The Holy and Undivided Trinity

BBC Radio 4. Time now for Sunday Worship which this morning is a Mass for the Feast of the Holy Trinity. The service comes direct from Leeds Cathedral with the Junior Choirs of Leeds Cathedral and around 100 other participants in the Diocese of Leeds Schools' Singing Programme. The Mass is introduced by the Dean Monsignor Philip Moger after the choirs have sung the first hymn: Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

THE INTRODUCTORY RITES

Mgr Philip Moger (Celebrant) with Deacon Joe Cortis are standing at the Chair (north side of the sanctuary) before the hymn begins; Fr Matthew Habron is standing on sanctuary behind altar on the north side of the sanctuary, and Fr Timothy Swinglehurst on the south side; Darren Jones (altar sever) is in situ on the north side, slightly off the sanctuary.   

Note: when Mgr Moger is at the Chair and speaking, the altar server, Darren Jones, will come forward holding the text.  This happens several times.

As the Radio 4 continuity announcer ends, the hymn is sung.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

SIGN OF THE CROSS at the Chair (north side of the sanctuary)

Mgr Moger:  In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All: Amen.

GREETING at the Chair (north side of the sanctuary)

Mgr Moger: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION at the Chair (north side of the sanctuary)

Mgr Moger welcomes all and introduces the Mass in these words:

A warm welcome to Leeds Cathedral.  Our fine, Arts & Crafts building, dedicated to St Anne, the Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, stands in the heart of Leeds City Centre, a few metres away from where the Tour de France started two years ago. Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity – the One God, who is three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The homily today is given by Fr Timothy Swinglehurst, who is the Episcopal Vicar for Education in the diocese of Leeds.

After the Welcome and Introduction, the Mgr Moger introduces the Penitential Act in these words:
Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves
to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

 
He continues:
Lord Jesus, you have revealed yourself as the way to the Father:
Lord, have mercy
All: Lord, have mercy

You have poured out on your people the Spirit of truth:
Christ have mercy
All: Christ, have mercy

You are the Good Shepherd, leading us to eternal life
Lord, have mercy
All: Lord, have mercy
He concludes with these words: May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
All: Amen.

The Gloria begins; sung by the choir:

COLLECT at the Chair (north side of the sanctuary)

Mgr Moger: Let us pray.

After a brief pause, Mgr Moger continues:
God our Father, who by sending into the world
the Word of truth and the Spirit of sanctification
made known to the human race your wondrous mystery,
grant us, we pray, that in professing the true faith,
we may acknowledge the Trinity of eternal glory
and adore your Unity, powerful in majesty.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
All: Amen.

Everyone sits.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
THE FIRST READING at the Lectern (south side of the sanctuary) read by Marissa Dabill.
A reading from the book of Proverbs           (8:22-31)

 The Wisdom of God cries aloud:
The Lord created me when his purpose first unfolded,
before the oldest of his works.
From everlasting I was firmly set,
from the beginning, before earth came into being.
The deep was not, when I was born,
there were no springs to gush with water.
Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills, I came to birth;
before he made the earth, the countryside,
or the first grains of the world’s dust.
When he fixed the heavens firm, I was there,
when he drew a ring on the surface of the deep,
when he thickened the clouds above,
when he fixed fast the springs of the deep,
when he assigned the sea its boundaries
 – and the waters will not invade the shore –
when he laid down the foundations of the earth,
I was by his side, a master craftsman,
delighting him day after day,
ever at play in his presence,
at play everywhere in his world,
delighting to be with the sons of men.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
The reader returns to her place.

Responsorial Psalm sung by the choir/cantor  Psalm 8:4-9. R/ v 2

Choir/cantor sings the Response: Alleluia, alleluia, allleuia

All repeat the Response: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Choir/cantor sings the verses:

When I see the heavens, the work of your hands,
the moon and the stars which you arranged,
what is man that you should keep him in mind,
mortal man that you care for him?

All repeat the Response: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Yet you have made him little less than a god;
with glory and honour you crowned him,
gave him power over the works of your hand,
put all things under his feet.

All repeat the Response: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
All of them, sheep and cattle,
yes, even the savage beasts,
birds of the air, and fish
that make their way through the waters.

