’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
Melody: New Britian 86.86; James P. Carrell and David S. Clayton, 1831; Text: John Newton; Midi: Cyberhymnal

Or:


For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Music: Sine Nomine, 10.10.10 with Alleuia; Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906Words: William W. How, 1864.


PSALMODY

Antiphon: Do not be afraid to face them, for I am with you says the Lord.

They surrounded me, the snares of death,
with the anguish of the tomb;
they caught me, sorrow and distress.
I called on the Lord's name.

O Lord, my God, deliver me!

How gracious is the Lord, and just;
our God has compassion.
The Lord protects the simple hearts;
I was helpless so he saved me.

Turn back, my soul, to your rest
for the Lord has been good;
he has kept my soul from death,
my eyes from tears
and my feet from stumbling.

I will walk in the presence of the Lord
in the land of the living. Glory...

Antiphon: Do not be afraid to face them, for I am with you says the Lord.


Antiphon: He sent an executioner to behead John who was in prison.

How can I repay the Lord
for his goodness to me?
The cup of salvation I will raise;
I will call on the Lord's name.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfill
before all his people.
O precious in the eyes of the Lord
is the death of his faithful.

Your servant, Lord, your servant am I;
you have loosened my bonds.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;
I will call on the Lord's name.

My vows to the Lord I will fulfill
before all his people,
in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem. Glory...

Antiphon: He sent an executioner to behead John who was in prison.


Antiphon: The disciples of John came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

Worthy are you, O Lord
to receive the scroll and 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 praise. Glory...

Antiphon: The disciples of John came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.


READING          Acts 13:23-25
From this man's descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say, 'What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'


RESPONSORY
The friend of the bridegroom rejoices
upon hearing the bridegroom’s voice.
  -  The friend of the bridegroom rejoices
upon hearing the bridegroom's voice.

Now my joy is complete
  -  upon hearing the bridegroom's voice.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
  -  The friend of the bridegroom rejoices
upon hearing the bridegroom's voice.


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: I am not the Christ; I have been sent before him to prepare his way. He must increase and I must decrease.


INTERCESSIONS
Let us pray joyfully to God our Father who called John the Baptist to proclaim the coming of the kingdom of Christ:

                      O Lord, guide our feet into the way of peace.

You called John the Baptist from his mother's womb to prepare the way of your Son,
 - help us to follow in the path which the Baptist opened before the Lord Jesus.

May your Church, in imitation of the Baptist, fearlessly point out the Lamb of God,
 - so that people in every age may acknowledge that the Lord comes to them.

John the Baptist did not exalt himself but acknowledged his role as the forerunner of Christ,
 - teach us to acknowledge that you are the giver of all our good gifts and that we must use them in your service.

You called John the Baptist to give testimony to you by his life and even by his death,
 - help us to imitate his unceasing witness to your truth.

Remember those who have died,
 - give them a place of light, happiness and peace.


Our Father…


COLLECT
O God, who willed that Saint John the Baptist
should go ahead of your Son
both in his birth and in his death,
grant that, as he died a Martyr for truth and justice,
we, too, may fight hard
for the confession of what you teach.
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.