mass for presecuted christians

(red wednesday)

29 November 2023
LITURGICAL REMINDERS

1. All who will participate in the Eucharistic Celebration must bring a candle.

2. There will be a special collection which will be intended to support the mission of
ACN Philippines to help suffering Christians around the world.

3. A video about Christian persecution is to be shown before or during the

second collection. It may also be downloaded from this link: http://bit.ly/
ACNRedWed2023PH.

4. The Candle Lighting rite and the subsequent lighting of the façade of the Church
must be done. It is highly suggested that various members of Church organizations
and lay faithful be invited to the celebration. Some parts of the service (i.e narration
or readings, prayer of supplication during the candle lighting and the prayer for
persecuted and suffering Christians) may be assigned to them.

5. The rite of lighting will be presided by the priest and may be done before the Final
Blessing. In this case, the Final Blessing and Dismissal will be done outside the
Church.

6. The suggested song for the final hymn is “Aid to the Church in Need Hymn.” Please
find the music sheet together with this liturgy. The MP3 file or music video may be
downloaded from this link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty1lV9AqMDw.

7. Priests wear red vestments in this mass.

MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 3

THE INTRODUCTORY RITES

When the people are gathered, the Priest approaches the altar with the ministers while the
Entrance Chant is sung.

When he has arrived at the altar, after making a profound bow with the ministers, the Priest
venerates the altar with a kiss and, if appropriate, incenses the cross and the altar. Then, with
the ministers, he goes to the chair.

When the Entrance Chant is concluded, the Priest and the faithful, standing, sign themselves
with the Sign of the Cross, while the Priest, facing the people, says:

I n the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The people reply:

Amen.
Then the Priest, extending his hands, greets the people, saying:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.

The people reply:

And with your spirit.

4 RED WEDNESDAY

The Priest may very briefly introduce the faithful to the Mass of the day.

M y dear brothers and sisters,

as we join Jesus’ offering of himself to the Father,
let us pray for our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters,
for their oppressors, for those who foster persecution,
and for those who ignore it.

As we prepare to celebrate
the mystery of Christ’s love,
let us implore the forgiveness
by which we are renewed and saved.
A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of general confession:

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,
And, striking their breast, they say:

through my fault, through my fault,

through my most grievous fault;
Then they continue:

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.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 5

The absolution of the Priest follows:

May almighty God have mercy on us,

forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
The people reply:

Amen.

KYRIE ELEISON

The Kyrie eleison (Lord, have mercy) invocations follows.

V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.

V. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy.
V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.
6 RED WEDNESDAY

COLLECT

When this hymn is concluded, the Priest, with hands joined, says:

Let us pray.
And all pray in silence with the Priest for a while.

Then the Priest, with hands extended, says:

O God, who in your inscrutable providence

will that the Church be united to the sufferings of your Son,
grant, we pray, to your faithful who suffer for your name’s sake
a spirit of patience and charity,
that they may be found true and faithful witnesses
to the promises you have made.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
The people acclaim:

Amen.
Then the reader goes to the ambo and reads the First Reading, while all sit and listen.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 7

LITURGY OF THE WORD

FIRST READING
Daniel 5:1-6. 13-14. 16-17. 23-28
The fingers of a human hand appeared, writing on the plaster of the wall.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel

K ing Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his lords,

with whom he drank.
Under the influence of the wine,
he ordered the gold and silver vessels
which Nebuchadnezzar, his father,
had taken from the temple in Jerusalem,
to be brought in so that the king, his lords,
his wives and his entertainers might drink from them.
When the gold and silver vessels
taken from the house of God in Jerusalem had been brought in,
and while the king, his lords, his wives and his entertainers
were drinking wine from them,
they praised their gods of gold and silver,
bronze and iron, wood and stone.

Suddenly, opposite the lampstand,

the fingers of a human hand appeared,
writing on the plaster of the wall in the king’s palace.
When the king saw the wrist and hand that wrote, his face blanched;
his thoughts terrified him, his hip joints shook,
and his knees knocked.

Then Daniel was brought into the presence of the king.

