another. We pray to the Lord.
 
-Finally, Lord, we pray for all those gathered here today, and for our families and friends, and for all the members of our National Associations, that filled with your Love, we will be faithful to Christ, in the example of Mary. We pray to the Lord.

Presider: Into your loving hands we commend our prayers. We know that they will be heard, for we offer them through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns forever and ever…

RENEWAL OF BAPTISMAL PROMISES
at the baptismal font of Saint Catherine Labouré

(At the conclusion of the Prayer of the Faithful, the concelebrants gather around the baptismal font. The faithful also approach the font.)

Blessing of the waters of baptism

Presider:
We ask you Lord, to send the power of the Holy Spirit, through your Son, on the water in this baptismal font, that all those who  through baptism, are buried with Christ in his death, might rise with him to new life. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord…

When the water is blessed, all may approach the baptismal font. You are invited to kiss the font, dip your hand in the water and bless yourself. During this time, we will sing:

Una nueva vida, tu misma vida. 
Una nueva familia, tu misma familia.
Hijos tuyos para siempre.

Por medio del bautismo renacemos   
en agua que nos salva nos bañamos,  
pasamos de la carne y de lo humano   
al mundo de la gracia y de lo eterno.
Guiados por la luz que recibimos   
ungidos como reyes en la frente;   
tu marca salvadora en nuestras almas  
grabada en nuestra entraña para siempre.

Prayer of thanksgiving for our Baptism

Presider:   Let us pray:
O God, by the waters of baptism you have purified our souls;
by this holy anointing you have consecrated our souls;
by the sign of your cross you have strengthened our souls;
in laying your hands on us you have filled our souls with your Spirit;
and in feeding us with the body and blood of Christ you have brought us fulfillment.
 Renew in us today the wonders you have worked in bringing your Gospel to our world and in the lives of your saints, especially Catherine Labouré. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord…

Prayer over the Gifts
Lord, accept the gifts your family is presenting to you. As we recall the wonders of your Son’s love for us, we reaffirm our love for you and our neighbor, following the example of Saint Catherine Labouré. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

PREFACE

Father, all-powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.
Today we honor your saints who consecrated their lives to Christ
for the sake of the kingdom of heaven
and the service of the poorest of the poor.
We celebrate the greatness of your works.
What love you show us as you recall humankind to its innocence,
and invite us to taste on earth the gifts of the world to come!
Now, with the saints and all the angels
we praise you forever:

Communion song:

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Nourished by this sacrament of our salvation, we pray to You, most merciful God, that in imitating the charity of Saint Catherine Labouré, we may one day share in her glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Song of Sending Forth
In Fain-les-Moutiers,
 18 November 2009
we recall Saint Catherine Labouré

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