All repeat the Response: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
Inclusive of gospel acclamation

Everyone stands.

Gospel at the Lectern (south side of the sanctuary) read by Deacon Joe Cortis

Deacon: The Lord be with you.
All: And with your spirit.
Deacon: A reading from the holy gospel according to John (16:12-15)
All: Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘I still have many things to say to you
but they would be too much for you now.
But when the Spirit of truth comes
he will lead you to the complete truth,
since he will not be speaking as from himself
but will say only what he has learnt;
and he will tell you of the things to come.
He will glorify me,
since all he tells you
will be taken from what is mine.
Everything the Father has is mine;
that is why I said:
All he tells you
will be taken from what is mine.’

Deacon: The gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia repeated by the choir/cantor.  Deacon Joe Cortis returns to his seat on the north side of the sanctuary.

Everyone sits.

HOMILY at the Lectern (south side of the sanctuary) preached by Fr Timothy Swinglehurst.

In the children’s story, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the great Lion (Aslan) has died: early the next morning 2 young girls, Susan and Lucy meet him alive again: Aslan has risen from the dead.  This newly risen Aslan doesn’t first deliver a great, rousing speech to inspire them or perform a mighty act of power to impress them; instead he says, quite simply, “Children – children - catch me if you can”.  Then he leaps into the air; round and round they go, the children chasing after him; Aslan dives between them - then tosses them into the air, catching them in his huge velvet paws.  Suddenly: he stops - all three of them roll over and over in (as the book says) “a happy, laughing heap of fur and arms and legs”.  It’s a glorious scene where every movement is certainly spontaneous and free, yet exhibits the precision of a well-prepared, minutely choreographed dance.

Here in this chase, C. S. Lewis (who is the author of these books about the imaginary land of Narnia) provides us with an image of what life with the risen Jesus is like – it is a life of delight, almost we might say, of playfulness, a life of overflowing love – and joy.

In our first reading today, we have heard the voice of Wisdom speaking to us about life with God - about the intimacy of life with Him.  Living closely with God, says Wisdom, is a “delight”; it’s like being “ever at play”.  It’s almost as if life with God is like that great game of catch with Aslan – but a game which (unlike that game in Narnia) never comes to an end.

In their account of Jesus’ baptism, the gospels give us a further insight into this intimate life of God; there at the Jordan River the curtains are drawn back and we see God’s life as it truly is.  We see revealed a scene of great joy, a scene where there is an extraordinary harmony of movement and sound: Jesus moves up out of the waters; as he does so, the Holy Spirit moves down upon him; (at that same moment) a voice is heard, a voice which seems to surround both Jesus and the Holy Spirit like a billowing, protective mantle, declaring, “This is my Son, the Beloved: in him I take great delight.”  Here at Jesus’ Baptism, the Bible presents us with God in community, the community of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, a community almost at play, where every action, every gesture has its right place, expressing fully the joy, the delight of being with one another in the rich and inexhaustible movement of love.

In today’s Gospel the Lord Jesus tells his disciples that the Holy Spirit will lead them into truth, the complete truth; there they will behold the glory of the Son in the presence of the Father, the life of the Most Holy Trinity – it is a life of joy and delight, a life of overflowing, abounding love – the life into which we are led by the gentle, guiding hand of the Holy Spirit.

After the Homily Fr Swinglehurst returns to his place on the sanctuary.

Everyone stands.

CREED at the Chair (north side of the sanctuary)

Mgr Moger: I believe in God,
All: the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
At the words that follow, up to and including ‘the Virgin Mary’, all bow.
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL

Mgr Moger introduces the Prayer at the Chair (north side of the sanctuary), as follows:

Let us pray with faith to the Father, through the Son, in the power of the Spirit.

The reader standing at the ambo/lectern reads the intentions; at the end of each intention the Cantor sings: Kyrie eleison
All: Kyrie eleison

For the Church, the body of Christ – that it may be preserved in the truth revealed by God and so be a source of light and life to all.
PAUSE
Cantor:    Kyrie eleison. All: Kyrie eleison.

