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Catholic Diocese of Richmond | OHM | 2016 | www.richmonddiocese.org/hispanic

Among several Spanish-speaking countries and among many Hispanics in the United States
there is the custom of celebrating the passage from childhood to adolescence with a ritual that
expresses thanksgiving to God for the gift of life and that asks for a blessing from God for the
years ahead.

The Quince Años celebration is a renewal of baptismal promises and a moment of giving thanks
to God for the gift of life, family, and community. Preparation for this celebration is best
understood as a time of evangelization for the whole family to form and/or renew friendships
between parents and youth, to experience a deeper participation in the life of the community.

Order of Blessing – Anytime or Anyplace

A Formal Blessing by a Priest or Deacon: Loving God,

you created all the people of the world,
and you know each of us by name.
We thank you for N.,
who celebrates p... Quince Años.
Bless N. with your love and friendship
That p... may grow in wisdom, knowledge,
and grace.
May N. love p... family always
and be ever faithful to p... friends.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Adapted from Book of Blessings, chapter 1, XI, p. 107
Copyright 8 1989 by The Order of St. Benedict, Inc. Collegeville, Minnesota. All rights reserved.

N. - insert the name of the honoree

p... - use appropriate pronoun
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Order of Blessing – Liturgy of the Word

GATHERING RITE: Gathering Song with procession of attendants, the honoree, and
the presider (and any other ministers, i.e. the lector, servers)

Opening Prayer

LITURGY OF THE WORD: Reading

Responsorial Psalm
Reading (if desired)
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel and Homily
The Celebration of the Quinceañera

BLESSING: Renewal of Baptismal Promises

Prayer of Blessing over the Honoree (Order of Blessing – Anytime or Anyplace)
Prayer of Dedication by the Honoree (may write own blessing)
General Intercessions
The Lord's Prayer
Closing Prayer
Devotion to Mary

CLOSING RITE: Closing Blessing

Dismissal
Closing Song during Recession of those in entrance procession

Order of Blessing during Mass (Outside of Saturday/Sunday Mass)

ONE HONOREE

GATHERING RITE: Procession during Opening Hymn with servers, attendants

(optional), honoree with parents, minister of the Word, priest

Opening rites (penitential rite, opening prayer)

LITURGY OF THE WORD: Reading

Responsorial Psalm
Reading (if desired)
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel and Homily

BLESSING: Renewal of Baptismal Promises by honoree and all present

Prayer of Blessing over the Honoree (Order of Blessing – Anytime or Anyplace)
Prayer of Dedication by the Honoree (May write your own prayer)
Gifts presented by Padrinos (Godparents)
Blessing of the Gifts
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General Intercessions, including one for the honoree

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST: Presentation and Preparation of the Bread and Wine
Eucharistic Prayer with acclamations sung by all (if possible)
The Lord's Prayer
Sign of Peace
Breaking of the Bread
Communion - The honoree and her parents go first
Prayer after Communion

The Celebration of the Quinceañera

CLOSING RITES: Devotion to Mary

Closing Blessing
Dismissal
Closing song during Recession of those in entrance procession

FOR SEVERAL HONOREES

For brevity, only the differences are noted.

GATHERING RITES: Procession during Opening Hymn with servers, honorees

accompanied by their parents, minister of the Word, priest

BLESSING: Renewal of Baptismal Promises by honorees and all present

Prayer of Blessing over the honorees
Prayer of Dedication by the honorees, said together
Gifts presented by Padrinos (Godparents)
Blessing of the Gifts
General Intercessions, including one for the honorees

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST: Communion - The honorees and their parents go first

CLOSING RITES: Devotion to Mary - The honorees may take

flowers to the Marian shrine. A single rose from each one is appropriate.

Order of Blessing during Saturday and Sunday Mass

The texts of prayers, readings and intercessions are those of the Sunday mass.

The honoree with parents (several honorees with their parents) may be included in the opening
procession. They will sit in front pew(s).

Honorees will be mentioned in the intercessions and may lead the intercessions.
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After Communion the priest will call the honoree(s) forward for a few words of thanksgiving for
their life and faith, congratulations on this occasion, and a special blessing.

The honoree(s) may leave flowers at the Marian shrine, then return to their place.

The final blessing may be directed first to the honorees.

They may be included in the closing procession or not.

The Celebration of the Quinceañera

RITUAL INSIDE MASS (USCCB)

ON THE OCCASION OF ONE OR MORE QUINCE AÑOS CELEBRATIONS

The Rites of Blessing book for inside the Mass: Pages 3-16
The Rites of Blessing book for outside the Mass: Pages 17-32

Depending on the provisions of the rubrics in the Liturgy of the Word, the readings of the day
from the Lectionary for Mass, or from Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, “In
Thanksgiving,” may be used.

The homily follows the Gospel reading. In it, the priest gives an explanation of the grace and
mystery of life based on the sacred texts.

The general intercessions follow, either in the form usual at Mass or in the form given in pages
33-34.

In the Liturgy of the Eucharist the Order of Mass is observed.

Before the final blessing the priest invites the Quinceañera (Quinceañeras) to make an act of
thanksgiving and of a personal commitment to lead a Christian life (may write own prayer).

The priest responds:

N. (N. and N.), may God who has begun this good work in you
bring it to completion.

According to circumstances, the priest, in silence, sprinkles the Quinceañera with holy water.

At this time, the Quinceañera (Quinceañeras) may take a flower or a bouquet of flowers to the
image of the Blessed Mother.

