Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
we feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Melody: Sine Nomine 10.10. 10 44; Music Ralph Vaughan Williams; Text: William W. How

Or:


Faith of our fathers! faith and prayer
shall win all nations unto thee;
and through the truth that comes from God,
mankind shall then indeed be free.

Refrain:
Faith of our fathers, holy faith!
We will be true to thee till death.

Faith of our fathers! we will love
both friend and foe in all our strife:
and preach thee, too, as love knows how,
by kindly deeds and virtuous life.

Refrain

Antiphon 1: All you saints, sing praise to our God.

High above all nations is the Lord,
above the heavens his glory.
Who is like the Lord, our God,
who has risen on high to his throne
yet stoops from the heights to look down,
to look down upon heaven and earth?

From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the dungheap he raises the poor
to set them in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
To the childless wife he gives a home
and gladdens her heart with children. Glory...

Antiphon 1 All you saints, sing praise to our God.


Antiphon 2 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for holiness; they will be satisfied.

Put no trust in princes,
In mortal men in whom there is no help.
Take their breath, they return to clay
and their plans that day come to nothing.

He is happy who is helped by Jacob's God,
whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who alone made heaven and earth,
the seas and all they contain.

It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,
who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
the Lord, who sets prisoners free,

the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger
and upholds the widow and orphan.

It is the Lord who loves the just
but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
Zion's God, from age to age. Glory...

Antiphon 2 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for holiness; they will be satisfied.


Antiphon 3 Blessed be God! He has chosen us to live in love, holy and without blemish in his sight.

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

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 Blessed be God! He has chosen us to live in love, holy and without blemish in his sight.


READING     Philippians 3:7-8
Those things I used to consider gain I have now reappraised as loss in the light of Christ. I have come to rate all as loss in the light of the surpassing knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ. For his sake I have forfeited everything; I have accounted all else rubbish so that Christ may be my wealth.


RESPONSORY
The Lord loved him, and shared with him his glory.
 - The Lord loved him, and shared with him his glory.

He wrapped him in a splendid robe,
 - and shared with him his glory.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
 - The Lord loved him, and shared with him his glory.


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: He is like the wise man who built his house upon rock.

For several holy men:

Antiphon: The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those who hope in his mercy.


INTERCESSIONS
Let us pray to the Father, the source of all holiness, and ask him to lead us to holiness of life through the example and intercession of his saints.

                              May we be holy as you are holy.

Holy Father, you want us to be called your sons and truly to be such,
 - grant that your holy Church may proclaim you throughout the world.

Holy Father, you want us to walk worthily and please you in all we do,
 - let us abound in doing good works.

Holy Father, you have reconciled us to yourself through Christ,
 - preserve us in your name so that all may be one.

Holy Father, you have called us to a heavenly banquet,
 - through the bread that came down from heaven make us worthy to grow in perfect love.

Holy Father, forgive the offenses of every sinner,
 - let the dead perceive the light of your countenance.


Our Father...


PRAYER

If there is no proper prayer, one of the following is said:

God our Father,
you alone are holy;
without you, nothing is good.
Trusting in the prayers of Saint N.,
we ask you to help us
to become the holy people you call us to be.
Never let us be found undeserving
of the glory you have prepared for us.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Or:

All powerful God,
Help us who celebrate the memory of Saint N.
to imitate his way of life.
May the example of your saints
be our challenge to live holier lives.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

For several holy men:
Ever-living God,
the signs of your love are manifest
in the honour you give your saints.
May their prayers and their example encourage us
to follow your Son more faithfully.
We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For a religious:
Lord God,
you kept Saint N. faithful to Christ's pattern of poverty and humility.
May his prayers help us to live in fidelity to our calling
and bring us to the perfection you have shown us in your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For one who worked for the underprivileged:
Lord God,
you teach us that the commandments of heaven
are summarized in love of you and of our neighbor.
By following the example of Saint N.
in practicing the works of charity
may we be counted among the blessed in your kingdom.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

For a teacher:
Lord God,
you called Saint N. to serve you in the Church
by teaching his fellow man the way of salvation.
Inspire us by his example:
help us to follow Christ our teacher,
and lead us to our brothers and sisters in heaven.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.


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