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

The eternal gifts of Christ the King,
the apostles' glory, let us sing,
and all, with hearts of gladness, raise
due hymns of thankful love and praise.

Their faith in Christ the Lord prevailed;
their hope, a light that never failed;
their love ablaze o'er pathways trod
To lead them to the eternal God.

In them the Father's glory shone,
in them the will of God the Son,
in them exults the Holy Ghost,
through them rejoice the heav'enly host.

To thee, Redeemer, now we cry,
that thou wouldst join to them on high
thy servants, who this grace implore,
for ever and for evermore.
Melody: King's Majesty L.M.; Music: Graham George, 1941; Text: Saint Ambrose, d. 397; Translator: J.M. Neale, d. 1866


PSALMODY

Antiphon: Willingly I glory in my infirmities, that the healing power of Christ may dwell in me.

Psalm 116:10-19

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: Willingly I glory in my infirmities, that the healing power of Christ may dwell in me.


Antiphon: I planted the seed; Apollos watered it, but it was God who gave the increase.

Psalm 126

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage,
it seemed like a dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter,
on our lips there were songs.

The heathens themselves said: "What marvels
the Lord worked for them!"
What marvels the Lord worked for us!
Indeed we were glad.

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage
as streams in dry land.
Those who are sowing in tears
will sing when they reap.

They go out, they go out, full of tears,
carrying seed for the sowing:
they come back, they come back, full of song,
carrying their sheaves. Glory...

Antiphon: I planted the seed; Apollos watered it, but it was God who gave the increase.


Antiphon: For me life is Christ, and death is gain. God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Canticle – Ephesians 1:3-10

Praised be the God and Father *
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has bestowed on us in Christ *
every spiritual blessing in the heavens.

God chose us in him *
before the world began
to be holy *
and blameless in his sight.

He predestined us *
to be his adopted sons through Jesus Christ,
such was his will and pleasure, †
that all might praise the glorious favor *
he has bestowed on us in his beloved.

In him and through his blood, we have been redeemed, *
and our sins forgiven,
so immeasurably generous *
is God's favor to us.

God has given us the wisdom *
to understand fully the mystery,
the plan he was pleased *
to decree in Christ.

A plan to be carried out *
in Christ, in the fullness of time,
to bring all things into one in him, *
in the heavens and on earth. Glory...

Antiphon: For me life is Christ, and death is gain. God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.


READING      1 Corinthians 15:9-10
I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me.


RESPONSORY
I will sing your praise, O Lord, with all my heart.
  -  I will sing your praise, O Lord, with all my heart.
I will glorify your name among all nations,
  -  with all my heart.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
  -  I will sing your praise, O Lord, with all my heart.


MAGNIFICAT (Canticle of Mary)
Antiphon: Holy apostle Paul, preacher of truth and teacher of the Gentiles, intercede for us with God, who chose you.


INTERCESSIONS
My brothers and sisters, we build on the foundation of the apostles. Let us pray to our almighty Father for his holy people and say:

                                          Be mindful of your Church, O Lord.

Father, you wanted your Son to be seen first by the apostles after the resurrection from the dead.
- We ask you to make us his witnesses to the farthest corners of the world.

You sent your Son to preach your good news to the poor,
- help us to preach this Gospel to every creature.

You sent your Son to sow the seed of unending life,
- grant that we who work at sowing the seed may share the joy of the harvest.

You sent your Son to reconcile all to you through his blood,
- help us all to work toward achieving this reconciliation.

Your Son sits at your right hand in heaven,
- Let the dead enter your kingdom of joy.


Our Father...


COLLECT
O God, who taught the whole world
through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Paul,
draw us, we pray, nearer to you
through the example of him whose conversion we celebrate today,
and so make us witnesses to your truth in the world.
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.