Thursday after Pentecost
Our Lord Jesus Christ, The Eternal High Priest
Feast
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Prot. N. 1040/11/L
Decree
To ensure more effectively that the grace of the Year of the Priest might endure for a longer time among the People of God, the Supreme Pontiff BENEDICT XVI graciously provided that liturgical formularies for the celebration of Our Lord Jesus Christ, The Eternal High Priest should be prepared, to be offered for the use of the individual Conferences of Bishops that request them.
This Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, by virtue of the special faculties granted by the same Supreme Pontiff, willingly approves and declares to be typical the Latin text of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Roman Martyrology relating to Our Lord Jesus Christ, The Eternal High Priest as they appear in the attached exemplar.
All things to the contrary notwithstanding.
From the offices of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, 23 July 2012.
✠ ANTONIO Card. CAÑIZARES LLOVERA
Prefect
Rev. Msgr. JUAN MIGUEL FERRER GRENESCHE
Undersecretary
Invitatory
Ant. Let us give glory to Christ who has an eternal priesthood.
Office of Readings
Hymn
Jesus, our High Priest, only Mediator,
mercifully bringing prayers before the Father:
from every nation, justly we extol you,
singing your praises
Formed by the Spirit in the womb of Mary,
Son of the Virgin, your right arm embraces
all of creation, Sacrifice and Victim,
worthy of blessing.
Named by the Father Priest and King for ever,
you were anointed with the oil of gladness,
brought to high heaven and his throne of glory,
height of all honour.
God most exalted, mortal flesh assuming,
offering your life-blood, precious gift all cleansing,
you paid the ransom, price of our redemption,
death’s curse removing.
Christ, who uplifted on the Cross of sorrow,
drew all creation, piercing hearts with ardour,
grant we may ever praise you and the Father,
one with the Spirit. Amen.
Second Reading
From the Encyclical
(AAS 39 [1947], 552-553)
Christ, Priest and Victim
Christ is a Priest indeed; however, he is a Priest not for himself but for us, since, in the name of the whole human race, he brings our prayers and religious dispositions to the eternal Father; he is also a victim, but a victim for us, since he substitutes himself for sinners.
Now the exhortation of the Apostle, ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,’ demands that all Christians should possess, as far as is humanly possible, the same dispositions as those which the divine Redeemer had when he offered himself in sacrifice: that is to say, they should with a humble attitude of mind, offer adoration, honour, praise and thanksgiving to the supreme majesty of God.
Moreover, it demands that they must assume in some way the condition of a victim, that they deny themselves as the Gospel commands, that freely and of their own accord they do penance and that each detests and makes satisfaction for his sins.
It demands, in a word, that we must all undergo with Christ a mystical death on the Cross so that we can apply to ourselves the words of St. Paul, ‘I have been crucified with Christ’
Responsory
I live by faith in the Son of God, who has loved me and has given himself up for me.
I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.
Prayer, as at Morning Prayer.
Morning Prayer
Hymn
Singing together, heaven and earth acclaim you,
Christ Jesus, Saviour, humankind redeeming,
offering the Father fitting expiation,
Priest through the ages.
Led to the slaughter, Jesus, you accepted,
willingly, gently, death and all its torment,
that you might lead us, who were lost and broken,
through heaven’s gateway.
Ending for ever former rites held sacred,
bringing fulfilment to the Prophets’ writings,
now by a new love, you ordained a covenant
with God the Most High.
Merciful Author of so great a covenant,
you, the true Victim, food of life eternal,
placed on the altar, pledge of peace most holy,
you are the one Priest.
Christ, who uplifted on the Cross of sorrow,
drew all creation, piercing hearts with ardour,
grant we may ever praise you and the Father,
one with the Spirit. Amen.
Short Reading
When Christ came into the world, he said,
‘Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.
Then I said, ‘Lo, I have come to do your will, O God,’
as it is written of me in the roll of the book.’
When he said above, ‘You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings’ (these are offered according to the law), then he added, ‘Lo, I have come to do your will.’ He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Responsory
Behold I come that I may do your will.
Your law is in my inmost heart.
Glory to the Father...
Canticle of Zechariah
Ant. May they all be one, Father, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.
Intercessions
Father of mercies and God of all consolation, you fill with your kindness all who approach you. As we begin this day, through Christ and with him and in him, we your children pray:
Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
Christ, Word of God, you are with the Father for ever;
Jesus, Anointed of the Father in the Holy Spirit,
Christ, High Priest of the New Covenant,
Christ, Wisdom of God, our peace and reconciliation,
Christ, Eternal Priest, who glorify the Father,
Our Father...
Prayer
O God, who for the glory of your majesty
and the salvation of the human race,
made your Only Begotten Son the Eternal High Priest,
grant that, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
those whom he has chosen as ministers and stewards of his mysteries
may be found faithful in carrying out the ministry they have received.
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.
Evening Prayer
Hymn
O Christ, High Priest for evermore
of your eternal covenant,
our hymns and prayers are rightly yours:
we sing you songs of thankful love.
Proceeding from the Father’s throne,
and moved with pity for our sin,
you came, obedient, weak, and poor,
incarnate in the Virgin’s womb.
You came destroying ancient sin,
preparing all for light and grace;
the Father and the Paraclete
anointed you as Priest and King.
Unique, unblemished sacrifice,
you shed your blood for love of us;
in love you grant your children now
to glory in the Father’s peace.
You give yourself eternally,
our altars’ saving sacrifice,
the perfect One enthroned on high,
obtaining mercy for us all.
All praise to you, O Christ, High Priest
who live and reign and sacrifice,
and glory to the Father be
for endless ages still to come. Amen.
Reading
Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Responsory
Let us have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of the children of God.
Glory to the Father...
Canticle of Mary
Ant. Father, I pray for them, because they are yours and I consecrate myself for them, so that they may also be consecrated in the Truth.
Intercessions
Through Christ, let us pour forth our prayers to God the Father, who directs all things by his will and blesses all who trust in him.
Christ, Word of the Father,
Christ our Priest, Bread of Life,
Christ in glory, always interceding for us with the Father,
Christ the Lord, sent by the Father,
Christ, Son of the living God, who by your death have conquered death,
Our Father...
Prayer
O God, who for the glory of your majesty
and the salvation of the human race,
made your Only Begotten Son the Eternal High Priest,
grant that, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit,
those whom he has chosen as ministers and stewards of his mysteries
may be found faithful in carrying out the ministry they have received.
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.