BLESSING OF A NEW HOME
P: In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
A: Amen.
P: Peace be with this house and with all who live here.
A: And with your spirit.
P: May the God
whom we glorify with one heart
and voice enable us,
through the Spirit,
to live in harmony as followers of Christ Jesus,
now and for ever.
A: Amen.
P: When Christ took esh
through the Blessed Virgin Mary,
he made his home with us.
Let us now pray
that he will enter this home
and bless it with his presence.
May he always be here among you;
may he nurture your love for each other,
share in your joys,
comfort you in your sorrows.
Inspired by his teachings and example,
seek to make your new home
before all else a dwelling place of love,
diffusing far and wide
the goodness of Christ.
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READING OF THE WORD OF GOD
Brothers and sisters, listen to the words of the holy gospel
according to Luke: (Lk 19:1-9)
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.
A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus;
he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.
He wanted to see who Jesus was,
but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore- g tree to see him,
since Jesus was coming that way.
When Jesus reached the spot,
he looked up and said to him,
“Zacchaeus, come down immediately.
I must stay at your house today.”
So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
All the people saw this and began to mutter,
“He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord,
“Look, Lord! Here
and now I give half of my possessions to the poor,
and if I have cheated anybody out of anything,
I will pay back four times the amount.”
Jesus said to him,
“Today salvation has come to this house,
because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
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Responsorial Psalm
(Psalm 112)
R: Happy are those who fear the Lord.
Happy the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed. R.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house;
his generosity shall endure forever.
He dawns through the darkness,
a light for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just. R.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just man shall be in everlasting remembrance. R.
An evil report he shall not fear;
his heart is rm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast;
he shall not fear till he looks down upon his foes. R.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory. R.
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INTERCESSIONS
P: The Son of God, Lord of heaven and earth,
made his home among us.
With thankfulness and gladness
let us call upon him, saying:
A: Stay with us, Lord.
C: Lord Jesus Christ,
by your life with Mary and Joseph
you sancti ed the life of the home;
dwell with us in our home,
so that we may have you as our guest and honor
you as our Head. For this we pray.
C: In you every dwelling grows into a holy temple;
grant that those who live in this house
may be built up together
into the dwelling place of God in the Holy Spirit.
For this we pray.
C: You taught your followers
to build their houses upon solid rock;
grant that the members of this family
may hold fast to your teachings and, free of all discord,
serve you with their whole heart. For this we pray.
C: You had no place to lay your head,
but in uncomplaining poverty you accepted
the hospitality of your friends;
grant that through our help people
who are homeless may obtain decent housing.
For this we pray.
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PRAYER OF BLESSING
P: Lord,
be close to your servants
who move into this home (today)
and ask for your blessing.
Be their shelter when they are at home,
their companion when they are away,
and their welcome guest when they return.
And at last receive them into the dwelling place
you have prepared for them in your Father's house,
where you live for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
P: Let this water call to mind our baptism into Christ,
who has redeemed us by his death and resurrection.
A: Amen.
CONCLUDING RITE
P: May the peace of Christ rule in our hearts,
and may the word of Christ in all its richness dwell in us,
so that whatever we do in word and in work,
we will do in the name of the Lord.
A: Amen.
P: And may the Almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
A: Amen.
