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 the Lord, who speaks to us through the Gospel, alleluia.

Psalm 95

Psalm 24

Psalm 67

Psalm 100

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
Let all on earth their voices raise,
Resounding heaven's praise,
To him who gave apostles grace
To run their glorious race.

Of Gospel truth they bore the light
To brighten earthly night;
May we that heav'nly light impart
To ev'ry mind and heart.

Praise God the Father and the Son
And Spirit Three in One,
Who sent these men with holy fire
All mankind to inspire.  Amen.

Melody: Saint Peter C.M.
Music: A. R. Reingale, 1799-1877
Text: Exultet Orbis Gaudiis, 10th century;
St. 3; Roger Nachtwey, 1965
Translator: Roger Nachtwey, 1965; Midi: Cyberhymnal


PSALMODY

Antiphon: The holy evangelists searched the wisdom of past ages. Through their gospels they confirmed the words of the prophets, alleluia.

Psalm 63:2-9

O God, you are my God, for you I long; *
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you *
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary *
to see your strength and your glory.

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...

Antiphon: The holy evangelists searched the wisdom of past ages. Through their gospels they confirmed the words of the prophets, alleluia.


Antiphon: Through the Gospel God called us to believe in the truth and to share the glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ, alleluia.

Canticle – Daniel 3:57-88, 56

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord. *
Praise and exalt him above all forever.
Angels of the Lord, bless the Lord. *
You heavens, bless the Lord.
All you waters above the heavens, bless the Lord. *
All you hosts of the Lord, bless the Lord.
Sun and moon, bless the Lord. *
Stars of heaven, bless the Lord.

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: Through the Gospel God called us to believe in the truth and to share the glory of our Lord, Jesus Christ, alleluia.


Antiphon: Many will praise their wisdom; it shall be remembered forever, alleluia.

Psalm 149

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..

Antiphon:Many will praise their wisdom; it shall be remembered forever, alleluia.


READING      1 Corinthians 15:1-2a,3-4
Brothers, I am reminding you of the gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being saved. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.


RESPONSORY
They proclaimed the Lord's praises, told of his power to save, alleluia, alleluia.
 - They proclaimed the Lord's praises, told of his power to save, alleluia, alleluia.
And of the wonders he had worked,
 - alleluia, alleluia.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
 - They proclaimed the Lord's praises, told of his power to save, alleluia, alleluia.


BENEDICTUS

Antiphon:Through the grace of Jesus Christ, preachers and teachers were sent out as ministers of the faith for all who believe, alleluia.

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 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:Through the grace of Jesus Christ, preachers and teachers were sent out as ministers of the faith for all who believe, alleluia.

INTERCESSIONS
Let us sing a song of praise to our Savior, who destroyed the power of death and made clear the path to life and immortality through the Gospel; and let us petition him in humble supplication:

              Strengthen your Church in faith and love.

You gave wonderful guidance to your Church through her holy and distinguished teachers,
 - may Christians rejoice always in the splendid legacy given to your Church.

When their holy pastors prayed to you, as Moses had done, you forgave the sins of the people,
 - through the intercession of these holy pastors continue to sanctify and purify your Church.

You anointed your holy ones in the midst of their brothers and called the Holy Spirit down upon them,
 - fill all the leaders of your people with the Holy Spirit.

You yourself are the sole possession of your holy pastors,
 - grant that those you have redeemed with your blood may remain in you.

Our Father…

PRAYER
Father,
you gave Saint Mark
the privilege of proclaiming your gospel.
May we profit by his wisdom
and follow Christ more faithfully.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
our God, for ever and ever.


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