Sample Format for a Eucharistic Vigil

 Goal: an opportunity to pray and reflect on the Eucharist as this great sacrament emerges across salvation history and is today the source and summit of the Christian life.  This liturgy may be led by a priest, deacon or trained lay minister.  This Sample Liturgy is given as an example and may be modified to meet the needs of the parish and the gathered community.  Use a full complement of liturgical ministries: music ministers, lectors, greeters, ushers, servers, etc.

Opening Hymn: Choose a familiar hymn that has a eucharistic theme

Opening Prayer:

God, in your abundant kindness, you have always sustained your people on their journey to their heavenly hope. Guide us in our prayer and reflection to know more clearly how we have come to be nourished and sustained by the Eucharist of your son, Jesus Christ, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen

Readings from Scripture

NOTE: With each passage read, the leader of prayer could offer some words of explanation and witness. There ought to be silent time between the passages as well. a/ “Out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food…” Genesis 2:9

From the creation of the world, God has given us food to eat. b/ “And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said, ‘Blessed be Abram by God Most High, maker of heaven and earth…” Genesis 14:18-19

God blessed Abraham, our father in faith, as the priest Melchizedek offers bread and wine prefiguring the Eucharist. c/ “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day.” Exodus 16:4 Archdiocese of Chicago Strategic Pastoral Plan: Reflect Christ’s Light Year of Sacraments

1 God nourishes his people who journey to freedom by feeding them with bread from heaven. He gives them each day their daily bread. d/ “Wisdom has built her house…she calls from the highest places in the town…’Come, eat my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight.’” (Wisdom 9:1, 3, 5-6)

The bread that God gives his people not only sustains the body, it is the bread of wisdom. God’s bread nourishes our spirit and enables us to walk the right path. e/ “As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.’ But he answered them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said to him, ‘Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?’ And he said to them, ‘How many loaves have you? Go and see.’ When they had found out, they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’ Then he ordered the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.” (Mark 6:34-44)

In his great compassion the Lord Jesus feeds his people. He not only feeds them with enough, but abundantly. He sustains his people so that they can journey with him and hear his word and be his followers. f/ “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.” (John 6:54-57)

The bread that Jesus gives us is his flesh that not only sustains us in this life but brings us to eternal life, the fullness of life and union in him with the Father and the Holy Spirit. g/ “For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you Archdiocese of Chicago Strategic Pastoral Plan: Reflect Christ’s Light Year of Sacraments

2 drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

The bread that the Lord gives us leads us and sustains us into the future, until he comes again. It is the bread of hope that enables us to continue the journey.

After a final period of silence, the leader invites all to stand for the hymn.

A Eucharistic Hymn

Choose a piece from the parish’s repertoire.

Prayers of Intercession

Include intercessions for the Church, for the world, for those who are preparing for First Eucharist, for the needs of the parish community.

The Lord’s Prayer

Concluding Prayer and Blessing

Prayer texts might be taken from Chapter III of Holy Communion and Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass.

Archdiocese of Chicago Strategic Pastoral Plan: Reflect Christ’s Light Year of Sacraments