Celebration

of the
Enthronement
of the Bible

Opening ceremony
for the celebration of the
BIBLE WEEK
A. INTRODUCTORY PART:
1. Opening Hymn and Psalm 24

A procession is formed where a large Bible is carried out by celebrant from the entrance to the church
to a specially prepared throne pulpit where the Bible is left opened. The procession could be
elaborated with other symbols or decoration for the throne according to local customs (a paschal
candle or candles, flowers, incense, etc)

Antiphon: (sung by all)

The King of Glory comes,
The people rejoices;
Open the gates before him,
Lift up your voices

Prayer Leader 1:

The word and all that is in it belong to the Lord;

the earth and all who live in it are his
He built it on the deep waters beneath the earth
and laid its foundations in the ocean depths.

Antiphon: (sung by all) The King of Glory comes,....

Prayer Leader 2;

Who has the right to go up the Lord’s hill?

Who may enter his holy temple?
Those who are pure in act and thought,
who do not worship idols or make false promises.

Antiphon: (sung by all) The King of Glory comes,

Prayer Leader 3;
Fling wide the gates, open ancient doors,
and the great King will come in.
Who is the great King?
He is the Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, victorious in battle.

Antiphon: (sung by all) The King of Glory comes,

Prayer Leader 4:
 Fling wide the gates, open the ancient doors,
and the great King will come in.
Who is this great King?
The triumphant Lord - he is the great King.

Antiphon: (sung by all) The King of Glory comes,

2. Greeting
Celebrant: In the name of the Father...... Amen
The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.

3. Introduction:
My dear brothers and sisters.

We are gathered here to begin the celebration of the Bible Week in our Church Community*
/in our family. This week our focus is on the Word of God, hence it is very fitting that we start with the
celebration of the word of God - the Enthronement of the Bible. Some of you may experience it now
for the first time, yet it is not something new. During the Second Vatican Council, the Bible was
solemnly enthroned every morning at the opening of their sessions. Through this liturgical ceremony
the bishops reminded themselves that they could only effectively PREACH the God News if they first
LISTENED to God’s word.

Our ceremony is simpler, but it conveys the same message. It expresses our awareness that
first we have to LISTEN to the word of God and TREASURE it in our hearts before we can SHARE its
riches with one another. That is why the Bible will remain enthroned and open before our eyes in this
church/(church hall/living room) throughout the seminar to remind us that God is present in his word
and that he wants to speak to us.

*Choose the appropriate formula

Celebrant: Let us pray:

Heavenly Father,
we believe it was you who called us together to this
To listen to your word, to treasure it in our hearts
and to meditate and share it with others during this Bible Week.
We thank you for this opportunity to celebrate
your word enshrined in Sacred Scripture.
We ask you to send us the Holy Spirit
 that he may touch our minds and hearts
that we may discover, understand and live your message for us.
We make this prayer through Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.

B. READINGS
Prayer Leader: Please be seated. We now listen to three short readings. Before each reading there
will be a short commentary. After the reading some moments of silence for personal reflection, then a
song related to the reading.

First Reading:

Commentator; (in these or similar words) Why have we come here? We have come here in the
name of the Lord. In him we are one united as one in his word through his Spirit, through himself who
is in our midst.
Please stand

Reading: Matthew 18:19-20

Silence for personal reflection.

Song: We are one in the Spirit.....

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.

We will work with each other, we will work side by side.

We will work with each other, we will work side by side.
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride.

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come,

And all praise to Christ Jesus, his only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one.
Second Reading;
Commentator:
We have come here to present ourselves to God and to ask him to pour over us his words
the way rain is poured out all over the earth. We have his promise; his word is powerful, his word will
work in us and will not return to God without fruit. (Please remain seated)

Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11.

Silence for personal reflection.

Song: Come to the water (No. 283)

O let all who thirst, And let all who toil,

Let them come to water. Let them come to water.
And let all who have nothing, And let all who are weary ,
Let them come to the Lord: Let them come to the Lord:
Without money, without price. All who labour, without rest
Why should you pay me price, How can your soul find rest,
Except for the Lord? Expect for the Lord?