For peace in our troubled world and especially in Syria: may those who govern be inspired to work unceasingly for peace and justice, and may we be committed to a genuine love of neighbour:       
PAUSE
Cantor:    Kyrie eleison. All: Kyrie eleison.
 
For the poor and the hungry, the lonely and those who live without hope, those whose lives are ravaged by war and violence, we remember the people of Syria, may those who have, be generous in sharing with those who have not.
PAUSE
Cantor:    Kyrie eleison. All: Kyrie eleison.

For those in our society whose lives are paralysed by strain and anxiety in themselves, and hostility towards others – that the Holy Spirit may give them inner peace and be restored to that wholeness which is God’s will for all.
PAUSE
Cantor:    Kyrie eleison. All: Kyrie eleison.
 
For those who are sick – that they may receive comfort and healing, strength and peace; and for those who have died recently, and for those whose anniversaries occur at this time - that they may enter into their heavenly inheritance in God’s kingdom, freed from the corruption of sin and death.
PAUSE
Cantor:    Kyrie eleison. All: Kyrie eleison.

After the final Lord, hear our prayer, Mgr Moger concludes the Prayer at the Chair (north side of the sanctuary), as follows:

God our Father, you Son was begotten before all ages,
yet is born among us in time;
your Holy Spirit fills the whole creation,
yet is poured forth now into our hearts.
Because you have made us and loved us and called us by name,
draw us more deeply into your divine life, that we may glorify you.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
All: Amen.

After the Amen, the reader returns to her place, and all sit.  The offertory hymn begins. 

THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Mgr Moger and Deacon Joe Cortis move to behind the altar. Gr Moger says:

During the Offertory hymn the gifts of bread and wine will be brought in procession to the altar. For Catholics, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the whole Christian life. It is the vital centre of all that the Church is and does, because at its heart is the real presence of the crucified, risen and glorified Lord, continuing and making present his saving work among us.

The altar server brings a tray with the gifts (bread and wine), and Mgr Moger offers the gifts of bread and wine silently; he then washes his hands.

Offertory Hymn

Come, praise the Lord, the almighty,

At the end of the hymn, all stand, and Mgr Moger standing behind the altar says:

Mgr Moger: Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may 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.

PRAYER OVER THE OFFERINGS standing behind the altar:

Mgr Moger:
Sanctify by the invocation of your name,
we pray, O Lord our God,
this oblation of our service,
and by it make of us an eternal offering to you.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.

Frs Timothy Swinglehurst and Matthew Habron step forward from their places and stands near the altar.  Mgr Moger then sings the Preface standing behind the altar:

Mgr Moger: The Lord be with you.
All:  And with your spirit.
Mgr Moger: Lift up your hearts.
All:  We lift them up to the Lord.
Mgr Moger:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All:  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.
For with your Only Begotten Son and the Holy Spirit
you are one God, one Lord:
not in the unity of a single person,
but in a Trinity of one substance.
For what you have revealed to us of your glory
we believe equally of your Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
so that, in the confessing of the true and eternal Godhead,
you might be adored in what is proper to each Person,
their unity in substance,
and their equality in majesty.
For this is praised by Angels and Archangels,
Cherubim, too, and Seraphim,
who never cease to cry out each day,
as with one voice they acclaim:

The Sanctus is sung by the choir:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dóminus Deus Sábaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra glória tua.
Hosánna in excélsis.
Benedíctus qui venit in nómine Dómini.
Hosánna in excélsis.

At the end of the Sanctus, the congregation kneels.

Mgr Moger alone recites:
You are indeed Holy, O Lord,
the fount of all holiness.

Mgr Moger who continues aloud, is joined by Frs Timothy Swinglehurst
and Matthew Habron who speak quietly.  As Mgr Moger and Frs Timothy
Swinglehurst stretch out their hands over the gifts, the altar server rings a bell. 

Make holy, therefore, these gifts, we pray,
by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall,
so that they may become for us
the Body and ✠ Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the time he was betrayed
and entered willingly into his Passion,
he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it,
and 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.

As the Host is elevated, the altar server rings a bell.  Mgr Moger genuflects
and continues aloud, with Frs Timothy Swinglehurst and Matthew
Habron who speak quietly:

In a similar way, when supper was ended,
he took the chalice
and, once more giving thanks,
he gave it 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.
As the Chalice is elevated, the altar server rings a bell.  Mgr Moger
genuflects and continues, by singing: The mystery of faith.

