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

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
And impart to us, here dwelling,
Grace and mercy all around.
Jesus, source of all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love you share;
Grant us many choicest blessings,
Keep us in your loving care.

Come, O source of inspiration
Pure and spotless let us be:
Let us see your true salvation,
Perfect in accord with thee.
Praising Father for all glory
With the Spirit and the Son;
Everlasting thanks we give thee,
Undivided, love, in one.
Text: Charles Wesley


PSALMODY

Antiphon 1: See how glorious he is, coming forth as Savior of all peoples!

The Lord's revelation to my Master:
"Sit on my right:
your foes I will put beneath your feet."
The Lord will yield from Zion
your scepter of power:
rule in the midst of all your foes.

A prince from the day of your birth
on the holy mountains;
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.

The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change.
"You are a priest for ever,
a priest like Melchizedeck of old."

The Master standing at your right hand
will shatter kings in the day of his wrath.

He shall drink from the stream by the wayside
and therefore he shall lift up his head. Glory...

Psalm Prayer: Almighty God, bring the kingdom of Christ, your anointed one, to its fullness. May the perfect offering of your Son, eternal priest of the new Jerusalem, be offered in every place to your name, and make all nations a holy people for you.

Antiphon 1 See how glorious he is, coming forth as Savior of all peoples!


Antiphon 2 Crooked paths will be straightened, and rough ways made smooth. Come, O Lord, do not delay, alleluia.

Happy the man who fears the Lord,
who take delight in all his commands.
His sons shall be powerful on earth;
the children of the upright are blessed.

Riches and wealth are in his house;
his justice stands firm for ever.
He is a light in the darkness for the upright:
he is generous, merciful and just.

The good man takes pity and lends,
he conducts his affairs with honor.
The just man will never waver:
he will be remembered for ever.

He has no fear of evil news;
with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.
With a steadfast heart he will not fear;
he will see the downfall of his foes.

Open-handed, he gives to the poor;
his justice stands firm for ever.
His head will be raised in glory.

The wicked man sees and is angry,
grinds his teeth and fades away;
the desire of the wicked leads to doom.  Glory...

Alleluia.
Salvation, glory, and power to our God:
(Alleluia.)
his judgments are honest and true.
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
Sing praise to our God, all you his servants,
(Alleluia.)
all who worship him reverently, great and small.
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
The Lord our all-powerful God is King;
(Alleluia.)
Let us rejoice, sing praise, and give him glory.
Alleluia (alleluia).

Alleluia.
The wedding feast of the Lamb has begun,
(Alleluia.)
and his bride is prepared to welcome him.
Alleluia (alleluia). Glory...

Antiphon 3 Ever wider will his kingdom spread, eternally at peace, alleluia.


READING      Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.


RESPONSORY
Lord, show us your mercy and love.
 - Lord, show us your mercy and love.
And grant us your salvation,
 - your mercy and love.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
 - Lord, show us your mercy and love.


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: Blessed are you, O Virgin Mary, for your great faith; all that the Lord promised you will come to pass through you, alleluia.


INTERCESSIONS
To Christ the Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, let us pray with joyful hearts:

                           Come, Lord Jesus!

Lord Jesus, in the mystery of your incarnation you revealed your glory to the world,
 - give us new life by your coming.

You have taken our weakness upon yourself,
 - grant us your mercy.

You redeemed the world from sin by your first coming in humility,
 - free us from all guilt when you come again in glory.

You live and rule over all,
 - in your goodness bring us to our eternal inheritance.

You sit at the right hand of the Father,
 - gladden the souls of the dead with your light.


Our Father...


COLLECT
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord,
your grace into our hearts,
that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son
was made known by the message of an Angel,
may by his Passion and Cross
be brought to the glory of his Resurrection.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.


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