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, chief shepherd of the flock (alleluia).

Psalm 95

Psalm 24

Psalm 67

Psalm 100

I would praise thee every day,
Gladly all thy will obey,
Like thy blessed ones above,
Happy in thy perfect love.

Loving shepherd ever near,
Teach thy lamb thy voice to hear
Suffer not my steps to stray
from the straight and narrow way.

Where thou leadest, I would go,
Walking in thy steps below,
Till before my father’s throne.
I shall know as I am known.
Words: Jane E. Leeson, 1807-1882; Melody: Buckland 77.77, Leighton Hayne 1836-1883; Midi: Cyberhymnal

PSALMODY

Antiphon: You are the light of the world; a city set on a hill cannot be hidden (alleluia).

Psalm 63:2-9
A soul thirsting for God
Whoever has left the darkness of sin yearns for God

For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.

On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast. Glory...

Psalm Prayer: Father, creator of unfailing light, give that same light to those who call to you. May our lips praise you; our lives proclaim your goodness; our work give you honor, and our voices celebrate you for ever.

Antiphon:You are the light of the world; a city set on a hill cannot be hidden (alleluia).


Antiphon: Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father (alleluia)

Every shower and dew, bless the Lord.
All you winds, bless the Lord.
Fire and heat, bless the Lord.
Cold and chill, bless the Lord.
Dew and rain, bless the Lord.
Frost and chill, bless the Lord.
Ice and snow, bless the Lord.
Nights and days, bless the Lord.
Light and darkness, bless the Lord.
Lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord.

Let the earth bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Mountains and hills, bless the Lord.
Everything growing from the earth, bless the Lord.
You springs, bless the Lord.

Seas and rivers, bless the Lord.
You dolphins and all water creatures, bless the Lord.
All you birds of the air, bless the Lord.
All you beasts, wild and tame, bless the Lord.
You sons of men, bless the Lord.

O Israel, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Priests of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Servants of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Spirits and souls of the just, bless the Lord.
Holy men of humble heart, bless the Lord.
Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord.
Praise and exalt him above all forever.

Let us bless the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Let us praise and exalt him above all forever.
Blessed are you, Lord, in the firmament of heaven.
Praiseworthy and glorious and exalted above all forever.

Antiphon: Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father (alleluia)


Antiphon: God's word is alive; it strikes to the heart. It pierces more surely than a two-edged sword (alleluia).

Psalm 149
The joy of God's holy people
Let the sons of the Church, the children of the new people, rejoice in Christ, their King (Hesychius)

Sing a new song to the Lord,
his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker,
let Zion’s sons exult in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing
and make music with timbrel and harp.

For the Lord takes delight in his people.
He crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
shout for joy and take their rest.
Let the praise of God be on their lips
and a two-edged sword in their hand,

to deal out vengeance to the nations
and punishment on all the peoples;
to bind their kings in chains
and their nobles in fetters of iron;
to carry out the sentence pre-ordained;
this honor is for all his faithful. Glory...

Psalm Prayer: Let Israel rejoice in you, Lord, and acknowledge you as creator and redeemer. We put our trust in your faithfulness and proclaim the wonderful truths of salvation. May your loving kindness embrace us now and for ever.

Antiphon: God's word is alive; it strikes to the heart. It pierces more surely than a two-edged sword (alleluia).


READING          Hebrews 13:7-9a
Remember your leaders who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching.


RESPONSORY
On your walls, Jerusalem, I have set my watchmen to guard you.
 - On your walls, Jerusalem, I have set my watchmen to guard you.
Day or night, they will not cease to proclaim the name of the Lord.
 - I have set my watchmen to guard you.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
 - On your walls, Jerusalem, I have set my watchmen to guard you.


BENEDICTUS (Canticle of Zechariah)
Antiphon: What you say of me does not come from yourselves; it is the Spirit of my Father speaking in you (alleluia).

INTERCESSIONS
Christ is the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep. Let us praise and thank him as we pray:

                            Nourish your people, Lord.

Christ, you decided to show your merciful love through your holy shepherds,
 - let your mercy always reach us through them.

Through your vicars you continue to perform the ministry of shepherd of souls,
 - direct us always through our leaders.

Through your holy ones, the leaders of your people, you served as physician of our bodies and our spirits,
 - continue to fulfill your ministry of life and holiness in us.

You taught your flock through the prudence and love of your saints,
 - grant us continual growth in holiness under the direction of our pastors.


Our Father…


PRAYER

If there is no proper prayer, one of the following is said:

For a pope:
All-powerful and ever living God,
you called Saint N. to guide your people
by his word and example.  
With him we pray to you:  
watch over the pastors of your Church
with the people entrusted to their care
and lead them to salvation.
We ask this...

For a bishop:
Lord God,
you counted Saint N. among your holy pastors,
renowned for faith and love which conquered evil in this world.
By the help of his prayers
keep us strong in faith and love
and let us come to share his glory.
Grant this ...

For the founder of a church:
Lord,
you called our Fathers to the light of the gospel
by the preaching of Saint N.
By his prayers help us to grow in the love and knowledge
of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

For a pastor:
God our Father,
in Saint N. you gave
a light to your faithful people.
You made him a pastor of the Church
to feed your sheep with his word
and to teach them by his example.
Help us by his prayers to keep the faith he taught
and follow the way of life he showed us.
Grant this...

Or:

Lord God,
you gave your Saint N.
the spirit of truth and love
to shepherd your people.
May we who honor him on this feast
learn from his example
and be helped by his prayers.
We ask this...

For a missionary:
God of mercy,
You gave us Saint N. to proclaim the riches of Christ.
By the help of his prayers
may we grow in knowledge of you,
be eager to do good,
and learn to walk before you
by living the truth of the gospel.
Grant this...


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