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: Your sorrow will be turned into joy, alleluia.
Psalm 126
When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,
it seemed like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, on our lips there were songs.
The heathens themselves said: “What marvels
the Lord worked for them!”
What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.
Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage as streams in dry land.
Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.
They go out, they go out, full of tears, carrying seed for the sowing:
they come back, they come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves. Glory…
Psalm Prayer: Lord, you have raised us from the earth; may you let the seeds of justice, which we have sown in tears, grow and increase in your sight. May we reap in joy the harvest we hope for patiently.
Antiphon 1:Your sorrow will be turned into joy, alleluia.
Antiphon 2: Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s, alleluia.
Psalm 127
If the Lord does not build the house,
in vain do its builders labor;
if the Lord does not watch over the city,
in vain does the watchman keep vigil.
In vain is your earlier rising,
your going later to rest,
you who toil for the bread you eat,
when he pours gifts on his beloved while they slumber.
Truly sons are a gift from the Lord,
a blessing, the fruit of the womb.
Indeed the sons of youth
are like arrows in the hand of a warrior.
O the happiness of the man
who has filled his quiver with these arrows!
He will have no cause for shame
when he disputes with his foes in the gateways. Glory…
Psalm Prayer: You command the seed to rise, Lord God, though the farmer is unaware. Grant that those who labor for you may trust not in their own work but in your help. Remembering that the land is brought to flower not with human tears but with those of your Son, may the Church rely only upon your gifts.
Antiphon 2: Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s, alleluia.
.Antiphon 3: From him, through him and in him all things exist; glory to him for ever, alleluia.
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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.
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: From him, through him and in him all things exist; glory to him for ever, alleluia.
OPENING PRAYER (stand)
All sit for the Liturgy of the Word.
After the Homily:
INTERCESSIONS Christ rose from the dead and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Let us pray to him, saying: Lord Jesus, you live for ever: hear our prayer. Lord, remember all who minister in your service: – may their holy lives be an example to your people. Give to those who govern us the spirit of justice and peace, – so that the human family may live in harmony. Guide our days in the way of salvation, – and fill the earth with your plenty for the sake of the needy. Christ our Saviour, light of the world you have called creation from death to life, – may your light shine for ever on our departed brothers and sisters.
Presider:
Be present to your family, O Lord, we pray,
and graciously ensure
those you have endowed with the grace of faith
an eternal share in the Resurrection of your Only Begotten 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: All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I shall not turn away, alleluia.
(Luke 1: Magnificat by Bernadette Farrell)
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 an 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: All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I shall not turn away, alleluia.