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
Day is done, but love unfailing dwells ever here
Shadows fall, but hope, prevailing,
calms every fear.
Loving Father, none forsaking,
take our hearts of Love’s own making
Watch our sleeping, guard our waking,
be always near.
Dusk descends, but light unending
shines through our night
You are with us, ever lending
new strength to sight
One in love, your truth confessing
one in hope of heaven’s blessing
May we see, in love’s possessing
love’s endless light!
Eyes will close, but you unsleeping
watch by our side
Death may come, in love’s safekeeping
still we abide
God of love, all evil quelling
sin forgiving, fear dispelling
Stay with us, our hearts indwelling
this eventide.
PSALMODY
Antiphon 1:Do not let your hearts be troubled; have faith in me, alleluia.
Psalm 62
In God alone is my soul at rest;
my help comes from him.
He alone is my rock, my stronghold,
my fortress; I stand firm.
How long will you all attack one man
to break him down,
as though he were a tottering wall,
or a tumbling fence?
Their plan is only to destroy;
they take pleasure in lies.
With their mouth they utter blessing
but in their heart they curse.
In God alone be at rest, my soul;
for my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock, my stronghold,
my fortress; I stand firm.
In God is my safety and glory,
the rock of my strength.
Take refuge in God, all you people.
Trust him at all times.
Pour out your hearts before him
for God is our refuge.
Common folk are only a breath,
great men an illusion.
Placed in the scales, they rise;
they weigh less than a breath.
Do not put your trust in oppression
nor vain hopes on plunder.
Do not set your heart on riches
even when they increase.
For God has said only one thing;
only two do I know:
that to God alone belongs power
and to you, Lord, love;
and that you repay each man
according to his deeds. Glory…
Psalm Prayer: Lord God, you reward each one according to his works. Hear us as we pour out our hearts to you seeking your grace and secure protection. We look to you for our stable hope in a constantly, changing world.
Antiphon 1: Do not let your hearts be troubled; have faith in me, alleluia.
Antiphon 2: Let the peoples praise you, Lord God; let them rejoice in your salvation, alleluia.
Psalm 67
O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples,
you guide the nations on earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has yielded its fruit
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing
till the ends of the earth revere him. Glory…
Psalm Prayer: Be gracious and bless us, Lord, and let your face shed its light on us, so that we can make you known with reverence: and bring forth a harvest of justice.
Antiphon 2: Let the peoples praise you, Lord God; let them rejoice in your salvation, alleluia.
.Antiphon 3: His glory covers the heavens and his praise fills the earth, alleluia..
Canticle – Colossians 1:12-20
Let us give thanks to the Father
for having made you worthy
to share the lot of the saints
in light.
He rescued us
from the power of darkness
and brought us
into the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Through him we have redemption,
the forgiveness of our sins.
He is the image of the invisible God,
the first-born of all creatures.
In him everything in heaven and on earth was created,
things visible and invisible.
All were created through him;
all were created for him.
He is before all else that is.
In him everything continues in being.
In him everything continues in being.
It is he who is head of the body, the church;
he who is the beginning,
the first-born of the dead,
so that primacy may be his in everything.
It pleased God to make absolute fullness reside in him
and, by means of him, to reconcile everything in his person,
both on earth and in the heavens,
making peace through the blood of his cross. Glory…
Antiphon 3: His glory covers the heavens and his praise fills the earth, alleluia.
OPENING PRAYER (stand)
All sit for the Liturgy of the Word.
After the Homily:
INTERCESSIONS
In his Son, risen from the dead, God has opened for us the way to everlasting life. Let us ask the Father:
Through the victory of Christ, save the people he has redeemed.
God of our fathers, you raised your Son Jesus from the dead and clothed him in glory;
– move our hearts to complete repentance, that we may walk in newness of life.
You have led us back to the shepherd and bishop of our souls,
– keep us faithful under the guidance of the shepherds of the Church.
You chose the firstfruits of Christ’s disciples from the Jewish people,
– reveal to the children of Israel the fulfillment of the promise made to their forefathers.
Remember the lonely, the orphaned and the widowed,
– and do not abandon those who have been reconciled with you by the death of your Son.
You called Stephen to your presence when he bore witness to Jesus, standing at your right hand,
– welcome our deceased brothers and sisters who in faith and love hoped for the vision of your glory.
Presider: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who have been renewed by paschal remedies, transcending the likeness of our earthly parentage, may be transformed in the image of our heavenly maker. 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
MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: The man of God welcomes the light that searches his deeds and finds them true, alleluia.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
my spirit sings to God, my saving God,
who on this day above all others favored me
and raised me up, a light for all to see.
Through me great deeds will God make manifest,
and all the earth will come to call me blest.
Unbounded love and mercy sure will I proclaim
for all who know and praise God´s holy name.
God´s mighty arm, protector of the just,
will guard the weak and raise them from the dust.
But mighty kings will swiftly fall from thrones corrupt.
The strong brought low, the lowly lifted up.
Soon will the poor and hungry of the earth
be richly blest, be given greater worth.
And Israel, as once foretold to Abraham,
will live in peace throughout the promised land.
All glory be to God, Creator blest,
to Jesus Christ, God´s love made manifest,
and to the Holy Spirit, gentle Comforter,
all glory be, both now and ever more.
Antiphon: The man of God welcomes the light that searches his deeds and finds them true, alleluia.