The king asked him, “Are you the Daniel, the Jewish exile,
whom my father, the king, brought from Judah?
I have heard that the Spirit of God is in you,
that you possess brilliant knowledge and extraordinary wisdom.
8 RED WEDNESDAY

I have heard that you can interpret dreams and solve difficulties;
if you are able to read the writing and tell me what it means,
you shall be clothed in purple,
wear a gold collar about your neck,
and be third in the government of the kingdom.”

Daniel answered the king:

“You may keep your gifts, or give your presents to someone else;
but the writing I will read for you, O king,
and tell you what it means.
You have rebelled against the Lord of heaven.
You had the vessels of his temple brought before you,
so that you and your nobles, your wives and your entertainers,
might drink wine from them;
and you praised the gods of silver and gold,
bronze and iron, wood and stone,
that neither see nor hear nor have intelligence.
But the God in whose hand is your life breath
and the whole course of your life, you did not glorify.
By him were the wrist and hand sent, and the writing set down.

“This is the writing that was inscribed:

MENE, TEKEL, and PERES.
These words mean:
MENE, God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it;
TEKEL, you have been weighed on the scales and found wanting;
PERES, your kingdom has been divided
and given to the Medes and Persians.”
To indicate the end of the reading, the reader acclaims:

The Word of the Lord.

All reply:

Thanks be to God.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 9

RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Daniel 3:62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

“Sun and moon, bless the Lord;

praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

“Stars of heaven, bless the Lord;

praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

“Every shower and dew, bless the Lord;

praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

“All you winds, bless the Lord;

praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

“Fire and heat, bless the Lord;

praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

“Cold and chill, bless the Lord;

praise and exalt him above all forever.”

R. Give glory and eternal praise to him.

10 RED WEDNESDAY

There follows the Alleluia or another chant laid down by the rubrics, as the liturgical time
requires.

ALLELUIA
Revelation 2:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Remain faithful until death,
and I will give you the crown of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL
Luke 21:12-19
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.

The Priest then proceeds to the ambo, accompanied, if appropriate, by ministers with incense
and candles. There he says:

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with your spirit.

V. X A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

R. Glory to you, O Lord.
and, at the same time, he makes the Sign of the Cross on the book and on his forehead, lips, and
breast.

Then the Priest incenses the book, if incense is used, and proclaims the Gospel.

J esus said to the crowd:

“They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 11

Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,

for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”
At the end of the Gospel, the Priest acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

HOMILY

Then follows the Homily.

12 RED WEDNESDAY

LITANY FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

The Priest introduces:

Loving God,
we come before you as a Church
born from the Cross of Christ,
a Church that has grown through two thousand years
from the glorious blood of martyrs.
Let our response be:

R. Deliver your people Lord!

From discrimination against believers

and against the whole community of the Church, R.

From the isolation of prisons camps and the loneliness of exile due
to our faith in Christ, R.

From the anguish of meeting in hiding places for worship because

Christianity is not authorized, R.

From injustice, war, terrorism, kidnapping, torture, murder and all

human suffering because of Christian faith, R.

From infection of the corona virus, especially for the frontliners

risking their lives to protect everyone, R.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 13

Let us now say together after every invocation:

R. In you Lord we place our hope!

For bishops and priests prohibited from exercising ministry in

Church or in public gatherings, R.

For religious and missionaries dispersed unable to live their life of

consecration, R.

For generous young men and women prevented from realizing their
religious or priestly formation, R.

For parents denied from giving their children education in the

faith, R.

For manual workers, intellectuals and professionals who run the

risk of being deprived of opportunities because they profess faith
in God, R.

For our sick brothers and sisters, that they may be restored to
health soon, R.

For all the faithful departed, that God may give them eternal rest
in His Kingdom, R.
14 RED WEDNESDAY

The Priest concludes:

Loving God,
we have seen “life and death face each other in a wondrous duel”
in the life of Jesus your Son, our hope of glory.
That duel continues in our day.
Ease our fears, console us in our pain.
May the sufferings of your Church be the life-giving sap,
the balm of healing that our world needs in Christ our Lord.
The people reply:

Amen.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 15

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

PREPARATION OF THE ALTAR AND THE GIFTS

When all this has been done, the Offertory Chant begins. Meanwhile, the ministers place the
corporal, the purificator, the chalice, the pall, and the Missal on the altar.

