Call to Worship

While making the sign of the cross:

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

Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now and will be forever. Amen. Alleluia!

Hymn

Remember Your Love (1)

Remember your love
and your faithfulness, O Lord.
Remember your people,
and have mercy on us, Lord.

The Lord is my light and my salvation,
whom should I fear?
The Lord is my life and my refuge,
when I call God hears.

Remember your love
and your faithfulness, O Lord.
Remember your people,
and have mercy on us, Lord.

O Lord, hear the sound of my call
and answer me.
My heart cries out for your presence;
it is you I seek.

Remember your love
and your faithfulness, O Lord.
Remember your people,
and have mercy on us, Lord.

PSALMODY

Psalm 63

Ant. O God, my God, I give you thanks; you are my God, I shall proclaim your glory.

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 to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning
is now and will be forever.
Amen.

Ant. O God, my God, I give you thanks; you are my God, I shall proclaim your glory.

Psalm Prayer

Father, creator of unfailing light, give that same light to those who call to you. May our lips praise you, our lives proclaim your goodness, our works give you honor, and our voices celebrate you for ever.

Canticle
Daniel 3:52-57

Ant. God of might, deliver us; free us from the power of the enemy.

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our ancestors,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,
praise and exalt him above all forever.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
And to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
Is now, and will be forever.
Amen.

Ant. God of might, deliver us; free us from the power of the enemy.

Psalm 150

Ant. Praise God for his mighty deeds.

Praise! Praise God in the temple,
in the highest heaven!
Praise! Praise God’s mighty deeds
and noble majesty.

Praise! Praise God with trumpet blasts,
with lute and harp.
Praise! Praise God with timbrel and dance,
with strings and pipes.

Praise! Praise God with crashing cymbals,
with ringing cymbals.
All that is alive praise. Praise the Lord.
Hallelujah!

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning
is now and will be forever.
Amen.

Ant. Praise God for his mighty deeds.

Reading

A Reading from the Book of Nehemiah
(Nehemiah 8:9-10)

Today is holy to the Lord your God. Do not be sad, and do not weep; for today is holy to our Lord. Do not be saddened this day, for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength!

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Take a few moments to reflect on the reading.

Responsory

Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us.
Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us.
You are the one who is to come,
have mercy on us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us.

Gospel Canticle
Canticle of Zechariah

Luke 1:68-79

Ant. It was unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man born blind until the coming of Christ, the Son of God.

While making the sign of the cross:

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel
who has come to this people and set them free;
who has raised up for us a mighty savior,
born of the house of his servant David.

Through the holy prophets, God promised of old
to save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.

God promised to show mercy to our ancestors
and to remember God's holy covenant.

This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship God without fear,
holy and righteous in God’s 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 forever.
Amen.

Ant. It was unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man born blind until the coming of Christ, the Son of God.

Intercessions

Let us give glory to God, whose kindness knows no limit. Through Jesus Christ, who lives for ever to intercede for us, let us pray:
Miserere nobis. Miserere nobis. Lord, hear our prayer.

God of mercy, let today be a day rich in good works, a day of generosity to all we meet. Cry out for God’s mercy:
Miserere nobis. Miserere nobis. Lord, hear our prayer.

From the waters of the flood you saved Noah through the ark, from the waters of baptism raise up to new life those under instruction.
Cry out for God’s mercy:
Miserere nobis. Miserere nobis. Lord, hear our prayer.

May we live not by bread only, but by every word falling from your lips.
Cry out for God’s mercy:
Miserere nobis. Miserere nobis. Lord, hear our prayer.

Help us to do away with all dissension, so that we may rejoice in your gifts of peace and love.
Cry out for God’s mercy:
Miserere nobis. Miserere nobis. Lord, hear our prayer.

For the sick who have asked us to accompany them with our prayers that they may experience your merciful and healing touch today.

Please pray aloud the names of those who are sick or in need of healing.
Cry out for God’s mercy:
Miserere nobis. Miserere nobis. Lord, hear our prayer. (2)

The Lord’s Prayer

And now let us pray with confidence as Christ our Lord asked:

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 who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.

Closing Prayer

Father of peace,
We are joyful in your Word, your Son Jesus Christ, who reconciles us to you. Let us hasten towards Easter with the eagerness of faith and love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Blessing

While making the sign of the cross:

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

Flos Carmeli (3)

Flos Carmeli
Vitis florigera
Splendor caeli
Virgo puerpera
—Singularis.

Mater mitis
Sed viri nescia
Carmelitis
Esto propitia
—Stella maris.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
Pray for us.
Sant’Angelo,
Pray for us.

Let us spend this day in peace.
Thanks be to God.

Credits and Permissions

All text and music are in the public domain or used with permission:
OneLicense A-726188. All rights reserved.
Unless otherwise stated, all music is published by OCP or a division of OCP.

Julian Pardo produces all audio.
Michael M Aguilar produces all videos.

1. Text: Based on Psalms 25, 27, 90, 130; Mike Balhoff, b. 1946.
   Music: Darryl Ducote, b. 1945, and Gary Daigle, b. 1957.
   Text and music copyright: 1973, 1978, Damean Music.
   Vocals: Nick Ritacco,
   Piano: Benjamín Aguilar, O.Carm.
   Violin: Briana Bandy.

2. Text: (Response) Bob Hurd, b. 1950; © 1984.
   Music: Bob Hurd. © 1984.
   Descant: Craig Kingsbury b. 1952.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.

3. Traditional.
   Vocals: The Carmelites.