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. Alleluia.


HYMN

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
And impart to us, here dwelling,
Grace and mercy all around.
Jesus, source of all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love you share;
Grant us many choicest blessings,
Keep us in your loving care.

Come, O source of inspiration
Pure and spotless let us be:
Let us see your true salvation,
Perfect in accord with thee.
Praising Father for all glory
With the Spirit and the Son;
Everlasting thanks we give thee,
Undivided, love, in one.
Text: Charles Wesley; Melody: Hyfrydol 87.87 D; Midi: Cyberhymnal


PSALMODY

Antiphon 1: Lord, rule in the midst of your enemies with your gentle yoke.

The Lord's revelation to my Master:
"Sit on my right:
your foes I will put beneath your feet."
The Lord will yield from Zion
your scepter of power:
rule in the midst of all your foes.

A prince from the day of your birth
on the holy mountains;
from the womb before the dawn I begot you.

The Lord has sworn an oath he will not change.
"You are a priest for ever,
a priest like Melchizedeck of old."

The Master standing at your right hand
will shatter kings in the day of his wrath.

He shall drink from the stream by the wayside
and therefore he shall lift up his head. Glory...

Antiphon 1 Lord, rule in the midst of your enemies with your gentle yoke.


Antiphon 2: The Lord is loving and merciful; he gives food to those who fear him.

I will thank the Lord with all my heart
in the meeting of the just and their assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord,
to be pondered by all who love them.

Majestic and glorious his work,
his justice stands firm for ever.
He makes us remember his wonders.
The Lord is compassion and love.

He gives food to those who fear him;
keeps his covenant ever in mind.
He has shown his might to his people
by giving them the lands of the nations.

His works are justice and truth,
his precepts are all of them sure,
standing firm for ever and ever;
they are made in uprightness and truth.

He has sent deliverance to his people
and established his covenant for ever.
Holy his name, to be feared.

To fear the Lord is the first stage of wisdom;
all who do so prove themselves wise.
His praise shall last for ever! Glory...

Antiphon 2 The Lord is loving and merciful; he gives food to those who fear him.


Antiphon 3 This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

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 This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.


READING     Ephesians 2:4-7
God is rich in mercy; because of the great love he had for us, even when we were dead in our transgressions he brought us to life with Christ. By this grace you have been saved. Both with and in Christ Jesus, he raised us up and seated us with him in the heavens, that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.


RESPONSORY
Christ has loved us, and in his blood, he has washed away our sins.
 - Christ has loved us, and in his blood, he has washed away our sins.
He has made us a kingdom and priest to serve God our Father.
 - And in his blood, he has washed away our sins.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
 - Christ has loved us, and in his blood, he has washed away our sins.


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: The Lord has lifted us up and drawn us to his heart, for he has remembered his promise of mercy, alleluia.


INTERCESSIONS
Brethren, let us pray to the Lord Jesus, the refuge of our souls; let us ask him:

                         Most loving Lord, have mercy on us.

Jesus, whose heart when pierced by a lance poured forth blood and waterand gave birth to your spouse the church,
- cleanse and sanctify us.

Jesus, holy temple of God, slain by men and raised up again by the Father,
- make your church the dwelling place of the Most High.

Jesus , King and center of all hearts, you love us and lead us to yourself with unending love and mercy,
- renew your covenant with all people.

Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, you unite all in the peace of the new creation and put enmity to death through the cross,
- show us the path to the Father.

Jesus, our life and resurrection, you refresh the burdened and give rest to the weary.
- draw all sinners to yourself.

Jesus, because you loved us with so great a love, you were obedient even to death on a cross,
- raise up again all who sleep in your peace.


Our Father...


PRAYER
Father,
we rejoice in the gifts of love
we have received from the heart of Jesus your Son:
Open our hearts to share his life
and continue to bless us with his love.  
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,
we honor the heart of your Son
broken by man’s cruelty,
yet symbol of love’s triumph,
pledge of all that man is called to be.
Teach us to see Christ in the lives we touch,
to offer him living worship
by love-filled service to our brothers and sisters.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Or:

Father,
we have wounded the heart of Jesus your Son
but he brings us forgiveness and grace.  
Help us to prove our grateful love
and make amends for our sins.
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.


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