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

Lenten Hymns:
Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days
This Is Our Accepted Time
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Attende Domine
Audi, Benigne Conditor
Iesu, Quadragenariae


PSALMODY

Antiphon 1: You cannot serve both God and mammon.

Psalm 49
Emptiness of riches
It is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:23)

                I
Hear this, all you peoples,
give heed, all who dwell in the world,
men both high and low,
rich and poor alike!

My lips will speak words of wisdom.
My heart is full of insight.
I will turn my mind to a parable,
with the harp I will solve my problem.

Why should I fear in evil days
the malice of the foes who surround me,
men who trust in their wealth,
and boast of the vastness of their riches?

For no man buy his own ransom,
or pay a price to God for his life.
The ransom of his soul is beyond him.
He cannot buy life without end,
nor avoid coming to the grave.

He knows that wise men and fools must both perish
and must leave their wealth to others.
Their graves are their homes for ever,
their dwelling place from age to age,
though their names spread wide through the land.

In his riches, man lacks wisdom;
he is like the beasts that are destroyed. Glory...

Antiphon 1 You cannot serve both God and mammon.


Antiphon 2 Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, says the Lord.

                         II
This is the lot of those who trust in themselves,
who have others in their beck and call.
Like sheep they are driven to the grave,
where death shall be their shepherd
and the just shall become their rulers.

With the morning their outward show vanishes
and the grave becomes their home.
But God will ransom me from death
and take my soul to himself.

Then do not fear when a man grows rich,
when the glory of his house increases.
He takes nothing with him when he dies,
his glory does not follow him below.

Though he flattered himself while he lived:
Men will praise me for all my success,
yet he will go to join his fathers,
and will never see the light any more.

In his riches, man lacks wisdom;
he is like the beasts that are destroyed. Glory...

Antiphon 2 Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, says the Lord.


Antiphon 3 Adoration and glory belong by right to the Lamb that was slain.

Worthy are you, Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power,

For you created all things;
by your will they came to be and were created.

Worthy are you, O Lord,
to receive the scroll and to break open its seals.

For you were slain;
with your blood you purchased for God
those from every tribe and tongue,
of every people and nation.

You made them a kingdom
and priests to serve our God,
and they shall reign on earth.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power and riches,
wisdom and strength,
honor and glory and blessing. Glory...

Antiphon 3 Adoration and glory belong by right to the Lamb that was slain.


READING           James 2:14,17,18b
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.


RESPONSORY
To you, O Lord, I make my prayer for mercy;  
- To you, O Lord, I make my prayer for mercy;
heal my soul, for I have sinned against you.
- I make my prayer for mercy;
Glory to the Father to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
- To you, O Lord, I make my prayer for mercy.  


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: You are all brothers, sons of one Father who is in heaven. Do not call anyone on earth your father. Nor must any of you be called a teacher, for your only teacher is Christ.


INTERCESSIONS
Let us praise the Lord Jesus, who, lifted high on the cross, drew all things to himself.  With loving hearts let us pray:

                     Draw all things to yourself, O Lord.

Lord, may the mystery of your cross shine on all mankind,
 - that all may see you as the way, the truth and the life.

May all who thirst for you, the living water,
 - drink their fill for ever.

Inspire all teachers and artists,
 - to prepare mankind for your kingdom.

Guide all estranged from you by sin or scandal,
 - that they may come back to you, and remain always in your love.

Welcome all our deceased brothers and sisters to your home in heaven,
 - to share the joy of the blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints.


Our Father...


COLLECT
Guard your Church, we pray, O Lord, in your unceasing mercy,
and, since without you mortal humanity is sure to fall,
may we be kept by your constant helps from all harm
and directed to all that brings salvation.
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.