Thursday after the Third Sunday after Pentecost
The Eucharistic Heart of Jesus

There is only a minimal difference between the devotion to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus and that which the Church renders to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. With loving reverence the Church celebrates this symbol of the infinite love with which Christ gave us the sacrament of the Eucharist and so remain with us till the end of time.  For this reason special worship is given to this demonstration of the love of Christ. 

So it was that Leo XIII established the Archconfraternity of the Eucharistic Heart in the church of San Gioacchino in Rome.  Benedict XV approved devotion to the Heart of Jesus who gives us the Eucharist.  Finally Pius XII, in his encyclical ‘Haurietes aquas' encouraged the devotion in these words: ‘It will be difficult for us to appreciate fully the love that inspired Christ to give himself to us as the food of our souls, unless we practise a special devotion to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus.'     

Entrance Antiphon:          Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.       ( Jn 13:1)

OPENING PRAYER

O Lord Jesus Christ,

in pouring out the riches of your love for us,

you instituted the Eucharist and the Priesthood.

Grant us, we pray,

that we may be able to love your most loving heart

and to make worthy use of your gifts.

You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

FIRST READING                                                        (Eph 3:1-19; 4:7.11-13)The The love of Christ completes  the mystery of the unity of humankind.

A reading from the Letter of Paul to the Ephesians 

Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.  This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. I pray therefore that you may not lose heart over my sufferings for you; they are your glory.  For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

 The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM                                          (Ps 116: 12-13.15-18)

R.  With joy you shall draw water from the wells of salvation

How can I repay the Lord

for his goodness to me?

The cup of salvation I will raise;

I will call on the Lord's name.     R.

O precious in the eyes of the Lord

is the death of his faithful.

Your servant, Lord, your servant am I;

you have loosened my bonds.    R.

A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;

I will call on the Lord's name.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfill

before all his people.    R.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION                                                  (Jer 31:3)

R.  Allelulia, allelulia     

I have loved you with an everlasting love;

therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

R.  Allelulia, Allelulia      

GOSPEL                                                                         

A reading of the holy gospel according to Luke.                         (Lk 22:14-20)

Christ instituted the Eucharist and the Priesthood to perpetual for ever the sacrifice of the cross.

When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles with him.

He said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

The Gospel of the Lord.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS

Lord Jesus,

you deign to have your Church celebrate these mysteries

in order to be offered as a holy victim together with you.

Inflame our hearts with the fire of your love.

You live and reign for ever and ever.

PREFACE

Priest: The Lord be with you.

People:        And also with you.

Priest: Lift up your hearts.

People:        We lift them up to the Lord

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

People:        It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Father, all powerful and ever-living God,

we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks

through Jesus Christ Our Lord. 

The day before he was sacrificed for us

on the altar of the cross,

he poured out the riches of his love upon humankind.

By this the faith of believers is nourished,

hope is fostered, charity is strengthened,

and a pledge of eternal glory is received.

And so, with the Angels and Archangels,

with the Thrones and Dominations,

and with all the heavenly host,

we sing without end the hymn of your glory: 

Communion Antiphon   I am with you always, to the end of the age."       (Mt 28:30)

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

O, Lord,

we have received your gifts from the fulness of your heart.

Through them strengthen, we pray, the unity of the faithful

whom you admitted to be partakers of the banquet of your body.

and fill with love the priests in your service.

You live and reign for ever and ever.