It is desirable that the faithful express their participation by making an offering, bringing
forward bread and wine for the celebration of the Eucharist and perhaps other gifts to relieve
the needs of the Church and of the poor.

The Priest, standing at the altar, takes the paten with the bread and holds it slightly raised
above the altar with both hands, saying in a low voice:

B lessed are you, Lord God of all creation.

for through your goodness we have received
the bread we offer you:
fruit of the earth and work of human hands,
it will become for us the bread of life.
Then he places the paten with the bread on the corporal.

If, however, the Offertory Chant is not sung, the Priest may speak these words aloud; at the end,
the people may acclaim:

Blessed be God for ever.

The Priest pours wine and a little water into the chalice, saying quietly:

By the mystery of this water and wine

may we come to share in the divinity of Christ,
who humbled himself to share in our humanity.
16 RED WEDNESDAY

The Priest then takes the chalice and holds it slightly raised above the altar with both hands,
saying in a low voice:

B lessed are you, Lord God of all creation.

for through your goodness we have received
the wine we offer you:
fruit of the vine and work of human hands,
it will become our spiritual drink.
Then he places the chalice on the corporal.

If, however, the Offertory Chant is not sung, the Priest may speak these words aloud; at the end,
the people may acclaim:

Blessed be God for ever.

After this, the Priest, bowing profoundly, says quietly:

With humble spirit and contrite heart

may we be accepted by you, O Lord,
and may our sacrifice in your sight this day
be pleasing to you, Lord God.
If appropriate, he also incenses the offerings, the cross, and the altar. A Deacon or other minister
then incenses the Priest and the people.

Then the Priest, standing at the side of the altar, washes his hands, saying quietly:

Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 17

Standing at the middle of the altar, facing the people, extending and then joining his hands, he
says:

Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters),

that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.
The people rise and reply:

May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands

for the praise and glory of his name,
for our good
and the good of all his holy Church.

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS

Then the Priest, with hands extended, says:

R eceive, we ask, O Lord,

the prayers and sacrificial gifts we offer in humility
and grant that those who suffer persecution
for their faithful service to you
may rejoice to be united to the sacrifice of Christ your Son
and may know that their names are written in heaven
among the company of the elect.
Through Christ our Lord.

The people acclaim:

Amen.
18 RED WEDNESDAY

COMMON PREFACE VI
The mystery of salvation in Christ

Then the Priest begins the Eucharistic Prayer.

Extending his hands, he says:

V. The Lord be with you.

R. And with your spirit.
The Priest, raising his hands, continues:

V. Lift up your hearts.

R. We lift them up to the Lord.
The Priest, with hands extended, adds:

V. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

R. It is right and just.
The Priest, with hands extended, continues the Preface.

I t is truly right and just, our duty and salvation,

always and everywhere to give you thanks, Father most holy,
through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ,
your Word through whom you made all things,
whom you sent as our Savior and Redeemer,
incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin.

Fulfilling your will and gaining for you a holy people,

he stretched out his hands as he endured his Passion,
so as to break the bonds of death
and manifest the resurrection.

And so, with the Angels and all the Saints,

we proclaim your glory,
as with one voice we acclaim:
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 19

SANCTUS

At the end of the Preface he joins his hands and concludes the Preface with the people, singing
or saying aloud:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts.

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
20 RED WEDNESDAY

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER II

The Priest, with hands extended, says:

Celebrant alone

Y ou are indeed Holy, O Lord,

the fount of all holiness.
He joins his hands and, holding them extended over the offerings, says:
Celebrant with concelebrants

M ake holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,

by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall,
He joins his hands and makes the Sign of the Cross once over the bread and the chalice together,
saying:

so that they may become for us

the Body and X Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
He joins his hands.

In the formulas that follow, the words of the Lord should be pronounced clearly and distinctly,
as the nature of these words requires.

