VOICEOVER:
From the St. Ignatius Chapel at the Manresa Jesuit
Spiritual Renewal Centre in Pickering Ontario. The National Catholic
Broadcasting Council presents... ...The Daily TV Mass. Welcome to the celebration
of the Daily TV Mass. I am Fr. John Bertao. The televising of
this Mass is made possible by the contributions
from two donors. The first is Catherine Sullivan from Surrey, British Columbia, in memory of her husband,
Tim Sullivan, who is remembered
today on his birthday and for all her family. The second is an anonymous
donor from California, for the conversion of sinners
and for the Church. Our thanks to our donors
for the gift of this Mass. Today also marks
the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Remember, at our mass today, all of those who
lost their lives. We pray for their families
and loved ones who will miss them. We give thanks to all of those
who responded to the tragedy. We are grateful
for the people of Gander, Newfoundland, a community that
opened their hearts and homes to people from
all over the world. The citizens of Gander showed the world, on 9/11, what it means to
welcome the stranger. And we begin with
the sign of our salvation. In the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. ALL: Amen. The Lord be with you. CONGREGANTS:
And with your spirit. Thank you for joining us
on this special day when we remember how good
it is to be at peace and alive, and to celebrate this
Eucharist with great peace and love for our
Lord Jesus Christ. Let us ask him for
forgiveness of our failures. You were sent to heal
the contrite of heart. Lord, have mercy. CONGREGANTS:
Lord, have mercy. FR. BERTAO:
You came to call sinners. Christ, have mercy. CONGREGANTS:
Christ, have mercy. FR. BERTAO: You are seated
at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us.
Lord have mercy. CONGREGANTS: Lord have mercy. May almighty God
have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to
everlasting life. CONGREGANTS: Amen. Let us pray. Grant, Lord God, that we, your servants, may rejoice in unfailing health of mind and body, and, through the glorious
intercession of Blessed Mary ever-Virgin, we may be set free
from present sorrow and come to enjoy
eternal happiness. 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. ALL: Amen. A reading from the first
letter of Paul to Timothy. The saying is sure
and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason
I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display
the utmost patience, making me an example to
those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages,
immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory
forever and ever. Amen. The Word of the Lord. ALL: Thanks be to God. # # Praise,
O servants of the Lord # # Praise the name of the Lord # # Blessed be
the name of the Lord # # From this time on # # And forever more # # From the rising of the sun # # To its setting # # The name of the Lord # # Is to be praised # # The Lord is high above # # All nations # # And his glory above # # The heavens # # Who is like # # The Lord our God? # # Who is seated # # On high? # # Who looks far
down on the heavens # # And the earth? # # He raises the poor # # From the dust # # # Alleluia, Alleluia # # Alleluia # # Alleluia, Alleluia # # Alleluia # # All who love me # # Will keep my words # # And my Father will love them # # And we will come to them # # Alleluia, Alleluia # # Alleluia # The Lord be with you. CONGREGANTS:
And with your spirit. A reading from the Holy Gospel
according to Luke. CONGREGANTS: Glory to you, Lord. Jesus said to his disciples, "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does
a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is
known by its own fruit. Figs are not
gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked
from a bramble bush. Out of the good treasure of the
heart the good person produces good, and out of evil treasure the
evil person produces evil, for it is out of
the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you? I will show you what someone
is like who comes to me, hears my words,
and acts on them. That one is like
a man building a house, who dug deeply
and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood arose, the river burst
against the house, but could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears
and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground
without a foundation. When the river burst against it,
immediately it fell, and great was
the ruin of that house." The Gospel of the Lord. CONGREGANTS: Praise to you,
Lord Jesus Christ. I recall in the good,
as I call them, the good old days of my village of birth, we freely shared
with what we had and also gave to those who were in need or even asked. One of our very close neighbours had a huge fig tree and she would tell me
to come over any time to her front yard and help myself to the figs, uh, before, of course,
the birds got the best parts. One day, there were
so many ripe figs that I wanted to
take some for mom, who also liked figs very much. Perhaps by providence, the neighbour came out
with this wonderful container and helped me to
fill it so that I could take some home to mom
who loved them very much, and, if I was lucky enough,
which I was, she would also
make some fig jam. She told me, the neighbour
told me to be really careful and kind to the tree, because, she said,
it's very old. (Chuckling)
So, I loved her very much and I trusted her, and I said,
"Old? The tree is old? Is it older than you?" And she laughed, patted me