The people continue, singing:

All: Save us, Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection, you have set us free.

Mgr Moger continues aloud, with Frs Timothy Swinglehurst and Matthew
Habron who speak quietly:

Therefore, as we celebrate
the memorial of his Death and Resurrection,
we offer you, Lord,
the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation,
giving thanks that you have held us worthy
to be in your presence and minister to you.
Humbly we pray
that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ,
we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

Fr T Swinglehurst steps forward and continues alone, by saying aloud:
Remember, Lord, your Church,
spread throughout the world,
and bring her to the fullness of charity,
together with Francis our Pope, Marcus our Bishop,
and all the clergy.

Fr M Habron steps forward and continues alone, by saying aloud:
Remember also our brothers and sisters
who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection,
and all who have died in your mercy:
welcome them into the light of your face.
Have mercy on us all, we pray,
that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God,
with blessed Joseph, her Spouse,
with the blessed Apostles,
and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages,
we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life,
and may praise and glorify you
through your Son, Jesus Christ.

Mgr Moger sings aloud, with Frs Timothy Swinglehurst and Matthew
Habron who sing quietly:
Through him, and with him, and in him,
O God, almighty Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours,
for ever and ever. All: Amen.

The congregation stands.

THE COMMUNION RITE
THE LORD’S PRAYER from behind the altar, Mgr Moger says:
At the Saviour’s command
and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
Together with the people, Mgr Moger continues:
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.
Mgr Moger alone continues, saying:
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.

All: For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours
now and for ever.

Mgr Moger alone says aloud:
Lord Jesus Christ,
who 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 for ever and ever.
All: Amen.

Mgr Moger: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
All: And with your spirit.

Deacon Joe Cortis: Let us offer each other the sign of peace.

Mgr Moger offers the sign of peace to Deacon Joe Cortis, Frs Timothy
Swinglehurst and Matthew Habron and the altar server, Darren Jones,
saying audily on mic, “Peace be with you”, the response being “And with
your spirit”.

The Agnus Dei is sung by the choir:
AGNUS DEI        
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi: miserére nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi: miserére nobis.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccáta mundi: dona nobis pacem.

INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION from behind the altar, Mgr Moger holding the broken Host over the Chalice, says:

Mgr Moger: 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 (together with Mgr Moger): Lord, I am not worthy that you
should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall
be healed.
Mgr Moger receives the Body and Blood of Christ.  As Mgr Moger drinks
from the Chalice, the altar server rings a bell. 
Mgr Moger then distributes Holy Communion to Deacon Joe Cortis and
the altar server, Darren Jones, saying, audibly on mic: The Body of Christ.
Fr Matthew Habron distributes the Chalice by saying, audibly on mic:
The Blood of Christ.  This takes place on the sanctuary.

The Choir then begins the motet,

AVE VERUM, DUGGAN

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION at the Chair (north side of the sanctuary)

As the motet ends, Mgr Moger says: Let us pray. The congregation stands. Mgr Moger continues:

May receiving this Sacrament, O Lord our God,
bring us health of body and soul,
as we confess your eternal holy Trinity and
undivided Unity.
Through Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
THE CONCLUDING RITES at the Chair (north side of the sanctuary)
FAREWELL
Mgr Moger says:
Thank you for joining us at Leeds Cathedral for Mass on Trinity Sunday.  May we all rejoice in the God who is above us, walks beside us and dwells within us.

BLESSING AND DISMISSAL

Mgr Moger: The Lord be with you. 
All:         And with your spirit.

Mgr Moger:  May the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son  and the Holy Spirit + come down on you, all those you love    
  and remain with you for ever. 
All:    Amen.

Deacon Joe Cortis sings the following words: Ite missa est.
All:              Deo gratias.

Mgr Moger, Deacon Joe Cortis, Frs Timothy Swinglehurst and Matthew Habron and altar server, remain on the sanctuary.  The Congregation and Choir remain in their places.  The final hymn begins:
Hymn
Firmly I believe and truly

ORGAN VOLUNTARY