If convenient, the priest invites the baptismal godparents and other couples acting as sponsors
to bring the religious articles to be given to the Quinceañera (Quinceañeras), such as a medal, a
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Bible, a rosary, and other religious objects which have been previously blessed.

Then the baptismal godparents and other couples acting as sponsors give the blessed objects
to the Quinceañera (Quinceañeras).

The Celebration of the Quinceañera

At the end of Mass, the priest blesses the Quinceañera (Quinceañeras), using these or similar
words: Loving God,
you created all the people of the world
and you know each of us by name.
We thank you for N. (these Quinceañeras),
who today celebrates her (their) fifteenth birthday.
Bless her (them) with your love and friendship
that she (they) may grow in wisdom, knowledge, and grace.
May she (they) love her (their) family always
and be faithful to her (their) friends.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Then the priest blesses all present in the usual way.

After the blessing, all may sing a hymn which suitably expresses thanksgiving and joy or they
may sing the song of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Magnificat.

RITUAL OUTSIDE MASS (USCCB)

The present rite may be used by a priest or deacon.

When the community has gathered, a suitable song may be sung. Then the one presiding says:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All make the sign of the cross and reply: Amen.

A priest or deacon greets those present in the following or other suitable words, taken mainly
from sacred Scripture: The grace and peace of God our Father,
who granted us the gift of life
and made us his children through Baptism,
be with you all.

All: And also with you.

The one who presides prepares all present to listen the Word of God:
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We have come together to celebrate the fifteenth birthday of N. (these

Quinceañeras). As we join her (them) in her (their) joy, we join her
(them) also in her (their) gratitude. Let us listen to the Word of God:

READING OF THE WORD OF GOD

Then the Quinceañera (if well prepared, or another person) proclaims the following or another
The Celebration of the Quinceañera

text from Sacred Scripture:

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah: 1:4-10

The word of the Lord came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. “Ah, Lord
God!” I said, “I know not how to speak; I am too young.” But the Lord answered me, say
not, “I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go, whatever I command you,
you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the
Lord. Then the Lord extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my
words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, to root up and to
tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.

The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

The one who presides invites the Quinceañera (Quinceañeras) to make an act of thanksgiving
and of personal commitment to lead a Christian life.

The Quinceañera (Quinceañeras) may do so using these or similar words:

Heavenly Father,
I thank you for the gift of life
for creating me in your image and likeness
and for calling me to be your daughter through baptism.
Thank you for sending your Son Jesus to save me
and your Holy Spirit to sanctify me.
To that which in your goodness and love
you will for me, I say “yes,”
With your grace I commit myself
to serve my brothers and sisters all my life.
Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, I dedicate myself to you.
Since you are my model of faith,
help me to continue learning from you what I need
to be a Christian woman.
Help me to hear the Word of God as you did,
holding it in my heart and loving others,
so that, as I walk with Jesus in this life,
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I may worship Him with you in all eternity.

Amen.

The one who presides responds:

N. (N. and N.), may God who has begun this good work in you bring it to completion.

The Celebration of the Quinceañera

According to circumstances, the one who presides, in silence, sprinkles the Quinceañera with
holy water.

At this time, the Quinceañera (Quinceañeras) may take a flower or a bouquet of flowers to the
image of the Blessed Mother.

If convenient, the one who presides invites the baptismal godparents and other couples acting
as sponsors to bring the religious articles to be given to the Quinceañera (Quinceañeras), such as
a medal, a Bible, a rosary, and other religious objects which have been previously blessed. (This
is optional).

Then the baptismal godparents and other couples acting as sponsors give the objects to the
Quinceañera (Quinceañeras).

The one who presides says these or similar words:

Loving God,
you created all the people of the world
and you know each of us by name.
We thank you for N., (these Quinceañeras),
who today celebrate(s) her (their) fifteenth birthday.
Bless her (them) with your love and friendship
that she (they) may grow in wisdom, knowledge, and grace.
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May she (they) love her (their) family always
and be faithful to her friends.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

The one who presides may invite all present to exchange the sign of peace using these or
similar words:
In the love of Christ,
let us conclude our celebration,
by offering one another a sign of peace.

All make an appropriate sign of peace, according to local custom.

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After the blessing, all may sing a hymn which suitably expresses thanksgiving and joy or they
may sing the song of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Magnificat.

The Celebration of the Quinceañera

http://fwdioc.org/quince-anos-guidelines-english.pdf

http://fwdioc.org/quince-anos-english.pdf

Resources

Fifteen Questions on the Quinceañera by the USCCB: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-

worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/sacramentals-blessings/quinceanera/fifteen-questions-on-
the-quinceanera.cfm

Understanding a Catholic Quinceañera Mass: http://www.quinceanera.com/traditions/preparing-

for-and-understanding-a-quinceanera-mass/

Order the Blessing for the Fifteenth Birthday: http://store.usccb.org/order-for-the-blessing-on-

the-fifteenth-birthday-p/7-024.htm

Optional guidelines and resources for the celebration of the Quince Años:
http://fwdioc.org/quince-anos-guidelines-english.pdf

Optional formation program for Quinceañeras:

https://www.dioceseoftyler.org/uploads/tinymce/faithformation/documents/quinceaneras16-
english.pdf

Bilingual Diocesan Guidelines for Quinceaneras by Bishop Strickland – Diocese of Tyler:

https://www.dioceseoftyler.org/ckfinder/userfiles/files/Quinceanera%20Diocesan%20Guidelines
%20revised%20March%202013.pdf