on the shoulder, and said, "Yes, even older than me. So, be kind to the tree as
you're taking away the figs." In my daily prayer reflection I came across
this wonderful periodical with the following statement,
and I quote, "The fig tree was
a favourite of all trees for the people of Palestine. It symbolizes--"
and this is really rich, "--it symbolizes fertility, peace, and prosperity." Fertility, peace,
and prosperity. "Grapes, likewise,
produce wine, the symbol of joy. On the other hand,
branches and shrubs were only good for
burning as fuel for the fire." You've--
you've heard the saying, you know the tree by its fruit. Perhaps, maybe just perhaps, a person will produce
good or bad fruit depending on what is sown here in the heart,
and usually starting from the very beginning
of their lives. Charles Reade states, "Sow an act,
and you will reap a habit. Show a habit,
and you reap a character. Sow a character,
and you reap destiny. So, character," he continues, "like fruit, doesn't grow overnight. It takes a lifetime." As I was preparing
this reflection, this homily, I kept thinking
about the character that I've developed
over the years and everybody has
habits that are not all that great
or things that we just do. Sometimes we just--
we just do them for one reason or another, and I couldn't think of a habit
that I have that I would like to share with
national television. So, I phoned a friend that
I trust very much and I asked, "Can you tell me of
a habit that you noticed that I have that I could share as I'm celebrating
mass for television?" And immediately
my friend told me, "This is the habit
that you have." And I went,
"Really? That habit?" And he goes, "I'm not saying
it's a bad habit, but..." And then as I thought,
every time I'm about to do something I want to
be focused on Christ. I want to do everything with him
in mind so that the results are good for him
and for his glory. So, obviously, my habit, my gesture, my custom is to make the sign of the cross every time I'm going
to start something and when I'm finished. Even before I start driving
and when I get home safe. Every time that I make
again the sign of the cross and hopefully you can as well, you bring Jesus
closer into focus, and I think that by
bringing Jesus Christ into the focus in our lives, we can develop good fruit that will develop some
good character in our lives. You, dear friends in Christ, you could be as fruitful
as the fig tree and as joyful as the most successful person on earth by keeping Christ at
the very centre of your life, and bringing him
to others with a simple and powerful gesture of making the sign of
the cross without fear and making it properly. I close with a prayer that,
when we pray to Christ, we also pray to
our Blessed Mother, and I came across
this beautiful prayer from St. Theresa of Calcutta, and again, I quote. "Mary, my dearest Mother, give me your heart so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate, so full of love and humility, that I may receive
Jesus as you did, and go in haste to
give him to others." Go in haste to
give him to others. Let us also do the same as Mary has done, as Mother Theresa
of Calcutta has done, and as all the saints do, show Jesus to others
by your actions, by your signs, and by your love and respect
to each individual. Amen. Please join me in prayer. We pray for Pope Francis
and all our church leaders, that they may be
guided by our Holy Spirit in preaching God's word
and guiding the church. We pray to the Lord. CONGREGANTS:
Lord, hear our prayer. For the victims of 9/11
and all victims of violence and war, may they find
consolation in Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
we pray to the Lord. CONGREGANTS:
Lord, hear our prayer. For the courage to be
ambassadors for Christ in our challenging world that stands out in
so different many ways we pray to the Lord. CONGREGANTS:
Lord, hear our prayer. In thanksgiving and prayers
for our donors of the TV mass, and of all the masses
that we celebrate for you to bring
your closer to Christ, we pray to the Lord. CONGREGANTS:
Lord, hear our prayer. And for the continued protection
and love of our Blessed Mother, please join me. ALL: Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour
of our death. Amen. Our Lady of Peace, pray for us. Blessed 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. CONGREGANTS:
Blessed be God forever. Through 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. Blessed 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. CONGREGANTS:
Blessed be God forever. With humble spirit and contrite
heart may we be accepted by you, and may our sacrifice
in your sight this day be pleasing to you, Lord God. Lord, wash me of my inequity
and cleanse me of my sin. Pray that my sacrifice and yours
be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father. ALL: 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. May the humanity of
Your Only Begotten Son come, O Lord, to our aid,
and may he who, at his birth from
the Blessed Virgin, did not diminish,
but consecrate her integrity, by taking from us now
our wicked deeds, make our oblation
acceptable to you, through Christ, our Lord. CONGREGANTS: Amen. The Lord be with you. CONGREGANTS:
And with your spirit. Lift up your hearts. CONGREGANTS:
We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks
to the Lord, our God. CONGREGANTS:
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. and to praise, bless,
and glorify Your name on this memorial of
the blessed Virgin Mary. For by the overshadowing
of the Holy Spirit she conceived
