4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare or Rejoice Sunday).
Mass prayers and readings.

In this Mass, the color violet or rose is used. Instrumental music is permitted, and the altar may be decorated with flowers. On this Sunday the second scrutiny in preparation for the Baptism of the catechumens who are to be admitted to the Sacraments of Christian Initiation at the Easter Vigil is celebrated with the proper prayers and intercessions.
 
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON
Lætáre, Ierúsalem, et convéntum fácite, omnes qui diligitis eam; gaudéte cum lætítia, qui in tristitia fuístis, ut exsultétis, et satiémini ab ubéribus consolatiónis vestræ.
Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast.
[–» Greeting]
 
The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) is not said.
 
COLLECT
O God, who through your Word reconcile in a wonderful way the human race to yourself, grant that the Christian people, we pray, may hasten with prompt devotion and eager faith toward the solemn celebrations to come. Through our Lord.

READINGS FOR YEAR C (2019,2022,2025…) 

READING I
Joshua 5:9a, 10–12
The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.”
While the Israelites were encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, they celebrated the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth of the month. On the day after the Passover, they ate of the produce of the land in the form of unleavened cakes and parched grain. On that same day after the Passover, on which they ate of the produce of the land, the manna ceased. No longer was there manna for the Israelites, who that year ate of the yield of the land of Canaan.
 
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the Lord;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. 
Glorify the Lord with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. 
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the Lord heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. 
 
READING II
2nd Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 5:17–21
Brothers and sisters: Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
 
VERSE BEFORE THE GOSPEL
I will rise and go to my father and tell him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
 
GOSPEL
Luke 15:1–3, 11–32
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So to them Jesus addressed this parable:
“A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation.
When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”’ So he got up and went back to his father.
While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began.
Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’
He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”

FOR TODAY’S SUNDAY REFLECTION SEE https://www.catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/4th-sunday-of-lent-c-laetare-sunday-the-joy-of-reconciliation-/

[–»  Creed, Universal Prayer]
[–»  Offertory]

 
PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS
We lay before you with joy these offerings, O Lord, which will bring eternal remedy, praying that we may both faithfully revere them and present them to you, as is fitting, for the salvation of all the world. Through Christ our Lord.
[–» Eucharistic Prayer]
When the Gospel of Man Born Blind is not read, Preface I or II of Lent is used.
[–» Preface of the Man Born Blind (Year A) or Preface of Lent]

PREFACE OF LENT II

The Lord be with you.      And with your spirit.

Lift up your hearts.   We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right and just.

 

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord For you have given your children a sacred time for the renewing and purifying of their hearts, that freed from disordered affections, they may so deal with the things of this passing world as to hold rather to the things that eternally endure. And so, with all the Angels and Saints, we praise you as without end we acclaim:

 
COMMUNION ANTIPHON
Year A:
The Lord anointed my eyes: I went away and I washed, and I could see; and I believed in God.
Year B:
Jerusalem is built as a city bonded as one together. It is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to praise the name of the Lord.
Year C:
You must rejoice, my son, for your brother was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.
[–» Communion]
 
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
O God, who enlighten everyone who comes into this world, illuminate our hearts, we pray, with the splendor of your grace, that we may always ponder what is worthy and pleasing to your majesty and love you in all sincerity. Through Christ our Lord.
[–» Concluding Rite]
 
PRAYER OVER THE PEOPLE
Look upon those who call to you, O Lord, and sustain the weak; give life by your ever-living light to those who walk in the shadow of death, and bring those rescued by your mercy from every evil to reach the highest good. Through Christ our Lord.

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