Celebrating the Mass Lesson- Lamb of God

(This lesson is in accordance with the new Roman Missal that is to be implemented on November 27, 2011.)

*Be sure to adjust this lesson to fit the needs of your students.


(Please take in consideration that I am just a Mom and I'm providing these lessons and activities to the best of my abilities. I will try to make them as accurate as possible, but I know I will make a few mistakes and it was not intentional.)



In the Fraction Rite, the celebrant breaks the consecrated bread as the people sing the Agnus Dei or "Lamb of God." John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29). The action of breaking the bread recalls the actions of Jesus at the Last Supper, when he broke the bread before giving it to his disciples. One of the earliest names for the Eucharistic celebration is the breaking of the bread.

The priest breaks the Eucharistic Bread, assisted, if the case calls for it, by the deacon or a concelebrant. Christ's gesture of breaking bread at the Last Supper, which gave the entire Eucharistic Action its name in apostolic times, signifies that the many faithful are made one body (1 Cor 10:17) by receiving Communion from the one Bread of Life which is Christ, who died and rose for the salvation of the world. The fraction or breaking of bread is begun after the sign of peace and is carried out with proper reverence, though it should not be unnecessarily prolonged, nor should it be accorded undue importance. This rite is reserved to the priest and the deacon.

The priest breaks the Bread and puts a piece of the host into the chalice to signify the unity of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the work of salvation, namely, of the living and glorious Body of Jesus Christ. The supplication Agnus Dei or “Lamb of God”, is, as a rule, sung by the choir or cantor with the congregation responding; or it is, at least, recited aloud. This invocation accompanies the fraction and, for this reason, may be repeated as many times as necessary until the rite has reached its conclusion, the last time ending with the words dona nobis pacem (grant us peace). (General Instruction of the Roman Missal)

Immediately before coming forward to receive the Lord in Holy Communion, we welcome the Lord:

Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.

This prayer quotes the words of the centurion who asked Jesus to cure his servant. He would not presume to ask Jesus to come to his home. He trusted in the authority of Jesus’ healing word, saying: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed” (Mt 8:8; see Lk 7:6-7). This new phrasing reminds us that, in receiving Holy Communion, we are to emulate the centurion’s humility and faith. (stelizabethpf.org)





Then the priest takes the host, breaks it over the paten, and places a small piece in the chalice, saying quietly:

May this mingling of the Body and Blood
of our Lord Jesus Christ
bring eternal life to us who receive it.

Meanwhile the following is sung or said:

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world,
grant us peace.


*The invocation may even be repeated several times if the fraction is prolonged. Only the final time, however, is grant us peace said.

Then the Priest, with hands joined, says quietly:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God,
who by the will of the Father
and the work of the Holy Spirit,
through your Death gave life to the world;
free me by this, your most holy Body and Blood,
from all my sins and from every evil;
keep me always faithful to your commandments,
and never let me be parted from you.

Or:

May the receiving of your Body and Blood,
Lord Jesus Christ,
not bring me to judgment and condemnation,
but through your loving mercy
be for me protection in mind and body,
and a healing remedy.


We kneel while the Priest genuflects, takes the host and, holding it slightly raised above the paten or above the chalice, while facing the people, says aloud:

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.

And together with the people he adds once:

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.


The Priest, facing the altar, says quietly:

May the Body of Christ
keep me safe for eternal life.

And he reverently consumes the Body of Christ.

Then he takes the chalice and says quietly:

May the Blood of Christ
keep me safe for eternal life.

And he reverently consumes the Blood of Christ.



Questions:

Who proclaimed Jesus as "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn 1:29)? (John the Baptist)

What does the action of breaking the bread recall? (The actions of Jesus at the Last Supper, when he broke the bread before giving it to his disciples.)

What do we say after the priest says:

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.

(“Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”)



Lesson:

rcialessons.blogspot.com- Jesus is the Lamb of God



Crafts:

Introduce craft: What is Jesus called during this prayer? (The Lamb of God.)

thehomeschoolvillage.com- Lamb of God craft

dltk-kids.com- Easy Lamb Craft

first-school.ws- Lamb Craft

sweetgrace.typepad.com- BaaBaa Black, Pink, and Blue Sheep? An easy yarn craft (scroll down to the white one with ears)

first-school.ws- Handprint Lamb or Sheep Craft
This is a very easy craft that the youngest child can help with and makes a beautiful keepsake. Template included.

crafty-crafted.com- Sheep Egg

- Sheep Place Card Holder

onelittleproject.com- How to Make Pom Pom Sheep

Rocking Sheep- Tap the sheep very lightly and they will gently rock from side to side. (The Grolier Kids Crafts Craft Book by Cheryl Owen, page 18 & 19).

The Lord is My Shepherd Magnet- A cute sheep magnet out of popsicle sticks. You can omit the other wooden pieces and mini chalkboard in this craft and just use cardboard or construction paper. (Hands On Crafts for Kids 20-Minute Crafts, page 30 & 31).



Games:

Write each of the following words on index cards (one word on each card): Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. Divide the class into groups. Have each group put the response together in the correct order. The first group that puts it together correctly wins.

The Catholic Toolbox- Bible Memory Verse Activities



Puzzles & Worksheets:

These activities below are free, however they can only to be used for classroom and personal use. They may not be published on any websites or other electronic media, or distributed in newsletters, bulletins, or any other form or sold for profit. Reproduction or retransmission of any materials, in whole or in part, in any manner, is not permitted.


Lamb of God (handwriting in print)- Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Lamb of God (worksheet)- Fill in the blanks with the correct word.

Lamb of God (word search)- Find the words that are hidden in the puzzle.

Lamb of God (tile puzzle)- Unscramble the tiles to reveal a message.

Lamb of God (double puzzle)- Unscramble each of the clue words. Copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number.