The silver notes of morning
Will greet the rising sun,
As once the Easter glory
Shone round the Risen One.
So will the night of dying
Give peace to heaven's day,
And hope of heaven's vision
Will light our pilgrim way.

So will the new creation
Rise from the old reborn
To splendor in Christ's glory
And everlasting morn.
All darkness will be ended
As faith gives place to sight
Of Father, Son and Spirit,
One God, in heaven's light.
Text: James Quinn, SJ; Melody: Ewing 76.76. D


PSALMODY

Antiphon 1: Yours is more than mortal beauty; every word you speak is full of grace.

          I
My heart overflows with noble words.
To the king I must speak the song I have made,
my tongue as nimble as the pen of a scribe.

You are the fairest of the children of men
and graciousness is poured upon your lips:
because God has blessed you for evermore.

O mighty one, gird your sword upon your thigh;
in splendor and state, ride on in triumph
for the cause of truth and goodness and right.

Take aim with your bow in your dread right hand.
Your arrows are sharp, peoples fall beneath you.
The foes of the king fall down and lose heart.

Your throne, O God, shall endure for ever.
A scepter of justice is the scepter of your kingdom.
Your love is for justice; your hatred for evil.

Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness above other kings:
your robes are fragrant with aloes and myrrh.

From the ivory palace you are greeted with music.
The daughters of kings are among your loved ones.
On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir. Glory...

Antiphon 1 Yours is more than mortal beauty; every word you speak is full of grace.


Antiphon 2 The bridegroom is here; go out and welcome him.

                      II
Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words:
forget your own people and your father's house.
So will the king desire your beauty:
He is your lord, pay homage to him.

And the people of Tyre shall come with gifts,
the richest of the people shall seek your favor.
The daughter of the king is clothed with splendor,
her robes embroidered with pearls set in gold.

She is led to the king with her maiden companions.
They are escorted amid gladness and joy;
they pass within the palace of the king.

Sons shall be yours in place of your fathers:
you will make them rulers over all the earth.

May this song make your name for ever remembered.
May the peoples praise you from age to age. Glory...

Praised be the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has bestowed on us in Christ
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

God chose us in him
before the world began
to be holy
and blameless in his sight,
to be full of love.

He predestined us
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ,
such was his will and pleasure,
that all might praise the glorious favor
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.

In him and through his blood,we have been redeemed,
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous
is God’s favor to us.

God has given us the wisdom
to understand fully the mystery,
the plan he was pleased
to decree in Christ.
A plan to be carried out
in Christ, in the fullness of time,
to bring all things into one in him,
in the heavens and on earth.  Glory...

Antiphon 3 God planned in the fullness of time to restore all things in Christ.


READING     2 Peter 1:3-4
The divine power of Christ has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power. Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.


RESPONSORY
All peoples will be blessed in him, men and women of every race.
– All peoples will be blessed in him, men and women of every race.
All nations will acclaim his glory.
– Men and women of every race.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
– All peoples will be blessed in him, men and women of every race.


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: When they saw the star, the Magi were filled with great joy; entering the house, they offer their gifts to the Lord: gold, frankincense and myrrh.


INTERCESSIONS
Blessed be Jesus Christ, the Lord, who has come to bring lightto those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death. With deep faith we beg him:

                                                Christ, Rising Sun, give us your light.

Lord Jesus, at your coming you brought to birth your body, the Church,
- let her be rooted in love and gifted with growth.

You hold heaven and earth in your hands,
- let all peoples and their leaders recognize your royal power.

Through your incarnation you became eternal high priest,
- let all priests be genuine ministers of your saving work.

In the womb of the Virgin Mary, you brought about a mystical union of divinity and humanity,
- bless the virgins consecrated to you, their heavenly Spouse.

You did not create the power of death but you destroyed it by becoming man, - graciously transform the mortality of our deceased brothers and sisters into eternal life.


Our Father...


COLLECT
O God, whose eternal Word adorns the face of the heavens
yet accepted from the Virgin Mary the frailty of our flesh,
grant, we pray,
that he who appeared among us as the splendor of truth
may go forth in the fullness of power
for the redemption of the world.
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.