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: If I forget you Jerusalem, let my right hand wither.

Psalm 137:1-6
By the rivers of Babylon
The Babylonian captivity is a type of our spiritual captivity. (Saint Hilary)

By the rivers of Babylon
there we sat and wept,
remembering Zion;
on the poplars that grew there
we hung up our harps.

For it was there that they asked us,
our captors, for songs,
our oppressors, for joy.
Sing to us, they said,
one of Zion's songs.

O how could we sing
the song of the Lord
on alien soil?
If I forget you, Jerusalem,
let my right hand wither!

O let my tongue
cleave to my mouth
if I remember you not,
if I prize not Jerusalem
above all my joys! Glory...

Psalm Prayer: Lord, remember your pilgrim Church. We sit weeping at the streams of Babylon. Do not let us be drawn into the current of the passing world, but free us from every evil and raise our thoughts to the heavenly Jerusalem.

Antiphon 1 If I forget you Jerusalem, let my right hand wither.


Antiphon 2 In the presence of the angels, I will sing to you, My God.

Psalm 138
Thanksgiving
The king of the earth will bring his glory and honor into the holy city. (Revelation 21:24)

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart,
you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I will bless you.
I will adore before your holy temple.

I thank you for your faithfulness and love
which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called, you answered;
you increased the strength of my soul.

All earth's kings shall thank you
when they hear the words of your mouth.
They shall sing of the Lord's ways:
How great is the glory of the Lord!

The Lord is high yet he looks on the lowly
and the haughty he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of affliction
you give me life and frustrate my foes.

You stretch out your hand and save me,
your hand will do all things for me.
Your love, O Lord, is eternal,
discard not the work of your hands. Glory...

Antiphon 2 In the presence of the angels, I will sing to you, My God.


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: Now that you are well again, do not sin any more, or something worse may happen to you.


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
May the venerable exercises of holy devotion
shape the hearts of your faithful, O Lord,
to welcome worthily the Paschal Mystery
and proclaim the praises of your 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.


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.