And let all who seek And let all the poor,
Let them come to water. Let them come to water.
And let all who have nothing, Bring the ones who are laden,
Let them come to the Lord: Bring them to the Lord:
Without money, without strife. Bring the children without might.
Why should you spend your life, Easy the load and light:
Expect for the Lord? Come to the Lord.

Third reading;

Commentator:
We have come here to listen to the Lord and to follow him. His word is light. He himself is
light. He who follows him will not walk in darkness.
Please stand.

Reading: John 8:12

(After the reading a candle is lighted by the reader)

Silence for your personal reflection (Please be seated)

Song: The Light of Christ...

The light of Christ The Light of God has come to us
has come into the world, So that we might have salvation.
The Light of Christ From the darkness of our sins
has come into the world. we walk into glory with Christ Jesus.

All men must be born again God gave up his only Son
To see the Kingdom of God out of love for the world
The water and the Spirit bring S
New life in God’s love. o

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Response to the Word of God; in lieu of a homily

Celebrant: Let us pray:

“Speak, Lord, your servants are listening.

Incline our hearts to the words of your mouth.
May your word descend as the dew in the morning.
Lord, let not Moses speak to us or one of the prophets.
Rather it should be you, yourself, Lord our God,
you who inspire and enlighten all prophets.
I humbly and urgently beg you
in the words of the prophet Samuel,
“Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”
Lord, the prophets speak beautiful words
but if you keep silent they cannot kindle the heart.
They make their word resound
but they cannot impart the spirit.
They proclaim the commandments,
you help us to observe them.
They point out the way
but you give us the strength to walk it
They reach us from outside
but you instruct and enlighten our hearts.
Speak therefore, Lord, your servants are listening.
For you have the words of eternal life.

All glory and honour are yours forever. Amen.

C. PRAYER OF THE FAITHFUL:

Celebrant:

Let us now implore God, our loving father to bestow on us his grace to answer his word in a fitting
manner.

Our response is: LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER.

1. That Pope John Paul II, our bishops, priests and deacons may be guided by God’s Spirit in
communicating his saving message to all: Let us pray to the Lord.

2. That our religious and lay leaders; catechists, teachers, may constantly deepen their
knowledge of the Word of God so as to communicate the Good News more effectively: Let us
 pray to the Lord.

3. That through the celebration of your holy Word throughout this Bible Week we may deepen
our appreciation for the scriptures and make it more relevant in our lives . Let us pray to the
Lord.

4. That we may find in his word our consolation, strength and guidance. Let us pray to the Lord.

5. That we may be generous in doing our best to spread the Good News: Let us pray to the
Lord.

6. Let us pray for our own special intention....

Let us pray to the Lord.

The Lords Prayer: Our Father.....

Celebrant: Let us pray:

Lord Jesus Christ,

Word of God from all eternity,
we praise and worship you for giving us this opportunity
to listen to the message of life and be touched by it.
We praise and thank you too for choosing us
to proclaim and share the riches of the Good News
with our brothers and sisters,
so that we may become a true community
based on your word of life,
you who live and reign with the Father
and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

D. BLESSING
Celebrant: (takes the enthroned Bible from the stand and blesses the people)
“May the word of Christ in all its riches dwell in your hearts so that you may be able to instruct
and admonish each other in all wisdom and joyfully sing praises of God.”
May the almighty and merciful God bless you, the father, Son and Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.
Song: Song of the young prophet

Oh the word of my Lord,

deep within my being.
Oh the word of my Lord,
you have filled my mind.

Before I formed you in the womb,

I knew you through and through.
I chose you to be mine.
Before you left your mother’s side.
I called you my child,
To be my sign.

I know that you are very young, but I will make you strong.
I’ll fill you with my word;
And you will travel through the land, fulfilling my command,
Which you have heard.

And everywhere you are to go,

My hand will follow you,
You will not be alone.
In all the danger that you fear,
You’ll fine me very near, your words my own.

With all my strength you will be filled,

You will destroy and build,
For that is my design.
You will create and over throw, reap harvest, I will sow,
Your word is mine.