At the time he was betrayed

and entered willingly into his Passion,
He takes the bread and, holding it slightly raised above the altar, continues:

he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it,

and gave it to his disciples, saying:
He bows slightly.

T AKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT,

FOR THIS IS MY BODY,
WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU.
He shows the consecrated host to the people, places it again on the paten, and genuflects in
adoration.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 21

After this, he continues:

In a similar way, when supper was ended,

He takes the chalice and, holding it slightly raised above the altar, continues:

he took the chalice

and, once more giving thanks,
he gave it to his disciples, saying:
He bows slightly.

T AKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT,

FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD,
THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT,
WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY
FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.

DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

He shows the chalice to the people, places it on the corporal, and genuflects in adoration.

Then he says:
Celebrant alone
The mystery of faith.
And the people continue, acclaiming:

We proclaim your Death, O Lord,

and profess your Resurrection
until you come again.
22 RED WEDNESDAY

Then the Priest, with hands extended, says:

Celebrant with concelebrants

T herefore, as we celebrate
the memorial of his Death and Resurrection,
we offer you, Lord,
the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation,
giving thanks that you have held us worthy
to be in your presence and minister to you.

Humbly we pray
that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ,
we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.
Celebrant or one concelebrant
Remember, Lord, your Church,
spread throughout the world,
and bring her to the fullness of charity,
together with Francis our Pope and N. our Bishop,
and all the clergy.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 23

Celebrant or one concelebrant

Remember also our brothers and sisters
who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection,
and all who have died in your mercy:
welcome them into the light of your face.
Have mercy on us all, we pray,
that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
with Blessed Joseph, her spouse,
with the blessed Apostles,
and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages,
we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life,
and may praise and glorify you
He joins his hands.

through your Son, Jesus Christ.

He takes the chalice and the paten with the host and raising both, he says:
Celebrant with concelebrants

T HROUGH HIM, AND WITH HIM, AND IN HIM,

O GOD, ALMIGHTY FATHER,
IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
ALL GLORY AND HONOR IS YOURS,
FOR EVER AND EVER.

The people acclaim:

Amen.
24 RED WEDNESDAY

COMMUNION RITE

After the chalice and paten have been set down, the Priest, with hands joined, says:

A t the Savior’s command

and formed by divine teaching,
we dare to say:
He extends his hands and, together with the people, continues:

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.
With hands extended, the Priest alone continues, saying:

D eliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil,

graciously grant peace in our days,
that, by the help of your mercy,
we may be always free from sin
and safe from all distress,
as we await the blessed hope
and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
He joins his hands.

The people conclude the prayer, acclaiming:

For the kingdom,

the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 25

SIGN OF PEACE

Then the Priest, with hands extended, says aloud:

L ord Jesus Christ,

who said to your Apostles:
Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your Church,
and graciously grant her peace and unity
in accordance with your will.
He joins his hands.

Who live and reign forever and ever.

The people reply:

Amen.
The Priest, turned towards the people, extending and then joining his hands, adds:

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

The people reply:

And with your spirit.

Then, if appropriate, the Priest adds:

Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

And all offer one another a sign, in keeping with local customs, that expresses peace, communion,
and charity. The Priest gives the sign of peace to a Deacon or minister.

Then he takes the host, breaks it over the paten, and places a small piece in the chalice, saying
quietly:

May this mingling of the Body and Blood

of our Lord Jesus Christ
bring eternal life to us who receive it.
26 RED WEDNESDAY

BREAKING OF THE BREAD

Meanwhile the following is sung or said:

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.
The invocation may even be repeated several times if the fraction is prolonged. Only the final
time, however, is grant us peace said.

PRIVATE PREPARATION

Then the Priest, with hands joined, says quietly:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,

who, by the will of the Father
and the work of the Holy Spirit,
through your Death gave life to the world,
free me by this, your most holy Body and Blood,
from all my sins and from every evil;
keep me always faithful to your commandments,
and never let me be parted from you.
Or:

May the receiving of your Body and Blood,

Lord Jesus Christ,
not bring me to judgment and condemnation,
but through your loving mercy
be for me protection in mind and body
and a healing remedy.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 27

COMMUNION

The Priest genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised above the paten or above the
chalice, while facing the people, says aloud:

B ehold the Lamb of God,

behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
And together with the people he adds once:

Lord, I am not worthy

that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.
The Priest, facing the altar, says quietly:

May the Body of Christ

keep me safe for eternal life.
And he reverently consumes the Body of Christ.

