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.

HYMN

Holy Week Hymns:
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?
Oh Sacred Head, Surrounded
Vexilla Regis Prodeunt


PSALMODY

Antiphon 1 : He had neither beauty nor majesty, nothing to attract our eyes.

          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 He had neither beauty nor majesty, nothing to attract our eyes.


Antiphon 2 I will entrust all people to his care, for he has given himself up to death for all.

                      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...

Antiphon 2 I will entrust all people to his care, for he has given himself up to death for all.


Antiphon 3 God has blessed us in Christ. Through him, at the cost of his blood, we have been redeemed.

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 has blessed us in Christ. Through him, at the cost of his blood, we have been redeemed.


READING      Romans 5:6-10
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.


RESPONSORY
We worship you, O Christ and we praise you.
- We worship you, O Christ and we praise you.
Because by your cross you have redeemed the world.
- We praise you.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
- We worship you, O Christ and we praise you.


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that all who believe in him may have eternal life.


INTERCESSIONS
The savior of mankind by dying destroyed death and by rising restored life. Let us humbly ask him:

                         Sanctify your people, redeemed by your blood.

Redeemer of the world, give us a greater share of your passion through a deeper spirit of repentance,
 - so that we may share the glory of your resurrection.

May your Mother, comfort of the afflicted, protect us,
 - may we console others as you console us.

Look with love on those who suffer because of our indifference,
 - come to their aid, and turn our uncaring hearts to justice and charity.

You humbled yourself by being obedient even to accepting death, death on a cross,
 - give all who serve you the gifts of obedience and patient endurance.

Transform the bodies of the dead to be like your own in glory,
 - and bring us at last into their fellowship.


Our Father...


COLLECT
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that, though in our weakness we fail,
we may be revived through the Passion of your Only Begotten 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.