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.
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:His father and mother were full of wonder at what was said about their child.
Reading - Deuteronomy 5:16
Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord, your God, has commanded you, that you may have a long life and prosperity in the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you.
Responsory:
Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
- Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
You were obedient to Mary and Joseph,
- have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
- Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
Benedictus
Antiphon:Lord, give us light through the example of your family and guide our feet into the way of peace.
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old,
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.
Antiphon:Lord, give us light through the example of your family and guide our feet into the way of peace.
Intercessions
The Son of the living God let himself become the son of a human family. Let us pray to him:
- Lord, you are our example and our saviour.
Jesus, eternal Word of the Father, you made yourself subordinate to Mary and Joseph:
teach us humility.
You are our teacher; your mother treasured your actions and words in her heart:
may we listen to your word and treasure it in pure and virtuous hearts.
You, who shaped the world from nothingness, were known as the son of a shaper of wood:
whatever we make, whatever we do, may we do it with proper care.
Jesus, in the heart of your family you grew up in favour with God and with men:
may we grow up fully in you, for we are the body and you are our Head.
Our Father…
Closing Prayer:
Father,
help us to live as the holy family,
united in respect and love.
Bring us to the joy and peace of your eternal home.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Alternative Prayer:
Father in heaven, creator of all,
You ordered the earth to bring forth life
and crowned its goodness by creating humanity.
In history’s moment when all was ready,
you sent your Son to dwell in time,
obedient to the laws of life in our world.
Teach us the sanctity of human love,
show us the value of family life,
and help us to live in peace with all
that we may share in your life for ever.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
