Go from your country and you kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of

you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Lord, through the work of Saint Patrick in Ireland

we have come to acknowledge the mystery on the one true God

and give thanks for our salvation in Christ;

grant by his prayers

that we who celebrate this festival

my keep alive the fire of faith he kindled.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

Response: How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me?

1. How can I repay the Lord

for his goodness to me?

The cup of salvation I will raise;

2. My vows to the Lord I will fulfil

before all his people.

O precious in the eyes of the Lord

3. Your servant, Lord, your servant am I;

you have loosened my bonds.

A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;

4. My vows to the Lord I will fulfil

before all his people,

in the courts of the house of the Lord,

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Accept and submit to the word which has been planted in you and can save your souls.

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Jesus put a parable before the crowds, ‘the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good

seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off.

When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner’s servants went to

him and said, “Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come

from?” “some enemy has done this” he answered. And the servants said, “Do you want us to go and weed it

out?” But he said, “No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let

them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it

in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn.”’

He put another parable before them, ‘the kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took

and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest of shrubs and

becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air can come and shelter in its branches.’

Response: God out to the whole world: proclaim the Good News.

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Go, make disciples of all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, yes, to the end of time.

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Response: If I dwell at the sea’s furthest end even there you watch over me.

1. O Lord, you search me and you know me,

you know my resting and my rising,

you discern my purpose from afar.

You mark when I walk or lie down,

2. O where can I go from your spirit,

or where can I flee from your face?

If I climb the heavens, you are there.

3. If I take the wings of the dawn

and dwell at the sea’s furthest end,

even there your hand would lead me,

4 For it was you who created my being,

knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I thank you for the wonders of my being,

for the wonders of all your creation.

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

The Lord has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives.

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

‘Lord, I am a sinful man.’ Jesus said ‘Do not be afraid.’

Lord, accept this pure sacrifice

which, through the labours of Saint Patrick,

your grateful people make

to the glory of your name.

Through Christ our Lord.

V/. The Lord be with you.

R/. And also with you.

V/. Lift up your hearts.

R/. We lift them up to the Lord.

V/. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

R/. Is is right to give him thanks and praise.

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 offer you fitting praise

as we honour Saint Patrick.

For you drew him through daily prayer

in captivity and hardship

to know you as a loving father.

You chose him out of all the world

to return to the land of his captors,

that they might acknowledge Jesus Christ, their Redeemer.

In the power of you Spirit you directed his paths

to win the sons and daughters of the Irish

to the service of the Triune God.

With joyful hearts we echo on earth

the song of the angels in heaven

as they praise your glory without end:

Holy, Holy, Holy…

Many will come from east and west

and sit down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

at the feast in the kingdom of heaven, says the Lord.

Strengthen us, O Lord, by this sacrament

so that we may profess the faith taught by Saint Patrick

and to proclaim it in our way of living.

Through Christ our Lord.

May God the Father, who called us together

to celebrate this feast of Saint Patrick,

bless you , protect you, and keep you faithful.

R/. Amen.

May Christ the Lord, the High King of Heaven,

be near you at all times and shield you from evil.

R/. Amen.

May the Holy Spirit, who is the source of all holiness,

make you rich in the love of God’s people.

R/. Amen.

And may the blessing of almighty God,

come down on you and remain for ever.*

R/. Amen.