Your Only Begotten Son, and without losing
the glory of virginity, brought forth into the world the eternal Light,
Jesus Christ, our Lord. Through him,
the Angels praise Your majesty, Dominions adore
and Powers tremble before You, Heaven,
and the virtues of Heaven, and the blessed Seraphim worship together
with exultation. May our voices, we pray, join with theirs
in humble praise, as we acclaim. # # Holy, holy, holy # # Lord God of hosts # # Heaven and Earth are # # Full of your glory # # Hosanna in the highest # # Hosanna in # # The highest # # Blessed is he # # Who comes in the name # # Of the Lord # # Hosanna in # # The highest # # Hosanna in # # The highest # You are indeed Holy, O Lord, and all You have created
rightly gives You praise, for through Your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, by the power
and working of the Holy Spirit, You give life to all things
and make them holy, and You never cease to
gather a people to Yourself, so that from the rising
of the sun to its setting a pure sacrifice may
be offered to Your name. Therefore, O Lord,
we humbly implore You, by the same Spirit
graciously make all these gifts we have brought
You for consecration, that they may become
the body and blood of Your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, at whose command we
celebrate these mysteries. For on the night he was betrayed he himself took bread
and, giving You thanks, he said the blessing,
broke the bread, and he gave it to
his disciples, saying, "Take this, all of you,
and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you." (Altar bell ringing) In a similar way,
when supper was ended, he took the chalice
and, giving You thanks, he said the blessing, and gave the chalice
to his disciples saying, "Take 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." (Altar bell ringing) The mystery of faith. # # When we eat this bread # # And drink this cup # # We proclaim your death,
O Lord # # Until you come again # Therefore, O Lord,
as we celebrate the memorial of the saving passion of Your Son, his wondrous resurrection
and ascension into Heaven, and as we look forward
to his Second Coming, we offer You in thanksgiving
this holy and living sacrifice. Look, we pray, upon the oblation
of Your church, and recognizing
the sacrificial victim by whose death You willed to
reconcile us to Yourself, grant that we, who are
nourished by the body and blood of your Son and filled
with his Holy Spirit, may become one body,
one spirit in Christ. May he make of us
an eternal offering to You, so that we may obtain
an inheritance with Your elect, especially with the most
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
with Blessed Joseph her spouse, with the blessed Apostles
and glorious Martyrs and with all the Saints,
on whose constant intercession in Your presence we
rely for unfailing help. May this Sacrifice
of our reconciliation, we pray, O Lord,
advance the peace and salvation of all the world. Be pleased to confirm
in faith and charity Your pilgrim Church on earth, with Your servant
Francis our Pope and Thomas our Bishop,
the Order of Bishops, all the clergy,
and the entire people You have gained for Your own. Listen graciously to
the prayers of this family, whom You have
summoned before You. In Your compassion,
O merciful Father, gather to Yourself
all Your children scattered throughout the world. To our departed
brothers and sisters and to all who were pleasing
to You at their passing from this life, give kind admittance
to Your kingdom. There we hope to enjoy for ever
the fullness of Your glory through Christ our Lord,
through whom You bestow on the world all that is good. Through him,
with him, and in him. O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is Yours,
forever and ever. ALL: Amen. At the Saviour's command,
informed by divine teaching, we dare to say. ALL:
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. Deliver 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
saviour Jesus Christ. CONGREGANTS: For the kingdom,
the power, and the glory are Yours now and for ever. Lord Jesus Christ,
you 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 who live
and reign forever and ever. CONGREGANTS: Amen. The peace of the Lord
be with you always. CONGREGANTS:
And with your spirit. Let us pause for a moment and think of someone
we wish to be at peace with, and grant that one day, we all will be
in the same peace. # # 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 # 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. ALL: Lord, I am not
worthy that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. May the body of Christ bring
me to everlasting life. Amen. (altar bell ringing) VOICEOVER: Please join me now in
this act of spiritual communion. # Let us pray. As we receive
this heavenly sacrament, we beseech, O Lord, your mercy, that we who rejoice
in commemorating the blessed Virgin Mary, may, by imitating her, serve worthily
the mystery of redemption. Through Christ our Lord. CONGREGANTS: Amen. The Lord be with you. CONGREGANTS:
And with your spirit. May almighty God bless you. The Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit. ALL: Amen. Let us go forth
from this Eucharist in the peace of Christ. ALL: Thanks be to God. VOICEOVER:
Our thanks to our donors for the gift of this mass. # # God who touches # # Earth with beauty # # Make me lovely, too # # With thy Spirit # # Recreate me # # Make my heart anew # # Like your springs # # And running waters # # Make me crystal pure # # Like thy rocks of
towering grandeur... #
