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

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
We Who Once Were Dead
Christ Jesus Lay In Death's Strong Bands
Ad Cenam Agni Providi

Or:


Now fades all earthly splendor,
The shades of night descend;
The dying of the daylight
Foretells creation's end.
Though noon gives place to sunset,
Yet dark gives place to light:
The promise of tomorrow
With dawn's new hope is bright.

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


PSALMODY

Antiphon 1: Whoever is in Christ is a new creature, alleluia.

                 I

O give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love endures for ever.
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his love endures for ever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his love endures for ever;

who alone has wrought marvelous works,
for his love endures for ever;
whose wisdom it was made the skies,
for his love endures for ever;
who fixed the earth firmly on the seas,
for his love endures for ever.

It was he who made the great lights,
for his love endures for ever.
the sun to rule the day,
for his love endures for ever.
the moon and stars in the night;
for his love endures for ever. Glory...

Antiphon 1 Whoever is in Christ is a new creature, alleluia.


Antiphon 2 Let us love God, for he has first loved us, alleluia.

                          II

The first-born of the Egyptians he smote,
for his love endures for ever.
He brought Israel out from their midst,
for his love endures for ever;
arm outstretched, with power in his hand,
for his love endures for ever.

He divided the Red Sea in two,
for his love endures for ever;
he made Israel pass through the midst,
for his love endures for ever;
he flung Pharaoh and his force in the sea,
for his love endures for ever.

Through the desert his people he led,
for his love endures for ever.
Nations in their greatness he struck,
for his love endures for ever.
Kings in their splendor he slew,
for his love endures for ever.

Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his love endures for ever;
and Og, the king of Bashan,
for his love endures for ever.

He let Israel inherit their land,
for his love endures for ever.
On his servant their land he bestowed,
for his love endures for ever.
He remembered us in our distress,
for his love endures for ever.
 
And he snatched us away from our foes,
for his love endures for ever;
He gives food to all living things,
for his love endures for ever;
To the God of heaven give thanks,
for his love endures for ever. Glory...

Antiphon 2 Let us love God, for he has first loved us, alleluia.


Antiphon 3 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace, alleluia.

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 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace, alleluia.


READING      Hebrews 8:1b-3a
We have such a high priest, who has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle that the Lord, not man, set up. Now every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices.


RESPONSORY
The disciples rejoiced, alleluia, alleluia.
 - The disciples rejoiced, alleluia, alleluia.
When they saw the risen Lord,
 - alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
 - The disciples rejoiced, alleluia, alleluia.


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: I have other sheep that do not belong to this flock; these also I must lead. They will hear my voice, and there will be one fold and one Shepherd, alleluia.


INTERCESSIONS
Let us pray to Christ the Lord, who bathed the world in glory through his resurrection.  With joyful hearts, let us say:

                     Christ, our life, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ, you walked with your disciples on the way,
 - be with your Church on its pilgrimage through life.

Do not let us be slow to believe,
 - but ready to proclaim you as victor over death.

Look with kindness on those who do not recognize your presence,
 - reveal yourself to them, that they may welcome you as savior.

Through the cross you have brought reconciliation to mankind in your body,
 - grant unity and peace to all nations.

Judge of the living and the dead,
 - Forgive the sins of the faithful departed.


Our Father...


COLLECT
O God, perfect light of the blessed,
by whose gift we celebrate the paschal mysteries on earth,
bring us, we pray,
to rejoice in the full measure of your grace
for ages unending.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
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.