Lord, open my lips.
 - And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Antiphon:  Alleluia, come, let us worship Christ the Lord as he ascends into heaven, alleluia.

Come, let us sing to the Lord
and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us.
Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving
and sing joyful songs to the Lord.

Antiphon

The Lord is God, the mighty God,
the great king over all the gods.
He holds in his hands the depths of the earth
and the highest mountains as well.
He made the sea; it belongs to him,
the dry land, too, for it was formed by his hands.

Antiphon

Come, then, let us bow down and worship,
bending the knee before the Lord, our maker.
For he is our God and we are his people,
the flock he shepherds.

Antiphon

Today, listen to the voice of the Lord:
Do not grow stubborn, as your fathers did
in the wilderness,
when at Meriba and Massah
they challenged me and provoked me,
Although they had seen all of my works.

Antiphon

Forty years I endured that generation.
I said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray
and they do not know my ways."
So I swore in my anger,
"They shall not enter into my rest."

Antiphon

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Antiphon

HYMN

Praise him as he mounts the skies, Alleluia!
Christ, the Lord of Paradise! Alleluia!
Cry hosanna in the height, Alleluia!
As he rises out of sight! Alleluia!

Now at last he takes his throne, Alleluia!
From all ages his alone! Alleluia!
With his praise creation rings: Alleluia!
Lord of lords and King of kings! Alleluia!

Hands and feet and side reveal, Alleluia!
Wounds of love, high priesthood’s seal! Alleluia!
Advocate, for us he pleads; Alleluia!
Heavenly Priest, he intercedes! Alleluia!

Christians, raise your eyes above! Alleluia!
He will come again in love, Alleluia!
On that great and wondrous day, Alleluia!
When this world will pass away! Alleluia!

At his word new heavens and earth, Alleluia!
Will in glory spring to birth! Alleluia!
Joy of angels, joy of men, Alleluia!
Come, Lord Jesus, come again! Alleluia!

Melody: Llanfair 7.7.7.7 with Alleluias; Music: Robert Williams, c. 1781-1821; Text: James Quinn, S.J., 1968

PSALMODY

Antiphon 1: Men of Galilee, why are you looking up into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up into heaven will return in the same way, alleluia.

Psalm 63:2-9    
Deus, Deus meus

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 your have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.

My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.

Psalm 149    
Cantate Domino

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.

INTERCESSIONS

The Lord has been lifted high above the earth and draws all things to himself. Let us cry out to him in our joy:
                 Lord Jesus, you are the King of glory.

Lord Jesus, King of glory, you were offered once as the victim for sins, and ascended to the right hand of the Father,
 - make perfect for all time those whom you sanctify.

Eternal Priest and minister of the new Covenant, you live for ever to make intercession for us,
 - save the people that prays to you.

You showed yourself alive after your passion and appeared to the disciples for forty days,
 - confirm our faith today.

Today you promised the Spirit to your apostles, to make them your witnesses to the ends of the earth,
 - by the power of the Spirit strengthen our own witness.

Our Father...

PRAYER

God our Father,
make us joyful in the ascension of your Son Jesus Christ.
May we follow him into the new creation,
for his ascension is our glory and our hope.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to
everlasting life. Amen.