Then he takes the chalice and says quietly:

May the Blood of Christ

keep me safe for eternal life.
And he reverently consumes the Blood of Christ.

After this, he takes the paten or ciborium and approaches the communicants. The Priest raises
a host slightly and shows it to each of the communicants, saying:

The Body of Christ.

The communicant replies:

Amen.
And receives Holy Communion.
28 RED WEDNESDAY

While the Priest is receiving the Body of Christ, the Communion Chant begins.

When the distribution of Communion is over, the Priest or a Deacon or an acolyte purifies the
paten over the chalice and also the chalice itself.

While he carries out the purification, the Priest says quietly:

What has passed our lips as food, O Lord,

may we possess in purity of heart,
that what has been given to us in time
may be our healing for eternity.
Then the Priest may return to the chair. If appropriate, a sacred silence may be observed for a
while, or a psalm or other canticle of praise or a hymn may be sung.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Then, standing at the chair and facing the people, with hands joined, the Priest says:

Let us pray.
All pray in silence with the Priest for a while, unless silence has just been observed. Then the
Priest, with hands extended, says:

B y the power of this Sacrament, O Lord,

confirm your servants in the truth
and grant to your faithful who suffer tribulation
that, as they follow your Son in bearing their cross,
they may, in every trial, glory in the name of Christian.
Through Christ our Lord.
The people acclaim:

Amen.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 29

SPECIAL COLLECTION

Commentator:

We shall now have a special collection

to support the Pontifical Foundation
Aid to the Church in Need’s projects and mission
to help the Church wherever it is persecuted,
oppressed and suffering material need.

VIDEO PRESENTATION
After the video is played and the collection done, the commentator asks the faithful to stand
for the candle lighting rite.

A lectern must be placed in the center with the lighted paschal candle near it.

CANDLE LIGHTING RITE

The Priest says:

We have listened to God’s Word

finding there the stories and witness of hope
borne by those who lived through ordeals
to the glory of God,
and hear the promises of the gospel
for all who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
those who are afflicted by the corona virus
and those whose lives and generous service
have been unmistakable signs of God’s compassion.

Let us enter into their suffering,

repenting of our ignorance, refusing to be silent,
ready to reach out to them in their isolation.
The candles held by the faithful are lighted from the paschal candle while the narration is read.
The part of the readers may be assigned to the invited lay.
30 RED WEDNESDAY

The reader (lay leader) says:

In the beginning, the universe was dark and cold —

and the Spirit hovered and brooded and whispered
“Let there be life! Let there be light!”

The Word was spoken and light and life came into being!
God handed the light to human beings
and they handed the light on to their children
and their children handed the light on to their children.

The people who walk in darkness

have seen a great light on those who lived in shadows —
on them God’s light has shone.

In the dark of a stable in the town of Bethlehem

a new light was given to the world:
the one who was there in the beginning came into the world
in him was life — and the life was the light of peoples.
The Word became flesh and lived among us.

In the darkest hours just before sunrise

darkness gave way to a new dawn, an eternal dawn:
eternal light shone upon the world.

The light became divided

and humans tried to possess it: to claim it as their own.
Yet the light was not defeated.

The light passed to those who loved God’s Word —

who translated it — and placed it into the hands of believers.

The light passed to those who sought to understand God’s creation —

and explored its wonders.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 31

The light passed to those who saw the dignity of human beings
and fought to bring justice to the poor —
freedom to those who were slaves.

The light waits — Who will keep the light burning in our day?
Who will take the light into the world?
Who will carry the light — if we do not?
Who will carry the light — if you do not?
The faithful makes a procession to the Church facade holding their lighted candles as the choir
leads them in singing “Christ be our Light” or “Liwanag Mo, Hesus.”

INVITATION FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE

The Priest will invite the faithful to pause for a moment of silence to pray.

