READING
Isaiah 53:11b-12  

Through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,
  and their guilt he shall bear.
Therefore I will give him his portion among the great,
  and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty,
Because he surrendered himself to death
  and was counted among the wicked;
And he shall take away the sins of many,
  and win pardon for their offenses.

RESPONSORY
God himself will set me free, from the hunters snare.
- God himself will set me free, from the hunters snare.
From those who would trap me with lying words
- and from the hunter's snare.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
- God himself will set me free, from the hunters snare.

BENEDICTUS (Canticle of Zechariah)
Antiphons for Benedictus:
Week 1:   If your virtue does not surpass that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Week 2:   He will bring those evil men to an evil end and entrust his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the harvest at the proper season.
Week 3:   Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?  Jesus said to him: you shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart.
Week 4:   Indeed you know me, says the Lord, and you know where I come from.  Yet I have not come of my own accord; it was my father who sent me.

INTERCESSIONS
Week 1 and 3

Thanks be to Christ the Lord, who brought us life by his death on the cross. With our whole heart let us ask him:

   By your death raise us to life.

Teacher and Savior, you have shown us your fidelity and made us a new creation by your passion,
  - keep us from falling again into sin.
Help us to deny ourselves today,
  - and not deny those in need.
May we receive this day of penance as your gift,
  - and give it back to you through works of mercy.
Master our rebellious hearts,
  - and teach us generosity.

Our Father...

Let us pray to Christ our Savior, who redeemed us by  his death and resurrection:

   Lord, have mercy on us.

You went up to Jerusalem to suffer and so enter into your glory,
 - bring your Church to the Passover feast of heaven.
You were lifted high on the cross and pierced by the soldier's lance,
 - heal our wounds.
You made the cross the tree of life,
 - give its fruit to those reborn in baptism.
On the cross you forgave the repentant thief,
 - forgive us our sins.

Our Father...

Week 1   Lord,
may our observance of Lent
help to renew us and prepare us
to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.

Week 2   Merciful Father,
may our acts of penance bring us to your forgiveness,
open our hearts to your love,
and prepare us for the coming feast of the resurrection.
We ask this...

Week 3   Merciful Father,
fill our hearts with your love
and keep us faithful to the gospel of Christ.
Give us the grace to rise above our human weakness.
Grant this...

Week 4   Father, our source of life,
your know our weakness.
May we reach out with joy to grasp your hand
and walk more readily in your ways.
We ask this...

Reading
Isaiah 55:3

Come to me heedfully,
  listen, that you may have life.
I will renew with you the everlasting covenant,
  the benefits assured to David.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.
 - Renew in me a steadfast spirit.

Antiphon: As I live, says the Lord, I do not wish the sinner to die, but to turn back to me and live.

Reading
Jeremiah 3:12b-14a

Return, says the LORD,
  I will not remain angry with you;
For I am merciful, says the LORD,
  I will not continue my wrath forever.
Return, rebellious children, says the LORD.

Turn away your face from my sins.
 - Blot out all my guilt.

Antiphon: Armed with God's justice and power, let us prove ourselves through patient endurance.

Reading
James 1:27

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

My sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit.
 - A humble contrite heart, O God, you will not spurn.

Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful. My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

RESPONSORY
To you, O Lord, I make my prayer for mercy;  
To you, O Lord, I make my prayer for mercy;
heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
I make my prayer for mercy;
Glory to the Father to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
To you, O Lord, I make my prayer for mercy.  

MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphons on Magnificat:
Week 1:   If you are bringing your gift to the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift in front of the altar; go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift.
Week 2:   They would have arrested Jesus, but they feared the people who regarded him as a prophet.
Week 3:   It is far more important to love your neighbor as yourself than to offer sacrifice.
Week 4:   No one could lay a hand on Jesus, because his time had not yet come.

INTERCESSIONS
Week 1 and 3

The Lord Jesus sanctified his people with his blood.  Let us cry out to him:

   Lord, have mercy on your people.

Loving Redeemer, through your passion teach us self-denial, strengthen us against evil and adversity, and increase our hope,
  - and so make us ready to celebrate your resurrection.
Grant that Christians, as your prophets, may make you known in every place,
  - and bear witness to you with living faith and hope and love.
Give your strength to all in distress,
  - and help us to raise them up through our loving concern.
Teach the faithful to see your passion in their sufferings,
  - and show to others your power to save.
Author of life, remember those who have passed from this world,
  - grant them the glory of your risen life.

Our Father...

The Savior of mankind by dying destroyed death and by rising again restored life.  Let us humbly ask him:

   Sanctify your people, redeemed by your blood.

Redeemer of the world, give us a greater share of your passion through a deeper spirit of repentance,
 - so that we may share the glory of your resurrection.
May your Mother, comfort of the afflicted, protect us,
 - may we console others as you console us.
In their trials enable your faithful people to share in your passion,
 - and so reveal in their lives your saving power.
You humbled yourself by being obedient even to accepting death, death on a cross,
 - give all who serve you the gifts of obedience and patient endurance.
Transform the bodies of the dead to be like your own in glory,
 - and bring us at last into their fellowship.

Our Father...

Week 1   Lord,
may our observance of Lent
help to renew us and prepare us
to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.

Week 2   Merciful Father,
may our acts of penance bring us to your forgiveness,
open our hearts to your love,
and prepare us for the coming feast of the resurrection.
We ask this...

Week 3   Merciful Father,
fill our hearts with your love
and keep us faithful to the gospel of Christ.
Give us the grace to rise above our human weakness.
Grant this...

Week 4   Father, our source of life,
your know our weakness.
May we reach out with joy to grasp your hand
and walk more readily in your ways.
We ask this...