Readings for the Solemnity of Corpus Christi
Year C
THE COLLECT
God our Father, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ in a wonderful Sacrament has left us a memorial of his passion: Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of his Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of his redemption; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Genesis (14:18-20)
And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. He blessed Abram and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.
THE PSALM
Psalm 110: 1-4 Dixit Dominus
1 The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, *
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
2 The LORD will send the scepter of your power out of Zion, *
saying, “Rule over your enemies round a/bout you.
3 Princely state has been yours from the day of your birth; *
in the beauty of holiness have I begotten you,
like dew from the womb of the morning.”
4 The LORD has sworn and he will not re/cant: *
“You are a priest for ever after the order of Mel/chizedek.”
SECOND READING
A reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
THE HOLY GOSPEL
Luke 9:11-17
The crowds followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured.
The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” They did so and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Celebrant: We hunger for the life of God among us and in our world. In the name of our Lord Jesus, let us call upon the one who satisfies every human need, saying: Lord, hear our prayer.
Leader: For the church scattered throughout the world, that united in the one bread and one cup of the eucharist a single voice might proclaim in word and deed the saving death of Christ, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For the nations of the world and for their leaders, that an equal sharing of the earth’s bounty might bring greater peace and joy to all people, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For those who have no bread, no cup; for the homeless and the abandoned; that women and men of good will might respond generously to their need, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For this community of faith, that strengthened by the eucharist we may be united in a communion of hearts and minds and so offer our lives in loving service to the world, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
For our own special needs and concerns that we offer now (the Leader pauses); that God may grant our needs in accordance with his will, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Celebrant: Merciful God, the love of Christ poured out for us in his body and blood is the faithful sign of your presence and power in our lives. Hear now the prayers of your faithful people, and out of the abundance of your mercy grant us what we truly need, for we call upon you in the name of Jesus, who is our food and our Lord, forever and ever. AMEN.