God, come to my assistance.
 - Lord, make haste to help me.
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. (Alleluia.)


HYMN

Father we thank Thee who has planted
Thy holy name within our hearts.
Knowledge and faith and life immortal
Jesus The Son to us imparts.
Thou, Lord, didst make all for Thy pleasure,
Didst give man food for all his days,
Giving in Christ the bread eternal;
Thine is the power, be Thine the praise.

Watch o'er Thy Church, O Lord, in mercy,
Save it from evil, guard it still,
Perfect it in Thy love, unite it,
Cleansed and conformed unto Thy will.
As grain, once scattered on the hillsides,
Was in the broken bread made one,
So from all lands Thy Church be gathered
Into Thy kingdom by Thy Son.
Text: F. Bland Tucker; Melody: Rendez a Dieu; Midi: Cyberhymnal


PSALMODY

Antiphon 1: Lord, keep my soul from death; never let me stumble.

I love the Lord for he has heard
the cry of my appeal;
for he turned his ear to me
in the day when I called him.

They surrounded me, the snares of death,
with the anguish of the tomb;
they caught me, sorrow and distress.
I called on the Lord's name.

O Lord, my God, deliver me!

How gracious is the Lord, and just;
our God has compassion.
The Lord protects the simple hearts;
I was helpless so he saved me.

Turn back, my soul, to your rest
for the Lord has been good;
he has kept my soul from death,
my eyes from tears
and my feet from stumbling.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord
in the land of the living. Glory...

Psalm Prayer:God of power and mercy, through your Son's passion and resurrection you have freed us from the bonds of death and the anguish of separation from you. Be ever with us on our pilgrimage; then we shall sing rather than weep. Keep our feet from stumbling, so that we may be able to follow you until we come to eternal rest.

Antiphon 1 Lord, keep my soul from death; never let me stumble.


Antiphon 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth

I lift up my eyes to the mountains;
from where shall come my help?
My help shall come from the Lord
who made heaven and earth.

May he never allow you to stumble!
Let him sleep not, your guard.
No, he sleeps not nor slumbers,
Israel's guard.

The Lord is your guard and your shade;
at your right side he stands.
By day the sun shall not smite you
nor the moon in the night.

The Lord will guard you from evil,
he will guard your soul.
The Lord will guard your going and coming
both now and for ever. Glory...

Antiphon 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.


Antiphon 3 King of all the ages, your ways are perfect and true.

Mighty and wonderful are your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Righteous and true are your ways,
O King of the nations!

Who would dare refuse you honor,
or the glory due your name, O Lord?

Since you alone are holy,
all nations shall come
and worship in your presence.
Your mighty deeds are clearly seen. Glory...

Antiphon 3 King of all the ages, your ways are perfect and true.


READING      2 Peter 3:8b-9
In the Lord’s eyes, one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years are as a day. The Lord does not delay in keeping his promise – though some consider it delay.� Rather, he shows you generous patience, since he wants none to perish but all to come to repentance.


RESPONSORY
Come and set us free, Lord God of power and might.
 - Come and set us free, Lord God of power and might.
Let your face shine upon us and we shall be saved,
 - Lord God of power and might.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
 - Come and set us free, Lord God of power and might.


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: Rejoicing you shall draw water from the wellsprings of the Saviour.


INTERCESSIONS
To our Redeemer who came to bring good news to the poor, let us earnestly pray:

     Let all people see your glory!

Show yourself to those who have never known you;
 - let them see your saving work.

Let your name be preached to the ends of the earth,
 - that all may find the way to you.

You came first to save the world;
 - now come again and save those who believe in you.

You brought freedom to us by saving us;
 - continue to save us and make us free.

You came once as a man; you will return in judgment;
 - bring eternal reward to those who have died.


Our Father...


COLLECT
Grant that your people, we pray, almighty God,
may be ever watchful
for the coming of your Only Begotten Son,
that, as the author of our salvation himself has taught us,
we may hasten, alert and with lighted lamps,
to meet him when he comes.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.


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


The English translation of Psalm Responses, Alleluia Verses, Gospel Verses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); the English translation of Antiphons, Invitatories, Responsories, Intercessions, Psalm 95, the Canticle of the Lamb, Psalm Prayers, Non-Biblical Readings from The Liturgy of the Hours © 1973, 1974, 1975, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission.