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.
On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry
Tune
On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry
announces that the Lord is nigh;
awake and hearken, for he brings
glad tidings of the King of kings.
Then cleansed be every breast from sin; make straight the way for God within, prepare we in our hearts a home where such a mighty Guest may come.
For thou art our salvation, Lord,
our refuge and our great reward;
without thy grace we waste away
like flowers that wither and decay.
All praise, eternal Son, to thee,
whose advent doth thy people free;
whom with the Father we adore
and Holy Ghost for evermore.
Text: Charles Coffin, 1736; Melody: Winchester, Hamburg, 1690
PSALMODY
Antiphon 1: Lord, lay your healing hand upon me, for I have sinned.
Happy the man who considers the poor and the weak. The Lord will save him in the day of evil, will guard him, give him life, make him happy in the land and will not give him up to the will of his foes. The Lord will help him on his bed of pain, he will bring him back from sickness to health.
As for me, I said: Lord, have mercy on me, heal my soul for I have sinned against you.” My foes are speaking evil against me. how long before he dies and his name be forgotten? They come to visit me and speak empty words, their hearts full of malice, they spread it abroad.
My enemies whisper together against me.
They all weigh up the evil which is on me.
Some deadly thing has fastened upon him,
he will not rise again from where he lies.
“Thus even my friend, in whom I trusted,
who ate my bread, has turned against me.
But you, O Lord, have mercy on me.
Let me rise once more and I will repay them.
By this I shall know that you are my friend,
if my foes do not shout in triumph over me.
If you uphold me I shall be unharmed
and set in your presence for ever more. Glory…
Psalm Prayer: Lord Jesus, healer of soul and body, You said: Blessed are the merciful, they will obtain mercy. Teach us to come to the aid of the needy in a spirit of love, that we in turn may be received and strengthened by you.
Antiphon 1: Lord, lay your healing hand upon me, for I have sinned.
Antiphon 2. The mighty Lord is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
God is for us a refuge and strength,a helper close at hand, in time of distress,so we shall not fear though the earth should rock,
though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea; even though its waters rage and foam,even though the mountains be shaken by its waves.
The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
The waters of a river give joy to God’s city, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within, it cannot be shaken;
God will help it at the dawning of the day.
Nations are in tumult, kingdoms are shaken: he lifts his voice, the earth shrinks away.
The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Come, consider the works of the Lord, the redoubtable deeds he has done on the earth. He puts an end to wars over all the earth; the bow he breaks, the spear he snaps. He burns the shields with fire. ”Be still and know that I am God, supreme among the nations, supreme on the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Glory…
Psalm Prayer: All-powerful Father, the refuge and strength of your people, you protect in adversity and defend in prosperity those who put their trust in you. May they persevere in seeking your will and find their way to you through obedience.
Antiphon 2 The mighty Lord is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
Antiphon 3 All nations will come and worship before you, O Lord.
Mighty and wonderful are your works, Lord God Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, O King of the nations!
Who would dare refuse you honor, or the glory due your name, O Lord?
Since you alone are holy,
all nations shall come
and worship in your presence.
Your mighty deeds are clearly seen.
Glory…
Antiphon 3 All nations will come and worship before you, O Lord.
READING 2 Peter 3:8b-9
In the Lord’s eyes, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years are as a day. The Lord does not delay in keeping his promise – though some consider it delay. Rather, he shows you generous patience, since he wants none to perish but all to come
RESPONSORY
Come and set us free, Lord God of power and might.
Come and set us free, Lord God of power and might.
Let your face shine upon us and we shall be saved,
Lord God of power and might.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
Come and set us free, Lord God of power and might.
MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: Out of Egypt I have called my Son; he will come to save his people.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory to the Father…
Antiphon: Out of Egypt I have called my Son; he will come to save his people.
INTERCESSIONS
With confidence let us call upon Christ, the shepherd and guardian of our souls:
Lord, have mercy on us.
Good shepherd of God’s flock,
– gather all into your Church.
Lord Jesus, help the shepherds of your pilgrim people,
– until you come again may they zealously feed your flock.
Choose from among us heralds of your word,
– to proclaim your Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Take pity on all who struggle and fall along the way,
– may they find a friend to help them.
Lord’s Prayer
COLLECT
Stir up your power, we pray, O Lord, and come,
that with you to protect us,
we may find rescue
from the pressing dangers of our sins,
and with you to set us free,
we may be found worthy of salvation.
Who live and reign with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Final Blessing and Dismissal