Let us pause for a moment

and pray for all Christians around the world
who are persecuted, oppressed and discriminated
because of their faith in Christ.
The red lights of the façade will be turned on and the bells will be rung. A moment of prayerful
silence will be observed. Afterwards, he leads the people in prayer.

LITANY OF SUPPLICATION
(From the special Urbi et Orbi of Pope Francis)

R. Save us, O Lord.

From every evil that afflicts humanity, R.

From hunger, famine, and self-centeredness, R.
From sickness, epidemics, and fear of our fellowmen, R.
From devastating follies, from ruthless interests, and violence, R.
From deception, false information,
and manipulation of consciences, R.
Pause for silent prayer.
32 RED WEDNESDAY

R. Comfort us, O Lord.

Protect your Church, as she crosses the desert, R.

Protect humanity, terrified with fear and anguish, R.
Protect the sick and the dying, oppressed by loneliness, R.
Protect the doctors and health care providers,
exhausted by fatigue, R.
Protect the politicians and civil leaders,
who bear the weight of making decisions, R.
Pause for silent prayer.

R. Grant us your Spirit, O Lord.

In the hour of trial and confusion, R.

In temptation and our weakness, R.
In the battle against evil and sin, R.
In the search for what is truly good and true joy, R.
In the decision to remain in You and in Your friendship, R.
Pause for silent prayer.

R. Open us to hope, O Lord.

Should sin oppress us. R.

Should hatred close our hearts. R.
Should sorrow visit us. R.
Should indifference cause us anguish. R.
Should death overwhelm us. R.
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 33

PRAYER

The Priest says:

Since you, O God, are with us,

nothing that has happened, nothing still to come,
can rob us of our hope in Christ.
In your enduring love we trust, bind up our wounds.

You alone can heal our broken hearts;

you alone can wipe away the tears that well up inside us;
you alone can give us the peace we need;
you alone can strengthen us to carry on.
We ask you to be near those whose time of joy
has been turned into sadness.
Assure them that with you nothing is wasted or incomplete,
and uphold them with your tender love.
Supported by your strength,
may our love for one another
be deepened by the knowledge of your love for us all.
R. Amen.
The Priest continues:

Brothers and Sisters,

the light we bear is a symbol of Christ, the Light of the World,
We received this light when we were baptized.
We vowed to spread this light when we were confirmed.
We fulfill this vow when we faithfully respond
to our sacred calling as Christians
to be a communion even of flickering lights
amidst the darkness of persecution in the world.
34 RED WEDNESDAY

I ask you now:

Keep the flame of faith alive in your hearts.
Let us be fire that kindles other fires,
a communion of many sparks
coming from the Light of the World.
Walk always as children of the light.
Jesus said “Blessed are the merciful
for they shall receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)
I now send you to your homes,
workplaces, schools and communities.
Let us be in solidarity with our persecuted brothers and sisters,
with those who are suffering during this time of pandemic,
with those who offer their lives in loving service
and tell the story of God’s mercy and compassion
through your lives.
The choir leads the faithful in singing “Pananagutan.”
MASS FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS 35

THE CONCLUDING RITES

Then the dismissal takes place. The Priest, facing the people and extending his hands, says:

The Lord be with you.

The people reply:

And with your spirit.

The Priest says the invitation:

Bow down for the blessing.

Then the Priest, with hands outstretched over the people, says:

Be near to those who call on you, O Lord,

and graciously grant your protection
to all who place their hope in your mercy,
that they may remain faithful in holiness of life
and, having enough for their needs in this world,
they may be made full heirs of your promise for eternity.
Through Christ our Lord.
The people reply:

Amen.
The Priest blesses the people, saying:

May almighty God bless you,

the Father, and the Son, X and the Holy Spirit
The people reply:

Amen.
36 RED WEDNESDAY

DISMISSAL

Then the Priest, with hands joined and facing the people, says:

G o in peace,
glorifying the Lord by your life.
The people reply:

Thanks be to God.
Then the Priest venerates the altar as usual with a kiss, as at the beginning. After making a
profound bow with the ministers, he withdraws.
Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission
Manila