(Pastoral Area)CONFIRMATION MASS

Cathedral of St. John’s the Evangelist,Portsmouth

(date)Confirmation is the sacrament that completes Baptism; in it the gift of the Holy Spirit is bestowed upon us. Anyone who freely decides to live a life as God’s child and asks for God’s Spirit under the signs of the imposition of hands and anointing with Chrism receives the strength to witness to God’s love and might in word anddeed. They are now fully-fledged, responsible members of the Catholic Church.(YouCat, 203, based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1285-1314)

There is an opportunity for a cup of tea or coffee before the Mass. You are asked to be in your places in the Cathedral at least 15 minutes before the Mass begins.

Gathering Music: Chant for the Year of Mercy; Ubi Caritas (Taize)

Entrance Hymn:

1. I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save.I who made the stars of night,I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send? (Chorus)

Chorus:Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?I have heard you calling in the night. I will go Lord, if you lead me,I will hold your people in my heart.

2. I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain. I have

wept for love of them. They turn away.I will break their hearts of stone,

give them hearts for love alone. I will speak my work to them.Whom shall I send? (Chorus)

3. I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame.I will set a feast for them. My hand will save.Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied. I will give my life to them.Whom shall I send? (Chorus)

Greeting by the Bishop

Blessing and Sprinkling with blessed water :During this liturgical action, we sing:

1. O, let all who thirst,let them come to the water. And let all who have nothing, let them come to the Lord: without money, without price. Why should you pay the price, except for the Lord?

2. And let all who seek,let them come to the water. And let all who have nothing, let them come to the Lord: without money, without strife.Why should you spend your life, except for the Lord?

3. And let all who toil,let them come to the water. And let all who are weary, let them come to the Lord: all who labour, without rest. How can your soul find rest, except for the Lord?

4. And let all the poor,let them come to the water. Bring the ones who are laden, bring them all to the Lord:bring the children without might. Easy load and light:come to the Lord.

Gloria:Sung by the choirRefrain: Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and on earth peace, peace to people of good will.

Opening Prayer

LITURGY OF THE WORD

1St Reading: Acts 2:1-11

PsalmPeople’s Response: Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth

2nd Reading: 1 Cor 12:3-7, 12-13

Gospel Acclamation :All: Alleluia! Alleluia! Come Holy Spirit, fill the Hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love, Alleluia!(Repeat again after Cantor has sung the verse)

Gospel: John 20: 19-23

Presentation of Candidates

Homily by the Bishop

Renewal of Baptismal Promises by candidates

Laying on of hands by the Bishop

Anointing with Chrism during this liturgical action, we sing the hymns:

Hymn:1. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.Melt me, mould me, fill me, use me.Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

2. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.Melt us, mould us, fill us, use us.Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.

3. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on them.Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on them.Melt them, mould them, fill them, use them.Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on them.

Hymn:

1. Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew,that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.

2. Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure:until with thee I have one will to do and to endure.

3. Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine,until this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.

4. Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die,but live with thee the perfect life of thine Eternity.

There will be a special collection taken at the Offertory.

Offertory hymn :1. Alleluia, sing to Jesus,his the sceptre, his the throne; alleluia, his the triumph,his the victory alone:hark the songs of peaceful Sion thunder like a mighty flood: Jesus, out of ev’ry nation,hath redeemed us by his blood.

2. Alleluia, not as orphans are we left in sorrow now; alleluia, he is near us,faith believes, nor questions how; though the cloud from sight received himwhen the forty days were o’er, shall our hearts forget his promise, ‘I am with you evermore’?

3. Alleluia, Bread of Angels, thou on earth our food, our stay; alleluia, here the sinfulflee to thee from day to day; intercessor, friend of sinners, earth’s Redeemer, plead for me, where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.

4. Alleluia, King eternal,thee the Lord of lords we own; alleluia, born of Mary,earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne;thou within the veil hast entered robed in flesh, our great High Priest; thou on earth both priest and victim in the Eucharistic Feast.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Eucharistic Prayer Three will be used at this celebration :Bishop: The Lord be with you All: And with your Spirit Bishop: Lift up your heartsAll: We lift them up to the Lord Bishop: Let us give thanks to the Lord Our God All:It is right and just

The Eucharistic Prayer

continues… SanctusHoly, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

The Eucharistic Prayer continues …

Memorial Acclamation When we eat this bread and drink this cup we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.

The Eucharistic Prayer continues and

concludes with… Great Amen Sung by the

Bishop and concelebrating priests

Our Father

The Bishop invites us all to share the peace of the LordBishop: The peace of the Lord be with you alwaysAll: And with your SpiritBishop: Let us offer each other the sign of peace

Agnus Dei Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God you take away, the sins of the world,Grant us peace, grant us peace.

Communion hymns/songs :1. Be still, for the presence of the Lord,the Holy One, is here; come, bow before him now, with reverence and fear.In him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground,be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.

3. Be still, for the power of

the Lord is moving in this place,he comes to cleanse and heal, to minister his grace.No work too hard for him, in faith receive from him;be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.

2. Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;he burns with holy fire,with splendour he is crowned, how awesome is the sight, our radiant King of light!Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.

Hymn:ChorusOne bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless.And we though many, throughout the earth,we are one body in this one Lord.

1. Gentile or Jew, servant or free,woman or man, no more.(Chorus)

2. Many the gifts many the works,one in the Lord of all.(Chorus)

3. Grain for the fields, scattered and grown, gathered to one, for all. (Chorus)

“Communicants are reminded to make an act of reverence before receiving Holy Communion and to consume the Sacred Host immediately upon its reception.

“Those not in full communion with the Catholic Church – or anyone else not receiving Communion - are invited to make a ‘Spiritual Communion’ (see prayer below). You may wish to complete this by going forward to receive a blessing from the priest. Please indicate that you wish to receive a blessing by crossing your arms over your chest. “

Prayer after Communion

Blessing and Dismissal

Final hymn and Exit: The newly confirmed leave the Church with the Bishop

Chorus:I will be with you wherever you go. Go now throughout the world!I will be with you in all that you say. Go now and

spread my word.

1. Come, walk with me on stormy waters.

Why fear? Reach out, and I’ll be there.

2. And you, my friend, will you now leave me,or do you know me as your Lord?

3. Your life will be transformed with powerby living truly in my name.

4. And if you say: ‘Yes, Lord, I love you,’then feed my lambs and feed my sheep.

A Prayer for the Act of ‘Spiritual Communion’

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in this Holy Sacrament of the altar.

I love You above all things and I passionately desire to receive You into

my soul.Since I cannot now receive You

sacramentally, come spiritually into my soul

so that I may unite myselfwholly to You now and for ever.

Amen.

(Based on a prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori)

All hymns and songs covered by Calamus & CCLI Licence No. 49228