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

Psalm 95 is the traditional Invitatory Psalm. Psalm 24, 67, or 100 may be substituted.

Antiphon: Christ has appeared to us. Come let us adore him.

Psalm 95

Psalm 24

Psalm 67

Psalm 100

I sing the goodness of the Lord,
who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word,
and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,
where’er I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread,
or gaze upon the sky.

There’s not a plant or flower below,
but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee
is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be,
Thou, God art present there.
Words: Isaac Watts


PSALMODY

Antiphon 1: When will I come to the end of my pilgrimage and enter the presence of God?

Psalm 42
Longing for the Lord’s presence in his Temple
Let all who thirst come, let all who desire it drink from the life-giving water (Revelation 22:17).

Like the deer that yearns
for running streams,
so my soul is yearning
for you, my God.

My soul is thirsting for God,
the God of my life;
when can I enter and see
the face of God?

My tears have become my bread,
by night, by day,
as I hear it said all the day long:
Where is your God?

These things will I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I would lead the rejoicing crowd
into the house of God,
amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving,
the throng wild with joy.

Why are you cast down, my soul,
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still,
my savior and my God.

My soul is cast down within me
as I think of you,
from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon,
from the Hill of Mizar.

Deep is calling on deep,
in the roar of waters;
your torrents and all your waves
swept over me.

By day the Lord will send
his loving kindness;
by night I will sing to him,
praise the God of my life.

I will say to God, my rock:
Why have you forgotten me?

With cries that pierce me to the heart,
my enemies revile me,
saying to me all day long:
Where is your God?

Why are you cast down, my soul,
why groan within me?
Hope in God; I will praise him still,
my savior and my God. Glory...

Psalm Prayer: Father in heaven, when your strength takes possession of us we no longer say: Why are you cast down, my soul? So now that the surging waves of your indignation have passed over us, let us feel the healing calm of your forgiveness. Inspire us to yearn for you always, like the deer for running streams, until you satisfy every longing in heaven.

Antiphon 1 When will I come to the end of my pilgrimage and enter the presence of God?


Antiphon 2 Lord, show us the radiance of your mercy.

Canticle  -  Sirach 36:1-5,10,13
Prayer of entreaty for the holy city, Jerusalem
This is eternal life: to know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

Come to our aid, O God of the universe,
and put all the nations in dread of you!
Raise your hand against the heathen,
that they may realize your power.

As you have used us to show them your holiness,
so now use them to show us your glory.
Thus they will know, as we know,
that there is no God but you.

Give new signs and work new wonders;
show forth the splendor of your right hand and arm.

Gather all the tribes of Jacob,
that they may inherit the land as of old,
Show mercy to the people called by your name;
Israel, whom you named your first-born.

Take pity on your holy city,
Jerusalem, your dwelling place.
Fill Zion with your majesty,
your temple with your glory.  Glory...

Antiphon 2 Lord, show us the radiance of your mercy.


Antiphon 3 The vaults of heaven ring with your praise, O Lord.

Psalm 19A
Praise of the Lord, Creator of All
The dawn from on high shall break on us...to guide our feet into the way of peace.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God,
and the firmament shows forth the work of his hands.
Day unto day takes up the story
and night unto night makes known the message.

No speech, no word, no voice is heard
yet their span extends through all the earth,
their words to the utmost bounds of the world.

There he has placed a tent for the sun;
it comes forth like a bridegroom coming from his tent,
rejoices like a champion to run its course.

At the end of the sky is the rising of the sun;
to the furthest end of the sky is its course.
There is nothing concealed from its burning heat. Glory...

Antiphon 3 The vaults of heaven ring with your praise, O Lord.


READING          Isaiah 9:5
A child is born to us, a son is given us;
   upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
   Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.


RESPONSORY
All the kings of the earth will bow down in worship.
    -    All the kings of the earth will bow down in worship.
men and women of every race will serve him.
    -    They will bow down in worship.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
    -    All the kings of the earth will bow down in worship.


BENEDICTUS (Canticle of Zechariah)
Antiphon: The wise men came from the East to adore the Lord in Bethlehem. Opening their treasures, they offered him three precious gifts: Gold for the great king, frankincense for the true God, and myrrh for his burial, alleluia.


INTERCESSIONS
All the ends of the earth have seen Jesus Christ, the saving power of God. Let us praise him and cry out in joy:

                     Glory be to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Redeemer of all, you came to tear down the walls separating Jew from Gentile,
 - root out the prejudices which erode the depths of our humanity.

Through your incarnation and your birth you established your presence among us,
 - teach us to recognize the many forms of your presence in the Church and in one another.

You are the fullest revelation of God to men and women,
 - show us how we can assent to your word with integrity of faith and action.

You are God-with-us, wondrously transforming all creation,
 - let every heart, every voice, every deed throughout the universe now be transformed.


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.