Introductory Rite:
God, come to my assistance R/ Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
R/ as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
1 O God beyond all praising,
We worship you today
And sing the love amazing
That songs cannot repay;
For we can only wonder
At every gift you send,
At blessings without number
And mercies without end:
We lift our hearts before you
And wait upon your word,
We honour and adore you,
Our great and mighty Lord.
2 Then hear, O gracious Saviour,
Accept the love we bring,
That we who know your favour
May serve you as our king;
And whether our tomorrows
Be filled with good or ill,
We′II triumph through our sorrows
And rise to bless you still:
To marvel at your beauty
And glory in your ways,
And make a joyful duty
Our sacrifice of praise.
PSALMODY
Antiphon 1: The holy evangelists searched the wisdom of past ages. Through their gospels they confirmed the words of the prophets, alleluia.
Psalm 63:2-9
O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast. Glory…
Antiphon 1: The holy evangelists searched the wisdom of past ages. Through their gospels they confirmed the words of the prophets, alleluia.
Antiphon 2 : Through the Gospel God called us to believe in the truth and to share the glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ, alleluia.
Canticle – Daniel 3:57-88, 56
Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord. Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord. *
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord. *
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord. *
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.
Every shower and dew, bless the Lord. * All you winds, bless the Lord. Fire and heat, bless the Lord. * Cold and chill, bless the Lord. Dew and rain, bless the Lord. * Frost and chill, bless the Lord. Ice and snow, bless the Lord. * Nights and days, bless the Lord. Light and darkness, bless the Lord. * Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.
Let the earth bless the Lord. * Praise and exalt him above all forever. Mountains and hills, bless the Lord. * Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord. You springs, bless the Lord. *
Seas and rivers, bless the Lord. You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord. * All you birds of the air, bless the Lord. All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord. * You sons of men, bless the Lord.
O Israel, bless the Lord. * Praise and exalt him above all forever. Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord. * Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord. Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord. * Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord. Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord. * Praise and exalt him above all forever.
(Everyone) Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. * Let us praise and exalt him above all forever. Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven. * Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.
Antiphon 2: Through the Gospel God called us to believe in the truth and to share the glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ, alleluia.
Antiphon 3: Many will praise their wisdom; it shall be remembered forever, alleluia.
Psalm 149
Sing a new song to the Lord,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its Maker,
let Zion’s sons exult in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music with timbrel and harp.
For the Lord takes delight in his people.
He crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips
and a two-edged sword in their hand,
to deal out vengeance to the nations
and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained:
this honor is for all his faithful. Glory…
Antiphon 3: Many will praise their wisdom; it shall be remembered forever, alleluia.
Gloria (please stand)
Opening Prayer
All sit for the Liturgy of the Word.
After the Homily:
INTERCESSIONS (Universal Prayer)
Let us sing a song of praise to our Savior, who destroyed the power of death and made clear the path to life and immortality through the Gospel; and let us petition him in humble supplication:
Strengthen your Church in faith and love.
You gave wonderful guidance to your Church through her holy and distinguished teachers,
– may Christians rejoice always in the splendid legacy given to your Church.
When their holy pastors prayed to you, as Moses had done, you forgave the sins of the people,
– through the intercession of these holy pastors continue to sanctify and purify your Church.
You anointed your holy ones in the midst of their brothers and called the Holy Spirit down upon them,
– fill all the leaders of your people with the Holy Spirit.
You yourself are the sole possession of your holy pastors,
– grant that those you have redeemed with your blood may remain in you.
Presider:
Lord God, who chose Saint Luke
to reveal by his preaching and writings
the mystery of your love for the poor,
grant that those who already glory in your name
may persevere as one heart and one soul
and that all nations may merit to see your salvation.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
(All are seated for the Liturgy of the Eucharist)
Lord’s Prayer Pater noster, qui es in cælis Sanctificétur nomen tuum Advéniat regnum tuum Fiat volúntas tua Sicut in cælo et in terra Panem nostrum quotidiánum da nobis hódie Et dimítte nobis débita nostra Sicut et nos dimíttimus debitóribus nostris Et ne nos indúcas in tentatiónem Sed libera nos a malo
After Holy Communion, all stand for the Benedictus.
BENEDICTUS/Canticle of Zachariah Benedictus – Luke 1: 68-79
Antiphon: Saint Luke gave us the gospel message and proclaimed Christ as the dawn from on high.
(While making the Sign of the Cross, we pray the following)
Blest be the God of Israel who comes to set us free
and raises up new hope for us: a Branch for David’s tree.
So have the prophets long declared that with a mighty arm
God would turn back our enemies and all who wish us harm
.
With promised mercy will God still the covenant recall,
the oath once sworn to Abraham from foes to save us all;
that we might worship without fear and offer lives of praise,
in holiness and righteousness to serve God all our days.
My child, as prophet of the Lord you will prepare the way,
to tell God’s people they are saved from sin’s eternal sway.
Then shall God’s mercy from on high shine forth and never cease
to drive away the gloom of death and lead us into peace.
Antiphon: Saint Luke gave us the gospel message and proclaimed Christ as the dawn from on high.
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiæ,
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevæ,
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos
misericordes oculos ad nos converte;
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria.