Readings for the Feast of the Sacred Heart

Readings for the Feast of the Sacred Heart

Evening Prayer I
Invitatory & Morning Prayer
Daytime Prayer
Evening Prayer II
Eucharistic Readings
Office of Readings

Evening Prayer I

O God, make speed to save us
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Hymn
O Christ, Redeemer of Mankind

Psalms

Antiphon: God has loves us with an everlasting love; therefore, when he was lifted up from the earth, in his mercy he drew us to his heart.

Psalm 113

Praise, servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord.
Let the Lord's name be blessed, now and for ever.
From the sun's rising to its setting, the Lord's name is to be praised.

The Lord is high over all peoples, his glory is above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God, who lives on high,
who bends down to watch over heaven and earth?

He raises the weak from the ground, the poor from the dunghill,
raises them among the princes, the princes of his people.

He gives the barren woman a household,
makes her the happy mother of children.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Antiphon: God has loves us with an everlasting love; therefore, when he was lifted up from the earth, in his mercy he drew us to his heart.

Antiphon: Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart.

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life, make music to my God as long as I exist.

Do not trust in princes to save you, they are only sons of men.
One day their breath will leave them, they will return to the ground; on that day perish all their plans.

Happy the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who made heaven and earth and all that is in them,
who keeps faith for ever, who gives justice to the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord frees prisoners, he gives light to the blind, he raises the fallen.
The Lord loves the upright, cares for strangers, sustains orphans and widows; but the wicked he sends astray.

The Lord will reign for all ages, your God, O Sion, from generation to generation.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Antiphon: Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart.

Antiphon: I am the Good Shepherd; I pasture my sheep and I lay down my life for them.

Canticle: Revelation 4:11; 5:9,10,12

You are worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honour and power;
for you made all things, and it is by your will that they existed and were created.

You are worthy, Lord, to receive the book and open its seals,
for you were killed, and with your blood you have ransomed people from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and made them rulers and priests for God; and they will rule over the earth.

The Lamb is worthy, who was killed, to receive power and riches and wisdom, strength and honour, glory and blessing.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Antiphon: I am the Good Shepherd; I pasture my sheep and I lay down my life for them.

Reading: Ephesians 5:25b-27

Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendour, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish.

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.

The Magnificat

Antiphon: I have come to cast fire upon the earth; how I long to see the flame leap up.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.

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.

Antiphon: I have come to cast fire upon the earth; how I long to see the flame leap up.

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

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

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 Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Invitatory
O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will proclaim your praise.

Come, let us adore Christ's Sacred Heart, wounded for love of us.
The Lord's is the earth and its fullness, the world and all who live in it.
He himself founded it upon the seas and set it firm over the waters.
Come, let us adore Christ's Sacred Heart, wounded for love of us.
Who will climb the mountain of the Lord? Who will stand in his holy place?
The one who is innocent of wrongdoing and pure of heart,
who has not given himself to vanities or sworn falsely.
He will receive the blessing of the Lord and be justified by God his saviour.
This is the way of those who seek him, seek the face of the God of Jacob.
Come, let us adore Christ's Sacred Heart, wounded for love of us.
Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors, and let the king of glory enter.
Who is the king of glory?
The Lord of might and power. The Lord, strong in battle.
Come, let us adore Christ's Sacred Heart, wounded for love of us.
Gates, raise your heads. Stand up, eternal doors, and let the king of glory enter.
Who is the king of glory?
The Lord of hosts – he is the king of glory
Come, let us adore Christ's Sacred Heart, wounded for love of us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Morning Prayer

Hymn
Heart of Christ, we sing Thy praises,
Wellspring of eternal life!
Through the sorrows of Thy Passion
We find refuge from our strife.

Heart of Christ, Thou dost embody
All the wonder of God's Love!
Thou dost tell the tender mercies
Showered from our God above!

Heart of Christ, Who bringest healing
To the lowly and the weak,
Let us know Thy loving kindness,
Show Thyself to all who seek!
(Title: Heart of Christ; Melody: Stuttgart; Music: C.F. Witt 1660-1716; Text: Melvin Ferrell, S.S.)

Psalms
Antiphon: Jesus stood and cried out: If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Psalm 63:2-9
O God, you are my God, I wait for you from the dawn.
My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you.
I came to your sanctuary,
as one in a parched and waterless land,
so that I could see your might and your glory.
My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself.

Thus I will bless you throughout my life,
and raise my hands in prayer to your name;
my soul will be filled as if by rich food,
and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice.
I will remember you as I lie in bed,
I will think of you in the morning,
for you have been my helper,
and I will take joy in the protection of your wings.

My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Antiphon: Jesus stood and cried out: If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Antiphon: Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Canticle: Daniel 3:57-88, 56
Bless the Lord, all his works, praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, you heavens; all his angels, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, you waters above the heavens; all his powers, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon; all stars of the sky, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, rain and dew; all you winds, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat; cold and warmth, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, dew and frost; ice and cold, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, ice and snow; day and night, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness; lightning and storm-clouds, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, all the earth, praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, mountains and hills; all growing things, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, seas and rivers; springs and fountains, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, whales and fish; birds of the air, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, wild beasts and tame; sons of men, bless the Lord.

Bless the Lord, O Israel, praise and exalt him for ever.

Bless the Lord, his priests; all his servants, bless the Lord.
Bless the Lord, spirits of the just; all who are holy and humble, bless the Lord.

Ananias, Azarias, Mishael, bless the Lord, praise and exalt him for ever.

Let us bless Father, Son and Holy Spirit, praise and exalt them for ever.
Bless the Lord in the firmament of heaven, praise and glorify him for ever.

Antiphon: Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Antiphon: My son, give me your heart; note carefully the way I point out to you.

Psalm 149
Sing a new song to the Lord, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel rejoice in its maker, and the sons of Sion delight in their king.
Let them praise his name with dancing, sing to him with timbrel and lyre,
for the Lord's favour is upon his people, and he will honour the humble with victory.

Let the faithful celebrate his glory, rejoice even in their beds,
the praise of God in their throats; and swords ready in their hands,
to exact vengeance upon the nations, impose punishment on the peoples,
to bind their kings in fetters and their nobles in manacles of iron,
to carry out the sentence that has been passed: this is the glory prepared for all his faithful.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Antiphon: My son, give me your heart; note carefully the way I point out to you.

Reading: Jeremiah 31:33
This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Responsory:
Take my yolk upon you and learn from me.
Take my yolk upon you and learn from me.
For I am gentle and humble in heart.
Learn from me.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
Take my yolk upon you and learn from me.

Benedictus
Antiphon: With tender compassion, our God has come to his people and set them free.

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;*
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior,*
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old,
that he would save us from our enemies,*
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers*
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham,*
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,*
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,*
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation*
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God*
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,*
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

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.

Antiphon: With tender compassion, our God has come to his people and set them free.

Intercessions:
Brethren, let us pray to the Lord Jesus, who is meek and humble of heart; let us ask him:

- Most loving Lord, have mercy on us.

Jesus, the fullness of divinity dwells in you,,
- give us a share in your divine life. (R.)
- Jesus, in you are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
- make known to us through your church the manifold wisdom of God. (R.)
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. (R.)
Jesus, the Father was well pleased in you,
- help us to hear your word and keep it. (R.)
Jesus, of your fulless we have all received.
- pour out upon us in abundance the Father's favor and truth. (R.)
Jesus, you are the source of life and holiness,
- make us holy and blameless in love. (R.)

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

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 Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Daytime Prayer

Terce (Mid Morning)
O God, make speed to save us
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Antiphon on Psalms:
My people, what have I done to you; how have I offended you? Answer me.

Psalm 120

I call to the Lord in my trouble :
that he may answer me.

O Lord, deliver me from lying lips :
and from the treacherous tongue.

What will he do to you, and what more will he do to you,
O treacherous tongue? :
you are sharp as the arrows of a warrior,
that are tempered in coals of juniper.

Alas for me, I am like a stranger in Meshech :
like one who dwells amidst the tents of Kedar.

My soul has been too long :
among those who are enemies to peace.

I am for peace, but when I speak of it :
they make themselves ready for war.

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills :
but where shall I find help?

My help comes from the Lord :
who has made heaven and earth.

He will not suffer your foot to stumble :
and he who watches over you will not sleep.

Be sure he who has charge of Israel :
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord himself is your keeper :
the Lord is your defence upon your right hand;

The sun shall not strike you by day :
nor shall the moon by night.

The Lord will defend you from all evil :
it is he who will guard your life.

The Lord will defend your going out and your coming in :
from this time forward for evermore.

Psalm 122

I was glad when they said to me :
'Let us go to the house of the Lord.'

And now our feet are standing :
within your gates, O Jerusalem;

Jerusalem which is built as a city :
where the pilgrims gather in unity.

There the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord :
as he commanded Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

There are set thrones of judgement :
the thrones of the house of David.

O pray for the peace of Jerusalem :
may those who love you prosper.

Peace be within your walls :
and prosperity in your palaces.

For the sake of my brothers and companions :
I will pray that peace be with you.

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God :
I will seek for your good.

Antiphon on Psalms:
My people, what have I done to you; how have I offended you? Answer me.

Reading: Jeremiah 31:2-4a

Thus says the Lord:
The people who survived the sword
found grace in the wilderness;
when Israel sought for rest,
the Lord appeared to him from far away.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
Again I will build you, and you shall be built.

With joy you will draw water.
You will drink from the springs of salvation.

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 Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sext (Noon)
O God, make speed to save us
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Antiphon on Psalms:
My heart is broken within me; all my bones tremble with fear.

Psalm 123

To you I lift up my eyes :
you who are enthroned in the heavens.

As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master :
or as the eyes of a maid toward the hand of her mistress,

So our eyes look to the Lord our God :
until he show us his mercy.

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us :
for we have had our fill of derision.

Our souls overflow with the mockery of those at ease :
and with the contempt of the proud.

Psalm 124

If the Lord had not been on our side, now may Israel say :
if the Lord had not been on our side, when men rose up against us,

Then they would have swallowed us alive :
when their anger was kindled against us.

Then the waters would have overwhelmed us,
and the torrent gone over us :
the raging waters would have gone clean over us.

But praised be the Lord :
who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.

We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler :
the snare is broken, and we have gone free.

Our help is in the name of the Lord :
who has made heaven and earth.

Psalm 125

Those who put their trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion :
which cannot be shaken, but endures for ever.

As the mountains stand about Jerusalem,
so stands the Lord about his people :
from this time forward for evermore.

For the sceptre of wickedness shall have no sway
over the land apportioned to the righteous :
lest the righteous set their hands to do evil.

Do good, O Lord, to those who are good :
to those that are upright in heart.

As for those who turn aside to crooked ways,
let the Lord lead them away with the evildoers :
and in Israel let there be peace.

Antiphon on Psalms:
My heart is broken within me; all my bones tremble with fear.

Reading: Jeremiah 32:40
I will make an everlasting covenant with them, never to draw back from doing good to them; and I will put the fear of me in their hearts, so that they may not turn from me.

I looked for one to grieve with me, but there was none.
I sought someone to comfort me, but I found none.

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 Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Nones (Mid Afternoon)
O God, make speed to save us
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Antiphon on Psalms:
One of the soldiers pierced the side of Jesus with a lance, and immediately blood and water flowed out.

Psalm 126

When the Lord turned again the fortunes of Zion :

then were we like men restored to life.

Then was our mouth filled with laughter :
and our tongue with singing.

Then said they among the heathen :
'The Lord has done great things for them.'

Truly the Lord has done great things for us :
and therefore we rejoiced.

Turn again our fortunes, O Lord :
as the streams return to the dry south.

Those that sow in tears :
shall reap with songs of joy.

He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed :
shall come again in gladness, bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds the house :
their labour is but lost that build it.

Unless the Lord keeps the city :
the watchmen watch in vain.

It is in vain that you rise up early
and go so late to rest, eating the bread of toil :
for the Lord bestows honour and on those whom he loves.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord :
and the fruit of the womb is his gift.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior :
are the sons of a man's youth.

Happy the man who has his quiver full of them :
he will not be put to shame
when he confronts his enemies at the gate.

Psalm 128

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord :
and walks in the confine of his ways.

You will eat the fruit of your labours :
happy shall you be, and all shall go well with you.

Your wife within your house :
shall be as a fruitful vine;

Your children around your table :
like the fresh shoots of the olive.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed :
who lives in the fear of the Lord.

May the Lord so bless you from Zion :
all the days of your life.

May you see your children's children :
in a happy Jerusalem!

Antiphon on Psalms:
One of the soldiers pierced the side of Jesus with a lance, and immediately blood and water flowed out.

Reading: Romans 5:8-9
But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God.

He was pierced through for our offenses.
By his wounds we are healed.

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 Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Evening Prayer II

O God, make speed to save us
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Hymn
Love divine, all Loves excelling

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

(Title: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling;Melody: Hyfrydol 8787D;Music: Rowland H. Prichard;Text: Charles Wesley)

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

Psalm 110
The Lord has said to my lord: "Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies into your footstool".

From Sion the Lord will give you a sceptre, and you will rule in the midst of your foes.
Royal power is yours in the day of your strength, glorious and holy; from the time of your birth, before the dawn.

The Lord has sworn, and he will not repent: "You are a priest for ever, a priest of the priesthood of Melchisedech".
The Lord is at your right hand, and on the day of his anger he will shatter kings.

He will judge the nations, he will pile high their skulls;
he will drink from the stream as he goes – he will hold his head high.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

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

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

Psalm 111
I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart
in the council of the upright and the assembly.

Great are the works of the Lord,
to be studied by all who delight in them.
His works are splendour and majesty,
his righteousness lasts for ever and ever.

He gives us a record of the wonders he has worked,
the Lord, the kind and compassionate.
He gives food to those who fear him:
for all ages he will remember his covenant.

He has shown to his people the power of his deeds,
he has given them the inheritance of the nations.
Steadfastness and justice
are the works of the Lord.
All his precepts are to be trusted,
they stand firm for ever and ever:
they were laid down in faithfulness and justice.
He has sent deliverance to his people;
he has set up his covenant for ever.

Holy is his name, and much to be feared.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
To those who fear him comes true understanding,
and his praise endures for ever and ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

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

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

Canticle: Philippians 2:6-11

Though he was in the form of God,
Jesus did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped at,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

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

Reading: Ephesians 2:4-7

But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards 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.

The Magnificat

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

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.

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.

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

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

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 Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Eucharist

Mass Readings
First reading Hosea 11:1 - 9

When Israel was a child I loved him,
and I called my son out of Egypt.
I myself taught Ephraim to walk,
I took them in my arms;
yet they have not understood that I was the one looking after them.
I led them with reins of kindness,
with leading-strings of love.
I was like someone who lifts an infant close against his cheek;
stooping down to him I gave him his food.

Ephraim, how could I part with you?
Israel, how could I give you up?
How could I treat you like Admah,
or deal with you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils from it,
my whole being trembles at the thought.
I will not give rein to my fierce anger,
I will not destroy Ephraim again,
for I am God, not man:
I am the Holy One in your midst
and have no wish to destroy.

Psalm or canticle Isaiah 12:2 - 6

Behold, God is my salvation:
I will be confident, I will not fear;
for the Lord is my strength and my joy,
he has become my saviour.

And you will rejoice as you draw water
from the springs of salvation.
And then you will say:
"Praise the Lord and call upon his name.
Tell the peoples what he has done,
remember always the greatness of his name.
Sing to the Lord, for he has done great things:
let this be known throughout the world".

Second reading Ephesians 3:8 - 19

I, who am less than the least of all the saints have been entrusted with this special grace, not only of proclaiming to the pagans the infinite treasure of Christ but also of explaining how the mystery is to be dispensed. Through all the ages, this has been kept hidden in God, the creator of everything. Why? So that the Sovereignties and Powers should learn only now, through the Church, how comprehensive God's wisdom really is, exactly according to the plan which he had had from all eternity in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is why we are bold enough to approach God in complete confidence, through our faith in him; This, then, is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every family, whether spiritual or natural, takes its name:
Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, you will with all the saints have strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God.

Gospel John 19:31 - 37

It was Preparation Day, and to prevent the bodies remaining on the cross during the sabbath – since that sabbath was a day of special solemnity – the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other. When they came to Jesus, they found he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water. This is the evidence of one who saw it – trustworthy evidence, and he knows he speaks the truth – and he gives it so that you may believe as well. Because all this happened to fulfil the words of scripture:
Not one bone of his will be broken;

and again, in another place scripture says:
They will look on the one whom they have pierced.

Office of Readings

O God, make speed to save us
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 36
Evil whispers to the sinner in the depths of his heart: the fear of God does not stand before his eyes.

Evil's flattering light disguises his wickedness, so that he does not hate it.
His words are false and deceitful, he no longer considers how to do good.
Even when in bed he plots mischief; he follows the wrong path; he does not hate malice.

Lord, your mercy fills the heavens, your faithfulness rises to the sky.
Your justice is like the mountains of God, your judgements are like the deeps of the sea.
Lord, you protect both men and beasts.

How precious is your kindness, O God! The sons of men will take shelter under your wings;
they will eat their fill from the riches of your house, drink all they want from the stream of your joy.
For with you is the spring of life-giving water, in your light we see true light.

Hold out your mercy to those who know you, offer your justice to the upright in heart.
Let me not be crushed under the heels of the proud, nor dispossessed by the hands of sinners.
The doers of evil have fallen where they stood, they are cast down and cannot rise.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 61
Listen, O God, to my appeal:
turn, and hear my prayer.
I call to you from the ends of the earth,
for my heart is troubled.
Lead me to the rock I cannot reach!

For you are my hope,
a strong tower in the face of my enemies.
I shall live in your tent for ever,
I shall hide in the shelter of your wings:
for you, my God, have accepted my vows;
you have given me the inheritance of those who fear your name.

Add days to the life of the king:
add years, for age after age.
Let him sit always in the sight of God:
let kindness and faithfulness guard him.

This is the song I shall sing to your name,
for ever and for ever.
I shall repay my vows to you
day after day.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Psalm 98
Sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has worked wonders.

His right hand, his holy arm,
have brought him victory.
The Lord has shown his saving power,
and before all nations he has shown his justice.
He has remembered to show his kindness
and his faithfulness to the house of Israel.
The farthest ends of the earth
have seen the saving power of our God.

Rejoice in God, all the earth.
Break forth in triumph and song!
Sing to the Lord on the lyre,
with the lyre and with music.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn,
sound jubilation to the Lord, our king.

Let the sea resound in its fulness,
all the earth and all its inhabitants.
The rivers will clap their hands,
and the mountains will exult at the presence of the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge all the world in justice,
and the peoples with fairness.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

Reading - Romans 8:28-39
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,
'For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.'
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A reading from St. Bonaventure:
Take thought now, redeemed man, and consider how great and worthy is he who hangs on the cross for you. His death brings the dead to life, but at his passing heaven and earth are plunged into mourning and hard rocks are split asunder.
It was a divine decree that permitted one of the soldiers to open his sacred side with a lance. This was done so that the Church might be formed from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death on the cross, and so that the Scripture might be fulfilled: 'They shall look on him whom they pierced'. The blood and water which poured out at that moment were the price of our salvation. Flowing from the secret abyss of our Lord's heart as from a fountain, this stream gave the sacraments of the Church the power to confer the life of grace, while for those already living in Christ it became a spring of living water welling up to life everlasting.
Arise, then, beloved of Christ! Imitate the dove 'that nests in a hole in the cliff', keeping watch at the entrance 'like the sparrow that finds a home'. There like the turtledove hide your little ones, the fruit of your chaste love. Press your lips to the fountain, 'draw water from the wells of your Saviour; for this is the spring flowing out of the middle of paradise, dividing into four rivers', inundating devout hearts, watering the whole earth and making it fertile.
Run with eager desire to this source of life and light, all you who are vowed to God's service. Come, whoever you may be, and cry out to him with all the strength of your heart. "O indescribable beauty of the most high God and purest radiance of eternal light! Life that gives all life, light that is the source of every other light, preserving in everlasting splendour the myriad flames that have shone before the throne of your divinity from the dawn of time! Eternal and inaccessible fountain, clear and sweet stream flowing from a hidden spring, unseen by mortal eye! None can fathom your depths nor survey your boundaries, none can measure your breadth, nothing can sully your purity. From you flows 'the river which gladdens the city of God' and makes us cry out with joy and thanksgiving in hymns of praise to you, for we know by our own experience that 'with you is the source of life, and in your light we see light.'

Te Deum laudamus

You are God: we praise you;
You are the Lord; we acclaim you;
You are the eternal Father:
All creation worships you.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
The glorious company of apostles praise you.
The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.
The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.
Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;
Father, of majesty unbounded,
your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,
and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.
You, Christ, are the king of glory,
the eternal Son of the Father.
When you became man to set us free
you did not shun the Virgin's womb.
You overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God's right hand in glory.
We believe that you will come and be our judge.
Come then, Lord, and help your people,
bought with the price of your own blood,
and bring us with your saints
to glory everlasting.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

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 Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.