You blessèd souls at rest,
Who ran this earthly race,
And now, from sin released,
Behold the Savior's face;
His praises sound,
As in his sight
With sweet delight
You all abound.

Let us who toil below
Adore our heavenly King
And onward as we go
Our joyful anthem sing;
With one accord
Through good or ill
We praise him still,
Eternal Lord

My soul, now take your part,
Acclaiming in God above,
And with a well-tuned heart
Sing out the songs of love;
Let all your days
Till life shall end
What e’er he send,
Be filled with praise.
Melody: Darwall's 148th, John Darwall, 1789; Text: Richard Baxter 1691


PSALMODY

Antiphon 1: Blessed be the Lord; he has filled his handmaid with his mercy.

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 Blessed be the Lord; he has filled his handmaid with his mercy.


Antiphon 2 Give glory to the Lord, Jerusalem; he has blessed every child within you.

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 The Lord delights in you; you are the joy of his heart.


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
Joy and gladness fill my heart; the Lord has been merciful to me.
-Joy and gladness fill my heart; the Lord has been merciful to me.
He has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
-The Lord has been merciful to me.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
-Joy and gladness fill my heart; the Lord has been merciful to me.


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: Give her the reward of her deeds; they will proclaim her as she enters the gates.

For several holy women:

Antiphon: Praise the holy name of the Lord; the heart that seeks him will rejoice.


INTERCESSIONS
Through the intercession of holy women let us pray for the Church in these words:

                          Be mindful of your Church, Lord

Through all the women martyrs who conquered bodily death by their courage,
 - strengthen your Church in the hour of trial.

Through married women who have advanced in grace by holy matrimony,
 - make the apostolic mission of your Church fruitful.

Through widows who eased their loneliness and sanctified it by prayer and hospitality,
 - help your Church reveal the mystery of your love in the world.

Through mothers who have borne children for the kingdom of God and the human community,
 - help your Church bring all men and women to a rebirth in life and salvation.

Through all your holy women who have been worthy to contemplate the light of your countenance,
 - let the deceased members of your Church exult in that same vision forever.


Our Father...


PRAYER

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

God our Father,
every year you give us joy on this feast of Saint N.
As we honour her memory by this celebration,
may we follow the example of her holy life.
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..

Or:

Lord,
pour upon us the spirit of wisdom and love
with which you filled your servant Saint N.
By serving you as she did,
may we please you by our faith and our actions.
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 women:

All powerful God,
may the prayers of Saints N. and N. bring us help from heaven
as their lives have already given us an example of holiness.
We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

For a religious:

Lord God,
you kept Saint N. faithful to Christ's pattern of poverty and humility.
May her 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.

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 her fellow man the way of salvation.
Inspire us by her 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.


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