It is fitting to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation, to be reconciled with God and the Church community before entering the sacred time of the Easter Triduum. Reconciliation services are one way to celebrate God’s mercy and forgiveness and to ask forgiveness of one another. This prayer celebration can serve as preparation.

See Liturgical Calendar–Seasons–Holy Week for additional background information and prayer.


"Following God’s Commandments" Prayer Celebration Notes

Focus		Examination of conscience using the Ten Commandments
Materials		Prayer table, Bible, candle, music
Music		"Hold Us in Your Mercy," "With Hope and Healing" (Meditation), Blest Are We CD 7 & 8; "Be With Me, Lord," Michael Joncas (OCP Publications); "Eye Has Not Seen," Marty Haugen (GIA Publications)
Reading		Luke 6:27-36
Preparation		Before the celebration, review the Ten Commandments with your group. Select a leader, a reader to announce each commandment, and another person to read the questions that follow each commandment. Print out and photocopy "Following God’s Commandments" for each participant.
Adaptation		Have participants work in small groups to write prayers of petition based on each of the Ten Commandments. These can be read after the Examination of Conscience questions in place of the group response.
Additional Materials		For a full year of liturgies, from which this one was adapted, see Prayer Celebrations, Middle School Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0–382–30570–1 Used as a resource for this liturgy, see also Jesus Did Not Celebrate Christmas – A Guide for Christians to Jewish Holidays Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-9709574-0-8 Blest Are We CD, Level/Grade 7-8 Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36394-9 Blest Are We Song Book for Grades 1-8, School Edition Words and melody for students; contains music for grades 1-6 (school) and 7-8 (parish and school) Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36617-4 Blest Are We Accompaniment Book for Grades 1-8, School Edition Contains accompaniment music for grades 1-6 (school) and 7-8 (parish and school) Call RCL Benziger at 1-877-ASK-4-RCL (1-877-275-4725). ORDER NUMBER: 0-382-36618-2