Lord, open my lips.
 - And my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Psalm 95 is the traditional Invitatory Psalm. Psalm 24, 67, or 100 may be substituted.

Antiphon: Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.

or:

Antiphon: Today if you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts.

Psalm 95

Psalm 24

Psalm 67

Psalm 100

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:
Praise To The Holiest In The Height
The Glory Of These Forty Days
With Hearts Renewed By Living Faith
Precemur Omnes Cernui
Iam, Christe, Sol Iustitiae

PSALMODY

Antiphon 1: Lord, you have blessed your land; you have forgiven the sins of your people.

O Lord, you once favored your land
and revived the fortunes of Jacob,
you forgave the guilt of your people
and covered all their sins.
You averted all your rage,
you calmed the heat of your anger.

Revive us now, God, our helper!
Put an end to your grievance against us.
Will you be angry with us for ever,
will your anger never cease?

Will you not restore again our life
that your people may rejoice in you?
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
and give us your saving help.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
a voice that speaks of peace,
peace for his people and his friends
and those who turn to him in their hearts.
His help is near for those who fear him
and his glory will dwell in our land.

Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced.
Faithfulness shall spring from the earth
and justice look down from heaven.

The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit.
Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps. Glory...

Antiphon 1 Lord, you have blessed your land; you have forgiven the sins of your people..


Antiphon 2 My soul has yearned for you in the night, and as morning breaks, I watch for your coming.

A strong city have we;
he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us.
Open up the gates
to let in a nation that is just,
one that keeps faith.

A nation of firm purpose you keep in peace;
in peace, for its trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever!
For the Lord is an eternal Rock.

The way of the just is smooth;
the path of the just you make level.
Yes, for your way and your judgments, O Lord,
we look to you;
Your name and your title
are the desire of our souls.

My soul yearns for you in the night,
yes, my spirit within me keeps vigil for you;
When your judgment dawns upon the earth,
the world's inhabitants learn justice.
 
O Lord, you mete out peace to us,
for it is you who have accomplished all we have done. Glory...

Antiphon 2 My soul has yearned for you in the night, and as morning breaks, I watch for your coming.


Antiphon 3 Lord, let the light of your face shine upon us.

O God, be gracious and bless us
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth
and all nations learn your saving help.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

Let the nations be glad and exult
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples,
you guide the nations on earth.

Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.

The earth has yielded its fruit
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing
till the ends of the earth revere him. Glory...

Antiphon 3 Lord, let the light of your face shine upon us.


READING        Joel 2:12-13
Return to me with your whole heart,
  with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
  and return to the Lord, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
  slow to anger, rich in kindness,
  and relenting in punishment.


RESPONSORY
God himself will set me free, from the hunter's snare.
- God himself will set me free, from the hunter's snare.
From those who would trap me with lying words
- and from the hunter's snare.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
- God himself will set me free, from the hunter's snare.


BENEDICTUS (Canticle of Zechariah)
Antiphon: The Lord said: Peter, I do not tell you to forgive only seven times, but seventy times seven.


INTERCESSIONS
Praise to Christ, who has given us himself as the bread from heaven. Let us pray to him, saying:

                     Jesus, you feed and heal our souls; come to strengthen us.

Lord, feed us at the banquet of the eucharist,
 - with all the gifts of your paschal sacrifice.

Give us a perfect heart to receive your word,
 - that we may bring forth fruit in patience.

Make us eager to work with you in building a better world,
 - so that it may listen to your Church and its gospel of peace.

We confess, Lord, that we have sinned,
 - wash us clean by your gift of salvation.


Our Father...


COLLECT
May your grace not forsake us, O Lord, we pray,
but make us dedicated to your holy service
and at all times obtain for us your help.
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.


The English translation of Psalm Responses, Alleluia Verses, Gospel Verses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); the English translation of Antiphons, Invitatories, Responsories, Intercessions, Psalm 95, the Canticle of the Lamb, Psalm Prayers, Non-Biblical Readings from The Liturgy of the Hours © 1973, 1974, 1975, ICEL; excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved. Used with permission.