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

Crown Him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon His throne:
Hark! how the heav’nly anthem drowns
all music but its own!
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
And hail Him as thy matchless King
thru all eternity.

Crown Him the Lord of lords,
who over all doth reign,
Who once on earth, the incarnate Word,
for ransomed sinners slain,
Now lives in realms of light,
where saints with angels sing
Their songs before Him day and night,
their God, Redeemer, King.

Crown Him the Lord of heav’n:
One with the Father known;
One with the Spirit through Him giv’n
from yonder glorious throne.
To Thee be endless praise,
for Thou for us hast died;
Be Thou, O Lord, thru endless days
adored and magnified.


PSALMODY

Antiphon 1: Day after day I sat teaching you in the temple and you did not lay hands on me. Now you come to scourge me and lead me to the cross.

Psalm 119:105-112

XIV (Nun)A meditation of God's law
This is my commandment, that you should love one another. (John 15:12)

Your word is a lamp for my steps
and a light for my path.
I have sworn and have made up my mind
to obey your decrees.

Lord, I am deeply afflicted;
by your word give me life.
Accept, Lord, the homage of my lips
and teach me your decrees.

Though I carry my life in my hands,
I remember your law.
Though the wicked try to ensnare me,
I do not stray from your precepts.

Your will is my heritage for ever,
the joy of my heart.
I set myself to carry out your statutes in fullness for ever. Glory...

Antiphon 1 Day after day I sat teaching you in the temple and you did not lay hands on me. Now you come to scourge me and lead me to the cross.


Antiphon 2 The Lord God is my help; no shame can harm me.

Psalm 16
The Lord himself is my heritage
The Father raised up Jesus, freeing him from the grip of death (Acts 2:24)

Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
I say to you Lord "You are my God.
My happiness lies in you alone."

You have put into my heart a marvelous love
for the faithful ones who dwell in your land.
Those who choose other gods increase their sorrows.
Never will I offer their offerings of blood.
Never will I take their name upon my lips.

O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup,
it is you yourself who are my prize.
The lot marked out for me is my delight,
welcome indeed the heritage that falls to me!

I will bless you, Lord, you give me counsel,
and even at night direct my heart.
I keep you, Lord, ever in my sight;
since you are at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead,
nor let your beloved know decay.

You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness for ever. Glory...

Antiphon 2 The Lord God is my help; no shame can harm me.


Antiphon 3 The Lord Jesus humbled himself by showing obedience even when this meant death, death on the cross.

Canticle  -  Philippians 2:6-11
Christ, God's holy servant

Though he was in the form of God,
Jesus did not deem equality with God
something to be grasped at.

Rather, he emptied himself
and took the form of a slave,
being born in the likeness of men.

He was known to be of human estate
and it was thus that he humbled himself,
obediently accepting even death,
death on a cross!

Because of this,
God highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
above every other name,  

So that at Jesus' name
every knee must bend
in the heavens, on the earth,
and under the earth,
and every tongue proclaim
to the glory of God the Father:  
JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!   Glory...

Antiphon 3 The Lord Jesus humbled himself by showing obedience even when this meant death, death on the cross.


READING     1 Peter 1:18-21
Realize that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.


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: Praise to our King, the Son of David, the Redeemer of the world; praise to the Savior whose coming had been foretold by the prophets.


INTERCESSIONS
Before his passion, Christ looked out over Jerusalem and wept for it, because it had not recognized the hour of God's visitation. With sorrow for our sins, let us adore him and say:

                Lord have mercy on your people.

You longed to gather to yourself the people of Jerusalem , as the hen gathers her young,
 - teach all people's to recognize the hour of your visitation.

Do not forsake those who have forsaken you,
 - turn our hearts to you and we will return to you, our God.

Through your passion, you gave grace to the world,
 - help us to live always by your spirit, given to us in baptism.

By your passion, help us to deny ourselves
 - and so prepare to celebrate your resurrection.

You reign in the glory of the Father,
 - remember those who have died today.


Our Father...


PRAYER
Almighty and ever-living God,
you have given the human race Jesus Christ our Savior as a model of humility.
He fulfilled your will by becoming man
and giving his life on the cross.
Help us to bear witness to you
by following his example of suffering
and make us worthy to share in his resurrection.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.


Alternative Prayer

Father of light,
in you is found no shadow of change
but only the fullness of life and limitless truth.
Open our hearts to the voice of your Word
and free us from the original darkness
that shadows our vision.
Restore our sight that we may look upon your Son
who calls us to repentance and a change of heart,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.




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